One of London’s most iconic churches, St Mary le Strand, will be transformed into an extraordinary celebration of flowers, heritage and contemporary design this September, as St Mary le Strand launches its inaugural Jewel in the Strand Flower Festival.
Running from 22–24 September 2026, the Grade I listed Baroque church, located on the pedestrianised Strand piazza beside King’s College London, Somerset House and The Courtauld, will become home to a collection of large-scale floral installations inspired by the building’s remarkable architecture, history and heritage.
Far from a traditional flower festival, visitors will see this space completely transformed by immersive installations by some of London’s most exciting professional florists including Florist at The Savoy, Wildabout Flowers, Petal to the Metal, and Pulbrook and Gould.
The Festival Patron is internationally renowned florist Nikki Tibbles, founder of Wild at Heart, whose pioneering work in floral design has transformed some of the world’s most prestigious venues.
Flowers have long been woven into the identity of St Mary le Strand from the celebrated magnolia trees in the church garden to the intricate floral plasterwork decorating the church ceiling. The Festival builds on this natural connection, creating a unique cultural event at the heart of London’s Heritage Quarter.
The Jewel in the Strand Project
The Flower Festival is in aid of the Jewel in the Strand project, an ambitious programme to conserve and transform St Mary le Strand for future generations. The project will restore the historic fabric of the church while creating new accessible community spaces, improved visitor facilities and enhanced opportunities for music, learning and cultural events. The ambitious project has received generous support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund as well as private individuals, trusts, and the public without whom the Flower Festival would not be possible.
Since the completion of Westminster City Council’s Strand Aldwych improvements, more than 500,000 pedestrians now pass the church each month giving it a new lease of life. The Jewel in the Strand project will restore this significant heritage building and celebrate its prominent setting at the heart of the piazza and cultural quarter.
Canon Peter Babington, Priest-in-Charge of Mary le Strand says of the Festival: “We are hugely excited to welcome visitors to the church for the Jewel in the Strand Flower Festival. The space will be experienced like never before and we are immensely grateful to all our partners and supporters who have made this possible. The Flower Festival is in aid of our church restoration project which will transform this Grade I listed building for generations to come, ensuring its future as the Jewel in the Strand.”
Throughout the three-day Festival, visitors will have the opportunity to experience the installations, attend special events and discover the remarkable history of the Jewel in the Strand.
