At a loose end this weekend? Jump on one (or more) of these free guided walks around London.
Saturday 4 October is Local London Guiding Day, when the city's local tour groups put on free walks for the public. Five different walks are on offer, one from each of the guiding companies:
Camden Guides: Pioneers, Plectrums and Plague Pits: An eclectic walk starting from Tottenham Court Road Tube, which pulls in everything from rock 'n' roll to pandemics.
City of London Guides: From Darkness to Light: Starting from St Paul's Tube, the walk explores both "the shadows of old London" and the modern City.
Clerkenwell & Islington Guides: Clerkenwell's Lingering Shadows: This walk from Farringdon station explores the extraordinarily busy history of Clerkenwell.
Westminster Guides: Shadows of the Past, Marylebone: Often overlooked, Marylebone has its own rich history, which will be introduced in this walk from Baker Street station.
Lambeth Guides: Stockwell, Looking Through the Veil of Time: Head out to Stockwell to discover pioneering botanists, a church that employed a world-famous composer and someone who brought fairy tales to life.
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 Eventbrite.
The five 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 five) without having to pay a penny.
Find out more information about the walks and meeting points on the event's website.
