St. Katharine’s is an extraordinary urban oasis found in East London’s Limehouse area, within walking distance of Canary Wharf’s gleaming towers and with great transport links to the City of London financial centre. With 45 bedrooms and 9 meeting rooms set around a beautiful expanse of grass and trees, it is a unique, quiet sanctuary in the heart of London.

Founded by Queen Matilda in 1147, The Royal Foundation of St Katharine has an almost 900 year history, of taking care of people through worship, hospitality and service.

Today St. Katharine’s includes a grade 2 listed Chapel, an enclosed ‘secret’ garden, a Yurt café, and a variety of spaces that range from Georgian to contemporary in style.

St. Katharine’s Chapel perfectly encapsulates the Foundation’s long history and present aspirations. Fine medieval and modern wood carving is juxtaposed with the great slate altar of 1951; the modern glass rose windows by Alan Younger FMGP cast light onto finely preserved carvings of the 14th century; and a chamber organ dating from the 18th century. A large black and gold compass star sits at the centre of the Chapel floor, containing a piece of rose-coloured granite from the desert surrounding St. Katherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai.

The Chapter Room, located in the listed Georgian part of the building is one of the most ornate spaces within St. Katharine’s. Including intricate white and gold ceiling moulding, fantastic views of the garden, as well as classical landscapes and seascapes from the late 18th or early 19th Century, based on Claude’s Arch of Titus and the landing of Aeneas.

The Queen Elizabeth Conference Room, by contrast, has a bright and airy contemporary feel, with a circular glass wall running along one half of the room, to reveal the garden.

London’s only Yurt Café is set amidst a wildflower and vegetable community garden complete with bees. The café also has an outdoor seating area, where you can set-up a small stage perfect for filming live events or interviews.

Find out more about filming with The Royal Foundation of Saint Katharine.