london church walking tour

The Ultimate Wren’s Churches Tour

Go Jauntly have a fantastic walk just for you.

You can check out this walking route on the Go Jauntly app. Your walking app for everyday outdoor adventures.

Download our free walking app and own a pocket-sized encyclopedia of urban walks.

Preview Steps

Download the app to get all the steps for this walk.

Step 1: Welcome to this incredible Central London adventure walk! When Sir Christopher Wren was 33, the Great Fire of London of 1666 destroyed much of the city. His office was commissioned to replace 51 churches and St Paul’s Cathedral.

Step 2: As far as we can tell, there around 30 surviving in some form to this day. On this route, we’ll attempt to visit all of them! It’s a challenge walk - there’s lots to see and discover along the way.

Step 3: We highly recommend walking on a weekday during business hours, if you can, as many of the churches are open and staffed by volunteers eager to answer questions and show you around.

Nearby Walks

Lunch jaunt in the Eastern Cluster

The Illuminated River Walk

by illuminatedriver

The Garden at 120

St Dunstan to Crossrail Place

by GoJauntly

Shakespeare’s London Part II 🎭

Tour London’s Old Roman Wall

Cookie consent.

Using our site means you agree to the use of cookies and similar technologies.

Read more and how to disable cookies in our Privacy Policy

Join our mailing list

Want the low-down on all things walking and nature? Pop your email address in the box for fortnightly jaunting inspiration.

Thanks, we'll be in touch soon

By entering your email address you agree to receive updates from Go Jauntly. We always treat your personal details with care and you can unsubscribe to our newsletter at any point and your details will be deleted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

• Find a Guide
• Walks & Tours
• Members Area

Discover Official Walks & Talks

City in spires - a tour of wren churches: tuesdays.

A tour of Wren's churches

After the Great Fire of London, Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723) rebuilt 51 churches. On this guided tour, led by an expert City of London of Guide, you’ll see several of his finest places of worship. Judge for yourself which is the finest!

Among the Wren churches you’ll see on this walk are:

• His masterpiece: St Paul’s Cathedral (note: we won’t be going in, but why not visit it before or after the walk?)
• St Nicholas Cole Abbey, with its distinctive galleon weathervane and excellent cafe
• The spires of St Vedast Foster Lane and Christ Church Newgate Street
• St Mary-le-Bow, where you’ll learn about the origins of a London cockney and a strong connection to the United States
• St Mary Aldermary, an unusual gothic-style church with a stunning plasterwork ceiling
• St James Garlickhythe, known as ‘Wren’s Lantern’
• St Michael Paternoster Royal, associated with Dick Whittington
• St Stephen Walbook, with its impressive dome and stunning Henry Moore font

The walk ends near Bank Station and lasts a little under 2 hours. Please note: children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE

Photos: courtesy of Niki Gorick  

We offer daily, weekly and monthly walks around the City of London 

Our daily walks run from the City Information Centre, just south of St Paul's. You need to book via Eventbrite to secure you place.  Note : the cut-off time for booking our daily walks is 21:00hrs the night before. If we don't have any bookings then the walk will not take place.

Our weekly walks have individual booking pages and earlier cut-off times, please see the individual listing.  

We've added 3 new walks for this season:

Secrets and Symbols, News from Fleet Street, and From Shakespeare to Oscar Wilde

Billingsgate Roman House and Baths opens in April 

This unique site will open for this year's season for tours starting on Saturday 13 April.  Find out more.

Private tours

If you'd like to organise your own walk , lecture or a virtual tour, then please use our  Find a Guide  section. If you're a member of an Arts Society or a U3A or other group we'd love to take you on a tour of the City. And if you're a company based in the City who'd like to organise a social event for your work colleagues, why not book a walk with us? 

If you've been on a walk recently we'd love to hear from you. Why not leave a review on our TripAdvisor  page? We've been awarded TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice for 2023!

Normal price, concessions.

City Information Centre

All Walks & Tours

In Charles Dickens' Footsteps: Wednesdays

Find out dates & details

London's River Walk: Saturdays

Dr. Samuel Johnson Guided Walks: Twice Monthly

25 Most beautiful churches in London

From iconic landmarks like St Paul's and Westminster Abbey to hidden treasures by legendary architect Sir Christopher Wren these are London's most beautiful churches

About the Author: David Angel is a British photographer, writer and historian with 30+years experience exploring Europe. His work regularly appears in global media including the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, and The Guardian.

This is my guide to the best and most beautiful churches in London. Visiting them is such a great way to delve into London history.

Growing up in Britain, London has held a special place in my heart since I was a child. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of visiting the city countless times. It was in London that I met my wife, Faye, who lived there for a decade.

St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey are the two most famous London churches, but there are so many more. You will have seen some of them in popular movies including Shakespeare in Love and The Da Vinci Code .

Another is rumoured to have inspired the tiered wedding cake, while another definitely inspired the famous Oranges and Lemons nursery rhyme.

Together, we have curated a list of what we consider to be the 25 best churches in London to visit. I hope you find them as fascinating as we have. Enjoy!

These are the most beautiful churches and cathedrals to visit in London:

Table of Contents

1. St Pauls Cathedral

London’s biggest and arguably most beautiful church

• Location: St Paul’s tube station
• Style: Baroque
• Highlights: The dome is one of the great icons of London

If you only have one day in London , you should spend some of it visiting St Paul’s Cathedral . That’s how impressive this London cathedral is.

It was built by Sir Christopher Wren to replace Old St Paul’s, lost in the Great Fire. It’s the masterpiece of English Baroque, and was built in the late 17 th and early 18 th centuries.

The dome of St Paul’s is one of the great icons of London, and this was reinforced by photos of it surviving intact during the Blitz of World War II.

It dominates Ludgate Hill, one of the most famous streets in London , and the area around it is kept free of tall buildings to protect the view of it.

One of the most remarkable things to do in West London is to visit Richmond Park to see St Paul’s Cathedral dome from a protected view 15 km (almost 10 miles) away, with the help of a telescope and a tiny gap in the trees.

The gilded arches, paintings and dome crossing make St Paul’s one of the most famous churches in England. St Paul’s Crypt has several famous burials, including naval hero Lord Nelson and Sir Christopher Wren himself.

Top Tip: If you don’t mind heights, climb the dome to visit the Golden Gallery, which has some of the best views in London.

These are all included in standard St Paul’s Cathedral tickets , or there’s the option of joining a St Paul’s Cathedral tour.

Address: St. Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD, United Kingdom

2. Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is often mistaken as one of the cathedrals of London.

It’s an easy mistake to make, but it’s an Abbey which has served as the Coronation Church for Kings and Queens of England for almost a thousand years.

Westminster Abbey is one of the big-ticket top three or four things to do in London, and it’s something we suggest you make time for, even if you only have a 1-day London itinerary .

Visiting Westminster Abbey can be a time-consuming affair, particularly if you haven’t reserved your Westminster Abbey tickets online .

We suggest you do this to avoid having to queue outside the Abbey, often for more than an hour. Many prefer to book a Westminster Abbey tour so that they don’t miss out on any of the sights inside.

The list of who is buried at Westminster Abbey is staggeringly long, and includes many English monarchs. You could easily spend several hours in there. Don’t miss the exquisite Lady Chapel, one of the best examples of the unique English Perpendicular Gothic style.

Address: 20 Deans Yd, Westminster, London SW1P 3PA, United Kingdom

Here are the most popular Westminster Abbey Tours

• Fully guided Westminster Abbey and Changing of the Guard tour
• Westminster Abbey skip-the-line access, refreshments in the Cellarium, and a guided tour

3. St Stephen Walbrook

This is my nomination as the most beautiful of the churches in the City of London. It was also built by Sir Christopher Wren, and I’d go so far as to say that it’s a London must-see.

It’s a beautifully proportioned Church, appearing quite small from outside but inside there’s a soaring, lofty central dome and wonderful sense of space. It’s now almost totally hemmed in by more recent buildings, mainly office blocks.

It’s just across the street from the Queen Victoria Street Bank Tube exit. If you only visit one London church other than St Paul’s and Westminster Abbey, make it this one.

Address: 39 Walbrook, London EC4N 8BN, United Kingdom

4. St Peter ad Vincula

St Peter ad Vincula is a Chapel Royal within the grounds of the Tower of London. The Chapel – whose name means St Peter in Chains – is located in the corner of the Tower Green, close to where many prisoners of the Tower were executed. 

