St. John’s, Smith Square, in the heart of Westminster, is one of London’s major concert venues and favourite historic buildings. Valued for its superb acoustic, it presents an extremely varied programme of classical music throughout the concert season, ranging from choirs and symphony orchestras to solo instrumental recitals.

Built in 1728, and restored after damage in the Second World War, St. John’s is one of the finest examples of English Baroque architecture and is considered a masterpiece of this style. St. John's has been dubbed Queen Anne’s Footstool due to a legend that the architect, Thomas Archer, consulted Queen Anne on the design of the new church. In reply 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.

More information on the Queen Anne Churches can be found here

As Sir Hugh Casson has said of St. John’s “ just to come across it in that quiet square is an event. To enter it, to enjoy its spaces, to listen to fine music within its walls is an experience not to be matched in conventional concert halls and is a lasting tribute to the man who designed it”.

Prints of St. John's are available from Ash Rare Books

Unlike most of the major concert halls, St. John’s receives no subsidy whatsoever, relying on appeals to undertake important developments to improve the facilities and maintain the building.

The fine acoustic at St. John’s is suitable for nearly all forms of music, and versatility in terms of space enables it to accommodate anything from instrumental recitals to orchestra and choir without losing its special atmosphere of elegant intimacy. As Sir Hugh Casson has written, “Just to come across it in that quiet square is an event. To enter it, to enjoy its spaces, to listen to fine music is an experience not to be matched in conventional halls…”.