Open House Festival

Neighbourhoods

Back to neighbourhoods

Walk the Square Mile

Explore the smallest borough on foot with a range of guided walking tours. The City is known for its walkability, with a vast range of histories and architectural variety packed into a single
square mile.
Don't forget, booking is essential. Please cancel if you’re unable to attend so your space doesn't go to waste.

Guided tour

Film Locations of the City

industrial

A walk around places in the City you might recognise (or not) from the silver screen. Visit the impressive sites used in major films, including Harry Potter, Mission Impossible, James Bond, and many more.

Guided tour

Heroes and Villains in the City

walk/tour

City of London was founded by Romans nearly 2000 years ago. During its existence there were many heroes, but also some villains. Over the years many murders, hangings and executions took place here. During this tour you will visit some of these sites to learn about the good, the bad and the ugly. Sherlock Holmes, William Wallace. Bloody Mary and more...

On this walk we will see many historic & modern buildings in the City of London, look at different architecture styles having regard to the environment and sustainability, and hear about famous architects, past and present. Free walks led by City of London Guides

Guided tour

Internet infrastructure of London walking tour

infrastructure/engineering

"When trying to find Internet infrastructure in a city, it's helpful to start from the ground up – or, more precisely, somewhere just below the ground up..." - Ingrid Burrington, artist (2016) This tour will walk you through the ubiquitous but often invisible infrastructure that enables connectivity in London, with a focus specifically on the City of London.

James Henry Greathead, 1870

Join a captivating journey through the City of London with our exclusive Muslim Heritage Tour. Discover the deep connections of Salahuddin Ayubi and marvel at the UK's oldest Muslim statues, dating back 1000 years. Uncover the legacy of England’s most famous Middle Eastern immigrant and delve into fascinating tales of crime and health in history.

Guided tour

Pubs and Taverns of the City

recreational

A walking tour exploring the fascinating architectural and social history of the City of London's most iconic public houses. Learn about the importance of pubs and taverns to Londoners through time, as rest stops for travellers, sites of clandestine meetings, and escapes from the everyday troubles of life.

Guided tour

Romans in London walk

Absorb the fascinating history of ancient Londinium, visiting sites where the Romans lived, worked, and played.

Guided tour

The Barbican & The City Gardens

public realm/landscape, walk/tour

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.

Chamberlain Powell and Bon, 1970

Walking tour

The Great Fire of London

walk/tour

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.

Christopher Wren, 1666