How the City Got Rich
Tower Hill underground station, London (meet by the Tower Hill Tram coffee stand)
Adult: £20 · Students & Seniors: £15 · Children: £5
Walk Times
| Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 April 2026 | Special | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Winter |
“A man who is tired of London is tired of life” Dr Samuel Johnson
Short read: A new walk. Exactly what it says on the tin. Served up by nonpareil, well-connected guides Mary B. and David P. One of them a former London Mayor. Both – it almost goes without saying, this – top flight, professionally qualified guides (City of London and Blue Badge, respectively).
Good listen: Here’s a great podcast guide David did about How the City Got Rich – the walk and the history.
Longer read: “Since Dick Whittington first came to the City of London 600 years ago, people have thought of the streets of London as ‘paved with gold’. Exploring ancient City of London alleyways – finding and opening up to view the historic hotspots – we piece it together, make the connections, decipher it, discover how (and why) thanks to merchant shipping, monarchy, Methodism, Mercers (Whittington’s ‘Livery Company’ that still thrives today) and much more, including, yes, coffee houses, London came to be so much richer than Luton, Lisbon or Lima.”
HOW THE CITY GOT RICH – THE PRACTICALS
How the City Got Rich takes place at 2.30 pm on some Tuesdays.The meeting point is just outside the exit of Tower Hill Tube. Meet David P. and co. by the Tower Hill Tram coffee stall.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
Don’t just take our word for it…
MEET YOUR GUIDE
Get to know David P.– find out a bit about him (spoiler alert, he’s warm, friendly, and ever so likable). All of which well and truly comes across in this recent London Calling podcast interview I did with him.
LONDON WALKS REVIEWS
“by far the most impressive series of walks that I have ever encountered are those offered by London Walks” Travel and Enjoy
“the unfailingly fascinating London Walks… If you can’t find one [of their tours] that captures your fancy, maybe you really are tired of life.” San Francisco Chronicle
LONDON WALKS PRIVATE WALKS
If you can’t make one of the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, public How the City Got Rich walks do think about booking one as a private tour. If you go private you can have the How the City Got Rich walk – or any other London Walk – on a day and at a time that suits your convenience. We’ll tailor it to your requirements. Ring Fiona or Niamh or Peter or Mary on 020 7624 3978 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll set it up and make it happen for you. A private London Walk – they’re good value for an individual or couple and sensational value for a group – makes an ideal group or educational or birthday party or office (team-building) or club outing.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LONDON WALKS
A private London Walk makes a seriously special, thoughtful and unusual gift – be it a birthday or anniversary or graduation or Christmas present or whatever. Merchandise schmerchandise (gift wrapped or not) – but giving someone an experience, now that’s special. Memories make us rich.
Judith Kent –
A great walk which Mary brought to life despite the freezing cold day! I really enjoyed learning about London the “port city” and exploring the back lanes and alleys – including the moving slave trade sculpture – and hearing all about coffee houses, the Royal Exchange and the modern city inheritance. Mary was also great at pointing out interesting details as we went along – from the properties of Portland stone to the lighting of the City’s latest tall buildings. Fascinating walk.
Debbie –
We did this walk on a very cold and wet day. Despite the weather, we really ejoyed this informative and interesting walk. Mary is very knowledgeable and we learnt a lot about how the city got rich!
Viv Pyner –
Another really good walk, very entertaining, and Mary kept us informed so that we (almost) forgot the freezing temperature. She is an excellent guide and imparted lots of information which we all enjoyed on this cold day. I definitely recommend Mary, and this walk.
Todd –
Our guide David was supe.rb. He brought to life the history of commerce in London by connecting the dots between many various major figures in history, and how bankers, shippers, insurance companies, stock exchanges and merchants all came together to create wealth. I appreciated how he answered everybody’s questions with knowledge. I left knowing much more about London . . . had a great time and highly recommend!
Julian Gladwell –
On a hot Tuesday I really enjoyed How London Became Rich with David.
Most entertaining and educational with some lovely surprises. I have lived in London all my life but on this walk, I learnt and saw new things. Lovely experience, with something for everybody! David is very personable.
I highly recommend this walk!