It’s best known as the burial site of many of these, including two of Henry VIII’s wives, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, the poor unfortunate Lady Jane Grey, who was queen of England for nine days in 1553, and Sir Thomas More, former Chancellor to Henry VIII, who we will encounter later in our tour of London churches. The Chapel Royal can be visited on Tower of London guided tours.

Address: Tower of London, St Katharine’s & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB, United Kingdom

5. St Andrew Undershaft

Some churches in London England have rather unusual names, and this is something you don’t tend to find elsewhere in England .  The likes of St Andrew by the Wardrobe, St Giles Cripplegate, St James Garlickhythe and St Andrew Undershaft have roused curiosity in many a visitor to London, myself included.

St Andrew Undershaft is a late Perpendicular (early 16 th century) Gothic church which, like its neighbour St Helen’s Bishopsgate survived the Great Fire and Blitz intact, only to suffer later damage as a result of an IRA bombing.

It got its name from a tall maypole which used to stand outside the church. – the maypole was the ‘shaft’, hence the church was ‘under shaft’.

Almost 500 years later, history repeated itself in a roundabout way when Lord Foster’s 30 St Mary Axe – better known as the Gherkin – was built a few doors along from the church. Once again, St Andrew stands under a shaft.  

It’s one of the best London churches to photograph, and yet one of the least known.

Address: St Mary Axe, London EC3A 8EP, United Kingdom

6. St Martin in the Fields

St Martin in the Fields church is a handsome white neoclassical church on the corner of Trafalgar Square, across the street from the National Gallery.

Its central position makes it one of the most famous churches of London. The bright interior is one of the best London classical music venues, with lunchtime and evening concerts throughout the year.

The crypt (entrance via stairs or elevator to the left of the front of the church) has a great café serving meals, drinks and snacks. If you’ve never set foot inside this graceful landmark of London, try to spare a few minutes next time you’re passing.

Address: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ, United Kingdom

7. Southwark Cathedral

Southwark Cathedral – formerly the parish church of St Mary Overie – may not be one of the most famous cathedrals in England, but it’s one of the most beautiful churches in London, and one of its most intriguing.

This magnificent church near London Bridge was mostly built between 1220 and 1420, so it was one of the first Gothic churches in London. It was restored in the 19 th century, and again after World War II when it was hit by a German bomb.

Visiting the Cathedral is one of the best things to do in Southbank London – Borough Market is next door in one direction, and the replica of the Golden Hinde ship sailed around the world in the 16 th century by Sir Francis Drake is around the corner in the other.

Address: London Bridge, London SE1 9DA, United Kingdom

8. All Hallows by the Tower

All Hallows Church London sits across the square from the Tower of London.  It’s one of the oldest Christian churches in London, dating back possibly to the 7 th century AD. It famously survived the Great Fire of London because surrounding buildings were burned to create a firebreak.

Diarist Samuel Pepys (see St Olave Hart Street below) climbed the spire of All Hallows to see the devastation caused by the Fire. The airy interior dates from the late Gothic period (16 th century), and was restored after total destruction during the Blitz.

The museum in the crypt of the church is well worth a visit, where you can see a Roman pavement and a number of Saxon artefacts. William Penn, founder of the American state of Pennsylvania, was baptised in the church in 1644.

Address: Byward St, London EC3R 5BJ, United Kingdom

This religious history and architecture on this guided walking tour. This tour visits many of the famous churches in London and learn about England’s extensive religious history and architecture on this guided walking tour

9. St Katharine Cree

St Katharine Cree Image: David Iliff / CC-BY-SA 3.0

St Katharine Cree is a neighbour of St Andrew Undershaft, less than 100 metres away off Leadenhall Street in the heart of the City of London.

It avoided the Great Fire and the worst of the Blitz. It’s the only surviving Jacobean (built during or shortly after the 1603-25 reign of King James I) church in London, built by an unknown architect.

Its plain exterior contrasts with the lovely bright interior, the highlight of which is the beautiful rose window above the high altar, which was reputedly modelled on a much larger one in Old St Paul’s Cathedral. St Helen’s Bishopsgate (below) is also very close by.

Address: 86 Leadenhall St, London EC3A 3BP, United Kingdom

10. St Helen’s, Bishopsgate

St Helen’s Church in Bishopsgate is another survivor of the Great Fire, and indeed the Blitz.

However, an IRA bomb blew its roof off. It originally belonged to a nunnery which was dissolved in 1538. If you’re interested in photographing London, seek this one out as it stands in the shadow of the famous London Gherkin skyscraper, making for a great contrast between old and new London.

Address: Great St Helen’s, London EC3A 6AT, United Kingdom

11. St Bride’s Fleet Street

If this church were a computer program, it would be called St Bride’s 8.0. It’s the eighth building on the site just to the south of Fleet Street. It’s another beautiful Wren church in white stone.

It has two claims to fame, one a little more tenuous than the other. The popular story is that a local man had a tiered cake baked for his wedding, inspired by the tiered tower of St Bride’s.

This tale has never been substantiated, and could quite easily be an early urban myth. St Bride’s is also the main church for journalists in London. Fleet Street was where the UK newspaper and magazine press were based until the 1980s, and the connection has been maintained ever since.

Address: Fleet St, London EC4Y 8AU, United Kingdom

12. St Olave Hart Street

St Olave is a rarity, a medieval Gothic church in London. It was one of a small number to survive the Great Fire of London. It suffered far greater damage during the London Blitz of World War II, and the 15 th century body of the church was restored by the mid-1950s.

It’s a small church with a wealth of history. St Olave’s was the church of the famous diarist Samuel Pepys (pronounced ‘Peeps’) who lived around the corner on Seething Lane. He and his wife Elizabeth are buried in the nave of the church. The pantomime character Mother Goose is also commemorated by a memorial there.

Outside, a row of grinning skulls on the entrance to the churchyard made quite an impression on the author Charles Dickens, who later called the church St Ghastly Grim in The Uncommercial Traveller .

Address: 8 Hart St, London EC3R 7NB, United Kingdom

13. St Mary le Bow

St Mary le Bow was historically one of the most important City of London churches, and was one of the first to be rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire.

It’s another beautiful Baroque church with an elegant tower that houses the famous Bow Bells. According to London tradition, a true Cockney can only be born within earshot of these bells, which are a 200-metre walk around the corner from St Paul’s Cathedral on Cheapside.

The interior is one of my favourites in London, bright and spacious with a superb blue and white barrel roof. There’s also a memorial to Arthur Philip, the first Governor of the British colony of Australia.

Address: Cheapside, London EC2V 6AU, United Kingdom

14. Temple Church London

The Inns of Court either side of busy Fleet Street are a far cry from the bustle of central London.

In a large courtyard off a narrow street is their best-known sight, the Temple Church, which was founded by the military Knights Templar as their London headquarters in the late 12 th century.

As with other Knights Templar churches it was originally round, but a rectangular chancel (the area containing the choir and altar) was later added. 

The church attracted a lot of interest after a scene from The Da Vinci Code movie was shot there. The most intriguing part is the series of marble effigies in the Round Church – though nobody is quite sure who they are meant to represent. Entry costs 5 GBP.

Address: Temple, London EC4Y 7BB, United Kingdom

15. St Bartholomew the Great

St Bartholomew the Great is the oldest church in London still standing. Its foundation – in 1123 – was much later than several other churches, but the fabric of the church itself is the oldest.

It’s a magnificent Romanesque (also known as Norman, with round arches as opposed to the pointed arches of Gothic architecture) building, with the choir and apse particularly beautiful.

St Bartholomew’s Hospital next door was originally the church’s hospital, where the sick would come in search of treatment and cures. You may well have seen the church already as it has featured in numerous movies and TV programmes, including Shakespeare in Love and Four Weddings and a Funeral .

It’s in the north of the City of London, close to the old Smithfield Market. It’s also one of very few London parish churches to charge an admission fee (5 GBP).

Address: West Smithfield, London EC1A 7JQ, United Kingdom

16. St Lawrence Jewry

St Lawrence Jewry is a splendid Baroque church by Sir Christopher Wren, built on the site of an earlier church destroyed in the Great Fire. 

It’s across the square from London Guildhall, and is the official church of the Lord Mayor of London and the City of London Corporation.

The Jewry in its name refers to the London Jewish ghetto, which was centred around the street named Old Jewry, which can be found less than 100 metres east along Gresham Street from the church – it’s on the right.   

Address: Guildhall Yard, London EC2V 5AA, United Kingdom

17. St Giles Cripplegate

St Giles is the patron saint of lepers, the crippled and the handicapped, hence this unusual dedication. It’s another London medieval church, mostly built in the late Gothic Perpendicular style, and survived the Great Fire of London but not the Blitz.

