Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
- St. Paul's Cathedral
- The 'Gherkin'
- Guildhall
Photos & Highlights
- Immerse yourself in the history, diverse influences, and constant transformation of architecture in London
- You’ll explore several key venues across the historic city center, hosted by an architectural historian
Select a date
Tour Description
Our London Architecture Tour explores the dramatic impact each of London’s key architects has made on the city’s strikingly unique skyline. Together, you trace the narrative timeline of London’s evolution from Norman times to cutting-edge contemporary skyscrapers.
Experts
Your journey begins at the steps of St. Paul's, which was created by Architect Christopher Wren. From here, we may proceed through Temple Bar, London’s only surviving city gate, and on through Paternoster Square, which proves to be a remarkable example of how modern architecture can work in harmony with London’s famous historical monuments.
We will visit Guildhall Yard – where a fanciful Indian-influenced 18th-century porch and a brutalist 20th-century extension juxtapose the original 15th-century Guildhall. Depending on opening times, we might also venture underground to discover the remains of one of London’s most ancient buildings that lie hidden below the Guildhall Art Gallery.
Next on the itinerary is a stroll past the magnificent Bank of England, originally designed by the celebrated architect Sir John Soane, and the Mansion House, a classical masterpiece that has long been home to London’s Lord Mayor. Following a walk through the Victorian exuberance of Leadenhall Market, we will encounter the tall skyscrapers that have recently sprouted up in the City. From Richard Rogers’ iconic Lloyd Buildings to the much-discussed ‘Gherkin’ designed by Norman Foster, these stunning structures represent the evolution of London into a center for commerce and banking, offering a striking contrast to the many historic buildings that they now overshadow.
Do we go inside the venues or just see them from the outside?
We generally focus on the outside of buildings, but we do occasionally step inside churches or buildings that are relevant to the discussion. No advance tickets are required for these.
What if it’s raining?
Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your guide will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.
Is this tour good for kids?
Yes! We have some excellent family-friendly guides who can appeal to the learning styles of children. Please book privately if you have children under 13. Feel free to provide us with information about your children such as favorite school subjects, and hobbies. This way we can do our best to match you with the best possible guide.
Is this a walking-intensive tour?
The walk covers about 2 miles, but the exact mileage depends on the day and the group's interests.
Where do we start? Where do we end?
We begin near St. Paul's and usually end in the vicinity of the Bank of England. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point.
Where You'll Start
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92 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Alice's personality and expertise more than made up for the unseasonably cold weather - the London Architecture walk was a great success. Not only did we have Alice to guide us (my husband and I were the only participants), we had Owen Hopkins and Julia Male along to augment different aspects of the tour. The way the walk was structured flowed well and Alice's enthusiasm came through as she took us through the streets of London pointing out the history of architectural styles through the ages. While there was a lot of information to cover, the walk did not feel rushed. We ended up at The Building Centre where we saw a 3D model of the the city of London. This was the perfect place to end the walk as it gave us a greater perspective of how London has evolved over the centuries and what future plans are considered. We would highly recommend this to friends.
Lisa
Reviewed on:
May 23, 2012
Ayla was fantastic. She is passionate about Architecture and shared that with us.
She structured the tour around what we wanted to see and learn.
Helen
Reviewed on:
Apr 25, 2011
