These tours explore the historic church of St Mary le Bow in Cheapside, famous for Bow bells, its Norman crypt and its distinguished modern stained glass. The church was built in around1080 by Lanfranc, William the Conqueror's Archbishop of Canterbury.  The 'le Bow' may refer to the Norman arches in the crypt.  It was the home of the Archbishop's Court of Arches, the church's final appeal court in the south of England.  Since 1363 St Mary le Bow was the home of the main curfew bell, rang at 9pm each day, and anyone born within the sound of Bow bells is a Cockney.  The church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 166 and rebuilt with its present magnificent steeple by Sir Christopher Wren.  But it was very badly damaged by bombing in World War II and the main body of the church has been restored, and the windows filled with new stained glass designed by John Hayward.

The tour will also take in the very different neighbouring church of St Mary Aldermary, also by Wren but in the Gothic style.

There are tours of the church every Thursday at 2pm and 3.15 pm.  We meet in the vestibule and the tours last for an hour, cost £5 and are led by qualified City Guides.