Finnish Church in London — Attraction in London

The Finnish Church is much more a community centre with a church attached to it than the other way around. There's a sauna, cafe/cafeteria, shop, library, hostel and children's play area. There is a lot of activity - especially on weekdays - for mothers and kids, and weekend activities for families and adults alike. (As of Feb 2017 the sauna is still under renovation, so check the FB page or website of the church for updates.)

There are two main 4-day events held every year: the Christmas Fair (November) and the Easter Fair (March/April). These attract thousands of visitors, but few know that outside of these times, there's a lot going on - and it's often very delicious!

There's a Finnish meal for £6 (£4 veg or £3 soup) on Saturdays and Tuesdays and on some random days (contingent on other activities). Then there's always a basic cafe which serves sweet and savoury pastries and filter coffee and tea. Prices are very reasonable for London standards and the atmosphere is relaxing and homely. The church is a welcoming place for people, regardless of their background, and many come out of curiosity to try Finnish foods or to meet...

Visited here yesterday for the first time, for background I went to Helsinki a few years ago on a solo trip and loved the food/culture/approach to life I feel I experienced when out there.

So the building is quite unassuming in some ways and in others quite striking, lots of grey and an understated look. You buzz to get in and are greeted by a friendly cashier, we had a look around the shop that sells a lot of classic Finnish essentials like Karl Fazer chocolate, jars and tins of pickles and James and coffee cups and mugs amongst other things. My brother promptly bought a selection of Fazer chocolate.

Also present is a chilled out space that had a lot of families and kids enjoying themselves and a sauna (which we didn't see but want to try sometime) which you could feel some of the residual heat from! We got a few Karelian pasties to go and then left to eat in the local park.

If you are a Finn/Estonian it will probably feel quite like home there, I definitely got the Finnish vibes I experienced when in Helsinki.

Will be back for sauna and more Karelian...

What other chutch in the United Kingdom has it's own sauna? Where else will you see the church baseball team quietly steaming up the back of the cafe draped in towels after their post game sauna scrub and shower? In which other church will you find Karalian pies, cinnamon buns and limitless supplies of Nordic coffee? Has any other church garden anywhere got it's very own strawberry tree yielding it's own fruits in season? Nordic Noir novels in the original language? A 20 bed hostel? The biggest gas fired paella pan filled with stewing reindeer meat? Genuine original Alvar Alto furniture and glassware. The best, the biggest and the most happening 4 to 5 day long Christmas fare and Nordic/Scandinavian street market? Original moomin? Albion Street in...