A valentine to St Paul’s Cathedral

I love St Pauls Cathedral. I remember when the first Covid lockdown ended and having no-one else, went to hug one of the great columns on the front of the building in gratitude for making it through the pandemic to that stage. Like Big Ben and various other church bells, St Pauls seems to be… Continue reading A valentine to St Paul’s Cathedral

The charter of King William I (The Conqueror) to the City of London

I’ve been giving private walking tours in London for almost 10 years and one of the very few who have a range in the City of London, the one square mile that was once Roman Londinium. I often tell visitors between the City and Greater or Metropolitan London. Most people visit London without even visiting… Continue reading The charter of King William I (The Conqueror) to the City of London

Saving Simpson’s Tavern -London’s oldest Chophouse fights back against billionaire overseas landlord Rodney Sacks

Hidden away in one of my absolute favourite parts of the City of London is Simpson’s Tavern. it’s the sort of place I love and my tourists do too. I’m never sure why people go on those rather lame open deck bus tours in London. You’d never go round any other 2,000 year old city… Continue reading Saving Simpson’s Tavern -London’s oldest Chophouse fights back against billionaire overseas landlord Rodney Sacks

The Livery Companies of the City of London

Walking around the City of London as I do almost every day when I’m following in the footsteps of Romans, Vikings and various disasters as well as hunting out Secret Gardens, it’s hard to avoid some of the great halls in the Square Mile that belong to livery companies. There are 110 livery companies, comprising London’s… Continue reading The Livery Companies of the City of London

Thomas Becket Play and Pageant 2022

Whilst I was giving a Roman Tour on Saturday, my guests and I happened across a mini rehearsal fora special event coming up later this week in the Guildhall Yard. Two very large figures were inthe process of being taken apart. At first I thought it might be Gog and Magog but I quickly worked… Continue reading Thomas Becket Play and Pageant 2022

Walking the walk but not talking the talk!

The first Nursery Rhyme Tour of London was a big success (I hope) and went 4 hours with just a small hotchoc and church diversion. It was lovely to meet two Excluded tourists as we explored the places, origins and possible historical tie-ins for the nursery rhymes so many of us learned who we were… Continue reading Walking the walk but not talking the talk!

My close encounter with a London Ghost last week!

It’s still a few days before Halloween and I have a whole plethora of Halloween themed posts as well as from history such as Corpse Roads and Dancing on the Dead at Enon Chapel – The Victorian Sensation! to more recent scary goings on such as The Enfield Poltergeist. For a simple post today though, just… Continue reading My close encounter with a London Ghost last week!

My new book is out – Secret Gardens of the City of London

After a year of solid work my new book has just been released in Paperback, Kindle Apple iBook formats.   So what’s it all about? Secret Gardens of the City of London is based on my unique, popular and generally well regarded tour with Ye Olde England Tours  Sacred Secret Sanctuary Gardens Walk (rated by Trip Advisor… Continue reading My new book is out – Secret Gardens of the City of London

The forlorn church of St Mary Somerset

When I was out in London last week, I went on a walk of discovery.  As is often the way in London, I ‘discovered’ several places but also got the chance to visit somewhere I knew perfectly well even though I’d never been there… at least not for 6 or 7 years and never to… Continue reading The forlorn church of St Mary Somerset

The Gilt of Cain

I wrote on Monday on one of my favourite Secret Gardens in the City of London, Fen Court. It would be a beautiful little space in any case but is extra special due to its connections with the Abolition of Slavery. One of the works of art has elements of a poem by Lemn Sissay… Continue reading The Gilt of Cain