Deutsch ‘The Square Mile’ – City of London
ANCIENT ALLEYWAYS AND NEW GARDENS OF THE CITY
Including a visit to one of City’s newest rooftop gardens
A walk combining the newest and the oldest of the City of London. It starts at new gardens near St. Paul’s Cathedral, and crosses the City to end at 120 Fenchurch St. www.thegardenat120.com one of London’s newest roof top gardens.. The route in-between is 90% along pre-fire narrow streets and ancient alleyways of the medieval and 17c. City. Lots of history and quirky stories…and even for City cognoscenti new nooks and crannies.
BEAUTY AND BUTCHERY - St Paul’s to Smithfield
The beauty – the newly cleaned West front of St Paul’s Cathedral, the restored Wren Temple Bar, returned to London after 250 years, and the 12c. St Bartholomew the Great (entry charges). Walk ends with an optional visit to the 12c St Bartholomew the Great. (entry charges). The butchery – stories of executions, early surgery and meat markets.
THE BLITZ AND ITS EFFECT ON THE 21ST C. CITY
A walk concentrating on the events, characters, and human stories of the terrifying months of the winter of 1940/41. These events will also be put in contemporary context by showing how the effect of the Blitz is still influencing London today. Walk ends on a new viewing gallery with a spectacular view over St Paul’s and the City.
CITY CHURCHES (weekdays only for interiors)
Over 38 churches in a stone’s throw of each other, the many designed by Christopher Wren, some by Nicholas Hawksmoor, a few surviving the Great Fire of London. Walk eminently flexible it can either concentrate on interiors visiting up to 5 churches, or can pass more churches by seeing exterior only. Half or full day options available (Lunch in City pub).
FLEET STREET – FROM PAMPHLETS TO PRESS BARONS
One of London’s oldest thoroughfares, still retaining its narrow alley-ways and courtyards. Fleet St. has been the home of the printed word for over 500 years. Samuel Pepys and Dr. Johnson feature as well as the press barons of the 20c. Could be combined weekdays with a visit to Dr. Johnson’s House (entry charges).
THE GENIUS OF WREN – ARCHITECT AND POLYMATH
Tues-Thurs. mornings as only on these days are all 4 churches normally open.
Wren was already famous as an astronomer, mathematician and inventor before he took up ‘architecture’ his thirties. Through visiting up to 4 of his best preserved City churches, seeing the exterior of 4 more, and ending with an unusual view of St. Paul’s Cathedral, I hope to give you an understanding of the sheer versatility, brilliance and surprising modesty of the man himself. (could end in meze restaurant www.hazrestaurant.co.uk nr. St. Paul’s)
HIDDEN GARDENS OF THE CITY (Walk 1)
A walk concentrating on the area in the West of the City most devastated by the Blitz. After the war many gardens were created. This walk concentrates on those gardens between Barbican and St. Paul’s. Whilst concentrating on the gardens it is a way of tracing the varied history of the City from a different perspective…literally! (Best between March to October) (could end with meal in meze restaurant www.hazrestaurant.co.uk nr. St. Paul’s)
HIDDEN GARDENS OF THE CITY AND RIVERSIDE (Walk 2)
An additional walk of the gardens of the City, concentrating on the St. Paul’s area and the riverside, ending in a ruined church in the East of the City now converted into a ‘secret’ garden. (Morning walk could end with a light lunch in www.bywardkitchenandbar.com – by All Hallows by the Tower churchyard)
HOW LONDON WAS BUILT
How steel and glass replaced lath and plaster, windows got bigger and bricks got more colourful.
