Hidden Stories of the City of London

5.0 (22 reviews) London, England
Duration2h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 12 travelers

Overview

Discover the hidden stories, unusual objects and easily missed details of the City of London on this guided walking tour through the historic Square Mile.

Starting beside St Paul’s Cathedral and finishing at Bank, we’ll explore more than 2,000 years of London history — from Roman remains and medieval streets to the Great Fire, the Blitz, livery companies and the strange traditions that still shape the City today.

Along the way, we’ll uncover the stories behind golden pineapples, Roman floors, ancient artefacts, horse-shaped bollards, unusual street names, bombed-out churches, historic pubs, coats of arms and some of the smallest details hiding in plain sight.

This isn’t a tour of dates and famous buildings. It’s about looking a little closer at the City and discovering how seemingly ordinary objects can reveal much bigger stories.

The tour is led by Alex, a qualified City of London Green Badge Guide and creator of Untold London.

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Hidden Stories of the City of London
Hidden Stories of the City

Hidden Stories of the City

What's included

  • Walking Tour

What to expect

  1. St. Paul's Cathedral
    15m
    Begin beside St Paul’s Cathedral, where we’ll uncover some of the lesser-known stories hidden in one of London’s most famous landmarks — from the cathedral that stood here before the Great Fire to Wren’s phoenix, golden pineapples and the rebuilding of the City.

    We do not enter the cathedral.
  2. St Mary Aldermanbury Garden
    10m
    Explore the atmospheric ruins of St Mary Aldermanbury, a Wren church destroyed in the Blitz and later dismantled stone by stone and rebuilt 4,000 miles away in Missouri as a memorial to Winston Churchill.
  3. London Wall
    Pass by
    See surviving sections of London’s ancient Roman wall and discover how the fortifications shaped the City for centuries, leaving traces that are still visible among the modern streets.
  4. 10m
    Discover the surviving ruins of Elsyng Spital, a medieval hospital founded to care for poor and blind Londoners, and hear how the site survived plague, fire, war and centuries of rebuilding.
  5. Guildhall
    10m
    Explore Guildhall Yard, the historic heart of the City of London, where medieval architecture, civic traditions and the remains of a Roman amphitheatre all sit within the same remarkable square.
  6. Mansion House of City of London
    10m
    See Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London, and uncover the unusual story of how this grand 18th-century building was funded — along with its role in the City’s civic life today.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

City of London, The National Firefighters Memorial, Carter Lane Gardens (south side of St Paul’s)

End point

Ending at Bank Underground Station

Additional information

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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5.0 (22)
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