In Focus: The Aldwych

Temple underground station, London

Guided by Fiona

In Focus: The Aldwych

As the name makes clear this walk explores the old setttlement. From that name and its cousin Lundenwic (meaning London settlement or old trading town) some 1300 years of London history open out before us, bowing outward like the shape of the Aldwych.

Now as for the order of business… There’ll be a final reading of the monumental landscape – including Bush House, Australia House, India House and the London School of Economics. And then the London Walks Past Rebuilding Corporation will move in to dig up* Wych Street – taverns, raucous theatres, a maypole, Jack Sheppard, the Earl of Essex and all. The public should take note that, at times, this will be noisy and dirty work. (The aerial display – the dogfight followed by the RAF flypast – will of course add to the melee.

*NB. Examples of baroque, classical and Palladian architecture will, where possible, remain untouched. Christopher Wren and James Gibbs will be on hand to oversee this aspect of the project.

Ok, that’s the taster for today’s In Focus walk. It should go without saying that it’ll be the usual In Focus modus operandi: an extremely detailed look – "what I love about London Walks is the degree of granularity you get" (as that American visitor memorably put it) – at one of the most famous streets in London. And its tributaries. In short, more trail blazing by the best urban walking tour guides on the planet. London Walks – Streets Ahead!