public realm/landscape, walk/tour
Chamberlain Powell and Bon, 1970
Guildhall Yard, EC2V 5AF
The Barbican is a residential complex of around 2,000 flats, maisonettes, and houses in the City of London. Built on the site destroyed by The Blitz during the World War II, The Barbican Estate is a fascinating development and an icon of Brutalist architecture. Architects were Chamberlain, Powell and Bon. You will find an oasis in the middle of buildings, with gardens and water features.
Bank, Cannon Street, Mansion House, Moorgate
Cannon Street, City Thameslink, Farringdon, Liverpool Street
133, 141, 21, 25, 26, 76
Tour end: Postman's Park Nearby tube stations: St Paul's, Barbican Nearby train stations: Farringdon, City Thameslink
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 a fascinating urban sanctuary walking tour. We will explore the dramatic contrast between the bold, concrete angles of the iconic Brutalist Barbican Estate and the delicate beauty of the City's hidden gardens.
Delve into the post-WWII vision that rose from the Blitz ruins, navigating the estate's famous elevated highwalks. Along the way, we’ll uncover secret pocket gardens tucked between skyscrapers and tranquil, hidden churchyards where nature has beautifully reclaimed historic ruins. Discover how modern urban design incorporates vital biodiversity, sustainability, and community well-being into London's bustling financial heart.
The tours will take place on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026 at 10:15, 11:15, 12:15, 13:15, 14:15. 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.
