Look here to see if there is a chance of getting into a church (Church of England, Roman Catholic & Orthodox).
Open indicates generally open during at least 10:00-1500 Mon-Fri.
Locked indicates normally locked, where there is advertised limited opening this is listed under notes.
n/a indicates a church now in private hands and so no access should be assumed.
However, this is a guide (updated 23 Oct 2020) and based on personal observation and must not be taken as definitive. It does not take into account altered opening or closing due to Covid 19.
If a church is locked, Saturday morning can be a good time to try as it is often church cleaning time.
I am happy to receive comments or amendments.
Place | Dedication | Group | Status | Notes |
Abbots Langley | St Lawrence | CofE | Open | |
Abbots Langley | St Saviour | RC | Locked | |
Albury | St Mary | CofE | Open | |
Aldbury | St John the Baptist | CofE | Open | |
Aldenham | St John the Baptist | CofE | Open | A sign in the porch dated May 2016 suggests that they try to be open, but it is not guaranteed. |
Allens Green | St Anne | CofE | n/a | Private housing – exterior viewable from road |
Anstey | St George | CofE | Open | |
Apsley End | St Mary | CofE | Locked | Open Sat 10-12 |
Ardeley | St Lawrence | CofE | Locked | Keyholders advertised. Open Sat/Sun 10-4 |
Ashwell | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Open | |
Aspenden | St Mary | CofE | Locked | |
Aston | St Mary | CofE | Locked | |
Ayot St Lawrence | St Lawrence | CofE | Open | |
Ayot St Lawrence | St Lawrence old church | CofE | n/a | Accesible |
Ayot St Peter | St Peter | CofE | Locked | keyholders listed on door |
Baldock | Holy Trinity | RC | Locked | |
Baldock | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Open | Closed on Saturday afternoons |
Barkway | St Mary Magdalene | CofE | Open | |
Barley | St Margaret of Antioch | CofE | Open | |
Bayford | St Mary | CofE | Open | |
Bedmond | Church of the Ascension | CofE | Locked | |
Bengeo | Holy Trinity | CofE | Open | |
Bengeo | St Leonard | CofE | Locked | Open Sat 1030-1, Sun 2.30-5 June to Sept 2017 |
Benington | St Peter | CofE | Open | |
Bentley Heath | Holy Trinity | CofE | n/a | Private – exterior viewable from road and public footpath |
Berkhamsted | Marlin Chapel | CofE | n/a | Ruin exterior viewable from public footpath |
Berkhamsted | Sacred Heart | RC | Locked | |
Berkhamsted | St Peter | CofE | Open | |
Berkhamsted – Kitsbury | All Saints | CofE | Open | |
Berkhamsted – Sunnyside | St Michael & All Angels | CofE | Open | |
Bishops Stortford | Holy Trinity | CofE | Locked | |
Bishops Stortford | St Michael | CofE | Open | |
Bishop’s Stortford | St Joseph | RC | Open | |
Bishop’s Stortford – Hockerill | All Saints | CofE | Open | |
Borehamwood | All Saints | CofE | Open | |
Borehamwood | Holy Cross | CofE | Locked | |
Borehamwood | St Michael & All Angels | CofE | Locked | |
Borehamwood | St John Fisher & St Thomas More | RC | Open | see comment at end of this list |
Borehamwood | St Teresa Of The Child Jesus | RC | Open | see comment at end of this list |
Bourne End | St John the Evangelist | CofE | Locked | |
Bovingdon | St Lawrence | CofE | Open | |
Bramfield | St Andrew | CofE | Locked | Open Wed 10-11.30 |
Braughing | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Open | |
Brent Pelham | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Open | |
Brickendon | Holy Cross & St Alban | CofE | Open | |
Bricket Wood | St Luke | CofE | Locked | |
Broxbourne | St Augustine | CofE | Locked | Office onsite except Thursday |
