London Architecture Tour: From St. Paul's to the Gherkin

See the stunning juxtaposition of Christopher Wren’s 17th century revival of the City of London (on its medieval foundations) alongside the contemporary jungle of Rogers and Foster et al
From US$529 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
  • St. Paul's Cathedral
  • The 'Gherkin'
  • Guildhall
Photos & Highlights
  • Immerse yourself in the history, diverse influences, and constant transformation of architecture in London
  • You’ll explore several key venues across the historic city center, hosted by an architectural historian
Select a date
Tour Description
Our guided walking tour explores the dramatic impact each of London’s key architects has made on the city’s strikingly unique skyline. Together you trace the narrative timeline of London’s evolution from Norman times to cutting-edge contemporary skyscrapers. 

Beginning from St. Paul’s Cathedral

Your journey begins at the steps of St. Paul's, which was created by Architect Christopher Wren. From here, we may proceed through Temple Bar, London’s only surviving city gate, and on through Paternoster Square, which proves to be a remarkable example of how modern architecture can work in harmony with London’s famous historical monuments.

The Historical Guildyard Hall

We will visit Guildhall Yard – where a fanciful Indian-influenced 18th-century porch and a brutalist 20th-century extension juxtapose the original 15th-century Guildhall. Depending on opening times, we might also venture underground to discover the remains of one of London’s most ancient buildings that lie hidden below the Guildhall Art Gallery. 

The Skyscrapers of the Financial District

Next on the itinerary is a stroll past the magnificent Bank of England, originally designed by the celebrated architect Sir John Soane, and the Mansion House, a classical masterpiece that has long been home to London’s Lord Mayor. Following a walk through the Victorian exuberance of Leadenhall Market, we will encounter the tall skyscrapers that have recently sprouted up in the City. From Richard Rogers’ iconic Lloyd Buildings to the much-discussed ‘Gherkin’ designed by Norman Foster, these stunning structures represent the evolution of London into a center for commerce and banking, offering a striking contrast to the many historic buildings that they now overshadow.
Experts
Aaron Aaron
Archaeologist
David David
Architectural Historian
Sam Sam
Local Guide
Paula Paula
Local Guide
Janice Janice
Local Guide
Jane Jane
Architectural Historian
Maurizio Maurizio
Art Historian
Caroline Caroline
Architectural Historian
Karen Karen
Local Guide
Melissa Melissa
Local Guide
Sean Sean
Local Guide
Biba Biba
Local Guide
Catherine Catherine
Architectural Historian
Emanuela Emanuela
Local Guide
Jenny Jenny
Local Guide
Mark Mark
Local Guide
Oliver Oliver
Historian
Norma Norma
Local Guide
Zozo Daniel Zozo Daniel
Historian
Robert Robert
Local Guide
Chris Chris
Architect
Tim Tim
Historian
Peter Peter
Political Scientist
Alan Alan
Archaeologist
Fiona Fiona
Tour Guide
Don Don
Local Guide
Do we go inside the venues or just see them from the outside?
We generally focus on the outside of buildings, but we do occasionally step inside churches or buildings that are relevant to the discussion. No advance tickets are required for these.

What if it’s raining?
Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your guide will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.

Is this tour good for kids?
Yes! We have some excellent family-friendly guides who can appeal to the learning styles of children. Please book privately if you have children under 13. Feel free to provide us with information about your children such as favorite school subjects, and hobbies. This way we can do our best to match you with the best possible guide.

Is this a walking intensive tour?
The walk covers about 2 miles, but the exact mileage depends on the day and the group's interests.

Where do we start? Where do we end?
We begin near St. Paul's and usually end in the vicinity of the Bank of England. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point.
Where You'll Start
(4.73) 80 Reviews

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

An architect talking about architecture. Win, win! Very well informed, very anxious to teach.
Alan was wonderful. Very knowledgeable, pleasant to hang out and chat with. Very professional and able to discuss the projects intelligently as well. I enjoyed it. He was also flexible and oriented the tour to my interests.
Janice was absolutely fantastic! So knowledgeable and fun. We had an absolutely great time.

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