Try the Web App

St Michael Paternoster Royal

Discover cities like never before.

Enjoy over self-guided city exploration with our app ‘Explory’. Learn all about the history and discover hidden more than 500.000 hidden gems, that only locals know about. Build custom tours, find nearby places, and start exploring instantly.

Try the Web App

How did a cat become a symbol of resilience and prosperity in London? Right here, nestled amongst the bustling streets of London, stands St Michael Paternoster Royal. This unassuming church holds within its very stones the echoes of a legend, a tale woven into the very fabric of London’s history. St Michael Paternoster Royal, you see, owes much of its fame to a man named Richard Whittington, a name synonymous with the rags-to-riches tale of “Dick Whittington and His Cat.” While the magical elements of the story might be fictional, the real Richard Whittington was indeed a prominent figure in 15th century London. A shrewd merchant, he rose to become Lord Mayor of London not once, but four times. His generosity knew no bounds, and St Michael Paternoster Royal became a testament to his philanthropy. Whittington funded its rebuilding in the early 1400s, transforming it into a grand collegiate church. He even established an almshouse nearby, cementing his legacy as a man of the people. Though Whittington’s tomb lies lost within St Michael Paternoster Royal, his spirit lives on. The church stands as a reminder that even amidst the grand institutions and towering structures, it’s the stories of individuals, their triumphs, and their contributions to their communities, that truly shape a city’s heart.

Learning about St Michael Paternoster Royal in London is only the beginning of your adventure. Explory helps you go further with a powerful digital guide that transforms every walk into an experience. Using our intuitive city guide, you can easily connect stories with locations, creating your own city tour while enjoying London at your own rhythm. Explory’s goal is to make your trip unforgettable. Our guide combines storytelling with orientation, giving you the chance to uncover the rich layers of London. Thanks to the integrated audio guide, you can listen to fascinating narratives while exploring the streets. Beyond the well-known attractions, Explory highlights hidden gems and secret corners that make the city truly unique. With the city guide, you’ll gain insights and flexibility. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a regular traveler, the app offers exploration on your terms. Each curated city tour blends local culture, history, and atmosphere into one seamless experience. The emphasis on exploration ensures you won’t just see London, but actually connect with it. And because our content reveals hidden gems, you’ll always discover something new. Expand your journey by downloading the Explory App. Explore over 300 cities and more than 500,000 POIs and stories, all accessible from your phone. Whether you need a trusted guide, a flexible audio guide, or a structured city tour, Explory offers everything in one place. Start your adventure today and explore London like never before with Explory.

More Places in London

St Mary’s Church

Londoners once nicknamed St Mary-le-Strand as St Mary-in-the-Way. For years, the church stood stranded on a traffic island. Today, thanks

Explore

Sutton House

Is this magnificent red-brick mansion really Tudor? You bet it is! This is Sutton House, the oldest residential building in

Explore

City Hall

Towering over the Thames, City Hall has become a London landmark. You can see its distinctive, bulbous shape from afar.

Explore