Londons Walking Tour Ale Ink and Justice

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Paternoster Square

  Begin in the historic streets beside St Paul's Cathedral, exploring the hidden corners around Paternoster Square. Discover the curious story of the Panyer Boy, a centuries-old stone monument with a fascinating inscription, and explore the remains of Christ Church Greyfriars, whose history stretches back to a medieval Franciscan monastery. Hear how fire and wartime bombing transformed this part of London, leaving behind a garden that traces the outline of the former church. This opening stop reveals the remarkable layers of history hidden in the heart of the modern City.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  St. Paul's Cathedral

  Explore the streets surrounding one of London's most recognisable landmarks. Hear how successive churches stood on the site of St Paul's Cathedral, before Christopher Wren's magnificent cathedral rose from the aftermath of the Great Fire of London. See Temple Bar, the ornate gateway associated with the historic boundary between the City of London and Westminster.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 3
  The Cockpit

  Step into London's historic pub culture at The Cockpit, where the name recalls the once-popular — and now outlawed — sport of cockfighting. Your guide will reveal how drinking establishments served as centres of entertainment, social life and local tradition. You'll also hear about the Ale Conner, a City official responsible for checking the quality and measure of ale, and discover how seriously Londoners once took the contents of their drinking pots.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 4

  Discover a quieter corner of the City with connections to London's theatrical past. Around Playhouse Yard, hear about Shakespeare's life as a working businessman as well as a playwright, including his property dealings and the practical realities of running a theatre company. It's a chance to uncover the less familiar stories behind the cultural figures whose names still define London today.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5
  Fleet Street

  Explore Fleet Street, one of London's most storied thoroughfares, where historic pubs, literary legends, printing pioneers and the legal profession have left their mark. Discover how the street became the heart of Britain's newspaper industry, hear entertaining tales of Samuel Pepys and Dr Samuel Johnson, and uncover the stories behind historic watering holes such as Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese and The Old Bell Tavern. Along the way, admire the distinctive spire of St Bride's Church, learn about London's changing drinking culture, and hear the legend of Sweeney Todd, the infamous fictional barber. From colourful pub characters to the traditions of Britain's courts, Fleet Street offers a fascinating glimpse into London's past.

  40 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 6
  Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

  Visit the area around Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Pub, one of Fleet Street's best-known historic pubs - perhaps quench any thirst you might have. Hear stories of the writers and notable visitors associated with its long history, alongside some of the pub's more unusual characters and traditions. As you explore Fleet Street, discover how historic taverns became meeting places where stories, gossip, business and London's everyday life came together.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 7
  Gough Square

  Explore the colourful stories and characters associated with Fleet Street and London's legal quarter. Hear about the legend of Sweeney Todd, the fictional barber whose story became part of London's popular folklore, and discover the connections between the area and Samuel Johnson, the celebrated writer and lexicographer. You'll also learn about the wigs and robes associated with Britain's legal profession, including the traditions that helped turn them into enduring symbols of authority.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 8
  Lincoln's Inn

  Explore the historic surroundings of Lincoln's Inn, one of London's four Inns of Court, and discover the people, traditions and legal history that have shaped this part of the city. Hear about figures such as Sir Thomas More and the area's enduring appeal as a setting for film and television. The nearby Seven Stars, a historic pub dating to the early seventeenth century, offers a final insight into the close relationship between London's legal community and its traditional taverns and Inns.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 9
  Lincoln's Inn Fields

  Conclude your walk at Lincoln's Inn Fields, a large historic garden square with a past that stretches well beyond its present-day green spaces. Discover how the area changed from open ground into part of London's legal quarter, and hear the story of the Babington Plot and the role this part of London played in the history of public punishment. It's a thought-provoking finale to a walk through the city's hidden corners, colourful characters and changing ideas of justice.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Specialized infant seats are available

Tags