Basic HTML Version
11
City & Village Tours: 0845 812 5000 info@cityandvillagetours.com
Join us for an entertaining day to trace the story of
the City Bridges & the City Gates. It’s a great
choice for groups who enjoy good storytelling and
lots of variety in one relaxing day. We cross the
four City Bridges, trace the old city walls and gates
and include visits to a beautiful Wren Church and
the Tower Bridge Exhibition.
Please meet our Guide in the City of London at
10-30am for morning refreshments. We begin the
day with a short walk by the river. You will hear all
about the history of travelling on and across the
river and discover some old watermen’s stairs
and visit the church of St. Magnus the Martyr that
once stood at the head of London’s only bridge.
Stone from the old bridge and the remains of a
Roman wharf stand in the churchyard. Inside
there is a wonderful model of the ancient bridge
lined with houses and shops.
We’ll drive over the four city bridges (Tower,
London, Southwark & Blackfriars) and hear about
the vast fund of money that began with the ancient
practice of Londoners bequeathing money
“To God and the bridge” and which today pays for
the maintenance of the city bridges with no cost to
the taxpayer or ratepayer. Traditionally even the
Tower Bridge cat is fed from this ancient fund!
The story of the city gates is fun to tell. Chaucer
lived in one, prisoners were kept in another and at
many you could rent an eye glass to take a closer
look at the heads of executed traitors or even a
catapult to take a pot shot. By the 18th century they
were causing traffic jams and were removed. Today
only one survives - the beautifully restored Temple
Bar which now stands in Paternoster Square next to
St. Paul’s Cathedral where we will stop for lunch.
There is a good choice of lunch places in the precincts of
St. Paul’s Cathedral or you are welcome to bring a packed
lunch - on a rainy day you can eat your packed lunch in
the Cathedral Crypt where special seating is provided for
that very purpose.
In the afternoon we visit The Tower Bridge Exhibition.
A lift takes us up to enjoy magnificent views and we also
go beneath the bridge to visit the old engine rooms. In its
heyday the bridge was raised up to fifty times a day so the
walkway across the top of the bridge was well used. Each
time the bridge was raised all the horse dung rained down
and young boys decked out in braided uniforms with pill
box hats like hotel lift boys were employed to dash out to
clear the way for the carts and the carriages. We’ll stop to
buy tea in City Hall on the riverside. This is the home of
the Greater London Assembly where newly re-elected
Boris Johnson holds court. It’s a fascinating building well
worth a visit. You’ll be ready to head home from here at
4-30/4-45pm.
Tower Bridge visit is quite challenging for folk with
pronounced walking difficulties because although there
is a lift you have to walk to the centre of the bridge to
reach it. If you like the idea of the tour but have
problem walkers turn over for To God & the Bridge.
This tour is available everyday throughout the year
but we can only include the church visit on Tuesdays
to Fridays.
Adults: £18.50 Seniors £16.75
Coach Mileage: 5
City Bridges City Gates