Discover
Christopher Wren’s
architectural legacy
in the Square Mile
Join Open City for a walking tour marking over 300 years since the death of the architect, scientist and polymath Christopher Wren — a man with an extraordinary and unique architectural legacy in the urban landscape of London.
To celebrate the achievements of Christopher Wren this fun and engaging walking tour — led by former Royal National Theatre head of tours and Golden Key Academy graduate Alison Rae — is a fascinating and insightful wander from one corner of the Square Mile to the other, charting Wren’s role in the City’s transformation from smoldering ruin after the 1666 Great Fire to glittering, modern metropolis. We will wind our way through the City’s streets and alleyways, finishing at Wren’s masterpiece, St Paul’s Cathedral.
Passing by some of the City’s most recognisable landmarks, we will track Wren’s ideas, his inspiration and the constraints he had to deal with along the way. The tour will include amongst much else, views of the impressive dome of St Stephen Walbrook, the unique Gothic spire of St Margaret Pattens and a close look at the hidden meanings behind the carvings on The Monument.
Providing a fun way for enthusiastic urbanists to explore the city, this tour will cover Wren’s unrealised plans for the city, other non-religious works such as the Temple Bar Gateway: the only surviving gateway into the City of London, and the long-lasting impact Wren has had on architecture right up to the modern day.
This Architecture of Wren in the City walking tour date is led by one of our expert guides Alison Rae. Each of our tour guides will bring a unique perspective and wealth of experience to the topic. Occasional interior views are not guaranteed.
Meet: outside Natural Kitchen entrance (Ground floor, Double Tree by Hilton London - Tower of London) 7 Pepys St, EC3N 4AF
End: at St Paul’s Cathedral
Duration: 2.5 hrs approx
Cost: £19.50 / £14.50 / £13.50 / £9.50
Tickets are non refundable. Tours go ahead rain or shine…Get in touch with Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk with any queries.
MEET THE TOUR GUIDE
Alison Rae has a background in performance and venue management and was for 10 years, until 2020, Head of Tours and Visiting at the National Theatre, London.
Rae is an accredited Lambeth Guide and has devised Tours within the South London borough as well as events and tours for London Festival of Architecture. She is a Tutor at Morley College, for the Lambeth Guiding course. A former Trustee of Poet in the City Alison is Chair or Visit Theatres, the Channel Route of European Historic Theatres, and holds an MA in Cultural Leadership from City, University of London.
Rae is a graduate of the inaugural 2021 Golden Key Academy — a masterclass for urban and architectural tour guiding run by Open City. She joined the Open City tours team in summer 2021 and also guides the Open City Cultural Landmarks of Westminster tour.
Open City's year-round tours programme is supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.