Welcome to the August newsletter of guided walks and events from Clerkenwell & Islington Guides.
We have a comprehensive collection of walks for the month, starting with:
Islington’s Lost Entertainments
For centuries, Islington has been a popular destination for pleasure seekers. On this two-hour tour we’ll explore the activities and institutions that went from ubiquity to obscurity as London changed around them.
We’ll uncover Islington’s time as a land of pastoral excess; the antics of various rock-n’-rollers; the food; the fads; and the fights.
The walk begins outside Angel station and ends near Highbury and Islington station. Due to some mature themes, the walk is recommended for ages 15+.
This walk takes place on the 7th and 31st of August at 11:00 and can be booked by clicking here.
Heretics and Horrors City Walking Tour
Explore the City’s Bloody Past, through times of great suffering such as the Great Fire of London, times of religious and political upheaval during the Dissolution of the monasteries and why heads adorned the gates of the City.
Explore London’s bloody past.
The walking tour lets you explore the horrors of living through the Great Plague and Great Fire of London, while learning more about London’s history.
Even though this 90-minute walking tour covers a short distance, the area is drenched in history.
Imagine a time before the world wasn’t mapped, when people’s every move depended on what they could see from their home. Now imagine being stuck there with no way to escape as plague sweep through town and claim more victims each day…Do you think this would be just another bad dream?
The City of London held an important position within England. Henry VIII had his sights set upon making sure he had the element of control.
The name “Bloody Mary” may sound unpleasant, but she was just as bad or worse than her father Henry VIII? How did this mere woman cause so much fear? We will attempt to answer the question did Sherlock Holmes really jump?
Enjoy a stroll through London’s dark underside on an informative walking tour in the City of London.
Up and Down Upper Street
Islington, now the most densely populated London borough, was for centuries famed for its pastures, dairies, fresh water wells and pleasure gardens. Today, this inner urban borough offers an eclectic range of modern shops, restaurants, theatres, pubs and cafes, but its history remains there, hidden in plain sight.
At the heart of Islington is Upper Street, the borough’s main road and liveliest thoroughfare.
Upper Street was once part of the main route for drovers bringing livestock into Smithfield Market in the City of London. Islington comprised Upper Street, Essex Road (formerly Lower Street/Lower Road) and a lot of fields until the 18th century.
The gateway to Upper Street is Angel, a name which has come to denote this whole quarter.
• Learn how the tube station, and the area, got its name.
• Hear echoes of forgotten tramways, waterways and cattle droving routes.
• See the church that distils Islington’s history in a single building; and two contrasting theatres.
• Find out about Islington’s takeover of the former borough of Finsbury.
• Discover a hidden garden most locals don’t even know; and Upper Street’s newest public space.
The walk lasts approximately two hours. Please be prepared for all weather conditions!
Start: Outside Angel tube station, Islington High Street, N1 8XX.
Finish: a short walk from Highbury & Islington tube station.
“Just wanted to say a huge thank you for Friday’s wonderful tour of Angel. We’ve had loads of great feedback and learnt a lot ourselves too! The team were very impressed by your extensive knowledge.”
“…a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon, the tour was brilliantly structured and Jonathan’s narrative flowed beautifully – hugely informative and very entertaining.”
This walk takes place on the 10th of August at 11:0 and can be booked by clicking here.
St Mary Islington – Church and Tower tour
St Mary’s, Islington on Upper Street has played a central role in the history of Islington for a thousand years. During this time several different churches have stood on the site, leaving an eclectic range of architectural styles.
On this 90-minute guided tour you’ll learn about the 12th-century Norman church and its 15th-century medieval successor. In the 18th century it was completely rebuilt, lasting until 1940 when St Mary’s became the first London church to be destroyed in World War II. Only the tower and steeple survived the bomb; the main body of the church was rebuilt in 1956, a fascinating example of post-war reconstruction and design.
As well as providing a glimpse into the history of St Mary’s and how it has influenced Islington today, you’ll also have the opportunity to climb the 120 steps to the top of tower, giving you a bird’s-eye view over London.
This walk takes place on the 10th of August at 14:00 and can be booked by clicking here.
Bleeding Hearts and Body Parts
Time to take your rose tinted history specs off….
Farringdon and Smithfields have always been associated with gore and bloodshed. For centuries, these two areas of London were the sites of public executions, and the blood of countless criminals was spilt on their streets. In more recent times, Farringdon has had its fair share of bleeding hearts and body parts. Smithfields has been the site of public executions as well as the stage for a number of blockbuster films.
London’s bloody history is also full of inspiring stories of courage and defiance. During the public executions in Smithfields, many people would come to watch and jeer at the condemned. However, there were also those who would bravely stand up to the crowd and offer words of support and comfort to the condemned. The famous story of Wat Tyler and the Peasants’ Revolt is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there are those who will fight for justice. London’s bloody history is full of both horror and hope, and it is this duality that makes it so fascinating.
Despite all this violence, both Farringdon and Smithfields have managed to retain an air of mystery and fascination. These two areas of London are steeped in history, and their bloody pasts only add to their allure. For those with a taste for the macabre, Farringdon and Smithfields are definitely worth a visit. Join us on our Bleeding Hearts and Body Parts walk.