The whole of the surrounding area was destroyed, and on this ground, close to a section of the London Wall, the Barbican Estate was built. This concrete Brutalist beauty is worth a journey in itself, as is the outstanding Barbican Arts Centre.

The fine late medieval church, in which the poet John Milton (of Paradise Lost fame) is buried, isn’t always open, so check the church website to find out when you can visit.

Address: Fore St, London EC2Y 8DA, United Kingdom

18. Westminster Cathedral

The second London cathedral is the one Roman Catholic church on our list. Westminster Cathedral is quite a surprise as you walk along Victoria Street towards Westminster.

The red and white striped church looks like something out of Ravenna or Constantinople rather than London.

It’s a superb neo-Byzantine church inside and out. It was built in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries by John Francis Bentley, and is the mother church for Roman Catholics in England and Wales.

Address: 42 Francis St, Westminster, London SW1P 1QW, United Kingdom

19. St James’s, Piccadilly

St james Piccadilly is one of my personal favourite London churches. It’s a fine red-brick church by Sir Christopher Wren, built in what in the mid-17 th century were the outskirts of London.

Piccadilly is now one of the most famous streets of London, and the Royal Academy of Arts, Fortnum & Mason department store and the Ritz Hotel are now all neighbours.

The interior is a fine, spacious example of early English Baroque. The churchyard plays host to the regular Piccadilly Market, with food stalls on Mondays and Tuesdays and arts and crafts stalls Wednesdays to Saturdays. 

One thing that will always stay with me is  a lady there encouraging me to let my then-baby son crawl around the church, something he (and I) took great delight in.

Address: 197 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9LL, United Kingdom

20. St Clement Danes

St Clement Danes church is one of the best-known churches in Westminster, London. It’s a fine white Baroque building with a prominent spire on a traffic island in the Strand, close to the Royal Courts of Justice.

It’s famous for the nursery rhyme ‘Oranges and lemons ring the bells of St Clement’s’, and it’s not the only church in our list to get a mention in. this. It was rebuilt in the late 17 th century by Sir Christopher Wren.

However, it was gutted during the Blitz in the early 1940s, and rebuilt again in the 1950s. It was decided to make it the Central Church of the Royal Air Force (RAF), and it now holds many RAF memorials in its bright, airy interior.

Some visitors get this church and St Mary le Strand, confused. The latter is on a smaller traffic island, closer to Trafalgar Square and opposite King’s College London.

Address: Strand, London WC2R 1DH, United Kingdom

21. St Paul’s Covent Garden

St Paul’s Church Covent Garden was the first new church in London to be built since the Reformation almost a century before.

It was designed and built by Inigo Jones, the architect also responsible for other famous London buildings at Banqueting House, Whitehall and Queens House, Greenwich.

It was built between 1631 and 1633 along with the new Covent Garden Piazza, the first formal square in England. The east end of the church faces the square, and its front resembles a temple with a portico.

St Paul’s is very close to several London West End theatres, including Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and several on The Strand and around Covent Garden. 

It developed strong links with the theatre community, and indeed the Royal Opera House, which was completed across the other side of the Piazza in 1723.

St Paul’s has long been known as the Actors Church in London, and has memorials to the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Noël Coward, Vivien Leigh and Boris Karloff.

Address: Bedford St, London WC2E 9ED, United Kingdom

22. St Margaret‘s Westminster

I wonder how many of those souls queuing for hours to enter Westminster Abbey have ever broken away to venture inside this fascinating Westminster church.

St Margaret’s Church Westminster is located in the churchyard of the Abbey,and is often called the ‘parish church of the House of Commons’.

It is often frequented by politicians and parliamentarians, and the connection dates back to the 17 th century when Puritan MPs started to worship there as they disapproved of the style of worship in Westminster Abbey.

The present building dates back to the late 15 th and early 16 th centuries, and is built in the distinctive English Perpendicular style.  It’s well worth visiting for its 16 th century stained glass, especially the east window.

It’s also the church where Samuel Pepys and his wife were married, and it’s the burial place of printing pioneer William Caxton and explorer Sir Walter Raleigh are among notable people buried there.

Address: St Margaret St, Westminster, London SW1P 3JX, United Kingdom

23. All Souls, Langham Place

All Souls Church Langham Place is one of the most famous London Churches because of its location next door to BBC Broadcasting House, at the northern end of Regent Street in the district of Marylebone.

You often see this London landmark in BBC broadcasts, and it’s easily recognisable because of its distinctive Neoclassical circular columned front and spire. It was designed by John Nash, architect to the Prince Regent (later King George IV), who was also responsible for remodelling Buckingham Palace and the layout of St James’s Park.

Address: 2 All Souls’ Pl, London W1B 3DA, United Kingdom

24. St Pancras Old Church

St Pancras Old Church isn’t that old nowadays, having largely been rebuilt as recently as the 19 th century, but it probably dates back to Saxon times, most likely the 7 th century AD, making it one of the oldest churches in London.

It’s a fairly small, humble but atmospheric church, around ten minutes’ walk from King’s Cross and St Pancras railway stations.

The churchyard and surrounding St Pancras Gardens are also noteworthy – the churchyard contains the tomb of architect Sir John Soane, which was the inspiration for the famous British red telephone box design.

The gardens were one of several places where the Beatles were taken on a day-long shoot with photographer Don McCullin in 1968, which became known as the Beatles Mad Day Out .

Address: Pancras Rd, London NW1 1UL, United Kingdom

25. Christ Church Spitalfields

Christ Church Spitalfields is one of the best-known churches in east London. It’s one of six Nicholas Hawksmoor churches in London, built just outside the City of London in the 1720s when the area was dominated by French Huguenot refugees.

Hawksmoor worked alongside Christopher Wren for many years, and continued the development of English Baroque. Christ Church Spitalfields was the first of his churches in London, and its tall white steeple is a popular London East End landmark . Well worth a visit if you’re visiting Brick Lane, a 5-minute walk away.

Address: Commercial St, London E1 6LY, United Kingdom

Churches in London Q and A

How many churches in london are there.

There are hundreds of churches in Greater London, including all the outlying boroughs. There are around 50 churches in City of London, the famous Square Mile and financial district, alone, and a further 70 in the City of Westminster.

Are there any Catholic churches in London?

Yes. You’ll find that they’re quite heavily outnumbered by Church of England churches, many of which were themselves Catholic prior to Henry VIII splitting with the Catholic Church in 1536. The best-known Roman Catholic church in London is Westminster Cathedral.

How many Wren churches are there in London?

Wren was commissioned to design and build 51 churches in London, mostly within the City of London boundary. Of these 27 survive, including four outside the City boundary. Some of these have been rebuilt in turn, after partial or full destruction during Luftwaffe bombing raids in World War II.

For centuries, the London skyline was dominated by church towers, spires and steeples soaring above the River Thames. Most of medieval London, including Old St Paul’s Cathedral and hundreds of smaller London churches, was wiped out by the Great Fire of London in 1666, so much of it had to be rebuilt.

The architect responsible for much of this was Sir Christopher Wren, who was asked to design and build 51 of the churches that were lost, including St Paul’s Cathedral.

Hence many of the City of London churches we now see are in the English Baroque style, with some Neoclassical elements.

The famous churches of London once again dominated the skyline of London for centuries. It’s only over the past century or so that, as the city has become increasingly built up, that many of these historic churches in London have been hidden, dwarfed, obscured and overshadowed by much larger developments, particularly the City of London skyscrapers.

Take a look below at more beautiful churches in Europe:

• 20 Most Beautiful Churches In Prague To Visit
• Kutná Hora Bone Church – The Amazing Art of the Sedlec Ossuary
• Frauenkirche Dresden – stunning Baroque jewel rebuilt from the rubble
• 22 Famous Churches In Paris – Notre Dame. Ste Chapelle, St Denis and more
• 14 Beautiful Churches In Venice
• 32 Of The Most Beautiful Churches In Europe
• 15 Best Churches In Santorini To Visit
• Three Bells Of Fira – the iconic blue-domed church above the Santorini caldera
• Trier Cathedral – the oldest Cathedral in Germany

You can find more places to visit in our England travel guide .

David Angel is a British photographer, writer and historian. He is a European travel expert with over 30 years’ experience exploring Europe. He has a degree in History from Manchester University, and his work is regularly featured in global media including the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, The Guardian, The Times, and The Sunday Times.  David is fluent in French and Welsh, and can also converse in Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech and Polish.

