Located in Clerkenwell, a short walk from Farringdon Thameslink, the Museum of the Order of St John is one of those places that feels slightly off the usual London museum circuit — but absolutely worth the detour. It’s closely tied to St John Ambulance, and the history runs far deeper than you expect when you first step inside.

If you go, do the guided tour. The museum alone is interesting, but you’ll miss most of what makes the site special. The Order’s story — from its medieval origins in the Knights Hospitaller, through Cyprus and Malta, and eventually to London — comes alive properly when you see the spaces connected to it.

I started with the main display, left for lunch, then returned for the tour. Only then did I realise that crossing the road opens up an entirely different part of the site.

The tour takes you down into the Crypt, which feels like a hidden chamber beneath Clerkenwell — atmospheric, slightly eerie, and completely unexpected. From there you head up into the Priory Church, once used as a residence, and then through an unassuming door to the Chapter Hall, lined with portraits of monarchs and steeped in institutional history.

After the Chapter Hall you’re led back into the main museum. The museum itself is free; the guided tour is £15. If you’re timing‑savvy, there’s a genuine hack here: the museum runs open days where the crypt and Chapter Hall are free to access. Hit one of those dates and you can see everything without paying — though the tour fee does help support both the museum and St John Ambulance.

One of my favourite things I learned was that during their time in Malta, the Order’s annual rent for the island was simply to train one Maltese falcon a year in lieu of payment. A whole fortress‑state, paid for with a single bird.

Before you leave, take a moment in the garden and see if you can spot the different varieties of St John’s Wort growing there.