A London Region walk guided by Elena Paolini

This 1½-hour walk explores one of the least-known and most atmospheric areas of the City of London, beginning at St Paul’s Cathedral and ending near Blackfriars station. Moving away from the main thoroughfares, we will walk in the footsteps of William Shakespeare as we uncover the remnants of a medieval friary in a network of quiet lanes and hidden courtyards where time has stood still.
We will pause at Wardrobe Place, the site of the medieval Royal Wardrobe, once a key centre of royal administration, and will admire Apothecaries’ Hall, exploring the long history of medicine and trade in the City. We will finish the walk at a small architectural gem of a pub.
A gently paced walk, ideal for those who enjoy discovering the City’s quieter corners.

MEETING PLACE: Outside St Paul's Underground station, Exit 2 (Panyer Alley, outside Caffè Nero) which is on the Central Line.
The Walk ends at The Blackfriar Pub, opposite Blackfriars station (District/Circle lines and National Rail)

Please wear suitable footwear and clothing; bring drinking water and other essential
personal items; coins (50p recommended) for public toilets.

Maximum 20 participants.

Elena Paolini is a qualified and accredited Camden guide and City of London guide, and has guided professionally since 2021. She is fascinated mostly by history with a small “h”: the everyday lives of the people who walked, lived and occasionally misbehaved on the very streets we are exploring today. Elena enjoys uncovering the small clues they left behind and piecing together their stories as we wander through the city. Her favourite topics include women’s history, medicine and crime, and she has a particular soft spot for London’s lesser-known corners.
In her spare time she volunteers as a tour guide at Highgate Cemetery or pokes around the Thames foreshore as a volunteer for the Thames Discovery Programme. She is also a member of London Historians.

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