London Tour Guide : Sally Botwright : Walks

St. James's

Until King Henry VIII built his hunting lodge, the site of St. James's Palace was occupied by fourteen leprous maidens. King Charles II returned from exile in France and the area became, and still is, one of the best addresses in London. We make our way through parks alleyways and side streets to discover a fascinating area and the people who have played their part here. Gentlemen's clubs, fine wine and tailors, not to mention the oldest and smallest palace in London.

Southwark and the South Bank

Everybody passed through Southwark either on their way to the City of London via London Bridge to trade or pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Thomas a'Becket at Canterbury using the many taverns and inns lining Borough High Street. Southwark was a melting pot of all types of people. After many years of neglect, the south bank is alive with people visiting The Globe Theatre, Tate Modern and Borough Market.

Royal London

Buckingham Palace, the official residence of Her Majesty the Queen, nearby is Clarence House, home to the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, with neighbouring Lancaster House and Marlborough House. If the timing is right, we might just catch the Changing of the Guard. We will also visit Horseguards Parade to see the Household Cavalry in their magnificent uniforms and see the Banqueting House before arriving at Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. This walk can include a visit to Westminster Abbey, the Guards Museum and/or Household Cavalry Museum. (There is a charge).

City of London

There are many different walks throughout the City of London which has seen many highs and lows. Founded by the Romans 2000 years ago, it is today one of the top financial centres in the world. Famous buildings, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London sit alongside 21st century buildings like 'The Gherkin'. Built on its medieval street plan of narrow alleyways and streets, you never know what you might find around the next corner.

Ghosts of the City of London

The City of London's long and eventful history provides us with many ghosts and ghostly stories. This walk looks at the 'other side' of the City with a mix of fact, fiction, fun and fright!

Docklands

Just 50 years ago, the London docks were the largest enclosed dock system in Europe and one of the busiest docks in the world. 20 years later the docks had closed leaving the people and the area to endure difficult times. Today the docks have been transformed and regenerated into state of the art working environment with glimpses of the old docks still to be had.

City of London Gardens

The hidden gardens of the City of London offer welcome areas for the 1000's of people who work in the air conditioned offices of the city. The City of London only measures one square mile and about 7% of this is given over to green spaces – but you have to know where to find them.

Shoreditch

On the northeast edge of the city, Shoreditch has never been the prettiest place to visit and was one of London's most notorious slums. It was home to London's first theatre and the centre of the furniture industry. Today it is coming alive as a trendy arty enclave. This walk can be combined with a visit to the Geffrye Museum (closed Mondays) which chronicles English domestic interiors from 1600 to today together with café.

The Alleyways of Fleet Street

The journalists and printers have gone but perhaps Fleet Street will always be the spiritual home of the newspaper industry. Some of their buildings survive but behind Fleet Street you will find the less obvious the narrow lanes and alleyways where you can meet the likes of Samuel Johnson and Sweeney Todd. Perhaps a drink or food at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, one of London's oldest pubs.

Smithfield and Clerkenwell

Famous for its meat market where the animals would have been herded to, today it is prepared meat that is sold at Smithfield early in the morning with pubs opening at 7am to serve beer and breakfast! The magnificent 12th century church (Four Weddings and a Funeral) and hospital founded by Rahere a former courtier of King Henry I and Hercule Poirot's London 'home'.

Wren Churches

Our great architect Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt 51 churches plus his masterpiece St. Paul's Cathedral after the great fire of London in 1666 destroyed much of the City of London. Many of these churches survive today and each one is individual often with beautiful towers and spires and if we are lucky, the church might be open we can admire the often stunning interiors as well.

Kings Cross/St. Pancras

Its all change here. Not that many years ago, the best thing to do at Kings Cross was to get on a train and leave! Notorious for drug dealers, prostitution and homeless people, the area is changing with the regeneration of St. Pancras Station and the former Midland Hotel together with a long overdue facelift for Kings Cross Station. The old railway yards and goods storage sheds are disappearing and the 67 acre development of Kings Cross Central is taking shape together with its own new postcode!

2012 Olympic Regeneration

The Stratford area of East London is changing rapidly, come and see one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe and the fantastic Olympic Park taking shape.

Wapping Tales

Wapping High Street was known as Sailor Town, there were virtually no shops as you might expect in a High Street in UK but there were 30+ pubs. Wapping High Street has some of the best industrial architecture in the form of warehouses lining the High Street on one side and the River Thames on the other. 19th century Wapping would have been a rowdy place, today many of the warehouses were the first to be transformed into luxury apartments lining the river.