Jane Poole –
If you are lucky enough to be in London when you can take the How the City Got Rich walking tour (which we took on May 6), we can’t recommend it highly enough! It was interesting, thought provoking and fun. Our guide was so knowledgeable and we continue to talk about the insights she provided and want to learn even more. We highly recommend London Walks and can’t wait until we can return and take another informative and fun tour.
Dr. Thomas A. Underwood –
Mary, our history-loving guide, acquitted herself well in “How City Got Rich” walk. Her love for and loyalty to the City of London was manifest in her approach to and her perspective on London’s financial history. I was grateful when she took us to the “Gilt of Cain” monument by St. Mary Woolnoth Church with its seventeen stalks representing sugar cain, one of the major crops associated with British slavery. Situating a monument to enslaved people and abolitionists in the middle of London’s financial district is a powerful reminder of a significnt source of London’s wealth historically.
Alick –
I loved the insights I gained from this thoroughly enjoyable walk. Because I can forget information quickly, I took a lot of notes as well as sketches during the walk.
Jennifer P –
Despite the pouring rain for the first half of the tour, David kept us engaged and informed. And he appropriately timed a lovely coffee stop with rooftop views and a chance to dry out. We learned a lot – historical, political, and economic…a nice mix – about a part of the city we weren’t familiar with. A great start to our London visit. Thanks!
Irpinder Bhatia –
This one’s a two-parter. First, Irpinder’s review. And then, beneath the dotted line, Guide Mary B.’s fine response.
London walk: Deeply Disappointed. Feel cheated. I was sold a walk titled: How The City Got Rich. The Walk I took today had nothing to do with this theme/topic. The Walk guide said as much – ‘will tell you of the history, I don’t know much about economics’. The Walk was the history of a few buildings, Slavery & Compensation [ !! Why] and bits on Brexit. I do not know about others but I, 72, came to know of the history of London’s Riches. I got nothing. It is not about money. It is about Time. I know enough about Slavery Compensation Scandals including one of your recent Prime Ministers.
——————
Curiouser and curiouser, Irpinder. Particularly so given that you approached me at one point on the walk and said, “I’m learning so much about the City.”
Anyway, sleeves rolled up, let’s get stuck in.
Having met you, Irpinder, on yesterday’s walk I am very disappointed, indeed shocked at your response to yesterday’s walk.
I do indeed say clearly as opening remarks that my approach to the topic of the walk is more historically based than financial as this is my background. But I never, ever use the phrase, ‘I don’t know much about economics’ – so please don’t put words in my mouth.
During the walk we certainly do look at and discuss several notable buildings in the Eastern Cluster as examples of how the City continually rebuilds and works to maintain its world status as a leading financial centre. These ‘looks’ at modern iconic architecture give texture to the walk, they are visible and tangible and always invite a oohhh and ahhh effect.
I note, Irpinder, that you took exception to our stop at the Gilt of Cain statue where the discussion centred on slavery. As we approached the site I was asked by a group member the question about the effect of Brexit on the City. I chose to answer this question to the whole group as this is good practice. You wandered off during this section of the stop coming back to the group as we moved off. I did also include at this point and at the very end of the walk mention of the East India Company which I’m unable to cover in depth on this walk but mentioned the London Walks walk on this topic. Would this have interested you more?
I get the sense that you wanted an in depth discussion on the City and its economics etc. Given the nature of these tours in a crowded, noisy city landscape this is just not viable. Many of the people who join this and other London Walks want a story, a context and to see parts of London they may never have seen before, and if they’re from abroad may never see again. Our group yesterday, like every week, presented a broad brush stroke of interests, experiences and wish list for the walk. I might also add age groups as I’m always mindful that the youngsters who join this walk may find the topic hard going.
I am sorry you felt this walk disappointing and am shocked at your vitriolic comments as when we met at the start of the walk we had a pleasant conversation about shopping in the City. And, as I mentioned above, you approached me as we arrived at the Gilt of Cain statue and said, ‘I’m learning so much about the City’. This makes your later written comments even more baffling.
I do hope you feel able to join other London Walks, they provide such a rich variety of experiences in London and beyond.
All the very best to you, Irpinder.
Mary b