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Notice: Blewcoat will no longer be open on Saturdays in the run up to Christmas.

Early 18th-century school for the poor, now a National Trust coffee house and shop

The Blewcoat School, so called from the colour of the tunic worn by its pupils, was founded in 1688 in Duck Lane (now St Matthew Street), Westminster.

The present building was erected in 1709 at the expense of William Green, a prominent local brewer to provide education for the poor. It remained a school until 1928.

During World War II, the school was used by the Forces as a store and later by the Girl Guides until it was acquired by the National Trust in 1954.

Today the site hosts the Blewcoat Coffee House and gift shop. Moments from St James Park and Westminster it's the perfect place to meet, eat and escape the bustle of central London.

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Free wifi

A desk with laptop open and paperwork in use © NTPL

You can get online for free whilst enjoying your sandwich, coffee or cake.

Simply ask a member of our staff for a wifi voucher and the unique code will enable you to access a Wi-Fi session lasting up to one hour.

Our bread

Freshly baked farmhouse breads © NTPL/James Dobson

Enjoy our locally baked bread, traditionally made and free from chemicals

We use a local artisan baker who believes in making bread and patisserie of the highest quality using only the finest ingredients and traditional time-tested recipes with a modern angle.

Most of the breads are made using our 10 year-old sourdough culture, giving our sandwiches a unique flavour and texture. Our baker works in partnership with a small family-run mill in the Cotswolds who supply them with rare and heritage type grains.

Our aim is to produce the best sandwich in Westminster, and by using the bread that we do, we believe we are achieving our ambition.