Transcript City of London Tour

City of London Tour
1. Outside Tower Hill Underground
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
On exiting Tower Hill underground , turn left, then left again where you will
find giant sundial and viewing platform. Tower of London views.
City of London was founded in the 1st century AD as a Roman trading post.
City of London completely walled. Present day, the city is a very important
financial and commercial institution known world wide.
It was once a living city and you can see constant reminders that it was lived
in.
During week it is a busy financial and commercial hub, but at weekends the
area is almost deserted.
Ahead of you is Tower of London it was founded as Royal Palace after 1066
invasion. It is a fine example of a Medieval castle but not it is not strictly in the
City of London.
To your left you can see the old Roman walls that mark the old walls of the
city.
The White Tower is the central dome and dates from 11th century. In the 12th
century saw expansion of the tower and moat. In the 13th century the palace
was transformed the palace with concentric rings. Last expansion was in 15th
century. Most famously it is used as a royal treasury for the Crown Jewels..
Many people have been executed here, including 2 of Henry 8th wives.
Trinitiy Square Gardens is on your right which was sight of many executions.
Church of All Hallows is just beyond Trinity Square Gardens on the far side of
main. This was originally one of many parish churches in the City of London.
Exit sundial platform to your right and head towards main road, turn right and
cross road via pedestrian crossing. Walk along pedestrian area just past main
ticket booth to the Tower of London and Tower welcome tower on your right.
Small round building This was owned by London Hydraulic Tower company
1868 marks small tunnel under the Thames but the idea never caught on. The
tunnel still exists as a service tunnel for electrical wiring
Continue on to the River Thames.
2. North Bank of River Thames
• Look along river to your left you will see tower
bridge. This was built in 1894 by Horace Jones.
This bridge can be opened hydraulically. 2
positions fully open and partially open. In the past
it was opened over 50 times a day.
• A high level walk way can be used for Londoners
to cross when Bridge is open.
• Ahead of you on South Bank is HMS Belfast naval
cruiser built 1938 in WW2 and Korean War. As
part of imperial War museum is popular in own
right.
• Start walking to right along pathway along the
river heading for point 3 just before London
Bridge.
• You will pass by Billings Gate market building
famous for fish market and fish sculptures on
weather veins. On site for nearly 700 years.
Moved in 1982. Fish juices seeped into the
cobbles and people thought they could smell fish.
• Head along the river to just before London Bridge
to a church set back from the river on your right
3. London Bridge
• There have been several versions of
London Bridge latest completed in
1970’s.
• The most famous London Bridge, that
existed in Elizabethan times that houses
and shops built on top of bridge and
features in many paintings.
• The church to the right is St Magnus the
Martar designed by Sir Christopher
Wren, just behind it is first glimpse of
stone columns celebrating the Great
Fire of London in 1666, it has large
golden statue at top. This was also
designed by Sir Christopher Wren
• Now make way around right hand side
of church, when you reach main road
head for main entrance porch of the
church.
4. Church of St Magnus the Martar
• Outside of the church is fairly plain
and austere. If the church is open
it is worth looking inside.
• The church yard formed part of
main roadway to London Bridge.
As you stand in front of door. Look
to your left old piece of wood ad
75 and formed part of Roman
Wharf in River Thames.
• Head to main road on over Thames
Street and cross using crossing to
Pudding Lane you will pedestrian
walkway crossing the road above.
Head to half way along Pudding
Lane.
5. Pudding Lane and Monument Street
• Pudding Lane is place where Great
Fire of London started in 1666 and
started in a bakers shop and
destroyed large parts of city. You will
see plaque where it started. You can
see monument on your left by Sir
Christopher Wren to commemorate
those who perished in the fire and to
give hope to residents that the city
would rise again. It is the tallest
single column structure in the world,
you can climb the 311 steps to the
top of the tower.
• Walk up Fish Street Hill away from
the River to junction of Grace Church
Street across Eastcheap. Continue
walking along right of Grace Church
Street. At entrance to Lendenhall
Market by a pub called the New
Moon
6. New Moon Pub
• The scene in front of you may be familiar, it is regularly used as film set. It
has been used in the Harry Potter Films.
• Market built in late 19th century as a wholesale market.
• Most of the market is now boutiques, bars and restaurants. If you look up
you may see several silver dragons the symbols of London. You may spot
the city coat of arms.
• Carry on through the market. As you leave look up at the archway - you
will see Latin motto translated - God Guide Us.
• Continue ahead to Leadenhall Place and Lime street.
