Visiting the London Mithraeum with children: everything you need to know

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Did you know that hidden underneath an otherwise normal building in the City of London is a temple that was used by a Roman cult? The London Mithraeum was at one time a place of worship but is now an immersive experience open to all. Whether your children are learning about the Romans, you have time to kill in the City, or you are looking for something free to do, the London Mithraeum might just tick your boxes. Find out everything you need to know about visiting the London Mithraeum with children in this guide.

The London Mithraeum features in our Roman London self-guided walking tour if you want to explore more of Roman London.

The London Mithraeum: the essentials

What is the London Mithraeum?

The London Mithraeum is a site dedicated to showcasing the remains of a temple to the Roman god Mithras.

The London Mithraeum dates back to around 240 AD when London was Roman and called Londonium. It was hidden underground until World War II bombing destroyed the area. The following excavation revealed the ruins of what is now known to be the Mithraeum, a temple at which members of an all-male cult worshipped Mithras.

But, the Mithraeum was in the way of progress, namely an office building, Bucklersbury House. And so it was moved. It was reassembled at street level just a short distance away – to what is now the North side of the Bloomberg building, opposite No 1 Poultry and HSBC (a photo can be see here). This video by Bloomberg provides some further insight into the history and some interesting imagery from the original excavations.

When Bloomberg purchased Bucklersbury House and it was demolished to replace with the current building, the original foundations were discovered and the London Mithraeum was restored in its original location and re-conceived as a timed immersive experience.

Where is the London Mithraeum?

The London Mithraeum is located within the Bloomberg Building on Walbrook in the City of London.

How much does it cost to go in the London Mithraeum?

Entrance to the London Mithraeum is free.

Do you need tickets for the London Mithraeum?

You do not need to book tickets in order to enter the London Mithraeum, although booking is encouraged to guarantee entry at busy times.

When is the London Mithraeum open?

The London Mithraeum is open daily at the following times:

Tuesday – Saturday 10.00 – 18.00
Sundays 12.00 – 17.00
Wednesday during term time 12.30 – 18.00
First Thursday of the month 10.00 – 20.00
Closed Mondays, Christmas & New Year bank holidays

Do check the website for closures as the London Mithraeum closes in order to change the art exhibited in its ground floor space.

Getting to the London Mithraeum

What is the nearest tube to the London Mithraeum?

The nearest Tube station to the London Mithraeum is Bank (Central Line, Northern Line, Waterloo and City Line and DLR).

Monument tube station is also close (Circle Line and District Line). Liverpool Street station is also just a little further away (Central Line, Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line, Metropolitan Line, Northern Line, Elizabeth Line, Overground and mainline trains).

Several bus routes also stop nearby.

How do you get into the London Mithraeum?

The entrance to the London Mithraeum is located within the Bloomberg building on Walbrook. Look out for the entrance next to an entrance to Bank tube station.

Do I have to queue for the London Mithraeum?

Unless you arrive before they open, there is no need to queue for entrance to the London Mithraeum. If capacity has been reached for a particular timeslot, then you may need to return at a later time. Booking will guarantee you entry.

At the London Mithraeum

What is there to see at the London Mithraeum?

The Mithraeum is located underground in the Bloomberg building. In order to access it, you enter at ground level. Once either your booking has been checked or you have been booked in, you will be informed when the next time slot for the Mithraeum is.

The Mithraeum is an immersive experience. The experience runs every 20 minutes. If you arrive early then you will need to wait for the next timeslot. But there’s no need to worry, there are things to do while you wait.

On the ground level, the space hosts rotating contemporary art exhibitions.

Also on the ground floor space is a display of a number of artefacts that were discovered on site between 2012 and 2014 during the excavation of the site for the construction of the Bloomberg building. This display includes items such as part of a door, Roman coins, balances and weights and pottery. Stories behind these various artefacts can be explored on iPads that are made available for the purpose.

Once you are ready you can then move down to the next floor that acts as a waiting area before you enter the Mithraeum. The walls of the staircase chart a timeline leading backwards in time from World War II bombing back to the time of the Romans.

In the holding area there are a few benches where you can sit and wait, and there are also a number of interactive tables with displays providing some history on the Mithraeum. Audio is played in this room that provides some further history and context.

Once your timeslot has been reached, you will then move another floor down and enter the Mithraeum. Once you step inside the Mithraeum you will find yourself in a relatively dark room. There are places to stand around the edges of the Mithraeum and a platform that juts out into the middle of the Mithraeum where you can also stand.

One of the staff will explain what you will see and then, the experience begins.

Over the course of six minutes, mist (haze, not smoke) and lighting are used to resurrect the walls and columns around the edges of the Mithraeum that are no longer there today. Lighting is kept low and the sound of people and Latin chanting can be heard, an attempt to recreate what it must have been like to stand there in the temple. A placeholder for the statue to Mithras appears out of the darkness at the end of the temple.

Once the experience ends, the lighting is increased and you have some time to look at the remains of the temple more closely before leaving the same way you entered.

What facilities are there for children at the London Mithraeum?

The main attraction at the London Mithraeum is the Mithraeum itself. Toilet facilities are available and all floors are accessible by lift. As mentioned above, iPads are available to help explore the details of the various artefacts on display. Transcripts of the various audio is also available.

How long can you spend at the London Mithraeum?

The Mithraeum experience itself lasts six minutes, plus time afterwards for looking at the ruins in fuller light. However, you will need to allow time to arrive, look at the art, artefacts and other information on display. If you are walking in off the street, you should also take into account that you might have just missed the start of one timeslot (although you can take advantage of that time to see everything else). In total, you should allow at least 30 minutes for your visit.

Can you eat in the London Mithraeum?

There are no facilities for eating in the London Mithraeum. As your visit is likely to be short in duration, it is advisable to eat before or after your visit. There are plenty of places in the nearby vicinity to buy food.

TOP TIPS for visiting the London Mithraeum

• The best place to stand is right at the front of the platform that juts out into the middle of the Mithraeum (right in front of you as the doors open into the Mithraeum). Here you are ‘inside the walls’, right in the middle of the various lighting effects and it feels like you’re really in it. If you can’t be right at the front then stand round the edges of the room so you can see the full effect of the experience.
• If your children are young, and/or likely to be worried about being in a dark room, it may be best to stay by the door, you can exit at any time the way you enter the Mithraeum.

Is there a question you have about visiting London Mithraeum with children that we haven’t answered here? Let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to address it.