On the edge of the old city, atop Ludgate Hill, stands the great cathedral of St Paul’s, one of the most iconic views of London. The cathedral overlooks the River Thames and occupies a fascinating area steeped in history. Here are narrow medieval lanes and passageways, tiny hidden squares filled with treasures, a profusion of Wren churches, the grandeur of the Guildhall, traces of the old Roman roads and walls, a special park for postmen, one of the most beautiful memorials to everyday heroism, and a ruined church where Queens and Knights of the High Middle Ages were buried; await exploration.
A MEANDER AROUND ST PAUL’S TICKETS – MORE COMING SOON
The area around St. Paul’s Cathedral lies at the heart of the old city. A place where so much history has unfolded. From the foundations of the Roman period to the much photographed Blitz of the Second World War. The area has experienced numerous rebirths; from the destruction of the Roman city by Queen Boudica, the Great Fire of London, to the Blitz of the Second World War, each era has brought transformation and change, yet much from each period has surprisingly remained. Among this rich collection are some of London’s most iconic sites and buildings and a few hidden treasures. As the city expands and new constructions rise, this area around St. Paul’s remains in constant flux, embodying an endless theme of change and renewal.
The Route
“A meander around St. Paul’s” takes you through various periods of the city’s history, beginning, surprisingly, in a tiny hidden garden with an inscription dating back three millennia to the Assyrian King Shalmaneser. This city is full of surprises. Crossing Eastcheap, we pass through Paternoster Row and Square, once the center of Tudor publishing and book-making. Then we walk under the last surviving city gate, Temple Bar, before taking in the stunning views of St. Paul’s from One New Change and the Reflection Pool, then continue down an ancient Roman road and into a maze of medieval streets towards the Mithraeum, a Roman Temple underneath Bloomberg’s new European Headquarters. After experiencing the immersive light and audio show of the temple, we explore new public art, several beautiful Sir Christopher Wren churches, the grandeur of the Royal Exchange, Guildhall, the site of London’s Roman amphitheater where gladiators once clashed, and two remarkable parks: one with a moving memorial to the selfless courage of Londoners, and the other featuring the ruins of a church blitzed in the Second World War, once one of the grandest churches of the High Middle Ages, where great queens and knights were buried. If you fancy some food or drink, there is the last surviving Victorian gin palace around the corner, which I will happily introduce you to. What’s not to like.
The walk is 2 miles and takes around 2 hours.
The London Walker 