Image credit: Nicholas Jackson / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 2014-10-04 ↗
The King’s Chapel of the Savoy
Savoy / Strand · Trafalgar Square → Strand → Somerset House → Temple · Hidden royal chapel / Tudor survival
Story
Only a few metres from the Strand, hidden behind the Savoy Hotel and tucked away from the street's usual sightline, stands a royal chapel over five hundred years old. The King’s Chapel of the Savoy was built as part of the charitable foundation created under Henry VII’s will and was completed in the early sixteenth century. It is one of the few survivors of that extensive complex and retains a highly unusual institutional status: it is a private chapel of the monarch, held in right of the Duchy of Lancaster, and operates outside ordinary episcopal jurisdiction. In 1937, George VI ordered that it become the Chapel of the Royal Victorian Order, the honour used by the sovereign to recognise personal service to the monarchy. Its interior therefore combines religious architecture, heraldry, and royal remembrance in a way unlike an ordinary parish church. This private character lends it a unique atmosphere and a distinct symbolic role within London's religious landscape.
What to look for
Look for the Tudor-era interior, the rich heraldry of the Royal Victorian Order displayed on its stalls and stained-glass windows, and the intimate atmosphere characteristic of a private royal chapel.
Secret detail
This chapel is a 'royal peculiar' or private royal chapel, directly linked to the Duchy of Lancaster and thus to the monarch, which places it outside the jurisdiction of the local diocese.
Where exactly
From the Strand, go down Savoy Street, turn right into Savoy Hill; the chapel is about 20 metres along, tucked away from the main thoroughfare.
Orientation
You are on Savoy Hill; use the public entrance when open.
Why it matters
This place reveals how the British monarchy has maintained private chapels with special status for centuries, offering a unique insight into the relationship between royalty, religion, and London's historical institutions.
Access & opening
Mon–Thu 09:00–16:00. Fri/Sat closed. Sunday worship only. Midweek events can preclude casual visits; check before special journey.
Casual visit free; optional organised group talk £5 pp
We never show live status. Check opening hours before you go.
Accessibility
Wheelchair ramps; smooth access to main chapel; accessible toilets. Garden wheelchair access via Savoy Street during summer opening.