Smithfield MarketPass by
We’ll collect you from your central London hotel or agreed pickup point before setting off to discover a rather different side of the city. Secret London is not a fixed A-to-B route, and no two tours need to be exactly alike. Some guests will jump out to explore further, take a great photo while others are happy to pass by.
Smithfield is a great place to begin. This part of London has centuries of stories packed into a surprisingly small area, from medieval London and historic markets to executions, rebellion and some wonderful hidden corners. Your guide will shape the tour around the time you have, what interests you and the secrets they most enjoy sharing.
Church Of St. Bartholomew The GreatPass by
Tucked away behind Smithfield is one of London’s oldest and most atmospheric churches. Founded in the 12th century, St Bartholomew the Great feels a world away from the busy city outside. Even finding the entrance is part of the fun.
Your guide can show you some of the surrounding lanes and buildings that make this little pocket of London so special.
Church Of St. Bartholomew The GreatPass by
Founded in 1123, St Bartholomew the Great is one of London’s oldest surviving churches and one of the city’s most atmospheric medieval spaces. Tucked away behind an ancient gateway near Smithfield, it is exactly the sort of place many visitors would walk straight past without ever realising what is hidden inside.
Staple InnPass by
It is hard to believe you are still in central London when you come across the beautiful timber-framed frontage of Staple Inn. Surrounded by modern buildings and busy streets, it offers a glimpse of the London that existed centuries ago and survived while so much of the surrounding city changed.
Temple ChurchPass by
Hidden away within the peaceful lanes of the Temple, this remarkable medieval church dates back to the 12th century and is closely associated with the Knights Templar.
The surrounding courtyards, gardens and narrow passages are equally fascinating and can feel almost secret despite being only moments from some of London’s busiest streets.
Tower of LondonPass by
London’s Roman past is still there if you know where to look. Around Tower Hill, fragments of the old Roman city wall survive amongst much later buildings, giving you a glimpse back nearly 2,000 years.
Your guide may use this part of the tour to show you how Roman, medieval and modern London have quite literally been built on top of one another.
Leadenhall MarketPass by
Hidden among the modern towers of the City is one of London’s most beautiful historic markets. Its colourful Victorian roof, cobbled walkways and narrow entrances make Leadenhall feel very different from the financial district surrounding it.
It is another wonderful example of old London surviving in the middle of the new.
Lock & Co. HattersPass by
St James’s Street is full of old London institutions, and Lock & Co. is one of the best. Founded in 1676, it is the oldest hat shop in the world and has supplied everyone from Admiral Lord Nelson to Winston Churchill.
Within a few steps are other historic shops and one of those wonderfully easy-to-miss London corners: Pickering Place, a tiny Georgian courtyard tucked away behind St James’s Street. It is exactly the sort of place that makes Secret London such fun — centuries of history hiding behind an ordinary-looking doorway. Every one of our London taxi guides has their own favourite discoveries and stories. This isn’t a “bus-stop” tour where everyone follows exactly the same route — part of the fun is letting your guide show you the London they know and love.
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