6km Hidden Gems of London City Walk

London can be overwhelming when deciding what to do and see. Often, one is so enthralled in what they’re seeing around them that it is easy to overlook the nooks and crannies down passageways or a seemingly normal little park. This route will take you to these hidden gems in the city: a picturesque Church Garden, a piece of the Roman Wall, a wholesome memorial in a pocket park, and a passageway that bears some resemblance to Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley. You can start this route at either end. Both the start and finish are nearby tube stations.

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St. Dunstan in the East Church Garden is situated in the ruins of a Wren Church. The church is a Grade I-listed structure that was first constructed sometime before 1100. The Great Fire of London in 1666 caused significant damage, and the 1941 Blitz badly damaged the church once more. However, the steeple and tower at Wren withstood the bombing. Rebuilding St. Dunstan’s was decided against during the post-World War II restructuring of the Anglican Church. The remnants were chosen in 1967 by the City of London to become a public garden, which opened in 1970. The gardens are a beautiful spot to start your walk, take a few photos, and breathe in a bit of fresh air.

Exit the church garden onto St. Dunstan’s Hill, then turn right onto Great Tower Street. Continue to the left on Byward Street. Walk through Tower Hamlets and exit onto Trinity Square. You will find Leonardo Royal Hotel on your right.

Walk through the wide entrance of the Leonardo Royal Hotel London City and you will see remnants of the London Wall. This wall was built by the Romans around AD 200 and established the boundaries of Roman Britain for almost 1500 years. It was restored and expanded during medieval times and served as protection as well as access control. The wall was very well constructed in that the stones were laid as uniformly as possible considering the lack of tools, which suggests that there was no real urgency in the need for the wall nor was there an impending threat to the city.

Continue along Trinity Square, which becomes Cooper’s Row. At the intersection, cross over onto Lloyd’s Avenue and turn left onto Fenchurch Street. Just after Billiter Street, turn right into Hogarth Court, Garden at 120 is upstairs.

The Garden at 120 is a free public rooftop space with one of the best 360 views of the London City skyline. It features 85 Italian wisteria trees, over 30 fruit trees, and a flowing water feature. Snacks and drinks can be purchased on the level below if you wish.

Continue down Fenchurch Street and turn left onto Gracechurch Street. Follow the street’s curve and take the pedestrian tunnel to exit onto Cannon Street. At the next big intersection, cross over to stay on Cannon Street. After about 500 metres, turn right onto New Change and pass St. Paul’s Cathedral to your left. Where the road splits, keep right onto Cheapside which becomes St. Martin’s Le Grand.

Between the Police Post box and the London Presbyterian Church is Postman’s Park.

Postman’s Park got its name because it was a popular lunch spot for the General Post Office staff nearby. It is a quaint pocket park that commemorates everyday heroes who lost their lives saving others. 62 individuals are remembered here, the first being a pantomime artist who died in 1863 and the most recent being Leigh Pitt, who died in 2007. This memorial, known as the Watts Memorial, was built in 1900 by Victorian painter and philanthropist GF Watts. Take your time to read through the tablets on the walls; it’s sure to restore your faith in humanity.

Walk through Postman’s Park and turn left onto King Edward Street, following the curve of the road to the right to stay on King Edward Street. Turn left onto Warwick Lane, then right onto Ludgate Hill. Cross the intersection onto Fleet Street. The Old Bank of England will be on your right just before Strand Street.

The Old Bank of England was repurposed into a pub in 1994, and the old vault safes that once held gold now store wines and spirits. It is rumoured that these vaults once held the Crown Jewels, and one of the safes has never been opened since 1994 when the key was lost; there may well still be something of value in there! The old staff facilities and storage rooms are going to be repurposed into escape rooms sometime soon. Besides all this, the interior alone is splendid, with a thoughtfully curated environment that has the right amount of modern convenience with old-fashioned charm. You can see their food and drinks menu here if good old pub grub is on your radar.

Where the street splits, keep to the right, passing St. Clement’s Dane Church on your left. To your right, follow the curve of the street to turn right onto Catherine Street. Turn left onto Russell Street towards Covent Garden. There are many markets and stalls selling fresh produce, as well as little cafes if you’d like to have a bite to eat.

Continue along King Street, then cross over onto New Row. Turn left into Bedfordbury, then right into Goodwin’s Court.

Goodwin’s Court feels like a passageway straight out of Dickens’ novel. But, it is also rumoured that this passageway inspired Diagon Alley in Harry Potter. Tucked away from some of the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden, this gaslamp-lit pathway carries a certain element of charm all these years later since its build in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Covent Garden was not always as fancy and extravagant as it is today, and life during the Georgian period was not easy. However, Covent Garden and, obviously, this passageway have survived all its hardships and provide a well-preserved look into the past with added decorative features such as shiny door knobs, knockers, and nameplates of the businesses housed here.

Walk all the way through Goodwin’s Court, then right onto St. Martin’s Lane. At the next big intersection, keep right onto Long Acre. Turn left onto Mercer Street. At the roundabout, Seven Dials, take the fourth exit onto Monmouth Street. There is no signage for Neal’s Yard, per se, but after about 65 metres, you will find a small passageway on your right leading into Neal’s Yard.

Neal’s Yard is easily overlooked if you don’t know about it, but that just adds to its hidden gem quality. This brightly coloured pocket in the city has several local businesses offering healthy food and other wellness-related products. Of course, it is also a very photogenic area; any photo you take will look professional.

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Resources:

If you enjoyed this route, see our Vegan Foody Soho and Covent Garden walk.

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Information gathered from various sources, including Wikipedia.