7. Corner of Leadenhall Place and Lime
Street
• The Silver Grey building on your
left is Lloyds of London, home of
famous insurance brokers. It has its
routes in 17th Century as insurers of
ship and cargo. Lloyds of London
will provide any insurance apart
from Life Insurance. Present
building built in 1980s.
• Head left to the end of Lime Street
at end of Leadenhall Street. Head
for the road opposite, St Mary Axe.
You will pass St Andrews
Undershaft, a pre-fire church and
tiny, delightful garden. Continue
down St. Mary Axe until you reach
the Swiss Re Building.
8. Swiss Re Building
• Standing at 600 ft. tall and completed in
2003, the Swiss Re building, also known as
the Gherkin, was a building proposed by
architect Norman Foster. When it was first
proposed, the Gherkin caused controversy
but everyone has now accepted it as an
integral part of the capital.
• The building used 24,000 square metres of
glass and each window is unique due to the
buildings bulbous, spiralling shape. The
Gherkin is the second highest skyscraper in
London, the highest being Tower 42 which
will be seen later on the tour. (Right, Below)
• Turn with your back facing the Swiss Re
Building and head down on the right side of
the street past St. Helens Church. Once past
the church, keep going straight on through
Great St. Helens Square and pass under the
archway to audio point 9 on Bishop’s Gate.
9. Threadneedle Street
• To continue the tour, head to the
left and take the first road on the
right down Threadneedle Street.
This is one of the most famous
streets in the city, being home to
the bank of England. To the right is
Tower 42, the highest building in
London.
• The next stop is at the busy junction
at the end of the street, in front of a
large columned building called the
Royal exchange. This is audio point
10.
10. The Royal Exchange
• Built in 1844, the royal exchange is the third building on
site. The 1st building was built in 1570 by Thomas
Gresham who envisioned a covered market place in the
city. It was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666.
The 2nd building was also burnt in 1838. The present
building is now occupied by luxury stores and restaurants.
• With your back to the royal exchange, the building to the
right is the Bank of England, known as the Old Lady of
Threadneedle Street. The suggestion for the reason of
this name is that a female ghost haunts the Gardens. Just
ahead of you is a Statue of Wellington, built by Frances
Leggett Tantry in 1844. It is cast in metal made of French
guns captured in the war that had bee melted down.
• To the left is Mansion house, the official residence of the
Lord Mayor of London. The building was completed in
1753 and it is the only private residence in England that
has it’s own Court of Justice.
• Head right, crossing Threadneedle Street. At the other
side of the road, turn left and cross Prince’s Street and
then head down the next street called Poultry. Keep on the
right until you come to Audio Point 11, at the corner of
King’s Street which is the 4th turning on the right.
11. King’s Street
• Before you turn into King’s Street, you
will notice a large church on the left
side of Poultry. This is the church of St.
Mary Le Bow, famous for it’s Bow
Bells. According to legend, only those
born within the sound of the Bow Bells
may refer to themselves as Cockney.
• As you turn into King’s Street, you shall
see ahead of you the London Guild
Hall which is effectively Town Hall.
• Walk down King’s Street and continue
to Audio Point 12, on the square facing
the Guild Hall.
12. Guild Hall
• The Guild Hall has been described as one of
London's undiscovered secrets due to it’s
stunning interior. The beautifully decorated walls
date f4rom around the 1400s, well before the
Great Fire of London. Although damaged in the
flames, The Guild Hall survived with damage only
being done to the roof, which was renovated in
the 1940s.
• Underneath the Guild Hall are Medieval Crypts. It
was also the site of a large Roman Amphitheatre.
You will notice on the ground in front of the Hall
an oval outline made of grey blue slate. This
represents the exact outline of the Amphitheatre
that stood here some 2000 years ago.
• To continue your walk, you need to head to your
left as you face the guild hall, heading under the
buildings with the entrance to the guild hall on
your right and out onto Gresham Street. Continue
down Gresham Street to the corner of Noble
Street which is the 4th turning on the right.
13. Noble Street
• On the corner of Greysham Street and Noble
Street, the Church of St.Anne and St.Agnes will be
opposite.
• You now need to walk along Noble Street to
where it meets a street called London Wall. The
name relates to the old Roman wall that used to
encircle the city. On the left side of Noble street
there is a section of the ancient wall to serve as a
reminder to London's roman roots.
• Audio point 14 is at the end of Noble Street on the
left hand side.
14. London Museum
• On the corner of noble Street and London Wall, you
should be right by the entrance to the London Museum.
