walk/tour
Christopher Wren, 1666
Guildhall Yard, Gresham Street, EC2V 7HH
In 1666, a devastating fire swept through the City of London, destroying 13,200 houses, 87 parish churches, The Royal Exchange, Guildhall and St. Paul's Cathedral. The Fire started on Sunday, 2 September 1666 in Thomas Farriner's bakery in Pudding Lane. Christopher Wren played a major role in rebuilding the City. Join our free walks led by City of London Guides to find out more.
Bank, Moorgate, St. Paul's, Cannon Street, Mansion House
Cannon Street, City Thameslink, Farringdon, Liverpool Street
21, 76, 141, 133, 25
Tour end: The Monument Nearby tube stations: Monument, Tower Hill, London Bridge Nearby train stations: Cannon St, London Bridge
This is a walking tour, accessible where possible. There are some uneven surfaces and steps during this tour.
The City of London is not busy at the weekends. The environment would be quiet and there would be some seating available during the tour.
Step into the past with us for this fascinating walking tour. Stand on the exact spot in Pudding Lane where the Great Fire ignited on Sunday, 2 September, to uncover its causes and the frantic efforts to stop it.
We’ll delve into the sheer chaos on the streets as desperate crowds tried to escape the flames and salvage their worldly possessions. We’ll explore the devastation, discovering how the city tackled homelessness with temporary food stations.
Finally, see how Christopher Wren and others rebuilt London from the ashes—navigating bitter land disputes and enforcing new building regulations to shape the safer city we see today.
The tours will take place on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026 at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00. Each tour will last 1h to 1h30m.
The City of London, famously known as the Square Mile, serves as London's premier financial district and a historic heart that has flourished since the Roman foundation. This dense urban landscape offers an exceptionally rich environment shaped by centuries of trade, commerce, and ceremony.
While home to only 8,000 residents, the City transforms on weekdays as it welcomes over half a million workers and attracts 10 million annual visitors. Its boundaries extend from the River Thames in the south to Barbican and Golden Lane in the north, and from Chancery Lane and Temple in the west to Liverpool Street and the Tower of London in the east.
