Behind the façade of power of Westminster lies a maze of backstreets, brimming with history from a medieval English village, prisons, slums, plague pits to birth of English printing and world of espionage… Trace the footsteps of suffragette and spies, and uncover the fascinating stories, people and events shaped British history.

Come and enjoy a circular 2-hour walk around Westminster, Whitehall and St James’ and hear about the events of one of the most tumultuous periods in London’s history, spanning the years 1603 (the death of Elizabeth I and arrival of James I), through Civil War, Regicide, Cromwell’s Republic, the Restoration right through to 1714 and the end of the Stuart Dynasty.

A masterpiece of Edwardian neo-baroque architecture opposite Westminster Abbey. Second largest self-supporting ferro-concrete dome in world. Its Great Hall was the venue for the Inaugural General Assembly of the United Nations in 1946.

Henry Vaughan Lanchester and Edwin Alfred Rickards , 1909

UNESCO World Heritage site dating from 11th century including stunning examples of Gothic and Medieval architecture and many hidden treasures.

, 1245

10 Downing Street has been the residence of British Prime Ministers since 1735. Behind its famous black door the most important decisions affecting Britain for nearly 300 years have been taken.

William Kent, 1735

Modern red brick building purpose-built to house the City of Westminster's historic records. Opportunity to visit the conservation studio and see treasures of the archives.

Tim Drewitt, 1995

Join award-winning guide Katie Wignall on a riverside walk along the route of Illuminated River, the world's longest public art commission illuminating 9 bridges of the Thames. Journey rom Westminster to Bankside in search of the hidden details and surprising stories along the Thames, and learn about how the bridges shaped this area through time and how they continue to influence London today.

Visit the Thorney Island Society Archives to explore rare photographs, documents, and hidden stories that shaped the local community. Whether you love heritage, local culture, or discovering the past, the archives offer a welcoming glimpse into the area’s history.

This architecture and open-space tour explores post-war north Lambeth. Born in an era of optimism for health, housing, learning, and play, these modernist places tell a deeper story. Together, we will uncover hidden figures of influence, reflect on representation, and examine how culture challenges our values. By considering power, people and context we can make a better 21st-century city for all.

Petty France is a short street with a long history. This walk will time travel from the medieval origins of Petty France through its sensational history to its present distinguished profile. We shall study Charles Holden's 1927 Grade 1 listed London Underground HQ, upstaged in 1976 by Sir Basil Spence's 1976 brutalist monument to modernism, and where the original Queen Anne house was born.

The relationship between music and architecture is often overlooked. With reference to some of London’s St James architectural gems, this tour traces the symbiotic evolution of these two disciplines, from their overlapping foundations to the modern-day role of music as the built environment’s muse.