Anglo-Saxon & Roman London
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Step back nearly 2,000 years on a fascinating guided walk through the hidden ancient history of London. Led by an experienced History teacher, this two-hour tour explores Roman and Anglo-Saxon London. We explore ancient Roman walls, forgotten Anglo-Saxon churches, see the mysterious London Stone, walk along medieval lanes, and wonder at the oldest church in the City. Along the way you'll uncover stories of emperors, saints, rebels, and merchants. The tour starts close to the Tower of London and ends in Holborn with a short London bus journey included. The tour ends at the historic Ye Olde Mitre pub, one of London's most interesting small pubs - this is London's past brought vividly to life. This tour is new and includes a range of fascinating historic sights which are unknown to most visitors and many guides. However, it does also pass famous attractions such as the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Monument, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Old Bailey - which are visible from outside.
Inclusions
What's included
- The tour guide
What's not
- We catch a bus that takes us along Cannon Street. This is paid for when boarding the public bus by tapping a contactless debit card or credit card.
Itinerary
The London Wall is a defensive wall first built by the Romans around Londinium in c. AD 200. Parts of it remain standing and I will show you one well known part and a more hidden larger section.
All Hallows by the Tower is the oldest church in the City of London, originally founded in 675 AD by the Saxon Abbey of Barking. Located just a short walk from the Tower of London, this historic Anglican parish survived the Great Fire of London in 1666 and was heavily rebuilt after sustaining catastrophic bomb damage during the Blitz in World War II. The church contains a surviving 7th-century Saxon arch built from recycled Roman tiles. It was also the wedding site of U.S. President John Quincy Adams in 1797 and the baptism place of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania.
We will pass this museum which has a helpful painting on the outside of Roman London. The museum has irregular opening times.
Lovat Lane is one of the last remaining cobbled, narrow medieval streets in the City of London. Running steeply downhill from Eastcheap to Lower Thames Street, it perfectly captures a "Ye Olde London" atmosphere framed sharply against modern architectural backdrops.
The London Stone is an ancient, enigmatic block of oolitic limestone that has served as the symbolic and mythic heart of the City of London for thousands of years. A popular myth claims it was the pedestal for the statue of Diana brought to Britain by Brutus of Troy, the legendary mythical founder of London.
We pass this iconic cathedral on our way. Opportunity for photos.
St Etheldreda's Church is the oldest Roman Catholic church in England and one of only two remaining buildings in London dating back to the reign of King Edward I. Built around 1290. The low-ceilinged, atmospheric candlelit crypt is even older than the main chapel. Its thick stone walls hold the statues of Catholic martyrs executed during the Reformation. The church is dedicated to Saint Etheldreda (c. 636–679 AD), also known by her Anglo-Saxon name Æthelthryth. She was a 7th-century princess, queen, and abbess who became the most widely venerated female saint of Anglo-Saxon England. Her 1,300 year old relics are kept at the church.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Travel Exit station onto street called TRINITY SQUARE and turn right. Immediately on your right is a hotel called "Citizen M" please assemble here.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Local Historian London Tours
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
How it compares in London
- Its from-price is 88% below the median of the 4793 experiences we list in London.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About London
London mixes royal ceremony, world-class museums and riverside landmarks with distinct neighbourhoods, markets and parks to explore on foot.
The Thames threads the city together. On its banks stand the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the Tower of London with the Crown Jewels, Tower Bridge and the long South Bank walk past the London Eye, Shakespeare's Globe and Tate Modern. St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey anchor the older skyline, while glass towers crowd the financial district.
Top-ranked sights in London: St. Paul's Cathedral, Stonehenge, Tower of London.
Special offers in London
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
