Max's walk in 2016 will start by the river wall opposite City
Hall at 10.10 prompt. From here, head East alongside the river,
passing underneath Tower Bridge Road, and immediately R up the steps.
At the top, turn R and walk over the bridge. On the far side, turn
R on the first steps down and then walk towards the river, and turn
L alongside the river wall. Pass the impressive statue of a boy
on a dolphin, and then the magnificent stainless steel "chain" equatorial
sundial by Wendy Hiller. Turn R at the first lockgate bridge and
then L alongside the lock. Bear R when you reach the lock and follow
alongside it, over a bridge, and in front of a row of shops. Halfway
along the shops, turn R under an archway, and follow the road to
a T-junction with a blank wall in front of you. Turn R and then
L under a tunnel to emerge on a pedestrian path set on the landward
side of the Tower of London.
Halfway along this path, divert to turn R under the subway to Tower
Hill tube station. Make your way up the the steps to see the very
large horizontal sundial which is surrounded by cast panels showing
significant episodes in the history of the City from the earliest
times to the present day.
This is the alternative start for the walk, We expect to
arrive at this point at 10.35 and will leave promptly at 10.45
From here,descend to the subway leading to the Tower of London,
turn right along the pedestrian way lining the moat and fork right
up the ramp. Turn R up Tower Hill, and shortly L between the two
Tower ticket offices along Tower Hill Terrace with All Hallows Church
on your right at the end. Cross Byward Street, and follow Great
Tower Street, which becomes Eastcheap. The Monument to the Great
Fire is o your left. At Monument station, cross East Cheap and Gracechurch
Street, to follow King William Street to the Mansion House and the
Bank of England.
Pass in front of the Mansion House, and then R to cross Queen Victoria
Street, and turn L into Mansion House Street, which becomes Poultry
after a few yards. (There are said to be 3 gold pavement discs by
One Poultry, and one more in the Guildhall Yard, if you can find
them) Take the 3rd turn R into King Street, cross Gresham Street,
and walk into Guildhall Yard. Guildhall (the seat of the City of
London Corporation) is opposite you, and the Guildhall Art Gallery
on your right. Turn R leaving the Art Gallery on your left and L
into Basinghall Street.
After 50 yards, turn R on a small alley (Mason's Avenue) and L
on Coleman Street. Cross London Wall and turn L along the far pavement
for 50 yards,
Note: Crossrail diversions. The next section
has been demolished, so you need to pick up the Walkway again at
the north end of Moor Lane, where there are stairs and a lift to
take you up to the Speed Highwalk
and then R into Fore Street and at the far
end of the street up the ramp labelled Moorfields Highwalk into
the Barbican. There is a yellow pavement line which you can follow
for a bit, taking a hairpin turn to the right halfway up the ramp.
From here, cross Moor Lane on the high walk,
and turn R at Willoughby House (unlabelled, and the yellow line
leaves you to go left). You are now on the Willoughby High Walk.
At the end, turn L onto the Speed Highwalk (and another helpful
yellow pavement line joins you). Ignore the steps leading up on
your right, and keep straight on through the tunnel. At the end
turn left over the Gilbert Bridge. At the end, turn L and immediately
R onto onto The Postern. This leads straight on into a sort of atrium
of an office block, where you turn right on the Bastion High Walk.
This takes you to the Museum of London, where you turn L round their
sunken garden, and go down an escalator into Aldersgate Street.
Walk along Aldersgate Street,crossing Newgate Street, and keep
straight on for 20 yards towards St. Pauls Cathedral. Turn R into
Paternoster Square, with the interesting statue of a shepherd with
his sheep at the near corner, and a noon mark carved into the wall
in the far right corner. Exit under Temple Bar to pass in front
of St. Pauls, a to St. Pauls Cathedral. Cross the main road (St.
Pauls Churchyard) passing the distinctive City Information booth
on your right, and continue onwards towards the Millennium footbridge.
When you get to it, do not cross but go down the right-hand steps,
turn right and walk for 50 yards till you reach the Tylers and Bricklayers
Millennium sundial which is the end of our walk.