Discover
extraordinary
townscapes
and perspectives
from Southbank
to St Paul’s
Join Open City for a walking tour exploring how compelling townscapes, views and spatial aesthetics have shaped development in central London over the centuries
This fun walking tour focuses on a series of extraordinary views and townscapes which can be found around the South Bank and St Paul’s Cathedral, explaining what makes these memorable moments of London so unique and how they have been preserved through the ages for future enjoyment.
This engaging and accessible walking tour — led by Golden Key Academy graduate Sarah Jackson — introduces the art of townscape and view management to the widest possible audiences, drawing on historical drawings, paintings and photographs of the city to explain the big design ideas behind both historic and contemporary developments.
Providing a fun way for enthusiastic urbanists to explore the city, this tour explores the architecture and history of Waterloo Bridge, Fleet Street, Ludgate Hill, Paternoster Square and Peter’s Hill offering stunning views of St Paul’s Cathedral.
Following Gordon Cullen’s ideas of townscape and concentrating on post war commercial development in the City of London, this walk looks at the aesthetic and legislative background to a range of buildings, streets and spaces between the South Bank and St Paul’s Cathedral.
Key information:
Meet: Outside the National Theatre main entrance. The main entrance is on the riverside walkway, facing west (National Theatre address: Upper Ground SE1 9PX)
Ends: close to Millennium Bridge
Duration: 2.5 hrs approx
Distance: 4km
Cost: £19.50 / £14.50 / £9.50
Our tours go ahead rain or shine and tickets are non refundable. Get in touch with Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk with any queries.
Meet the tour guide…
Sarah Jackson is an architect and townscape consulting working in London.
Jackson is a graduate of the 2021 Golden Key Academy — a masterclass for urban and architectural tour guiding run by Open City. She joined the Open City tours team in April 2022.
Open City's year-round tours programme is supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.