Buckland | St Andrew (Churches Conservation Trust) | CofE | Locked | keyholders advertised |
Buntingford | St Peter | CofE | Locked | open Monday morning |
Buntingford | St Richard Of Chichester | RC | Locked | |
Bushey | Holy Trinity | CofE | Locked | |
Bushey | Sacred Heart & St John | RC | Locked | |
Bushey | St James | CofE | Open | |
Bushey | St Paul | CofE | Locked | |
Bushey Heath | St Peter | CofE | Locked | |
Bygrave | St Margaret of Antioch | CofE | Locked | Has been open but locked no keyholders 20/5/15 and in Aug 2016 and May 2017 |
Caldecote | St Mary Magdalene (Friends of Friendless Churches) | CofE | Open | |
Chandler’s Cross | St Martin (former) | CofE | n/a | On private land – exterior viewable from road |
Chesfield | St Etheldreda – ruin | CofE | n/a | Fenced off on private land – exterior viewable from public footpath |
Cheshunt | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Locked | |
Cheshunt | St Paul | RC | Locked | |
Childwick Green | St Mary | CofE | Locked | keyholders listed |
Chipperfield | Our Lady, Mother Of The Saviour | RC | Locked | |
Chipperfield | St Paul Chipperfield | CofE | Open | |
Chorleywood | Christ Church | CofE | Open | |
Chorleywood | St Andrew | CofE | Open | |
Clothall | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Open | |
Cockernhoe | St Hugh | CofE | Locked | |
Codicote | St Giles | CofE | Locked | Day chapel open |
Colliers End | St Mary | CofE | Locked | |
Colney Heath | St Mark | CofE | Locked | Open am |
Cottered | St John the Baptist | CofE | Open | |
Cotton Mill | St Julian | CofE | Locked | |
Croxley Green | All Saints | CofE | Open | |
Croxley Green | St Bede | RC | Locked | |
Croxley Green | St Oswald | CofE | Locked | |
Cuffley | St Andrew | CofE | Locked | Used to be open but locked on two visits in 2017, last one 9/6/17 |
Cuffley | St Martin De Porres | RC | Locked | |
Datchworth | All Saints | CofE | Open | |
Digswell | Digswell Village Church | CofE | Locked | |
Eastwick | St Botolph | CofE | Locked | keyholders advertised |
Elstree | St Nicholas | CofE | Locked | keyholders advertised |
Essendon | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Locked | |
Flamstead | St Leonard | CofE | Open | |
Flaunden | St Mary Magdalene | CofE | Open | |
Frogmore | Holy Trinity | CofE | Locked | |
Furneux Pelham | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Open | |
Gilston | St Mary | CofE | Locked | keyholders advertised |
Goffs Oak | St James | CofE | Locked | |
Graveley | St Mary | CofE | Locked | |
Great Amwell | St John the Baptist | CofE | Locked | Open Sun pm 2.30-5 May to Sept |
Great Gaddesden | St John the Baptist | CofE | Open | |
Great Hormead | St Nicholas | CofE | Open | |
Great Munden | St Nicholas | CofE | Locked | Privately owned. Churchyard accessible at all times |
Great Wymondley | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Open | |
Gustard Wood | St Peter | CofE | Locked | |
Harpenden | All Saints | CofE | Locked | |
Harpenden | Our Lady of Lourdes | RC | Open | |
Harpenden | St John the Baptist | CofE | Open | |
Harpenden | St Nicholas | CofE | Open | Tue-Fri 10-2, Sat 9.30-12.30, notice at church 10/9/2017 |
Hatfield | Marychurch | RC | Locked | |
Hatfield | Marychurch | RC | Locked | |
Hatfield | St Etheldreda | CofE | Open | 1-4pm, Not Mon (except Bank Hols) or Sat |
Hatfield | St John | CofE | Locked | |
Hatfield | St Luke | CofE | Locked | open at Weekends |
Hatfield | St Michael & All Angels | CofE | Open | Locked during School holidays |
Hatfield | St Peter | RC | Locked | |
Hemel Hempstead | St Mary | CofE | Locked | Open Sat 10-12 according to church notice board, beware the website says all day. |
