At a loose end on Saturday 10 October? Jump on one (or more) of these free guided walks around London.
Every year, London's various guiding associations come together to put on free walks for the public. Local London Guiding Day this year takes place on 10 October, and features walks in six areas of town, on the loose theme of 'Back to the Future' (how yesterday’s London changed into the capital of tomorrow). Here are your options... how many can you do in one day?
Camden Guides: From Grime to Sublime!: Explore how King's Cross has transformed from an industrial wasteland to a hub for leisure, learning and travel, aware of its past as it builds the future, on its journey from steam, coal and gas to coding, creativity and green spaces.
City of London Guides: How the Past Shapes the City: See how history still quietly runs the show: a 17th century Wren tower that still shapes modern architecture; ancient livery companies with a role today; a Roman-influenced 1990s floor plan; why we still use medieval street names.
Clerkenwell and Islington Guides: A Walk along Old Street: Tour the areas of St Lukes and Finsbury, to discover the people, places and stories from London's Silicon Roundabout, where relics of the past nestle alongside buildings of the future.
Hackney Guides: People & Power on the City's Doorstep: How does Hoxton’s past inform its present and future? Compare almshouses and council housing, parks, libraries, music halls, a power station and Hoxton market. Consider how the powerful provided for the poor, and where their wealth came from. Hear about plague pits, workhouses and non-conformism, and discover what is meant by ‘More light, More Power!’.
Lambeth Guides: Culture, Community and Change: Find out about the parts of Waterloo you may already have seen, those you may have passed by without noticing, and some you might not even know existed. Discover the stories, people and architectural treasures in a central London area ripe for exploration, much of which lies unknown to visitors of the South Bank.
Westminster Guides: Visionaries: A gentle walk through Pimlico’s backstreets, revealing the stories, characters and changes that transformed yesterday’s London into the capital of tomorrow. Meet the visionaries whose struggles for their future shaped our present, including artists, master builders, sewage engineers, social reformers, suffragettes and secret agents.
All walks take place on the hour, every hour between 10am and 4pm, and each lasts no more than an hour. You don't need to book — just turn up — but if you want to absolutely guarantee a place, you can reserve a slot via the Eventbrite links above.
The six guiding companies put on excellent walks throughout the year, often with themes that will appeal to Londoners as well as curious visitors. Local London Guiding Day is a great way to get a taster (or six) without having to pay a penny.
Find out more information about the walks and meeting points on the event's website.