• Norsk Bokmål

Select currency

• Czestochowa

Top Churches of London Private Walking Tour with a Guide

Discover the most historically, culturally and architecturally important churches in London. Visit St Margaret’s Church and St Martin-in-the-Fields and learn about the Church of England. Optional: visit Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral.

• Discover London’s Top Churches with a 5-Star Local Guide
• Visit St Margaret’s Church and St Martin-in-the-Fields=
• Learn about the Church of England and the history of religion in Great Britain
• Discover royal treasures in Westminster Abbey (3- and 4-hour tours only)
• Avoid long lines at St Paul’s Cathedral and its dome with skip-the-line tickets (4-hour tour only)

Check Price

Data *   (optional)

Godzina  (optional)

Available trips:

Activity details.

• 2 - 4 Hours
• Private Tour Exclusive only for you
• Just buy and we instantly organize Your booking ensure the tour is already fully organized, just come and enjoy!
• Live Guide English
• Walking tour
• Skip The Line Tickets for Priority Access

Hear the origin story of the Church of England and discover interesting facts and myths about the religious life of Great Britain on a private walking tour! See a variety of London’s churches offering stunning architecture, beautiful sacred art and fascinating history. Discover the Top-ranked Churches of London and see some of the city’s most iconic landmarks along the way!

Book a 2-hour tour to visit 2 beautiful churches in the heart of London: St Margaret’s and St Martin-in-the-Fields. Your Private Guide will meet you in Westminster, home to the world-famous Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey, which together with St Margaret’s Church form a single World Heritage SIte. St Margaret’s is the official church of the House of Commons and is closely associated with the Protestants. This 12th-century church will amaze you with its Gothic-style exterior and an elegant interior featuring a Victorian organ, a wooden ceiling and original stained glass windows.

Throughout the tour your Private Guide will help you understand the role that the religious institutions, especially the Church of England, play in British history, culture and politics.You will take a walk from Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square, where you will enter St Martin-in-the-Fields. It is one of the most famous churches in London. You may recognize its neoclassical exterior from films like Notting Hill and Enigma and TV shows like Doctor Who and Sherlock. The guide will show you the beautiful interiors of St Martin and share interesting facts about its rich history and the ethos of the “Church of the Ever Open Door”.

Book a 3-hour tour to enhance your experience with a visit inside Westminster Abbey. This magnificent Gothic-style abbey is one of the most important Anglican churches in the world as it serves as the venue for royal coronations, weddings and burials. Your Expert Guide will share interesting facts about the royal events that take place here and show you treasures such as the Coronation Chair, the tombs of 30 kings and queens, and Poet’s Corner.

Book a 4-hour tour to visit St Margaret’s, St Martin’s, Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral. On this extended walking tour your Private Guide will take you from Westminster to the City of London, where you will see the medieval Temple Church, which was built by the Knights Templar and St Paul’s Cathedral, which is one of the largest domed churches in the world. With skip-the-line tickets to St Paul’s you will save time and enjoy full access to the cathedral, including the viewing terrace in its dome. Admire the stunning architecture inspired by St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, see the Stone Gallery and the Golden Gallery and enjoy the beautiful panoramic views of London!

• Private Walking Tour of the Top-ranked Churches in London (number of attractions depends on the selected option)
• 5-Star Licensed Guide who is fluent in the language selected when booking
• Free admission to St Margaret’s Church and St Martin-in-the-Fields (all options)
• Tickets to Westminster Abbey (3- and 4-hour options only)
• Skip-the-line tickets to St Paul’s Cathedral (4-hour option only)
• Tickets to Westminster Abbey (in 2-hour option)
• Skip-the-line tickets to St Paul’s Cathedral (in 2 and 3-hour options)

Important information

What you should know.

• Please check your email the day before the tour for important information.
• Please note that tickets to Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral are not included in a 2-hour tour.
• Guided tours inside the churches during mass and special events are limited, therefore the guide may provide all information outside.
• Admission to Westminster Abbey includes the Cloisters, College Garden, Chapter House and the Pyx Chamber.
• The guide will buy the tickets on the spot.
• Skip-the-lie tickets to St Paul’s Cathedral are reserved for a specific time slot, so it’s important to arrive at the meeting point on time. You will save time by skipping the line at the ticket office. Admission includes the cathedral floor, crypt, Dome Galleries, and temporary exhibitions and installations. There are 528 steps to climb the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral,
• 3- and 4-hour tours: due to abbey regulations, 1 licensed guide can lead a group of 1-20 people, so the price of the tour will be higher if you need more than 1 guide.

Why choose Rosotravel.com

Customer reviews

• Customer Service: 4.55 4.55 / 5
• Organization: 4.55 4.55 / 5
• Value for money: 4.55 4.55 / 5
• Guide: 4.55 4.55 / 5

Only customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.

You might also like

Stonehenge Private Trip from London by Car

Oxford Highlights Private Half-Day Tour from London by Car

The Best Highlights of London Walking Tour & Boat Cruise

Private Tour of London with Rooftop Garden & Tower of London

City of London Walks

• Photography Walks

Brighton Walks

Canterbury walks, chichester walks, highlights of the city of london, the east end – people, places and protests of spitalfields, a river’s tale, no place for a girl……or is it, across the pond: the london haunts of some famous americans, secret spaces in the city 1 : from blackfriars to st barts, leather making in old bermondsey, gardens of delight, wren 300 : “if you seek his monument, look around”, playwrights, palaces, prostitutes and piracy – a walk around southwark, queer georgians, immigrant london – riots, rebels and refugees, slavery and the city, the barbican – what’s not to love, explore the sculpture in the city, wren 300 : christopher wren, his life, work and legacy online tour, queens, crowns, coronations, executions and more in the city of london, secret spaces in the city 2 : from st paul’s to the tower, city of london photography walks, by pat langford.

The City of London has 2000 years of history packed into a small space. It is incredibly photogenic with it’s stunning Cathedral, historic River, classical buildings and tiny winding alleyways. 

Join me, an award-winning professional photographer and City of London Guide, for a Photography Walk in the Square mile, looking for the most memorable and unique views to photograph. 

We will look for those different, Insta-worthy shots around St Paul’s Cathedral, the River Thames, some of the City’s mediaeval lanes, Leadenhall Market (famous as the setting for scenes from Harry Potter films) and the iconic new buildings where the big money is made. Just bring a camera of any kind. We’ll have a chat over a cup of coffee before going out snapping.

NB The weather needs to be dry for this walk. If it look like it is going to rain significantly, then I will rearrange it and offer you replacement dates.

Brighton – the Phoenix of the South East

Sign up to our mailing list.

Sign up to receive emails regarding updates about our walks, special offers and inspiration about London’s sights.

We will take care of your personal data in accordance with our privacy policy .

London History Tours

Guided walking tours in The City of London

Walking tours in the City of London

Two thousand years ago the Romans built the first settlement here, and The City of London has been making history ever since. Saxons and Vikings, Normans, Tudors, the English Civil War, all have left their mark. One of the world’s greatest cities, and the best way to see it is by walking around.

The area inside the original Roman walls which is often known as “The Square Mile” or simply “The City” is the UK’s main centre for business and finance. This is where you’ll find the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and many of London’s great institutions. It’s a dynamic modern city, with cutting edge architecture being carefully positioned around ancient historical buildings and the churches of Sir Christopher Wren. Around every corner, down every winding alley, is a story or historical character waiting to be discovered. Tales of fire, plague, treachery and death, all have their place here as well as joyful pageantry and eccentric ceremonies.

Your Guide to Walking Tours in the City of London

These walking tours are here to help you discover the City of London’s rich history. Join one of the public guided walks and tours. Or if you want to see something specific you can contact me and arrange a bespoke private tour for yourself. Bring your friends, family or colleagues. Come and see what The City of London has to offer.

A walking tour around Wren’s London churches

This enjoyable walk will take around some of Sir Christopher Wren's finest City churches .

After the Great Fire of London Wren rebuilt fifty one churches plus St. Paul's Cathedral . Only thirteen of them survive in their original form. Eleven more are still standing but have been substantially altered on the inside (mainly due to The Blitz). Six more exist as towers only, and a couple have been demolished and their stones re-used elsewhere.

This tour will look at the exterior of St. Paul's and a selection of the very best churches. Highlights include the famous cockney church of St Mary-le-Bow (if you want to call yourself a true cockney then you're supposed to have been born within the sound of its bell).

