Walks along London’s historic streets around Fleet Street and St Paul’s
With views across London’s impressive skyline, this walk follows the River Thames from London Waterloo to Blackfriars and over to Fleet Street, the former home of the newspaper industry. St Bride’s—the printers’ and journalists’ church—and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, an inn frequented by literary giants Samuel Johnson and Charles Dickens, are both worth a visit. After Dr Johnson’s house, where the first comprehensive English dictionary was compiled, the walk continues to the diamond district, returning to Waterloo via St Paul’s Cathedral.
Leave Waterloo station by exit 5 (opposite the Eurostar Terminal) and follow the signs at the foot of the steps, left, to “Thames Path & Festival Pier”. Cross the main road, go along Sutton Walk, turning left at Concert Hall Approach, then cross Belvedere Road and take the steps by the Royal Festival Hall. Turn right at the Hungerford Bridge and follow the riverside walkway passing the Royal Festival Hall, Festival Pier on your left, the National Film Theatre, and then under Waterloo Bridge. After passing the National Theatre, right, look for an information panel on the railings pointing out the sights. Pause to admire the skyline, including St Paul’s and the latest celebrated building, the “Gherkin”.
The route shortly passes Gabriel’s Wharf with its restaurants and bars, and the Oxo Tower. Take the steps by Doggett’s Coat and Badge pub up to Blackfriars Bridge. Turn left across the river and then use the pedestrian underpass on the north side following the signs to emerge at exit 8. Across the road is The Blackfriar, an art-nouveau pub built on the site of a 13th-century friary. Continue uphill to Ludgate Circus turning left into Fleet Street where, in around 1500, Wynkyn de Worde set up the first printing press to be near the literate churchmen who were his best customers. St Bride’s church, with its wedding-cake steeple, is on your left after about 60m. Pepys was baptised here, and Dr Johnson and Dickens lived nearby.
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