St John Smith Square

Westminster

Situated in the heart of Westminster, a stone’s throw from the Houses of Parliament, St John’s was restored after damage in the Second World War and opened as a concert hall in 1969. Built in 1728 and designed by architect Thomas Archer, St John’s is one of the finest examples of English Baroque architecture and is considered a masterpiece of this style. Dubbed ‘Queen Anne’s Footstool’ due to a legend that when the architect asked Queen Anne how she would like the new church to look, the monarch petulantly kicked over her footstool and snapped “like that!”, Thus the four towers are said to give the building the semblance of an upturned footstool. The versatility of the elegant hall provides the perfect venue for wedding receptions, dinners, drinks functions, conferences, filming and photo shoots. The atmospheric crypt, with its brick vaulted arches, houses the Footstool Restaurant. It provides a wonderful setting for an intimate dinner or canapé receptions.