Hemel Hempstead – Adeyfield | Our Lady Queen Of All Creation | RC | Open | Open on 24/8/2017 |
Hemel Hempstead – Adeyfield | St Barnabas | CofE | Locked | Coffee morning Wed 1030-12 |
Hemel Hempstead – Bennetts End | St Benedict | CofE | Locked | |
Hemel Hempstead – Boxmoor | St John the Evangelist | CofE | Locked | Open Sat 10-12 |
Hemel Hempstead – Boxmoor | St Mary & St Joseph | RC | Open | |
Hemel Hempstead – Chaulden | St Stephen | CofE | Locked | |
Hemel Hempstead – Cupid Green | St Thomas | Indian Orthodox | Locked | |
Hemel Hempstead – Grovehilll | The Resurrection | CofE/RC | Locked | |
Hemel Hempstead – Hammerfield | St Francis of Assisi | CofE | Locked | |
Hemel Hempstead – Highfield | St Paul | CofE | Locked | |
Hemel Hempstead – Picotts End | All Saints | CofE | n/a | Private house, exterior viewable from road |
Hemel Hempstead – Warners End | St Alban | CofE | Locked | |
Hemel Hempstead – Warners End | St Mark | RC | Locked | |
Heronsgate | St John | CofE | Open | |
Hertford | All Saints | CofE | Locked | |
Hertford | St Andrew | CofE | Open | |
Hertford | St Joseph | RC | Open | |
Hertford | St Mary the Less (architectural fragments) | CofE | Open | Accesible at all times on public road |
Hertford Heath | Holy Trinity | CofE | Open | |
Hertingfordbury | St Mary | CofE | Open | |
Hexton | St Faith | CofE | Locked | keyholders advertised |
High Cross | St John the Evangelist | CofE | Locked | |
High Wych | St James The Great | CofE | Open | 9.00 am – 4.00 pm, Tuesday to Friday during school term time. |
Hinxworth | St Nicholas | CofE | Open | |
Hitchin | Holy Saviour | CofE | Locked | |
Hitchin | Our Lady Immaculate & St Andrew | RC | Open | |
Hitchin | St Faith | CofE | Locked | |
Hitchin | St Mark | CofE | Locked | |
Hitchin | St Mary | CofE | Locked | Open in the morning |
Hoddesdon | St Augustine | RC | Open | |
Hoddesdon | St Catherine & St Paul | CofE | Locked | Office on site |
Holwell | St Peter | CofE | Open | |
Hunsdon | St Dunstan | CofE | Locked | |
Hunsdon | St Francis Chapel | CofE | Locked | |
Ickleford | St Katharine | CofE | Open | |
Kelshall | St Faith | CofE | Open | |
Kimpton | St Peter & St Paul | CofE | Open | Checked 9/10/18. Free help yourself refreshments. |
Kings Langley | All Saints | CofE | Open | Daily 9.30-5 |
King’s Walden | St Mary | CofE | Locked | |
Kinsbourne Green | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Locked | |
Knebworth | St Martin | CofE | Open | |
Knebworth | St Mary & St Thomas of Canterbury | CofE | Locked | |
Knebworth | St Thomas More | RC | Open | |
Langleybury | St Paul | CofE | Locked | |
Layston | St Bartholomew | CofE | n/a | Privately owned. Parts of exterior viewable from footpaths |
Leavesden | All Saints | CofE | Locked | |
Lemsford | St John the Evangelist | CofE | Locked | Open for teas 2-4 on 2nd tuesday of the month |
Letchworth Garden City | St Alban | Liberal Catholic | Locked | |
Letchworth Garden City | St George | CofE | Locked | |
Letchworth Garden City | St Hugh of Lincoln | RC | Locked | |
Letchworth Garden City | St Mary | CofE | Locked | |
Letchworth Garden City | St Michael | CofE | Locked | |
Letchworth Garden City | St Paul | CofE | Locked | |
Letchworth Garden City | St Thomas | CofE | Locked | |
Letty Green | St John | CofE | n/a | Private house. exterior viewable from road |
Leverstock Green | Holy Trinity | CofE | Locked | Open Monday 2-4, Saturday 10-12 – notice in porch 27/3/16. Keyholder numbers also listed. |
Lilley | St Peter | CofE | Open | |
Little Berkhamsted | St Andrew | CofE | Locked | Open Sat 10-12 |
