From Secrets to Spires: A Tour of London’s Curious History

Tired of crowded tour buses and stale guidebooks? This walking tour of the City of London will show you the city’s hidden layers like never before.

The tour begins at the Monument to the Great Fire of 1666. You’ll trace a path from Pudding Lane to Wine Office Court, weaving through hidden courtyards and narrow medieval lanes to find the survivors of the flames. As you walk, you’ll encounter architectural treasures like the London Stone – a mysterious ancient artifact that some believe holds the city’s fate.

Along the way, you’ll uncover strange connections between ancient Rome and the modern financial district. I’ll also show you forgotten fragments of the original city and surprising mathematical connections encoded in landmarks. You’ll also learn about the colourful characters who rebuilt London, from Sir Christopher Wren and his secret astronomical measurements to the pioneering printing press of Wynkyn de Worde, who established Fleet Street as the heart of British journalism.

The tour ends at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, where you can enjoy a pint at an historic pub rebuilt after the Great Fire, where writers and thinkers have gathered for centuries.

During this 90-minute journey through the Square Mile, you’ll also have a chance to:

• Examine the Monument’s intricate frieze depicting London’s fiery destruction and phoenix-like rebirth
• Visit the ancient London Stone, once the literal and mystical heart of the city
• Explore the London Mithraeum, where Roman soldiers worshipped in a mysterious underground temple
• Walk the same streets where the legendary Pocahontas caused a sensation during her visit to the city
• See the haunts of literary legends like Dr. Samuel Johnson, whose famous dictionary was written amid these very streets
• Discover the unexpected connections between Shakespeare and the Blackfriars Theatre, and hear how medieval guilds shaped the city’s fortunes
• Learn the surprising origin of wedding cakes at St. Bride’s Church with its distinctive tiered spire
• Meet Hodge the cat, whose statue commemorates Dr. Johnson’s beloved pet (and his taste for oysters)
• Uncover the unexpected meaning behind common phrases like “eavesdropping” and “gutter press”

This isn’t just a walk – it’s a treasure hunt, with plenty of pauses at cozy gardens and benches. Perfect for history buffs, architecture lovers, and adventurers seeking off-the-beaten-path curiosities, this tour includes optional detours for deeper dives.

By the end of this tour, you’ll understand why Samuel Johnson famously said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.”