The Archaeology of London
Bank underground station, London (exit 3, meet by the Wellington statue)
Guided by Kevin
Adult: £20 · Students & Seniors: £15 · Children: £5
Walk Times
| Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 October 2025 | Special | 6.30 pm | 8.30 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
A TALE OF FOUR CITIES
Legend says that London was founded as New Troy. Historians believed it was founded as Londinium after the Bridge was built by the legionaries of the Emperor Claudius in AD 43. Archaeologists in the 1970s and 1980s discovered that London was refounded as Lundenwic in the 7th Century and again in the 9th Century when it was called Lundeburg.
This walk tells the epic tale of the uncovering of London’s past by Archaeologists. And provides an insight into the dramatic history of the Capital of Britannia, and how it survived revolts, fires, plagues, and reacted to the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. It became the foremost English City but with periods under Viking and Norman control.
We tell the story in the streets of the City of London, beginning in the valley of the River Walbrook by the Temple of Mithras, and visit many sites where important archaeological discoveries were made, including the Roman Forum, Amphitheatre. Bath Houses, Temples, Roman roads and the City Walls.
The meeting point for the Archaeology of London Walk is Bank station Exit 3, by the Wellington Statue.
Bert Henderikse – 21st April 2022 –
I’ve walked the (London) walks a lot of times. This was one of the very best! Guide Kevin obviously loves and KNOWS his topic. And it comes with humor as wel! I especially liked his emphasis on the ever changing narrative of the early London history; changes based upon ongoing ‘fieldwork’. Informative and entertaining. What can one expect more!?? I would gladly do another walk with this guide, even in winter and for three hours!
Susanna and Ben 20/01/2022 –
Kevin is the perfect guide. Good solid knowledge on the topic plus interesting info of broader
history and architecture. We also enjoyed the time of day. Although not born within the sound of the Bow bell I feel a bit more a Londoner. Time flew by. Thank you.
Nick D. –
My third London Walk, first with Kevin and fave so far. Entertaining!
London, walking, and archaeology were all delivered as advertised by a real-life London Archaeologist in exactly 2 hours.
Steve –
I thoroughly enjoyed my walk with Kevin. Learned a lot I didn’t know about the origins of London. It was a mixture of history, archeology and architecture. All areas I enjoy learning about. I would gladly do another walk with him.
Kevin Flude –
Guide Kevin here. Thanks for your feedback, Sarah. Yes, you’re right, the walk did go into extra time, so to speak. It came in at about two and a half hours and 30 minutes over the listed two hours is a sizeable step toward “nearly three hours.” In any case, what it “felt like” is the final arbiter. There’s no gainsaying sore feet and hunger. So, yes, thanks for calling me on it. I’ll tighten it up and going forward bring it in in two hours. It’ll be a better walk for that bit of pruning and trimming. To have walkers who “love London history and archaeology” – that’s being dealt a winning hand if you’re a guide (and an archaeologist). You play that winning hand by leaving them wanting more rather than wondering how much longer is this going on for. So, it’s onto the cutting room floor for some of the more arcane details of the archaeology of the Forum area. Ditto some of the finer points of the archaeology of the Great Fire. A little shorter, a little pacier and a more focussed narrative. Win-win because I’ll bring it in two hours but offer to do an encore for those who want a bit more. Again, very useful feedback!
Sarah –
This was the longest London walk I’d ever been on and I’ve been on many.
Guided by Kevin, it dragged. Nearly three hours later, foot sore and hungry, we finally finished.
The information was good – he certainly knew his stuff but we just seemed to go round in circles.
As much as I love the history and archeology of London it was all too much in one sitting.
A shame.