Cafe in the Crypt, The National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery in London

I love to read and travel and for me it's like an escape to another time and place wherein I can immerse myself in different periods which has long since passed. The novel "The Other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory started me on my Tudor history obsession. I love history in particular, English medieval, ancient Egypt and dynasties of ancient China. One of the things that fascinates me about history is its ability to change one's preception of the world. It has surely expanded my world and made me appreciate the richness of our culture and its value... 
my identity and where I came from. 

I would "die" to get a chance to eat in the crypts! haha Of course, I was excited at the same time intrigued to dine at this place. It is located in the stunning 18th century crypt of St Martin-in-the-Fields right in Trafalgar Square next to The National Gallery. At 8.30am, we were the first and only customers there at that time except for that one restaurant staff serving us. Food arrived quick and it was fresh, warm, decent and affordable.

I truly like the atmosphere, it's peaceful, beautiful and unique. What a great place to soak up some medieval architecture and history while enjoying your breakfast.

Prefer to listen to some swing? The cafe also hosts jazz concerts every Wednesday evenings (open to jazz ticket holders only) whose profits support the programs of the church.

So are you brave enough to have breakfast at this place?

Historical gravestones beneath your feet!

A little hidden gem of a restaurant in the heart of London.

A full English Breakfast including eggs, bacon, sausage, tomato, beans, 
mushroom and toast.

Situated underground in this brick-vaulted church crypt with gravestones.

Take home a piece of history through this fun, hands-on activity.

It's called brass rubbing. An impression made of brass engraving by covering it with paper 

and rubbing the paper with graphite or chalk. 

During Medieval England, memorial brasses were often used as tombstones and laid in honour of people of nobility and wealth. Then in Victorian times, brass rubbing became a fashionable pastime. People still continue to do it to this day to bring home a piece of souvenir from their experience.

The London Brass Rubbing Centre. The art gallery and the book and gift shop can all be found in the crypt.

The beautiful St Martin-in-the-Fields is one of the most famous churches in London and is known for its regular free lunchtime and evening concerts.

Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square.

The stunning interior of the National Gallery and won't cost you a penny to visit.

Sunflowers
Vincent van Gogh
1888

A Wheatfield with Cypresses
Vincent van Gogh
1889

The Virgin of the Rocks from Panels from the S. Francesco Altarpiece, Milan
Leonardo da Vinci
about 1491/2-9 and 1506-8

The Entombment (unfinished)
Michelangelo
about 1500-1

Leave your wallets at home and visit these museums for free!

Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and Head of the Commonwealth. 

The longest reigning UK monarch.

Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen. The daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
 In her coronation robes, patterned with Tudor roses and trimmed with ermine. (right)
 

The young Princess Mary Tudor, soon to be Bloody Mary.  

She is the elder half-sister of Elizabeth I.

Mary, Queen of Scots was Queen of Scotland,
the only surviving legitimate child of King James V of Scotland.

Anne Boleyn was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of King Henry VIII 
and later on beheaded for high treason.(left)

Catherine Parr was Queen of England and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII, 
and the final queen consort of the House of Tudor. (right)

Richard III was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty.

 Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon was the Queen of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII.
She was previously Princess of Wales as the wife of Henry's elder brother Arthur,
 who died five months after they were married.

Sir James Paul McCartney

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge 

and his brother Prince Henry of Wales, commonly known as Prince Harry.

Diana, Princess of Wales

Cafe in the Crypt
webpage
Directions: St Martin-in-the-Fields is on the north east corner of Trafalgar Square, and any bus bound for Trafalgar Square or Charing Cross Station will bring you to our door. Charing Cross tube is next to the church, and Embankment and Leicester Square are both a short walk away.

The National Gallery, London
webpage
Trafalgar Square
London  
Free Admission

National Portrait Gallery, London
webpage
St Martin's Place
London
Free Admission