The Heart of the City of London
Choose a starting date
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
- Start Date: 04 Nov 2025End Date: 25 Nov 2025Tue (Daytime): 11:00 - 13:00In PersonFull fee £139.00 Senior fee £111.00 Concession £90.00
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
The history of the City of London, including Cheapside, the City Livery Companies, the Great Fire of London and the 1800s. Please note that it will not include Roman London, the blitz, nor the modern period of the City today of insurance and banking history, with its soaring glass and steel architecture.
What will we cover?
- Around 1,000 years of the history of Cheapside, the central market and processional routeway of the City.
- The City Livery Companies, their Great Halls and some remaining parts of the London Wall.
- The Great Fire of London, the amazing drama of those 3 and ½ days and busting some Great Fire myths.
- The transformative and often neglected changes to the City during the nineteenth century, through mass migration to the suburbs, massive rebuilding, the coming of railways, new roads.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
Demonstrate some understanding of the development of the City and some its historic streets, monuments, buildings and other sites.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Some basic knowledge of British, English history would be a help; an enthusiasm for, interest in London history and some knowledge of London.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
By a series of four guided walks conducted by a qualified London tour guide. The walks will last two hours, taking varied routes and will include a number of quotes and images to augment the sites and commentary. No homework required.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Only train fares. Please check the forecast and wear suitable clothing/footwear.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please see our the London Walks section on the CL website to see what other courses we offer in Terms 2 & 3.
Richard has been a professional history tour guide for the last ten years. He qualified as a City of Westminster Guide in 2012. Since then, he has gained a wide range of experience in guiding and museums work: He has devised, researched and led a series of original walks around Westminster and further afield in London, adapting many into virtual tours. He leads tours around London on an open top Routemaster bus and coach tours out of town to Stonehenge, Bath, Windsor, around Kent and other places. He volunteered or worked in many museums including the Foundling Museum, the Royal College of Physicians and the Crystal Palace Museum – of which he is a trustee and tour guide for the Museum. And Richard has given several illustrated talks to University of the 3rd Age and other local history groups as well as being interviewed on Radio Berkshire and appeared on Walking Victorian Britain on Channel 5 Select among other media appearances. Richard is passionate about the history of London and sharing this on his tours- where history actually happened, the signs of every-day living and lesser known historic characters as well as broader historical shifts.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.