A walk from Clerkenwell into the City, concentrating on the building styles, construction and materials of London, from the Kentish ragstone of the Roman Wall, via Georgian brick terraces and ornate door-cases, to the glistening steel and glass of 21st century London. Spot a few fossils on the way! (could end with meal in meze restaurant www.hazrestaurant.co.uk nr. St. Paul’s)
THE ILLUMINATED RIVER AND CITY
St. Paul’s->cross Millennium Bridge –> Bankside -> cross Tower Bridge -> Tower Hill
An evening walk to see the City and Thames bridges in an unfamiliar light. Floodlighting enhances features of buildings you never notice in daylight. St Paul’s seems to float above the City and the Tower is eerie when not thronged by visitors. Particulary enjoyable at Christmas time, but is still worth doing any winter evening. (Could end for supper in www.naturalkitchen.co.uk near Tower Hill Tube)
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY – HISTORY OF MONEY-MAKING IN THE CITY
A walk that traces 2000 years of money making, from the Romans, through the medieval livery companies, 18c.coffee houses, the establishment of the Bank of England, and Stock Exchange to the 21c. world financial powerhouse.
NEW SKYSCRAPERS OF THE CITY – The Post-Brexit/Covid Effect
In its 2000yr. history the City has faced many cataclysmic events, the Great Fire and Blitz, end of Empire and ‘Big Bang’, and each time it has risen metaphorically and literally ‘from the ashes’. Now comes the challenge of Brexit/post Covid distance-working. In response the City has developed a new strategy which is reflected (yes double meaning intended!) in its new buildings. Get a real flavour of the City rising to the challenge of the next phase in its history (2 ½ hrs +).
PLAGUE AND FIRE THROUGH THE EYES OF SAMUEL PEPYS
Tracing Pepys’ colourful life and his observations on high and low life in London during the Plague, – learn about the surprising similarities with the recent pandemic -, the Great Fire and the regeneration of the city. The walk weaves through the narrow alleyways of the City along routes that Pepys would have known. (could end with meal in www.naturalkitchen.co.uk near the Tower Hill Tube).
ROMAN LONDON
A walk right across Roman London from fragments of the wall near the Tower, to the North West corner – site of the roman fort. This walk gives an idea of the scale, layout and everyday life of the first 400 years of London, visiting the key sites such as the Governor’s Palace, the Forum, the Fort, and the remains of the city wall (2 ½ hrs).
ROMAN LONDON UNDER LONDON
Visit new exhibition (opened 2023) of the Roman Wall and finds, + London Mithraeum
A walk ideal for winter as it is mainly inside. The city wall at Vine street www.citywallvinestreet.org only opened in Spring 2023 shows off a long-hidden piece of Roman wall, and a display of 2,000 years’ of finds. We then take the tube to visit the London Mithraeum (under Bloomberg’s London HQ) which showcases the ancient temple and a selection of the remarkable Roman artefacts found during the excavations. (3 ½ hrs). (could end with a late lunch in Vinoteca – City. www.vinoteca.co.uk – not Sundays)
ROMAN WALL WALK
The 21c. ‘Square Mile’ London’s financial centre is still essentially contained within the bounds of the Roman Wall’ Some fragments remain, one of which is now housed in a new ‘basement’ gallery with an interesting exhibition of finds which we will visit. This walk traces the route of the wall. On the way one passes many layers of London’s history and sees many traces of the wall in surprising places. The walks starts at Tower Hill and ends nr. St Paul’s Cathedral. (3 ½ – 4hrs) .
TEA AND COFFEE – How they made the City rich
Coffee and tea first arrived in London in the mid 17c, and from then on have been central to the growth of London as a great financial and trading centre. This walk weaves through the City of London, crosses London Bridge and ends in Southwark tracing this history and can end with a cup of tea, coffee or a snack lunch in Southwark Cathedral café. (or could end with meal at Cote Hays Galleria – www.cote.co.uk).
THE WALBROOK LOST’ RIVER – Shoreditch – Thames nr. Cannon St. (3 ½ hrs)
It is the shortest but arguably the most important of London’s ‘Lost Rivers’, as it formed the heart of Roman ‘Londinium’. A walk of great contrast between the vibrant, youthful area of Shoreditch and the serious money-making pulse of the City. It passes Shakespeare’s original playhouse, foundations of which have been recently discovered and the location of 2 major archaeological digs, Liverpool St. Elizabeth Line and the Walbrook. These are shedding new light on London’s history. (could end with a meal in Vinoteca – City. www.vinoteca.co.uk – not Sundays)