Welcome to the newsletter of Clerkenwell & Islington Guides for October 2024, and we start with two updates on our tour guide training course, first on the recent badge ceremony for graduates of the 2024 course, and then we have details of how you can find out more about the next course, with a “Meet the Guides” event.
Badge Ceremony for Graduates of the 2024 Clerkenwell & Islington Tour Guiding Course
We are delighted to welcome 14 newly qualified guides to Islington Guided Walks, seen here celebrating with the Mayor of Islington, Councillor Anjna Khurana having successfully completed our 2024 Clerkenwell & Islington Tour Guiding course. Keep your eyes peeled for them out and about on the streets of Islington, including on Local London Guiding Day on Saturday 5th October.
If you are interested in becoming a guide and taking part in our next course starting in January 2025 we are now taking applications. Go to our website https://islingtonguidedwalks.com/our-training-course/ for details and to apply.
Become a Clerkenwell & Islington Tour Guide
Would you like to develop the skills to become a tour guide? Would you like to know more about history of Islington? Why not apply for the Clerkenwell & Islington tour guide training course starting in January 2025?
If you’d like to find out more, join guides who have completed the course at our free “Meet the Guides” event. The course tutors and other guides who have completed the course will take you on a walk to show you their favourite parts of Clerkenwell followed by a chance to ask questions and socialise in a local pub.
We meet outside Farringdon Station at 6:30pm and the walk will last approximately one hour
The event is free but please book a place so we know who to expect. We anticipate high demand for this event so if having booked you find that you are unable to attend we would be grateful if you would cancel your ticket so that someone else can attend.
To find out more about the course and apply visit the Islington Guided Walks website.
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 6th of October, and can be booked by clicking here.
A ROAD TO RUIN WALKING TOUR
The perfect guided walk for those interested in history, London and alcohol.
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 6th of October, 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 12th of October, and can be booked by clicking here.
A WATERY WANDER AROUND KING’S CROSS AND ST. PANCRAS
An almost-circular walk around King’s Cross and St. Pancras stations and the extraordinary, vibrant redevelopment of what was a semi-derelict wasteland of railway lands. The area originally had a plentiful supply of water from the now-hidden River Fleet and associated lost springs and wells, then the man-made Regent’s Canal supplied more water from the early 1800s.
This walk explores how all things watery have influenced the development of the area, from lost pleasure gardens and an ancient church by a riverbank, to canal locks, steam engines and gas storage holders, then today’s inspiring water features and a tranquil nature reserve.
This walk starts outside King’s Cross Station, lasts 2 – 2 1/4 hours and ends near St. Pancras Station.
This walk takes place on the 16th of October, and can be booked by clicking here.
A WATERY WANDER AROUND THE ANGEL ISLINGTON
A circular walk from Angel tube, exploring the influences of water sources. Islington and Clerkenwell developed around a hilly area with an abundance of water from natural springs, wells and the River Fleet, all now more or less hidden. The New River – an astonishing early 17C waterworks scheme with engineering and reservoirs – and the early 19C manmade Regent’s Canal and basins followed. Meanwhile, some of the springs had been turned into risqué pleasure gardens and a famous theatre, then the residential boom of Georgian and Victorian squares and streets sprung up.
This walk traces all things watery, tells of an eccentric estate owner, an evangelical Countess and a lost cricket ground.
The walk lasts 2 to 2 1/4 hours, starts at the Angel station and ends in a historic market near the start.
This walk takes place on the 27th of October, and can be booked by clicking here.
Our next newsletter will be on the first Sunday in November.
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