Westminster Underground station, London (exit 4, opposite Big Ben)
Guided by Ruth
Adult: £20 · Students & Seniors: £15 · Children: £5
Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 March 2025 | Tour du Jour | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Winter | Reserve Online |
26 July 2025 | Tour du Jour | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
Geology and Building Stones in the City of Westminster
Meet your guide – here’s a great interview with award-winning geologist Ruth Siddall
Ever wanted to learn more about geology but don’t know where to start? Join me – Geologist Ruth – for this walk to find out more about geological materials through building stones: urban geology. We will focus on Westminster where we will learn to recognise igneous sedimentary and metamorphic rocks through the building materials of Westminster Abbey, the statuary in Parliament Square and the Houses of Parliament. On the way, we will see a wide range of rocks and lots of fossils too and learn about the geological environments and timescales responsible for the formation of Westminster’s building stones.
Ruth is the real deal – she’s a top-flight, award-winning, professional geologist.
Mary Brooks –
I recently joined Ruth for her Stones and Geology walk in the City of London. Fantastic! Ruth’s specialist knowledge is delivered with humour together with stories which make this subject accessible and interesting. Highly recommended!
Mick Oldham –
Yet another fascinating geology walk with Ruth, following St Giles earlier in the year.
These walks really change the way you actually go about the business of walking!
So many stories about the materials that make up our great city, both buildings, monuments and the pavements themselves.
Looking forward to 2025 !
Sue –
This was my third walk with Ruth. Yet again it was a brilliant experience, especially finding fossils in the Westminster Church House wall. I will now book her Embankment tour for later in the Summer.
Paula –
We thoroughly enjoyed our urban geology walk with Ruth and came away looking at the buildings and pathways around us with renewed interest – it had never occurred to me that the paving stones beneath my feet could be so interesting!
There is no doubt that Ruth is an expert in her field and the stories and humour she uses to bring her subject to life really add to the experience.