In addition to our free London walks we like to keep you updated on all the wonderful things to do in London that are absolutely free of charge.
Each week we scout the streets to come up with a handful of locations that you can reach by doing your own London walks and which won’t cost you a penny to experience and dsicover.
Why not take a London walk along Strand and Fleet Street?
Now at first glance you might think these are just busy London thoroughfares with not a great deal worth delaying your journey over.
But you would be wrong. On Strand, for example, you will find the Royal Courts of justice a magnificent Gothic revival pile that bears a striking resemblence to a Cathedral.
It is in fact the law Courts and you can go inside its hallowed interior and sit in on the trials taking place in the various courts. Criminal Appeal cases and Civil Cases are the order of the day. Be warned that they don’t allow cameras inside the building so don’t try to smuggle one in. But of you can bear to leave the camera behind then you can spend as much or as little time inside the cases as you please.
A little further along is the entrance to the Temple and just inside its gate is the Temple Church, built by the Knights Templar in 1185. In recent years this has achieved fame beyond its historic connotations as it was featured in the books and the film of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code.
Walk then to the end of Fleet Street and step inside St Bride’s Church. This pretty Wren church was bombed in the Second World War and those bombs uncovered layers of buildings on the site going right back Roman times 2,000 years ago.
Going down in to the crypt you will find a fascinating display of old relics, stone walls and Roman tiles.
So for just a 10 minute walk along a London street you will find three things to do that can keep you occupied for hours and you won’t have spent a pennny (on admissions that is - there are toilets for the other kind of spending a penny outside the Royal Courts!)
You might like to end your stroll by treating yourself to lunch at a true Fleet Street Survivor ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. This atmospheric old pub was a favourite with Charles Dickens and Dr. Johnson and it has changed little since it was rebuilt in 1667 after the previous pub was burnt down in the Great Fire of London. The food is not exactly a health kick ( steaks, Steak and Kidney pies being the order of the day) but then you can set off on another of your London walks and walk off your lunchtime excesses.
Cheers!
Tags: Free things in London, London walks, St Bride's Fleet Street, Temple Church, The Royal Courts of Justice, Things to do in London, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