The museum represents 250,000 years worth of history
and there is over a million items stored here. It is also
Europe's biggest archaeological archive.
• To continue your Tour, head
left along Alder’s Gate Street.
As the road bares left, cross it
using a pedestrian crossing
opposite a green building. Just
to the right of this building is a
small street called Little
Britain while on the left is the
entrance to Postman's Park
and Audio Point 15.
15. Postman’s Park
• You should now be at the entrance of
Postman's Park, a little known but very
pleasant green space. The most obvious
feature of the park is the commemorative
wall to the right as you walk through. On
this wall, you will see many plaques
commemorating ordinary people who
lost their lives trying to save others. The
project was the idea of a 19th Century
painter called G. F. Watts. He wanted to
created a tribute to ordinary people who
would have otherwise been forgotten
after their deaths.
• To get to Audio Point 16, continue
through the park and out onto King
Edward Street.
16. Old Post Office Building
• On King Edward Street, almost opposite and
slightly to the left is the Old Post Office
Building which was the headquarters of
Royal Mail. Further along to the left is a
statue that commemorates the life of
Rowland Hill who started the world’s first
pre-paid postage system here in Britain. As
the first nation to adopt this system, Britain
assumed the right to not print the country
of origin on the stamps. To this day, British
stamps only have a silhouette of the
reigning monarch and the price of the stamp
on them.
• To continue your tour, head left to the end of
Kind Edward Street. Opposite, you shall see
an alleyway leading to St. Paul's Cathedral.
To reach it, cross Newgate Street using the
pedestrian crossing. Just before you reach
the end of the alleyway, turn right and you
will find yourself at Audio Point 17 in
Paternoster Square.
17. Paternoster Square and Temple Bar
•
•
•
•
•
Although it has a modern appearance, Paternoster
Square has been around for several hundred years. The
development you see before you was mainly built in the
1990s to provide office space in the shadow of St. Pauls.
The square offers fantastic views of St. Pauls Cathedral.
The statue of the Shepard and Sheep is named
Paternoster, meaning ‘our father’ and is by Elizabeth
Frink.
To continue, you need to head diagonally left across the
square where you will see an archway. This archway is
known as Temple Bar which once formed the entrance
to the city on the western side. It dates from 1672 and
is thought to have been designed by Sir Christopher
Wren.
The Archway was often central to ceremonies and
processions and it also had a gory side, being the place
where traitors heads were traditionally displayed after
they had been executed.
The Temple Bar was not always as it is now. It was
removed to to safety reasons with traffic and was nearly
forgotten about. It was only brought back here in 2004,
after 20 years of campaigning for it’s return.
To continue your tour, you need to proceed through the
arch, and head right to Audio Point 18, in front of the
famous western transept of St. Pauls Cathedral.
18. St. Pauls Cathedral
• The western transept of St. Pauls Cathedral is
considered the traditional view of this magnificent
building. The city has had a cathedral dedicated to St.
Paul since 604 AD. A total of four cathedrals have
previously occupied this site before the present day
cathedral. The current cathedral, designed by Sir
Christopher Wren, was built between 1675 and 1710. It
is 365 feet tall and is the cathedral for the capital city.
Many historical and important events have taken place
here, including the funeral of Winston Churchill, the
wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana and the
peace ceremonies that marked the end of WW1 and
WW2.
• The cathedral own literature describes it as a heritage
site of international importance, a symbol of the city
and the nation it serves and above all, a lasting
monument to the glory of God.
• To continue your tour, you need to walk around St. Pauls
to it’s southern side. Here, cross the road, turn left and
then almost immediately turn right where you’ll see a
sign for the Millennium bridge. Continue to Audio Point
19 at the northern end of the Millennium Bridge.
19. Millennium Bridge
• This bridge was opened by the Queen in June 2000, the
first Thames crossing in London for more than 100 years.
It was designed by the architect, Sir Norman Foster.
• The bridge also featured in Harry Potter and the Half
Blood Prince. The sequence lasted only 3 minutes but it
took a year to digitally create it. The bridge is destroyed
by death eaters in that scene.
• The bridge was almost consigned to history on it’s very
first day after it started to wobble violently as 1000s of
people crossed it for the 1st time. The design faults were
quickly amended and it is now a much loved feature of
London and an important crossing point over the River
Thames.
• From the bridge, you will be able to see the Tate Modern
Gallery, the large red brick building, to the right as look
over the river. To the left of the Tate is the Globe Theatre,
a faithful representation of the circular, open air theatre
where William Shakespeare once worked.