The tour will also stop at St Michael Paternoster Royal . This was Dick Whittington's local church and the famous medieval Mayor is said to have been buried within its grounds.

Other churches include the gothic-style St. Mary Aldermary, St. James Garlickhythe (nicknamed Wren's Lantern), St. Stephen Walbook and St. Nicholas Cole Abbey.

Note: The tour doesn't go inside St. Paul's Cathedral itself.

Related articles and events

Outdoor Adventure Game: The Case of Colombia’s Finest Every day Discover some of the city's most curious locations in this self-guided outdoor adventure game

Greenwich Ghoulish Ghost Tour! Every other Sat Explore some of the creepy streets around Greenwich and hear stories about ghoulish crimes and haunted pubs

The Beatles Walking Tour: In the footsteps of the Fab Four Every Thu Walk across the Abbey Road zebra crossing and see where the band played their final gig on the roof

Sherlock Holmes Tour — London locations from the novels & movies Until 25 Sep 2024 Walk in the footsteps of the world's greatest fictional detective and Arthur Conan Doyle

London Bridge Ghost Tour — Two mile guided walk Every Sat Explore the dark streets and area around London Bridge and hear some spooky ghost stories and learn about its terrifying history 2

James Bond Walking Tour Until 28 Sep 2024 Walk in the footsteps of the world's most famous secret agent and see some film locations from the James Bond movies

Your comments and questions

Be the first to talk about this event

You must enable javascript to leave a comment

> Forum: London Landmarks, Attractions & Events

Samuel Pepys’ London: The Ultimate Self-guided Walking Tour

Most know of Samuel Pepys from his recording of the Great Fire of London in 1666 in his diary and famously burying his precious parmesan cheese in the garden to protect it from the flames.

He was however, so much more than that. As well as his diary being an invaluable source on the fire, it is one of the lynchpins of our understanding of life at a crucial time in London’s history (1660-1669). He comments on the Restoration (he actually travelled in the ship back to England with Charles II for his coronation), the Great Plague of 1665 and the Second Dutch war (1665-1667). He was also, over the course of his career, a top naval administrator, MP and President of the Royal Society.

As a person Samuel Pepys was intelligent, energetic and inquisitive but also could be brutal to his servants, quarrelsome with his wife and was an enthusiastic philanderer (very little detail is omitted in the diary).

With this self-guided walk of London you will walk in Samuel Pepys’ footsteps; where he lived, worked and how the cataclysmic events he was witnessing affected the city. A suggested route for the walk below but it is self-guided so feel free to do it however you wish!

Bridewell and St Bride’s Church

We start the walk in the area of Bridewell where Samuel Pepys was born on the 23rd February 1633. You can see a plaque in Salisbury Court on the spot where his house once stood.

Pepys was born into relatively humble beginnings as the son of John, a tailor, and Margaret, the sister of a Whitechapel butcher.

See below a map from 1658 before the Great fire- Salisbury Court and St Bride’s Church are circled in red.

Take yourself from here to the lovely St Bride’s church where he was baptised on 3rd March 1633. In 1664 Pepys also buried his brother here, but had to bribe the gravedigger to ‘jostle together’ the corpses (his words) to make room in the, very full, vaults. Although largely gutted in the Blitz and rebuilt, the current church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1672. The medieval St Bride’s was destroyed in the Great Fire. It is a beautiful church and full of historical treasures. Click the photo below to read more.

Before heading off make sure you explore the alleyways around the Church- you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

Head onto Fleet Street now to have a look at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.

This whole area you are walking through was decimated by the Great Fire- see below a map of the same area as above from after the fire. You can see on the left where the fire reached. It was stopped after 5 days due to the strong winds finally dropping and blowing up buildings in the path of the blaze to stop it from using them as fuel. It was Pepys himself who recommended this tactic to the King.

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is one of the oldest pubs in the city and was one of the first pubs to be rebuilt after the fire in 1667. There is no evidence of Pepys having been here but there is a strong possibility having a strong link with the area. Previous patrons apparently include Charles Dickens and Mark Twain. See their Tripadvisor page here .

St Paul’s Cathedral

Turn around and walk back along Fleet Street to St Paul’s Cathedral. Look out for the plaque on the side of St Martin within Ludgate Church. It is on the site of the old Ludgate. This would have been one of the gates into the city that Samuel Pepys would have known well. You can see the wall and the gate on the maps above, it was pulled down in 1760.

The awe-inspiring St Paul’s Cathedral was of course designed and built by Sir Christopher Wren after the medieval cathedral burnt down in the Great Fire. It was the centrepiece of the rebuilding programme after 1666.

It was completed in 1710 so Samuel Pepys would have associated St Paul’s with both the medieval cathedral that was in its place before and following that, a construction site. He attended the St Paul’s School as a child from 1646-1650, which was on a site just north of the cathedral.

Take some time to walk around the cathedral and take in its beauty and majesty. If you wanted to go inside, you can read more about visiting here .

Have a look also at the ‘Panyer Boy’ relief on Panyer Alley. Its origins are a mystery but it dates from the end of the 17th century and is thought to be a pub sign or decorative marker of some kind.

Christchurch Greyfriars

Christchurch Greyfriars is another Wren church. Wren designed and built 51 churches in London in total after the fire. Christchurch Greyfriars was largely destroyed in the blitz and is now with a lovely peaceful garden space with the church tower and walls remaining.

You’ll see a sculpture by Andrew Brown as a memorial to the Christchurch hospital. This was set up near this site in 1552 by Edward VI to educate poor children. In 1673 a new branch was set up- the Royal Mathematical School, largely established for sailors to learn navigation. Samuel Pepys made a substantial financial and administrative contribution to its founding and was appointed a Governor of Christchurch Hospital in 1675.

The Monument and Pudding Lane

Take a walk now through the old heart of London. My route will take you down the narrow Bow Lane. I love this part of the city. You get a sense of the warren of courtyards and passageways that would have once been all over the city. You will pass by Ye Olde Watling pub which was built by Christopher Wren (he didn’t just do churches!) to house the workers constructing the cathedral.

If you fancy a little break at this point, you could take a short detour to pop to the Samuel Pepys pub down by the river- no historical connection but still a lovely spot for a drink.

The next stop is the Monument and Pudding Lane. Pudding Lane is famously where the Great Fire started in the bakery of Thomas Farrinor, the King’s baker just after midnight on Sunday 2nd September. The fire left just one fifth of the City standing and made hundreds of thousands homeless.

The Monument was constructed between 1671 and 1677- designed by Wren and Robert Hooke to commemorate the fire and rebuilding of London. If you lay the monument on its side towards Pudding Lane the urn of flames will land where the fire started.

Take some time to have a look at the inscriptions and friezes. You will see Charles II calmly directing the rebuilding of the city. Read more about climbing the monument for one of the best views in London here .

All Hallows By The Tower

All Hallows by the Tower is an ancient church, supposedly the oldest in the City of London. It was founded in 675AD and you can still see a Saxon arch in the church today. The church remarkably survived the Great Fire due to the efforts of Admiral William Penn, the father of the future founder of Pennsylvania. He sent his men from his nearby naval yard to blow up the buildings around the church to save it from the flames.

Samuel Pepys climbed the tower of All Hallows on the 4th day of the fire to watch the progress and survey the damage. He described the scene as “the saddest sight of desolation”. The wooden door into the tower is apparently sometimes called ‘Pepys’s door’. Read more about visiting the church here .

Seething Lane

Seething Lane is where Pepys lived from 1660 for 14 years whilst he was Clerk of the Acts to the Navy Board. The Navy Office was constructed on Seething Lane in 1656. This was a high profile civilian position within the navy. Pepys was an excellent administrator and brought in reforms that would transform the British navy from a corrupt and inefficient service into a powerful force. He went on to be secretary to the Admiralty in 1673 and is often described as the ‘father of the modern navy’.

As well as a bust of Pepys, make sure you look down. You will find a series of plaques related to events in Pepys’ life including one of his parmesan cheese! The Navy Office survived the fire, however it burnt down in another fire just 7 years later.

St Olave’s Church Hart Street

Our final stop is Pepys’s local church whilst he lived on Seething Lane: St Olave’s Church Hart Street. Pepys described it as “our own church” and contributed to a new gallery in the church for the admiralty.

The churchyard is also significant to the Great plague of 1665 or the ‘Black death’. There are thought to be around 300 plague victims buried in the churchyard here. Entries in the church burial records denote plague victims with an ominous ‘P’ next to their names. Note the three foreboding skulls over the side entrance that led Charles Dickens to name the church ‘St Ghastly grim’.

