The City of London Walking Tour: From Romans to Modern Finance
Introduction to the City of London (the Square Mile). From Roman Londinium to modern finance, we trace the city’s evolution through its historic core — St. Paul’s Cathedral, Guildhall, the Bank of England, Leadenhall Market, and the Monument to the Great Fire — all set against the River Thames that shaped London’s destiny.
Basic Information
Total time
2h 45m
Language
English (check the calendar for availability)
Price
Our “Pay What You Wish” tours don’t have a fixed price — you decide how much the experience was worth. At the end of the tour, please make a fair contribution that reflects your satisfaction and appreciation for your guide’s work. Most guests give between €10 and €50 per person.
Meeting point
Outside Temple Station Nearest public transport: Temple train station; Temple Station bus stop
Additional info
☂︎ This tour is organised by Walkative London guides. Look for the guide with the yellow umbrella.
❗Our tours run in all weather conditions. High or low temperatures, rain, or snow are never a reason for us to cancel. We’re always here for you! The only reasons for cancellation are extreme weather conditions (such as heavy storms), a guide’s sudden illness, or if there are fewer than 5 registered participants. In such cases, we will always notify you using the contact information you provided when booking the tour.Booking rules
Booking is obligatory. Our “Pay What You Wish” tours are meant for individual travellers and small groups. Large groups (8 or more people) cannot join these tours, as they significantly affect the experience for others and the guide. For school trips, organised tours, or groups of friends, please book our paid option (18€ per person) or arrange a Private Tour. For more information or to schedule a group visit, please contact us directly.
About the tour
Welcome to London: The City of London Walking Tour
Long before red buses, royal weddings, and afternoon tea, there was Londinium — a Roman outpost on the banks of the River Thames. Two thousand years later, London is one of the most dynamic and fascinating cities in the world: a cultural powerhouse and a global trading hub. But it all began right here, in one compact area — the City of London, also known as the Square Mile. Join us on a walk through its ancient streets, past soaring domes and hidden ruins, and hear the stories that shaped London — and, with it, the world.
Walk Through the City That Built the Modern World
Our walk begins at Temple Station and takes you into the very core of London’s identity. Then, it’s on to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Christopher Wren’s iconic masterpiece — a beacon of resilience that has withstood bombs, hosted royal jubilees, and honoured national heroes. At Guildhall, you’ll hear stories of Roman gladiators, medieval governance, and London’s ancient civic pride. We’ll pass some of London’s most iconic institutions like the Bank of England, and the Royal Exchange, where for centuries fortunes were made, lost, and remade again. Next, we’ll make our way to the stunning Leadenhall Market, a Victorian masterpiece (and Harry Potter filming location!), Lloyd’s of London, the world-famous insurance market, continuing to the Monument to the Great Fire of London, commemorating the fire that changed everything in 1666. You’ll hear about the importance of the River Thames and London Bridge, the city’s oldest crossing, which once overflowed with shops, houses, and even heads on spikes. A marvel — and a disaster — all at once. We’ll also take in the views of the Tower of London, a site of intrigue, execution, and royal power and the majestic Tower Bridge — standing guard over the river that carried London’s name across the globe.
Nowhere else in the world will you find so much history, so many stories, and such a powerful sense of place packed into one square mile. Join us to peel back the layers of time and get to know this ever-changing area, a place that helped pave England’s way to dominate the entire world. Join us to explore 2000 years of fascinating history of London – the City that built an empire!
Highlights
- 1
Fleet Street
Also known as “the Street of Ink”, once the centre of Britain’s press and publishing world from the 16th to the 20th century.
- 2
Old Bailey
The seat of England and Wales’ Central Criminal Court, standing on a site linked to justice since the 12th century.
- 3
Saint Paul’s Cathedral
Sir Christopher Wren’s Baroque masterpiece, a symbol of London’s resilience and a beacon of national pride.
- 4
Bank of England
The United Kingdom’s central bank and the cornerstone of the City’s world-famous financial district.
- 5
Monument to the Great Fire of London
A soaring column commemorating the Great Fire of 1666, which transformed the city forever.
- 6
Tower Bridge
London’s most recognisable bridge, a marvel of Victorian engineering and one of the capital’s enduring icons.
- 7
Tower of London
A historic fortress and former royal palace, infamous as a prison and site of intrigue, power, and execution.
- 8
Leadenhall Market
A stunning Victorian covered market, known for its ornate architecture and as a Harry Potter location.
- 9
Great Fire Monument
A towering column commemorating the Great Fire of 1666, which reshaped the entire city of London.
- 10
Guildhall
The historic heart of city governance, home to tales of Roman gladiators and medieval councils.
- 11
St. Paul's Cathedral
Christopher Wren's iconic masterpiece, a symbol of London's resilience and a beacon for the nation.
12Tower Bridge
London's most famous bridge, an iconic symbol of the city with its majestic Victorian engineering.
Map
Outside Temple Station Nearest public transport: Temple train station; Temple Station bus stop
Our customers said about us
London
5.0Joao Pedro
London City Tour
Amazing experience with Elena Paolini. Very polite and on time, knows everything about the city, many curiosities, i highly recommend her.
London
5.0Teresa Leonard
Awesome job, James!!
James was fun, funny and extremely knowledgeable. He deserves a raise. Wink. Wink.
London
5.0Adam Afseth
James showcased the City!
Thank you, James! Excellent "private" tour. We appreciated your conversation and the information. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience!
London
5.0Raphael
An amazing tour with James H.
Very interesting insights, very well told stories (also with a lot of humour!), we learnt a lot! 5 out of 5, thank you James!
London
5.0Marc
James H is a rock star
Fun, informative and interesting tour with just enough history and captivating stories to make the time fly by while seeing so many important sites. James H led with ease and pleasant manner. I raise a yellow umbrella to you, sir!
London
5.0Julia
Top your 😎
James H was an amazing guide. Informative and witty - 3 hours flew past! Would thoroughly recommend 👌
London
5.0History is fun
This was our second tour with James. He has not only has great knowledge about London history, but also tells lots of hilarious stories. We had couple of fun hours today :)
London
5.0Great fun walk with James
Our original tour was cancelled but Walkative was very good with how they reached out to share about the cancellation and then offer a different tour. We signed up for this one, and had a great walk with James. It’s always the stories that stay with me after the event, and we’ve got a whole lot of them to remember London by. Now when I hear Fleet Street, I will think « newspapers »! And Polly the Parrot has a place in my stories as well. There’s much to love about a city when you discover some of its soul through walks like this one. Thank you!
London
5.0Ela
Great tour with James B.
Very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide. Smaller group make us feel comfortable to ask questions or just chat with James or anyone. Comfortable place for bathroom/snack break.
London
5.0Dorothy again
City of London: 12 Points!
This was our second tour with James H. He gave an insightful, in-depth tour of the City of London, past and present. The stops were filled with engaging and surprising pieces of information that are sure to capture various audiences. We highly recommend the tour and James's enthusiastic style. City of London: douze points!
