The Famous Square Mile
Monument Underground station, London (Fish Street Hill exit)
Guided by Delianne or Fiona or Judy or Simon or Tom
Walk Times
| Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Weekly | 10.30 am | 12.30 pm | Winter Summer | Reserve Online |
| Thursday | Weekly | 11 am | 1 pm | Winter Summer | Reserve Online |
HEAR TOM MBE HERE
Here’s barrister and superstar guide Tom Hooper MBE talking about this walk. This is Part I of a two-part interview in which Tom enlightens and entertains us about what this walk covers, what you get, where it goes, etc.
Short read: 2,000 Years of History (brought to you by brilliant guides*)
A dream team of nonpareil guides
Long read: The great classic London Walk, the London Walk of Walks! It explores the very heart of the City – the most historic part of the capital. Threading his way through an intricate network of narrow alleys and cobblestone lanes, Simon chronicles the 2,000 years of London’s rich and tumultuous history. And illustrates it by drawing upon everything from street names to ancient customs to the frozen music of London’s great buildings, among which are the ruins of the Roman Temple of Mithras, the Bank of England, the Lord Mayor’s Mansion House, and ancient Guildhall. Guided by Tom MBE, Judy, Fiona or Simon.
*”If this were a golf tournament every name on the Leader Board would be a London Walks guide”
FAMOUS SQUARE MILE TOUR PRACTICALS
The meeting point is just outside the Fish Street Hill exit of Monument Tube. N.B. the walk ends at Guildhall, nearest tube is Bank and it is a short walk to St. Paul’s.
LONDON WALKS SOUPÇON
The gold stored at the Bank of England cannot be stacked more than 5 feet high and has to be continuously moved around. Why? Because the London clay does not provide a solid enough foundation. Gold is so dense and thus heavy, it would start to sack the foundation of the vaults. In Manhattan, in contrast, the vaults are laid right on top of schist bedrock which is very strong. There is virtually is no limit to how high the stacks can be. (Perhaps just as well because there is more gold in the vaults of the Federal Reserve Bank in Manhattan than there is in Fort Knox. More than 36 countries store their gold there – more than 1/4 of the world’s gold is in those vaults. And well might you ask – how much is in the Bank of England?)
LONDON WALKS REVIEWS
“London’s best city tours” The Telegraph
“Even jaded Londoners find these London Walks a source of astonishing gems of information about the city in which they live.” Daily Mail, Top London Treats
“London Walks was the first – and is the best – of the walking tour firms” Fodor’s Great Britain
“The Famous Square Mile with guide Simon this morning was excellent. I didn’t want it to end even though it had begun raining. The wealth of knowledge of Simon and his exuberant passion for the history of this famous city was reflected in how he brought it to life for our group. I’ve been on numerous of the London Walks and all are the highest calibre. Take as many of these walks as you can!!” P. Fuselli Banff, Canada Feb. 2020
LONDON WALKS PRIVATE WALKS
If you can’t make one of the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, public Famous Square Mile walks do think about booking one as a private tour. If you go private you can have the Famous Square Mile 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 Peter or Niamh 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 very special, thoughtful and unusual gift. Be it a birthday or anniversary or Christmas present or whatever. Merchandise schmerchandise (gift wrapped or not) – but giving someone an experience, now that’s special. Memories make us rich.
Sharon Webb –
We had a very interesting and enjoyable walk today led by Fiona who took us to places we didn’t know existed. Answered all the questions put to her and kept us entertained throughout.
Anne –
I did this walk on August 25th but unfortunately missed the guide‘s name (might have been Tom). The tour was very interesting and entertaining. I especially loved the „open-air“ church.
Lesley –
Ann was an excellent guide around the Square Mile. She was informative and interesting.
Helen –
I have wanted to do this tour since reading Rutherford’s London a- a fictional story but based on fact which I found intriguing. I enjoyed this walk immensely even tho I got lost at one point. I rang the company who directed me to where the group would be next.
Ann was lively and knowledgeable.
Christine Quinlan –
Ann’s tour was very interesting and took us to parts of the city which we had never seen before. It was fascinating to hear about the history of the various locations and we enjoyed wandering down the alleyways to find hidden gems.
Kiko Weinroth –
Simon is amazing – we did the Oxford and cotswalds and square mile tour with him and it opened up new worlds for us! We can’t wait to come back and do more tours with Simon!
sheeraz wania –
It was one of the most interesting and informative walks we have ever done,.. and we do a lot of them. Ann was fantastic, the perfect combination of fun, information and humour.
Sean Chapman –
Ann was fabulous and I thoroughly enjoyed learning much more about a part of London I frequently walk through. I was recommended London Walks a while ago and I’m so glad I’ve finally been on a tour. I will be back for more! Thank you.
Rupert Thorne –
Great Square Mile tour with Simon. Entertaining and educational. Strongly recommended. If you want a Sunday morning tour this is ideal.
Melanie –
I really enjoyed the tour with Simon, he was very personable, entertaining and informative. He points out many details you’d never notice on your own.