St Pauls from bar

The City of London : - the ancient square mile at the heart of Greater London. Founded by the Romans, ravaged by fire, bombed in both world wars and home to the biggest financial markets. It is the only area in any capital city where leading architects build epic towers on a medieval street-plan – a maze of tiny alleys and lanes once known to kings and queens, to Shakespeare and Dickens, to heroes and traitors. The beating heart of Britain, the City of London is unique in the world.

The City of London is wreathed in mystery. A treasure trove of eye-catching clues still mark ancient walls or lie unexplained on modern buildings. Evidence, buried for centuries, has emerged from beneath the streets. These clues are glimpses of a lost world, shaped by Roman generals, royal tyrants, merchant adventurers and medieval executioners. Explore secret gardens and alleyways that were home to people a world away from us. Look beneath the sparkle of gleaming towers and see plain truths that architects would prefer you didn’t know. In a city of gilts, gold and guilds, we’ll show you all that glitters beneath the everyday face of the most powerful corner of the capital.

We are a mixed bunch of friendly guides with a wealth of experience between us.

We come from a variety of professional backgrounds and we each have local knowledge of the City of London. Some of us work here, others live here, all of us studied here. Accredited by the City of London Corporation and the UK’s Institute of Tourist Guiding, we are qualified City of London guides with interests spanning from Roman London to digital-age architecture; from Dickens to treason and from ancient pubs to rooftop gardens – via alleys, galleries and ghosts.

Our walks can be booked by groups of six or more, £12 per person – concessions available.

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Click on one of our featured walks below, or go to the Walks page to see all walks. Or click here for short, one-hour, strolls. Here for longer walks. Or choose a theme: Ancient London, Architecture, Open Spaces, Churches, Bit of Everything.

Alternatively, we design tours for specific interest-groups or special occasions. Just let us know the kind of thing you’d like to see and we will do the rest. We’ll entertain you and your guests to an insider’s view of the City. Previous examples include American Connections, Literary London, Fire and Plague – family tour. We love London and we’re ready to help with suggestions.

A time traveller’s journey through London

Designed specifically for European visitors, this walk begins at the Tower of London then takes you to some of the City’s most iconic sites, among them the oldest churches, a secret garden nestled in ancient ruins, Leadenhall Market (a Harry Potter film location) and the provocative Lloyd’s building. Available in English, German or Italian.

What was the first radically modern building in the City?    

What was Education for – City of London (west)

Focusing on schools and education, this walk introduces you to some beautiful lesser known buildings in the City of London. Did the benefactors of the schools, universities and libraries that we will visit seek to educate young minds – or were they motivated by greed, guilt, power or religion?

Which school founded in the City of London has a 'Harry Potter' uniform of yellow socks, a frock coat and breeches and why?

London’s Riotous Royals

Former kings were a bit like human Velociraptors. They ate, killed, or had sex with, everything that moved. London is a stage and all the kings and queens merely players upon it. We’ll be visiting the places, hearing the stories, and thanking Christmas that Britain’s current Royals are so, well, normal. Every tour includes a visit to a probably haunted pub for further intrigue.

Which King of Great Britain on the day of his death had never been further from home than Cheltenham?

Licence to print …or The City and the written word

From Paternoster Square where stationery has its beginnings, to the newspaper offices of Fleet Street, the City of London is the home of the printed word. From the greatest playwright of all time to the most famous diarist, this walk focuses on the written word and the origins of the print industry – with Veronika K. (This walk is available in English or German)

Where will you find a statue of the man who revolutionised how we communicate with each other?

Born in Stratford – Made in London

Rising from Stratford obscurity to London superstar, William Shakespeare cut a swath through society, attracting admirers, copycats and critics. We visit the places he lived and worked, taking in some of the most beautiful sites in the City of London, including a magnificent 16th Century hall in which his company performed.

Shakespeare's company performed beneath this ceiling 400 years ago. Where is it?

Gardens and Churchyards

Hidden amid the hustle and bustle which is the City of London there are quiet places where one can pause for a moment and discover things you might never have realised were there. Join Richard E. on a tour that explores the stories tucked away in the City’s quieter corners.

Where you will you find a sunken garden with London’s only memorial to the newspaper industry?