Islington’s Big Screens
A stroll through more than 100 years of Islington cinema-going; all between Angel and Essex Road stations. You’’ll encounter Victorian showmen, architectural wonders and tales of bad behaviour in the stalls. Come to discover hidden gems and hear what a night ‘at the flicks’ was like decades before multiplexes.
In addition to such landmarks as the Screen on the Green, you’ll see some buildings that were once cinemas as well as a few intriguing places where all trace of their cinematic past has vanished.
This walk takes place on the 17th of August at 11:00 and can be booked by clicking here.
Georgian London Walking Tour
The Georgian period was considered to be elegant and polite. A new type of society had emerged in Britain; a more free, diverse and enlightened society.
The Georges may not have been the most exciting of Kings but it was a lively time, and much was achieved in their reigns.
The now world famous site of Sadler’s Wells had, however, a less salubrious in the past which we explore further on this guided walk.
On this guided walk we take you back to the days when the surrounding area had a raucous reputation and see how it transformed from a place to be avoided at all costs to a most desirable postcode. We explore Georgian North Clerkenwell discovering tales of radicals and clowns, we will see see great Georgian engineering feats from engineering to town planning, in an area where Georgians came to play and be entertained.
– Authentic different tour
– Discover Georgian London
– Qualified guide
– Suitable for all age groups. Please note all children must be accompanied by an adult.
– Start: Angel Tube | End: Angel Tube
This walk takes place on the 18th of August at 13:00 and can be booked by clicking here.
A Road to Ruin Walking Tour
Join us on the “Road to Ruin” walking tour, a fascinating exploration for history enthusiasts, London lovers and those with interest an in alcohol. We’ll begin in Clerkenwell, a historic gin and beer production hub, and venture through the area to uncover its intriguing past.
Discover the complex relationship between London’s different classes of society and the alcohol they consumed. Learn about the impact of alcohol production and consumption, and how artists portrayed society and its expectations of different classes.
Authentic different alcohol-themed tour
Discover an interesting aspect of historical London
Adults only. NB: Tea totals are very welcome. This is not a pub crawl.
This walk takes place on the 18th of August at 15:30 and can be booked by clicking here.
Oliver Twist Walking Tour
Victorian London was a dangerous place especially after dark, with highwaymen and other scoundrel’s waiting to pounce on anyone crossing their path.
Imagine stepping back in time to 1837, when London was a bustling city and not so different from today’s metropolis. You see people walking down the street with their heads held high as they go about business; no one would be talking on their phones, perhaps chatting amicably among friends or family members catching up after being apart for awhile… But what would your Victorian life look like? How could you fit into this Age of Improvement which is so unlike ours here today? Would YOU survive?
Highwaymen roamed the roads exiting Victorian London, ready to pounce on anyone who crossed their path. A dark and dangerous place at night with Highway men waiting in the shadows just looking for an opportunity make off with your valuables or even kill you if they had no intention of taking anything from you alive.
This Oliver Twist walking tour follows the footsteps of Oliver Twist and Artful Dodger as they make their way through London to reach Fagin’s lair, just like in Charles Dickens’ novel “Oliver Twist.”
You can’t be too stealthy in London, especially if you want to avoid being caught by the police. The Artful Dodger and Oliver would have needed this skill when they headed into Fagin’s lair at night-time.
– Authentic different tour
– Discover 1837 London
– Qualified guide
– Suitable for all age groups. Please note all children must be accompanied by an adult.
– Start: Angel Tube Station | End: Farringdon Station
This walk takes place on the 24th of August at 13:00 and can be booked by clicking here.
Beautiful Barnsbury
See fine Georgian squares, secret gardens and London’s smallest nature reserve, while learning about the area’s history.
Dating back to the Domesday Book of 1086, Barnsbury was for centuries a rural manor set back a little from the busy Islington main road of Upper Street.
In the 18th century its open fields, fresh water springs, pleasure gardens (and forerunner of the world’s most famous cricket ground) were built over by 18th century developers. This brought the growing middle classes into the area, but in the 19th century it was not immune to industrialisation, overcrowding and a workhouse for the poor.
Today, Barnsbury is one of inner London’s most beautiful areas, tucked away between Upper Street and Caledonian Road.
Start: Angel tube station
Finish: Close to Caledonian Road & Barnsbury Overground station, or a short walk to Highbury & Islington or Caledonian Road tube stations.
The walk lasts around two hours. Please be prepared for all weather conditions!
“Such a wonderful walk around one of the loveliest parts of London”
“A great afternoon visiting a part of Islington I thought I knew but found out more and more about!”
This walk takes place on the 31st of August at 13:30 and can be booked by clicking here.
Regent’s Canal Walk
Learn about the importance of the Regent’s Canal and how its fortunes have changed over the centuries. Join Susan, your qualified guide, for a 90-minute guided walk along this probably lesser-known stretch of the canal.
Hear about its history as an industrial area with slum housing. Find out how it has been rejuvenated over the last 20 years with boaters, tasteful canal side conversions, floating gardens, and street art. See where the greats of the entertainment business Marie Lloyd and Alfred Hitchcock made their breakthrough.
This walk takes place on the 7th of September at 11:30 and can be booked by clicking here.
There are other walks taking place in September onwards, along with additional dates and times for the above walks so plenty of choice and options, click here for our main walks calendar which is constantly updated. We look forward to seeing you on a walk by one of our guides.
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