A packed newsletter this month, beginning with the opportunity to train as a Clerkenwell & Islington Guide, and also Local London Guiding Day, the annual event in early October, when free guided tours are avalable across London.
Would you like to train as a Clerkenwell & Islington Tour Guide?
We are now taking for applications for the next Clerkenwell & Islington Tour guiding course which begins in January 2025.
This much praised course provides students with both the opportunity to discover the rich and varied history, places and people of Clerkenwell & Islington and to develop the presentation skills needed to be an excellent tour guide. Skills which are transferrable to guiding elsewhere and can be a valuable asset in other walks of life.
To find out more about this part time course visit the “Our Training Course” page on the Islington Guided Walks website. https://islingtonguidedwalks.com/our-training-course/
Local London Guiding Day
Clerkenwell & Islington Guides will be taking part in this year’s Local London Guiding Day, with our free walk: Local heroes of Islington.
This walk introduces the Angel Islington area and highlights heroes from the mid 16th century right up to the present day who lived locally.
Walking from the Angel, you will hear about a number of local people who did great things to make them into heroes of Islington. They include philanthropists, people who created entertainment, produced great literature and improved people’s lives.
This walk will start and end at the Angel Underground station.
To reserve a free space, click here for our Eventbrite page.
Caledonian Market Clock Tower Tours
Islington Guides are pleased to announce that we will be resuming tours of the historic Caledonian Market Clock Tower from October.
Climb 178 steps to the top of the 40m tower for fabulous panoramic views across London. On the way up you will get a close-up view of the clock mechanism and learn about the history of the tower and the market.
Numbers on each tour are strictly limited and booking is essential. Children must be aged 10 or above and each child (10 -16) must be accompanied by an adult. Please read the safety notes before booking and ensure that you are wearing suitable clothing and footwear for your visit.
Booking here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/caledonian-market-clock-tower-tours-3488199
Look forward to seeing you up the Cally!
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 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 8th of September and can 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 8th of September 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 21st of September and can be booked by clicking here.
BUNHILL: BARRACKS, BONE YARDS AND BATHS
Discover nonconformist burial grounds, one of the oldest regiments in the British Army, a 90 year-old public baths and wash-house, the site of London’s first outdoor swimming pool and one of its most unusual churches.
“Another walk where you think you know the patch and Jonathan shows you the hidden stories!”
Sitting between today’s financial district and the Angel, Islington’s Bunhill ward is named after an ancient bone yard. Once marshland outside the walls of the City of London, for a while the area offered spas and outdoor leisure facilities. As urbanisation swallowed the fields, the area became industrialised and populated by tradesmen, the poor and the sick.
The legacy of the past is still visible, but this walk will also reveal some hidden architectural gems and tranquil open spaces.
The walk lasts approximately two hours. It will take place come rain or shine, so please be prepared for all weather conditions!
Start: outside Moorgate tube station, the western entrance on Moorfields (follow signposts to Exit 1).
Finish: close to Old Street tube station.
This walk takes place on the 22nd of September and can be booked by clicking here.
MONASTERIES, MARTYRS, MURDER & MEAT
London has a long and dark history of martyrs, public executions, body snatchers, crime and punishment – and butchery.
“Fascinating and fabulous. Recommend for both London locals and visitors. Do it, you’ll love it.”
“Very enjoyable…, good pace, very informative, will definitely be back.”
“Another wonderful walk with the excellent – and highly recommended… Fantastic stuff.”
“Fantastic, so interesting, highly recommend these walks.”
“Jonathan brought the history of the City to life in an informative and entertaining way.”
Hear tales of hangings and burnings; grave robbers and law enforcement; and the annual fair that became so riotous it was banned after 700 years. Discover medieval monasteries, the country’s oldest hospital and the City of London’s oldest house. See London’s most famous courthouse, on the site of its most notorious former prison.
The walk lasts approximately two hours. Please be prepared for all weather conditions!
Start: St Paul’s tube station, Exit 2 (signed to St Paul’s Cathedral)
Finish: Charterhouse Square (nearest tubes: Barbican, Farringdon)
This walk takes place on the 28th of September and can be booked by clicking here.
NEW TOURS AT THE UNION CHAPEL
A new set of dates have just been released for tours of the Union Chapel. This is an opportunity to explore a unique Islington building, and along with the new dates, we are republishing our post from earlier in the year about the Union Chapel.
Details of dates for the new tours, and booking information can be found by clicking here.
Our next newsletter will be on the first Sunday of September, and until then, our website will be updated with details of new walks and events.
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