Aspects of London's History

A brief look at London in the 1600s, 1700s and 1800s

A gentle wander through a few centuries of history...

Have you ever wondered about the history of a place and the stories it has to tell as you wander through it? The streets of London are jam-packed with stories and tales about the past. Finding out a little about some of them can help us learn from the past (yes, some things that happened continue to hold lessons for us), appreciate why things are the way they are today, and to give us some context for what we can do to improve urban life in future (if you are interested in improving urban environments and urban resilience, visit surediscities.com). I used to live in London and I still spend a lot of time in this city. For quite a few years, I have spent many hours walking (and running and cycling along) its streets, envisaging how historic events unfurled, and I am always adding to my knowledge.

The snippets and links to information below can be used for a stroll through London that starts at Embankment Tube station and weaves its way, for a few hours, through parts of Westminster and the City, finishing at London Bridge. I have not listed all of the stories and tales here, just some of the "stopping points" that aide this particular leisurely walk. If you want to know how they all link together in my own way, you'll have to walk the route with me. Facts, stories and tales about life in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries are pointed out along the way.

If you want to go on a professional London guided walking tour, check the options available from the teams at London Walks, London Guided Walks and Look Up London Walks as well as Blue Badge Guides (I do not provide any opinions one way or the other - find what works for you).

MEANDERing our way through London's streets

Villiers Street

Warrens Blacking Warehouse

Villiers Street

Villiers Street is steeped in history. A summary about it is available here.

Find out about planned street changes here.

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York Watergate

Warrens Blacking Warehouse

Villiers Street

Do you know about the history of York Watergate, built circa 1626 in the grounds of York House (just off Villiers Street)?

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Warrens Blacking Warehouse

Do you know what used to stand below the site of Charing Cross station, and its pivotal relationship to Charles Dickens?

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15 Buckingham Street

Do you know the significance of 15 Buckingham Street, close to Villiers Street?

Visit Strandlines to find out more...

The Adelphi

15 Buckingham Street

The Adelphi

Adelphi is from the Greek - Adelphoi - for brothers. Find out more about its story from this piece published in The Londonist...

Strand

15 Buckingham Street

The Adelphi

The noun 'strand' means the shore of a large river or sea. This street used to be closer to the Thames. Read about Strand in The Londonist...

CONTINUING our way through London's streets

Covent Garden

Villiers Street is steeped in history. A summary about it is available here.

Find out about planned street changes here.

Find out more

Bow Street

Covent Garden

Do you know about the history of York Watergate, built circa 1626 in the grounds of York House (just off Villiers Street)?

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Aldwych

Covent Garden

Do you know what used to stand below the site of Charing Cross station, and its pivotal relationship to Charles Dickens?

Find out more

The Law area of London

Do you know the significance of 15 Buckingham Street, close to Villiers Street?

Visit Strandlines to find out more...

Fleet Street

The Law area of London

The Old Bailey

Adelphi is from the Greek - Adelphoi - for brothers. Find out more about its story from this piece published in The Londonist...

The Old Bailey

The Law area of London

The Old Bailey

The noun 'strand' means the shore of a large river or sea. This street used to be closer to the Thames. Read about Strand in The Londonist...

Smithfields

The noun 'strand' means the shore of a large river or sea. This street used to be closer to the Thames. Read about Strand in The Londonist...

St Paul's down to Bankside and Borough

St Paul's

The Globe and other theatres

St Paul's

The current St Paul's cathedral was built after The Great Fire of London in 1666. A larger, wooden cathedral was on this site before...

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Bankside

The Globe and other theatres

St Paul's

Bankside has a very coloured history stretching back centuries.

The Globe and other theatres

The current Globe Theatre in London is not the original one. Read its history here.

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Borough

Southwark Cathedral

Borough stretches back centuries.

This link provides a summary timeline.

This link provides a detailed history account.

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Southwark Cathedral

Southwark Cathedral stretches back centuries.

Amongst other things, it has strong links to Shakespeare and his contemporaries...

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London Bridge

Southwark Cathedral

There's a fascinating story to London bridge over hundreds of years, what became of the original and the current one...

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