Catholic Churches, Shrines & Places of Interest in London
London’s Catholic history reflects broader English trends: from a cornerstone of medieval society—to a suppressed minority— to a recognized entity today. While Catholics are still a minority, you will find many places of interest here in England’s capital city.
Among the most-visited Catholic churches in London are the following:
Corpus Christi Church and Shrine
Our Lady of the Assumption & Saint Gregory (Anglican Rite Catholic Parish)
Saint Dominic’s Parish & Our Lady of the Rosary Shrine
Westminster Abbey (historic Abbey, formerly Catholic, now Protestant Anglican)
Westminster Cathedral the Mother Church for Roman Catholics in England and Wales.
Traveling to London, England:
By air: London has two major airports. Gatwick and Heathrow.
Heathrow (LHR) is London’s main international hub with extensive long-haul flights and premium amenities and is located 15 miles (24 km) west of central London, offering convenient connections via the Elizabeth Line, Heathrow Express, and Piccadilly Line, making it slightly faster to reach central London despite heavy traffic and congestion.
Gatwick Airport (LGW) is 28 miles (44 km) south of London, connected by the Gatwick Express, Thameslink trains, and coaches, which can take longer but is generally less crowded. Gatwick generally caters more to budget and short-haul travelers with faster security and simpler facilities; however, it does serve flights from JFK International Airport in New York City and Chicago O’Hare airport.
By cruise ship: The primary cruise terminal for London is the London Cruise Terminal at Tilbury, located on the River Thames in Essex, about 22 nautical miles downstream from Tower Bridge. It is a deep-water, purpose-built facility capable of accommodating large ocean-going vessels. Tilbury is well connected to central London, with Tilbury Town Railway Station approximately 2 miles from the terminal. Trains run regularly to Fenchurch Street Station in central London, taking around 35–40 minutes, and shuttle buses or taxis are available for the short trips.
By train: London does not have a single central station; instead, it has a ring of major terminals, each serving different regions of the UK and Europe. London’s main train stations include Waterloo, Victoria, Paddington, King’s Cross, St Pancras International, Euston, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Charing Cross, and Marylebone — the major terminals forming the city’s central rail network.
Key Stations and Their Primary Routes: (These stations form the backbone of London’s rail system, each acting as a gateway to specific regions of the UK and, in the case of St Pancras, continental Europe).
London Waterloo – Busiest UK station; services to South West England (e.g., Southampton, Portsmouth).
London Victoria – Routes to southern England, including Brighton; home of Gatwick Express.
London Paddington – Gateway to western England and Wales; Heathrow Express.
London King’s Cross – East Coast Main Line to Leeds, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh.
St Pancras International – Eurostar to Paris/Brussels; Midland Main Line.
London Euston – West Coast Main Line to Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow.
Liverpool Street – Services to East Anglia and Stansted Airport.
London Bridge – Oldest London terminus; routes to Kent and Sussex.
Charing Cross – Central London terminal for southeastern England.
Marylebone – Services to the Midlands (e.g., Birmingham).