Originally a hit for our predecessor Secret Londinium, the enigmatic London Mithraeum is free to visit.
If you’re Roman around for something to do this week, we’ll Nero down your options. Deep beneath the headquarters of media giant Bloomberg lies the London Mithraeum, a painstaking restoration of an ancient Roman temple, once a site of worship by a cult dedicated to the god Mithras. (It’s also one of many awesome free things to do in London.)
The temple was founded back in 300 AD, when the cryptic organisation was popular with ‘merchants, soldiers and imperial administrators.’ Sunken into the earth, the temple was designed to resemble the cave where Mithras once slayed a bull, in an iconic scene that would have once been depicted prominently inside.
Rediscovered in the 1950s, this ultra-modern exhibit was opened to the public in November 2017, and on August 25, 2020, it will reopen after closing during the coronavirus pandemic.
Pay a visit and you’ll also find ancient artefacts, projections, and interactive exhibits, revealing what archaeologists have discovered about the historic site.
Joining the Mithraic cult once required ascending through seven different levels of initiation, and full members described themselves as ‘united by the handshake.’ Fortunately, no rites, rituals or secret signs are required to attend in modern times, and entry is free, with na’ry an animal sacrifice demanded.
Location: Find London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE at 12 Walbrook, City of London, EC4N 8AA. Nearest station is Bank. See it on Google Maps.
Opening hours: closed Monday, 10am-6pm Tuesday-Saturday, 12pm-5pm on Sunday. It’s open late, until 8pm, on the first Thursday of every month.
Entry: Free, but in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, you’ll need to book in advance to guarantee admission – they’re also operating with reduced capacity.
More information: on their website.
Also published on Medium.