Stories From the Strand -

With its origins in Roman London, The Strand, is one of the most important streets in London.  Running from Trafalgar Square in the West to Fleet Street in the East it has been the home of the palaces of royalty and the aristocracy, a commercial centre, an hub for satirists, publishers, newspapers, printers and engravers, the southern tip of theatreland, and a bastion of the law.

The walk begins on the Strand at the junction with Savoy Court from where we head East to Simpson’s and Somerset House and on to the most perfect of Baroque churches, St Mary le Strand.

We continue past Bush House, home of the BBC’s World Service for many years and also of secret government departments before and during World War 2. We then head on to Twinings, the first teashop in London and on the same spot since the early eighteenth century.

Entering “legal London” you will see the majestic Royal Courts of Justice, Temple Bar and a very old clock, where hear the legend of the ‘Demon Barber of Fleet Street’ and a London foundation myth. We then proceed into the calm of the Temple, home of Barristers and before that of crusading knights, whilst pausing to consider a trademark anomaly.

Once in the Temple we will look at Temple Church and a Tudor dining hall as we continue to Strand Lane and its Roman Baths.  We walk down to the Embankment and the Savoy, where we will see the site where one of the first music videos was filmed and see the hotel that changed the concept of what a luxury hotel should be and hear about some of the famous guests who stayed there.

The walk ends at the top of Carting Lane (where we see a curious streetlamp) very close to Savoy Court.

This engaging and informative walk covers nearly two thousand years of history and reveals the stories that lie behind the famous buildings. You will meet kings and queens, crusaders and lawyers, actors and impresarios as well as the legendary founder of London.

The walk is ideal for anyone with an interest in history, culture and with an ear for a good story.

• Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours

• Level: Generally easy flat walking

• Starts: Savoy Court, The Strand

• Ends: Savoy Court, The Strand

• Cost: £35 per person

• Private Tour - if you wish to book a private tour for up to 15 people, please contact me

  Upcoming “Stories From the Strand” Tours:

• Mondays - 10:30

• Tuesdays - 10:30

• Thursdays - 14:30

• Fridays - 10:30