Little Gaddesden | St Peter & St Paul | CofE | Open | |
Little Hadham | St Cecilia | CofE | Open | |
Little Heath | Christ | CofE | Open | |
Little Hormead | St Marys (Churches Conservation Trust) | CofE | Locked | keyholders advertised |
Little Munden | All Saints | CofE | Open | |
Little Wymondley | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Open | |
London Colney | All Saints Pastoral Centre | CofE & RC | n/a | Exterior viewable from grounds of Language College |
London Colney | Our Lady, St Mary of Walsingham | RC | Locked | |
London Colney | St Peter | CofE | Locked | |
Long Marston | All Saints | CofE | Locked | |
Long Marston | All Saints – Tower only | CofE | n/a | Tower Ruin – Accesible at all times off public road |
Markyate | St John the Baptist | CofE | Locked | |
Meesden | St Mary | CofE | Open | |
Mill End | St John | RC | Locked | |
Mill End | St Peter | CofE | Open | |
Minsden | Minsden Chapel – Ruin | CofE | n/a | Accesible at all times off public footpath |
Much Hadham | St Andrew | CofE/RC | Open | |
Nettleden | St Lawrence | CofE | Locked | |
Newgate Street Village | St Mary | CofE | Locked | |
Newnham | St Vincent | CofE | Open | |
North Mymms | St. Mary | CofE | Open | |
Northaw | St Thomas a Becket | CofE | Open | |
Northchurch | St Mary | CofE | Locked | |
Norton | St Nicholas | CofE | Locked | |
Offley | St Mary Magdalene | CofE | Locked | |
Old Hall Green | St Edmund of Canterbury | RC | Locked | |
Old Hall Green | St Edmunds College | RC | n/a | Private – Public school chapel exterior viewable from road |
Oxhey | St Matthews | CofE | Locked | keyholders advertised |
Perry Green | St Thomas | CofE | Locked | |
Pirton | St Mary | CofE | Open | |
Potten End | Holy Trinity | CofE | Open | |
Potters Bar | King Charles the Martyr | CofE | Open | |
Potters Bar | Our Lady & St Vincent | RC | Open | |
Potters Bar | St Mary the Virgin & All Saints | CofE | Locked | Open Tue – Thur 10-12. according to sign on door seen 9/6/17. Apparently when open it is locked and you have to be noticed by the steward! |
Preston | St Martin | CofE | Locked | keyholders advertised |
Puckeridge | St Thomas of Canterbury | RC | Locked | |
Puttenham | St Mary | CofE | Locked | |
Radlett | Christ Church | CofE | Open | |
Radlett | St Anthony of Padua | RC | Open | |
Radlett | St John | CofE | Locked | |
Radwell | All Saints | CofE | Open | |
Redbourn | St John Fisher | RC | Locked | |
Redbourn | St Mary | CofE | Open | |
Reed | St Mary | CofE | Open | |
Rickmansworth | Our Lady Help of Christians | RC | Open | |
Rickmansworth | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Open | |
Ridge | St Margaret | CofE | Locked | Open 2-4 Sun pm June to Sept |
Royston | St John the Baptist | CofE | Open | |
Royston | St Thomas of Canterbury | RC | Open | |
Rushden | Rushden: St Mary | CofE | Open | |
Rye Park | St Cuthbert | CofE | Locked | Open Tuesdays term time 9.30-12 |
Sacombe | St Catherine | CofE | Open | |
Sandon | Sandon: All Saints | CofE | Open | |
Sandridge | St Leonard | CofE | Open | Now seems to be open regularly Dec 2015 |
Sarratt | Holy Cross | CofE | Open | |
Sawbridgeworth | Great St Mary | CofE | Open | |
Sawbridgeworth | Most Holy Redeemer | RC | Locked | |
Shenley | Church of the Good Shepherd | RC | Locked | |
Shenley | St Botolph | CofE | n/a | Private house. Parts of exterior viewable from adjacent cemetery |
Shenley | St Martin | CofE | Open | |
South Mymms | St Giles | CofE | Locked | keyholders advertised |
South Oxhey | All Saints | CofE | Open | |
