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 very near St. Paul’s Tube Station.
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.
Jimmy –
27 August 2023 – Simon was highly entertaining and deeply knowledgeable. As a Londoner who knows these area well, it was a real eye opener to new discoveries and encounters. Didn’t want the tour to stop. Will be back for more!
Uzma Haque –
What a fantastic and instructive 2 hours (plus) journey through the medieval alleys and modern streets of the City of London! It was highly educational and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The time just flew, as Simon is a perfect guide – very knowledgeable, vivacious, witty, personable. I look forward to joining you on another tour on my next trip to London.
Reshma and Fouzia –
We did the square mile walk this morning with Simon. Simon was not only very knowledgeable but great fun too. I used to work in this part of the city many many years ago and always wondered about the area. Simon was a wealth of information! It was one of those times when you don’t want something to end!
Will deffo be booking another walk soon!
Penny nestel –
Simon’s tour of the square mile was excellent and most enjoyable.
Derek Jones (Liverpool) –
I did the Square Mile walk yesterday with Simon and it was absolutely brilliant.. Simon was so knowledgeable about the history, the buildings, the boroughs and the pubs! I would thoroughly recommend this tour, there were 7 of my family on the walk of various ages and we all enjoyed it. Thanks Simon for a very informative and entertaining morning.
Tom Simons –
Really enjoyed the walk today around the square mile. Simon provided entrainment and also insight into the historical events and buildings.
Joan and Tom –
We had a really enjoyable tour by Simon today – he brought the square mile to life for us with his evocative story telling and real passion. We have done many London Walks and this was one of the best! Thank you Simon 🙂
Rhonda & David Edmonds –
Ann was pleasant and knowledgeable. Really enjoyed the walk. Great contrast between old and new architecture. Particularly enjoyed journeying down back alleyways.
Sam Marshall –
We we’re extremely lucky with the weather, our guide Ann, and our companions.
In the past we’ve only done West End shows and the major tourist hot spots. However this tour took our knowledge, imagination and senses to a time gone by, to the current money of wealth of the City of London.
The architecture, the history, the anecdotal stories all beautifully delivered over the 2 hours.
Nicola Bradley –
Simon was a great guide. Covered several millennia of London’s history in a highly entertaining way. Learnt loads of nuggets from which side started the Blitz to who St Botolph was and how Romans communicated in wax. Loved seeing St Dunstans in the East, Leadenhall Market and the Bank of England. Sunday is a great day for the walk as the City is fairly quiet.