Visiting the church in January of 1666 Pepys remarked: ‘‘It frighted me indeed to go through the church… To see so many graves lie so high upon the churchyard, where many people have been buried of the plague.’

Samuel Pepys’s wife Elisabeth died at the age of just 29 in 1669. They argued ferociously during their marriage but Samuel was devastated when she died. He had a memorial bust put up within view of his pew that you can still see inside today. Read more about visiting here .

Samuel Pepys died in 1703. He was living in Clapham by this point but was buried next to his wife in St Olave’s.

I can very much recommend reading Claire Tomalin’s fantastic biography, ‘Samuel Pepys: the Unequalled Self’ . If you are on twitter, click here to see an account that posts his diary entries in real time.

I hope you enjoyed this self-guided walk! I would love to hear from you if you have been on the walk. Comment below, email or message me on social media.

More London hidden gems, walks and curiosities below!

A Wonderful Day Trip To Historic Hastings

The Hidden History Of King’s Cross: A Self-Guided Walk

A Fascinating Walk: Liverpool Street To Borough Market

10 Beautiful And Historic Spots To Explore In Autumn

Share this:, 17 thoughts on “samuel pepys’ london: the ultimate self-guided walking tour”.

Pingback: St Bride's: The Church That Inspired The Wedding Cake - Living London History

Pingback: A Riverside stroll with One Big difference... - Living London History

Really interesting! Very dynamic how you traced the walk on the Google map, I could visualize myself walking down the streets! Just great. Another thing, I really don’t know much about London History, lot of I learned a lot today. Besides, The literature references including Dickens and Twain, their books just give a glimpse about the great fire and the orphans but the way you described it in a storytelling way, it caught my attention, it looks like you are talking to the reader as a casual talk full of facts, that’s cool. My conclusion, again I thought that I knew about London, but no, there are many things that I had no idea! I am really enjoying the posts, and I will share with my students.

Hi Priscila, thanks very much for your comment. I am really glad you enjoyed the post and felt like you learnt a lot from it. I’m particularly pleased to hear you’ll pass it on to your students, I hope they find it useful! Warm wishes, Jack

Thanks very interesting read and will try this walk after lockdown ends.

Thanks very much! Let me know how you get on if you do the walk, would love any feedback you have

Pepys was a great friend of my ancestor John West. My cousin Derek Baker has written several booklets. The John & Francis West Trust still operates and is associated with Christs Hospital School funded by Pepys & West to train mathematician/ navigators for the RN. West was a pall bearer for Pepys. Another connection is that Wests father invented a form of shorthand.

Hi Kenneth,

What an interesting link to have. Just had a quick google and seen that the John and Francis West Trust funds bursaries for children in specific areas: Twickenham, Reading, Newbury- areas that the Wests were associated with. Fascinating.

Thanks for your comment.

Pingback: Top 10 Spots To See Stunning Tudor Architecture in London - Living London History

Pingback: The Hidden History Of Covent Garden: A Self-Guided Walk - Living London History

Pingback: A Swashbuckling Self-Guided Historical Pub Crawl In Wapping - Living London History

Hi there. I love your blog posts and plan to take part in one of your guided walks one day (I moved from London to Yorkshire in 2008). I just wanted to let you know that your link to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub off Fleet Street takes readers to a different pub called The Cheshire Cheese – the right cheese, but the wrong pub!

Keep up the good work.

All the best

Hi Duey, thanks so much for your comment and for letting me know about the incorrect link- much appreciated! It would be great to see you on a guided walk one day!

Many thanks, Jack

Hi there. Me and my daughter – a great fan of Pepys – did this walk a couple of days ago. Thanks for putting this informative itinerary together and sharing it with us. It was a very enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

That is great to hear thank you! Glad you enjoyed, Jack

Pingback: The Hidden Treasures Of All Hallows-By-The-Tower - Living London History

Hello! Thank you for compiling this walk, I’m currently reading Pepys’ diary and it was a lovely way of spending an afternoon!

All the best!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and analyze the use of the website. Learn More

Self Guided City of London Tour | Things to See

There are many things to see in the City of London. This self-guided tour will show you the highlights of Old London.

This can be a companion or prep guide for taking our City of London Tour  or you could take this tour anytime with our GPS-enabled audio tour app.

For a focus on the City of London's war-time history, make sure to book yourself onto London's only pay-what-you-like World War II Tour .

Start: Temple Underground Station Finish: The Tower of London Duration: 2 – 2.5 hours

Be sure to also check out our Guide to London on a Budget , where you can find our full selection of  self-guided London tours .

Begin (Stop A) – Temple Station

As soon as you step out of Temple Station, turn to the LEFT. Walk up the stairs here directly onto ARUNDEL STREET.

Walk up the street (up the hill) until you reach the traffic lights on your RIGHT. Cross over DIAGONALLY to the courtyard of the Church across the road with the three statues in front.

Click here for a larger interactive City of London Sights Map  or download this tour as a  PDF .

(Stop B) – St. Clement Danes Church 

The church here was designed by master architect Sir Christopher Wren and was opened to the public in the 1680’s.

The curious name of the building is thought to come from the fact that this area of London had a large Danish population in the 9th century, or perhaps because King Harold I was buried here in 1040 and he had Danish heritage.

Originally, the church was just the neighbourhood site of worship for people living in this section of London, although today the church has a very different purpose.

Face the church and take the path to the LEFT. Jump up the ledge and stand just on the side of the building.

You can see quite clearly here that St. Clement Danes shows significant structural damage. All the craters and cracks you can see here are the result of the Blitz: the widespread bombing of London by the German forces during WWII.

During the Blitz, Clement Danes was destroyed inside by fire and the external damage that you can see dates from then.

Although the inside of the church has been totally refurbished, the outside was left as you can see it today to act as a memorial – and a reminder to all about the suffering of London during WWII.  

Because of the connection here to the armed forces and the air raids, the Royal Air Force has selected St. Clement Danes church as their principal site of worship.

Now continue on to the BACK of the church.

(Stop C) – Statue of Samuel Johnson 

The statue here is of Samuel Johnson, who attended services at St. Clement Danes church when he lived in London during the 18th century.

Johnson is best known as the first person to ever compile of a comprehensive English dictionary, although in the 1700’s he was known for being a literary critic and great public speaker, hence the fact that he is holding a book – and is talking!

Step down now onto the traffic island.

(Stop D) – Royal Courts of Justice 

This fantastic building across the road looks a lot like Hogwarts!

However, this building houses the Royal Courts of Justice: two dozen purpose built courtrooms that were erected here in the 1860’s in an architectural style known as ‘neo-gothic,’ very popular in the Victorian age.

The Royal Courts of Justice can be visited by the public – for free!

During the week the front door is open and guests can visit the large entrance hall, or even sit in the public galleries of the courtrooms.

Tours of the RCJ are available, but must be booked in advance at  https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/rcj-rolls-building/rcj/tours .

Now cross the street AWAY from the Royal Courts of Justice towards the TWININGS TEA SHOP. Facing TWINGINGS, with the ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE behind you, head LEFT down THE STRAND.

Stop outside the monument in the centre of the road with the dragon on top.

(Stop E) – Temple Bar 

This monument , topped with a Dragon, marks the boundaries into the City of London. So technically speaking, you are walking out of the City of Westminster, and entering the City of London.

The City of London is actually only 1 square mile – starting here and finishing near the Tower of London.

The City of London is separate from the rest of London in a number of different ways: the have their own police force, they have their own mayor (the Lord Mayor), and is considered the financial centre of the United Kingdom.

The City of London has been inhabited far longer than the City of Westminster – or any of the other areas that make up ‘the Greater London area.’

In fact, the City of London has existed here since the Roman settlement of England in the year 47!

This means you are exploring the oldest streets of London on this walk. TIP: If you're interested in learning more about the history of mythical symbols in this city, consider taking the City of Dragons walking tour as well!

Continue down THE STRAND (which is now called THE FLEET since you have entered the City). When you get to the brown and white Tudor building on your RIGHT, stop to see it.

(Stop F) – Prince Henry’s Room 

This house dates from 1610 and was originally a pub. Today, it belongs to the office of the Lord Mayor and events are held inside, meaning there is no more public access.

It is worth stopping to see this building – known as Prince Henry’s Room – because it is very rare in the City of London for there to be a building as old as this.  

Prince Henry’s Room survived the Blitz – but also the Great Fire of London in 1666 (details on which later).