South Oxhey | Oxhey Chapel (Churches Conservation Trust) | CofE | Locked | Keyholders advertised (All Saints church next door) |
South Oxhey | St Joseph | RC | Locked | |
St Albans | Cathedral and Abbey of Saint Alban | CofE | Open | |
St Albans | St Alban & St Stephen | RC | Open | |
St Albans | St Bartholomew | RC | Open | |
St Albans | St Michael | CofE | Open | Tries to be open 9.30 to 5.00 except Saturdays when it is closed |
St Albans | St Paul | CofE | Open | |
St Albans | St Peter | CofE | Open | |
St Albans | St Saviour | CofE | Open | |
St Albans | St Stephen | CofE | Locked | |
St Albans | Christ Church | CofE | n/a | Private Offices – exterior viewable from road |
St Albans – Cell barns | St Luke | CofE | Locked | |
St Albans – Cotton Mill | St Julian | CofE | Locked | |
St Albans – Marshalswick | St Mary | CofE | Open | |
St Albans – New Barns | Christ Church | CofE | Locked | |
St Ippolyts | St Ippolyts | CofE | Open | |
St Paul’s Walden | All Saints | CofE | Open | |
Standon | St Mary | CofE | Open | |
Stanstead Abbots | St Andrew | CofE | Locked | |
Stanstead Abbots | St James (Churches Conservation Trust) | CofE | Locked | CCT Open Sun pm 2.30-5 May to Sept |
Stanstead St Margaret’s | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Locked | open Saturday morning |
Stapleford | St Mary | CofE | Locked | Key holders listed on door |
Stevenage | St Andrew & St George | CofE | Locked | |
Stevenage – Bedwell | St Joseph | RC | Open | Except for Tuesday now open from 0830 to dusk, but possibly only narthex |
Stevenage – Broadwater | St Peter | CofE | Locked | |
Stevenage – Chells | St Hugh & St John | CofE | Locked | |
Stevenage – Old Town | Church of the Transfiguration of Our lord | RC | Locked | |
Stevenage – Old Town | Holy Trinity | CofE | Open | |
Stevenage – Old Town | St Nicholas | CofE | Locked | |
Stevenage – Pin Green | All Saints | CofE | Locked | |
Stevenage – Shephall | Cathedral of St George | Coptic Orthodox | Locked | |
Stevenage – Shephall | St Hilda | RC | Locked | |
Stevenage – Shephall | St Mary | CofE | Locked | |
Stevenage – Symonds Green | Christ the King | CofE | Locked | |
Stocking Pelham | St Mary | CofE | Locked | |
Tewin | St Peter | CofE | Open | |
Therfield | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Open | |
Thorley | St James the Great | CofE | Open | |
Throcking | Holy Trinity | CofE | Locked | |
Thundridge | St Mary | CofE | Locked | |
Thundridge | St Mary & All Saints | CofE | n/a | Tower Ruin – Accesible at all times off bridleway |
Tonwell | St Mary | CofE | n/a | School – exterior viewable from road |
Tring | St Peter & St Paul | CofE | Open | |
Tring | Corpus Christi | RC | Locked | |
Turnford | St Clement | CofE | Locked | |
Walkern | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Locked | |
Wallington | St Mary | CofE | Open | |
Waltham Cross | Christ Church | CofE | Locked | |
Waltham Cross | St Joseph | RC | Open | |
Ware | Catholic Apostolic Church | CA | n/a | Private housing exterior viewable from street |
Ware | Christ Church | CofE | Open | |
Ware | Sacred Heart of Jesus & St Joseph | RC | Open | |
Ware | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Open | |
Wareside | Holy Trinity | CofE | Locked | |
Waterford | St Michael & All Angels | CofE | Open | From 14/5/17 will be open all day, 1000:1800 until 30 Sept and then 1000-1600 until 1st April. If coming any distance check first as this is the 1st year & they will be testing the ability to have a keyholder available every day. |
Watford | Christ | CofE | Locked | |
Watford | Holy Rood | RC | Open | |
Watford | Our Lady & St Michael | RC | Locked | |
