The Secret Diaries

A walk through the hidden London of Samuel Pepys.

In 1660 Samuel Pepys started his fascinating daily diary about life in London. He maintained this for nearly 10 years. It was written in his own shorthand and was not fully translated until 300 years later. This walk visits several places known to Pepys. We examine not only the momentous events of the time such as the plague and the great fire, but many of the personal events and qualities so beautifully described in his diaries.

Starts outside Tower Hill Underground Station
Next walk Saturday 7 August at 2pm.

Twenty-One Things You Didn't Know About London.

This is not a list of obscure facts, but a fascinating tour of some of the City's best kept secrets. We will visit well known and lesser known sights and discover aspects which are not always obvious.

You will be able to impress your friends for months afterwards!

Starts outside St Paul's cathedral,
Main steps.

Saturday Night, Sunday Morning

Taverns and churches have always been very important places in London. This walk explores several of the taverns and pubs, some tucked away in narrow alleyways, and we visit a range of City churches. The roles of the taverns and of the churches have changed significantly over the centuries and we discover the events which influenced these changes.

Starts in Bishopsgate
outside Liverpool Street Station

Explore London's Medieval Alleyways

Discover the historic back lanes of the City of London. See where ancient taverns meet beautiful churches and see hidden gems, tiny gardens and some striking modern architecture. Soak up the atmosphere of hundreds of years.

Starts outside The Royal Exchange
Bank Underground Station

In the shadow of St Paul's Cathedral.

St Paul's Cathedral has dominated the London skyline for many centuries, and it has also had a profound influence on the area immediately surrounding it.

This is a gentle stroll around the paths, streets, piazzas and alleyways around St Paul's. There are not only lovely views of Wren's great masterpiece, but we see several other Wren buildings, historic halls, modern sculpture and some hidden spaces.

Starts at St Paul's Cathedral
Main steps

Blood, Steel and Concrete

In its 1,000 years of history Smithfield has been not only a market but the site for Royal jousting competitions, public executions and the world famous Bartholomew Fair.

The walk contrasts this historic area with that of the modern grandeur of London's towering Barbican - one of Europe's most ambitious urban developments.

Starts outside Barbican Underground Station

Public Art in the City

The City of London has an enormous and valuable collection of public art by many of the world's greatest artists. The art ranges from huge modern installations to small classical sculptures. All are set against the wonderful and varied backdrop of the City.

Our walk describes the sculptures and we discover some of the stories about the sites around the art.

Starts at St Paul's Cathedral
Main steps

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
London in the 1600s

In this walk we discover London in the 17th Century. An era of booming growth and overseas trade, but a troubled time. Political in religious unrest, a deadly plague and a devastating fire all made their mark on the City. We'll meet some of the famous characters of the time including Samuel Pepys, Christopher Wren and Oliver Cromwell.

Starts at St Paul's Cathedral
Main steps

Cutting Edge
Fantastic architecture and public sculpture

We will be looking at some of the wonderful new architecture and public sculptures in the Broadgate area. The City of London has always been very successful as a centre for trade and commerce, and this has enabled it to invest in cutting edge buildings and to commission some world class public sculpture.

Starts in Bishopsgate
outside Liverpool Street Station