Continue in the same direction down THE FLEET until you cross over BOUVERIE STREET which is on your RIGHT. Just past this street are a set of traffic lights.

Turn LEFT and cross here. Walk up BOLT COURT (the small alley in between the McDonald’s and Starbucks). Continue up, bear to the right and then left – past the metal bicycle stands until you get to a group of benches and a statue of a cat.

"Here you are looking at Temple Church, a rare surviving building dating from the late 12th century.

Originally belonging to the Order of the Knights Templar, the Church has since been the location of theatre productions (including performances arranged by William Shakespeare himself) as well as featuring in both the book and film of The Davinci Code.

Packed with a myriad of historical facts (as well as a few legends) Temple Church is a real hidden gem in London.

Depending on the day and time that you are taking this tour, it may be possible for you to go inside. There is no fixed cost, but it is asked that you make a donation when you enter.

Inside you will see small parts of the original church, as well as pieces that have been heavily restored, after bomb damage the church sustained during World War Two.

For more information on Temple Church - check out our blog post:  http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/temple-church/

(Stop G) – Samuel Johnson’s House 

The House standing at the end of the courtyard here – with the blue plaque on front – was lived in by Samuel Johnson, who you saw earlier outside St. Clement Danes Church.

Johnson did not own this house, he actually rented it, for the price of £30 a month! Also living with Johnson inside this house was his favourite cat, Hodge.

Hodge was a big black tom cat and Johnson is quoted as saying that Hodge was, “a very fine cat indeed.” You can see these words carved onto the side of the statue of Hodge amongst the wooden benches here.

The statue of Hodge was erected in 1997 and he is depicted here sitting on top of Johnson’s dictionary next to some oyster shells. It is common for Londoners to leave money in the oyster shells here – so that Hodge can buy oysters up in cat heaven!  

Johnson’s House is open to visit at scheduled times throughout the year.  http://www.drjohnsonshouse.org/

With JOHNSONS HOUSE and Hodge behind you, go RIGHT back down past the metallic bicycle stands. But instead of going back the way you came, go LEFT.

You will pass one pathway on the right then come to a dead end with another alleyway on the right.

(Stop H) – Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

You are now looking at one of the oldest pubs in London!   Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese has stood on this site in one form or another since the 1530’s.

Today it is a popular pub known for its history, but also for the well-known clientele the pub has hosted throughout the years: Mark Twain, Samuel Johnson, Samuel Pepys, Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, Oscar Wilde, Teddy Roosevelt, and Voltaire just to list a few!

The pub is kept very atmospherically inside and is a great example of a traditional, historical London pub. Open 6 days a week, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese also serves food and children are welcome. This is one of the best things to do in the City of London.

Walk now down the alley past YE OLDE CHESHIRE CHEESE. You will come back out on THE FLEET. Turn to your LEFT and walk until you get to the RED POST BOX showing the initials of Queen Victoria.

Here, carefully CROSS THE FLEET, then turn LEFT. You will walk over a road known as Salisbury Ct on your right and continue on before turning RIGHT into BRIDE’S COURT.

(Stop I) – St. Bride’s Church 

This is another of Sir Christopher Wren’s churches. Built in the 1680’s it was known as a London landmark for decades.

Today, although it is somewhat lost in the modern buildings of the area, it is still a popular church which can be evidenced by the gleaming white spire on top of the building.

The spire here, the most notable aspect of the building, has recently undergone a £2 million restoration project and all the money was raised by donations!

St. Bride’s is considered a historical part of London’s history and is also known as the “Journalist’s Church” from the time when Fleet Street was dominated by newspapers, magazines, and the printing industry.

Facing the church, turn LEFT and walk down ST BRIDES AVE (the alleyway between the office buildings here and the Church.) At the bottom of the Ave, you will walk downstairs then turn LEFT onto BRIDE LANE.

When you come back to FLEET STREET turn RIGHT until you get to the large junction with NEW BRIDGE STREET. In the same direction, cross the street (past the Co-Op store) and continue up LUDGATE HILL. At the top of the hill is ST. PAULS CATHEDRAL.

(Stop J) – St. Paul’s Cathedral Part 1 -

You are now standing outside Christopher Wren’s masterpiece: St. Paul’s Cathedral. St. Paul’s has actually existed in one form or another for the last 1,000 years or so on this site.

The current church was completed by Wren and declared ‘officially’ open on Christmas Day in 1711.

The Church is used for numerous events and ceremonies and has seen the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Queen Victoria in 1897 and Queen Elizabeth II in 2012.

It also hosted the royal wedding of Lady Diana Spencer and Charles, the Prince of Wales in 1981. Buried inside the church are notable figures such as the Duke of Wellington, Admiral Lord Nelson and Christopher Wren, himself!  

It is possible to visit St. Paul’s Cathedral by either purchasing a ticket and taking the audio guide, or on weekday evenings and Sundays throughout the day for FREE by attending a church service.  Read our complete blog post on St. Paul's Cathedral .

Standing between the statue of Queen Anne and ST PAULS itself, go to the RIGHT of the church and follow the pathway along the side of the Cathedral. Continue to walk right beside St. Paul’s until you get to the red phone box just beyond the back end of the church.

(Stop K) – St. Paul’s Cathedral Part 2 

From here you have a perfect view of the dome of St. Paul’s – which is the second largest church dome in the world, just behind St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

At the top of the dome is the Golden Gallery which guests are able to climb to once they have bought their entrance ticket to the Cathedral.  

Just behind St. Paul’s is the bell tower of another, smaller church: St. Augustine. St Augustine is another Christopher Wren church from the 1680’s, although it was nearly entirely demolished during the Blitz.

The back of the building, as you can see, is modern 1960’s style and now houses a school. But it is worth paying attention to just how close St. Augustine is to St. Pauls and to reflect on the fact that even though St. Paul’s survived the Blitz mostly unscathed, buildings literally inches away were totally destroyed.

With ST. PAULS behind you, walk past ST. AUGUSTINES on your left and continue down the pedestrian path here until you get to the road – NEW CHANGE. Cross the street and keep the modern office building on your LEFT.

You will walk past a tea shop – and JAMIE OLLIVERS BUTCHERS SHOP on your left. At the end of the building, outside BREAD STREET KITCHEN, turn left onto BREAD STREET.

Walk down until you have passed the restaurant BURGER & LOBSTER. Just to the side of the restaurant is an alleyway called JOHN MILTON PASSAGE. Go down the alleyway into the churchyard.

(Stop L) – St. Mary-le-Bow 

Here you are in the courtyard of another Christopher Wren church, St. Mary-le-Bow.

In the centre of the churchyard is the statue of Captain John Smith (popularly known from the Disney film Pocahontas).

On the side of Smith’s statue, you can see a piece of artwork depicting the coat of arms of the City of London.

You will see two dragons (just as on the top of Temple Bar) as well as the red cross of St. George and the red sword of St. Paul. This design is also on every road sign in the City of London – and most of the bins, too!

With St. Mary-le-Bow to your right and the statue of John Smith behind you, turn RIGHT onto Cheapside. As you walk you will walk across Queen Street.

Keep going and when you get to the large junction with Mansion House Street turn taking the crossing near the right.

Immediately as you cross over you will see a small courtyard with a mansion on the left and the Magistrates Court on your right. This is Walbrook. Keep going forward until you reach Number 12.

(Stop M) - London Mithraeum Temple

Beneath this modern office building (the European headquarters of Bloomberg) sits the remains of a Roman Temple, dating from around AD240.

Uncovered originally as part of a bomb site during the Blitz, the temple has now been fully restored and placed near to what would have been its original site.

The temple museum also houses an astonishing exhibition of Roman artifacts that have been discovered throughout the years in this part of London. 

The Temple here was dedicated to the Roman God Mithra originally - and was later dedicated to Bacchus, the god of wine, before being abandoned in the 4th century.

The location of this Temple was strategically planned as, in centuries gone by, two small offshoots of the River Thames flowed into this area which meant this was an easily accessible place for locals and visitors (who would travel from throughout the empire) to access.

It's open every day of the week except for Monday. It's open from 10:00 - 18:00 (Sunday it's open until 17:00). Every first Thursday of the month it is open until 20:00.

Entry is free, but in order to guarantee entry, you need to  order tickets in advance .  This implies that there may be a chance to walk-up and enter.

Retrace your steps back to the large traffic junction.

(Stop N) – Mansion House 

You are now standing outside the official home of the Lord Mayor of London. Different than the Mayor of London, the Lord Mayor is responsible for the day-to-day running of the City of London.