Watford | Soul Survivor | CofE | Locked | |
Watford | St Andrew | CofE | Locked | |
Watford | St Helen | RC | Locked | |
Watford | St James | CofE | n/a | Private used by school. Exterior vieweable from road |
Watford | St John the Apostle and Evangelist | CofE | Locked | |
Watford | St Luke | CofE | Locked | |
Watford | St Mark | CofE | Locked | |
Watford | St Mary | CofE | Open | |
Watford | St Michael & All Angels | CofE | Locked | Open for tea and coffee Wed 1030-1200 |
Watford | St Peter | CofE | Locked | |
Watton at Stone | St Andrew & St Mary | CofE | Locked | |
Welwyn | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Open | |
Welwyn Garden City | All saints | CofE | Locked | |
Welwyn Garden City | Holy Family | RC | Locked | |
Welwyn Garden City | Our Lady Queen of Apostles | RC | Locked | |
Welwyn Garden City | St Bonaventure | RC | Locked | |
Welwyn Garden City | St Francis of Assisi | CofE | Open | |
Welwyn Garden City | St Michael & All Angels | CofE | n/a | Council day centre exterior viewable from road |
Welwyn Garden City – Digswell | St John the Evangelist | CofE | Locked | |
Welwyn Garden City – Haldens | Christ the King | CofE | Locked | |
Welwyn Garden City – Holwell Hyde | St Mary Magdalene | CofE | Locked | |
Welwyn Garden City -Panshanger | Panshanger | CofE | Locked | |
West Hyde | St Thomas | CofE | Locked | |
Westmill | St Mary the Virgin | CofE | Open | |
Weston | Holy Trinity | CofE | Open | |
Wheathampstead | St Helen | CofE | Open | |
Wheathampstead | St Thomas More | RC | Locked | |
Widford | St John the Baptist | CofE | Open | |
Wigginton | St Bartholomew | CofE | Open | |
Willian | All Saints | CofE | Locked | |
Wilstone | St Cross | CofE | Open | |
Woodhill | Community of the Twelve Apostles | Greek Orthodox | Locked | Chuch office on site 9-5. Ring the bell on the south door |
Woolmer Green | St Michael | CofE | Open | Generally open during school term times |
Wormley | St Laurence, Wormley | CofE | Locked | |
Wyddial | St Giles | CofE | Open |
I’m pleased to tell you that both Catholic Churches in Borehamwood are likely to be open more often now with the introduction of CCTV.
A good rule is that if there is anybody in the presbyteries next door – the Church will be open.
God Bless,
H.
Thank you Henry that is great news. Last time I was in Borehamwood, a couple of months ago St John Fisher was indeed open, the first time I had found it so but St Teresa was not. Glad to say that St Teresa was very well advertised as open on 17th September.
How do I print this list?
Is there some one who i can contact to ask for permission to use some of images listed on here for an article in heritagedaily.com and a listing on the londonhistorygroup.com. Full credit will be given to this website
I have emailed a reply to you
All Saints’ Kings Langley times when the parish office is open and access can be obtained:
Monday & Wednesday 8.00am – 3.30pm
Thursday 12.30pm – 3.00pm
Friday 11.30am – 2.30pm
Open on Sundays for services at 8.00am and 9.30am.
Many thanks for updating the times I had in the list.
Pleased to advise that All Saints’ Kings Langley is now open daily from 9.30am to 5pm. All visitors welcome!
Many thanks, that is great news
St Joseph’s Bedwell Stevenage is now open during daylight hours until dusk, from 0830hrs , excepting Tuesday. Church building has been rebuilt. How do I get new pictures to you for your website? Brianmcmahon@rcdow.org.uk
St Marys Essendon has key holders listed and every effort is made to have the church open when someone is available. Wednesday morning after the 9.30am service every week is open.