The job of Lord Mayor has existed for 800 years and they have been living here since this building was erected in 1752 by architect George Dance.  

We are currently on our 686th Lord Mayor (as of writing) and out of all of them, there have been only two female Lord Mayors. The job of Lord Mayor comes with a one year term – only!

So, Lord Mayors can be re-elected but there always has to be a one term gap in between their tenure.

From here you can either see the next two stops from where you are standing, or you can cross the road and stand beside the STATUE OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

(Stop O) – The Royal Exchange and the Bank of England 

Now standing in the financial heart of London, you are right next to two buildings of large importance.  

The Royal Exchange is the building with the columns in front and the statue of the Duke of Wellington on horseback outside. Originally, the Royal Exchange was founded in the 16th century by Queen Elizabeth I as a place for wealthy people to shop.

Many different merchants traded underneath a single roof here and all the buying, trading and selling that took place here eventually spawned the Royal Stock Exchange.

The Stock Exchange was moved to another building and today The Royal Exchange has been brought back to it’s origins: it is now again filled with luxury shops!

You can expect to find inside companies like Rolex, Tiffany and Hermes for example.

Now with the Royal Exchange behind you – facing the statue of the Duke of Wellington – the building on your RIGHT is the BANK OF ENGLAND.

The world’s second-oldest central bank, the Bank of England was founded in 1694 and has been located here ever since the mid 1700’s.

The Bank of England is currently holding in excess of £403,003,000,000 in 7 levels of vaults located underneath the ground!  

It is possible to visit the Museum of the Bank of England .  Entry is free.  Click the link for more information.

Now stand with both the Royal Exchange and the statue of the Duke of Wellington behind you. You will be facing Mansion House.

You want to cross the street that is to your LEFT and walk down LOMBARD STREET. At the bottom of Lombard Street is a large junction. Gown DOWN THE STAIRS to your left.

At the bottom of the stairs is the entrance to House of Fraser on your left and more stairs on your right. Go down the stairs on the RIGHT. Walk straight until you can turn LEFT.

There will then be stairs on your left and right, with an entrance to the Tube station ahead of you. Go up the stairs on your RIGHT. Once you get to the top of the stairs, keep walking in that direction until you can see THE MONUMENT on your left.

(Stop P) – The Monument 

You are now looking at the tallest freestanding column in the entire world: The Monument to the Great Fire of London.

Burning over the course of 5 days in September 1666, the Great Fire demolished all of medieval London, devastating the city and rendering tens of thousands of people completely homeless.

As London was rebuilding after this disaster, King Charles II commissioned Christopher Wren to build a monument to commemorate the disaster.  

The resulting monument was opened to the public in 1671, making it one of the oldest tourist attractions in London. It is still possible to visit the monument and climb to the top!

But do get ready to work…it’s over 300 steps to the top! Read our blog post on the Monument . The reason the structure was built so tall is so that if you were to tip the monument onto its side, it would touch the spot where the Great Fire of 1666 is said to have begun!

With the Monument on your left, cross Monument Street and continue down KING WILLIAM STREET. Shortly after the bus stop on your right, before the road you are on crosses the river, you will see a set of stairs going down on the LEFT. Go down the stairs all the way.

(Stop Q) – London Bridge

You are now standing underneath London Bridge! One of the most famous bridges in the world, London Bridge has actually existed here for nearly 2,000 years.

During the Medieval era, the Bridge here was so large that it actually supported over 250 buildings on top!

Also displayed on top of the Bridge were 30 spikes displaying the severed heads of traitors against the crown… Although the name London Bridge is well-known the world over, many people confuse London Bridge with Tower Bridge.  

For more information, read our London Bridge post .

With the stairs behind you, and the piece of the Bridge that is inscribed with ‘London Bridge’ in front of you, turn LEFT over the small wooden bridge.

Follow the path around the corner and you will then spot AHEAD of you TOWER BRIDGE.

As you follow the river path along you will pass THE SHARD on your right.

(Stop R) – The Shard

Officially opened in February 2013, as of writing, The Shard is the tallest building in the European Union at 309m (1,104ft).

There is a platform at the top that visitors can purchase tickets to, however they are at a price of £25.00. For a cheaper view it is possible to go to one of the bars located near the top of the building for a drink!

Now continue TOWARD TOWER BRIDGE along the river. Walk until you hit the curve of the wall, with OLD BILLINGSGATE FISH MARKET on your LEFT.

(Stop S) – Tower Bridge 

Tower Bridge is the bridge that most people think of when they think of ‘London Bridge.’

Although, if you look behind you now you can get a view of the real London Bridge and you will probably notice it is not nearly as beautiful as Tower Bridge!  

Tower Bridge was opened in 1894 and spans a length of 244m (801ft). Tower Bridge is actually a draw bridge and the centre span can be opened to allow river traffic through, which happens a lot!

In fact, they raise Tower Bridge around 1,000 times a year. It’s possible to check on their website for the next lifting, if you want to go down to take a look.

Crossing Tower Bridge is free and if you’d like to know more there is a Museum located in the northern most Tower that can be visited with the purchase of a ticket.  Check out our full blog post on Tower Bridge .

From where you are standing, looking at TOWER BRIDGE, you will notice on the right a long path along the river with a BLUE FENCE. Head along that path.

At the end, you will turn LEFT. Pass the building on your right then turn RIGHT at the end onto LOWER THAMES STREET. Follow that Street until the end, which brings you to the TOWER OF LONDON.

(Stop T) – Tower of London 

You have now reached Her Majesty’s Fortress, the Tower of London .

The Tower of London was originally begin in 1071 when it was, indeed, just a single tower.

You can see that over the centuries, many monarchs expanded and added pieces and buildings to the Tower which means that, despite its name, it is a complex series of buildings including towers, but also turrets, walls, houses and courtyards.

Throughout its’ nearly 1,000-year existence, the Tower of London has been a royal palace, a fortress, the Royal Mint where money was manufactured, a menagerie where animals were kept, a prison, and a site of execution.

It is the reputation as a site for executions that most people associate most with the Tower of London. Although it is worth noting that until the 20th century, only 12 people were officially executed here.

The majority of executions took place in public, at a place called Tower Hill, just across the road from the Tower of London today.

Visitors to the Tower need a ticket but once inside can take part in audio guides, a tour led by the world famous Beefeaters ( read our Beefeaters post ), or are able to wander on their own.

On display are suits of armour belongings to Kings over the past centuries, the old royal Mint rooms, old prisoner cells, and the Crown Jewels .

Guests also can see the ravens of the Tower (it is said that should the ravens that live here ever leave…the monarchy would fall!

For this reason there is a full-time Raven Master who looks after the birds today), and the Beefeaters themselves.  You can also visit for free during the Ceremony of the Keys .

The Tower of London is where your walk ends and it’s advised by us, that you get yourself a ticket and head inside to enjoy one of the most ‘London’ experiences available.

Choose a Destination... I want them all PLUS general travel tips. Amsterdam Berlin Boston Charleston Chicago Dubai Lisbon London Los Angeles Miami Nashville New York City New Orleans Paris Philadelphia Prague Rome San Francisco Washington DC

About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

• What's On
• Lunch Hour Lectures
• Events FAQs
• Submit an event
• Sign up to mailing list
• About UCL Minds

UCL Walking Tour

03 May 2024, 12:30 pm–1:30 pm

Explore the rich and radical history of UCL, one of the world’s leading universities in the heart of London, on this free tour every Friday.

This event is free.

Event Information

Availability.

Book your place About the Tour:

Founded in 1826, UCL has been at the forefront of radical and disruptive thinking for nearly 200 years. Join us as we explore UCL’s campus and delve deeper into the researchers, students and stories that have helped shape the UCL of today.

We will be running tours every Friday. The tour will start at 12:30 pm and last an hour to we will be running one tour every week, with the tour taking place every Friday. The tour will start at 12:30pm and last roughly an hour.

We advise all visitors to arrive 10 minutes prior to the start of the tour.

Please note that you will need to book an individual ticket for everyone attending the tour.

Accessibility - We want to make sure everyone can enjoy the tour. Please let us know when you book if you have any additional access needs. The tour is wheelchair-accessible and sign language interpreters are available upon request. However, we are not able to provide wheelchairs.

Departure point - The Tour will depart from North Lodge Welcome Point, which is situated at the entrance to the UCL Main Quad on Gower Street. It is the building to the left as you come through the main gates. Please look out for our student ambassadors who are on hand to walk you through UCL’s history.

If you need to get in touch please contact us on: [email protected] .