My Favourite London Buildings

My number is 07815009191.

MEET: Upstairs Costa Coffee, 333 High Holborn (right by Chancery Lane station) for tea at 10.45 or just outside at 11.15 for the start of the walk.

The late 19th and early 20th century with the British Empire reaching its peak, London was booming and beautiful, elaborate buildings were being erected as organisations sought to make their mark. Although all built around the same time, each of them are different and very impressive.

On my walks I have come across quite a few of these and often wondered who put them up and why they were made to look so special.

On this walk we visit the best of these and for the first time. We'll look briefly at the architectural features that make them unique and the stories behind each of them: the first hotels in London in French chateau style, the banks looking to impress with its spectacular red brick frontage (see photo) and the art nouveau distillery.

We'll take in the older stories of the sites too: the medieval tower to keep an eye on Londoners, the catholic brewery burnt in the worst riots London has known, the fire took some of the rioters too; how Charles Dickens helped organise the first cricket tour to Australia and how William Waldorf Astor, the richest man in the world left America and came to build his spectacular gothic house in. London.

The cost is £12. You can pay cash on the day or to my account sort code 090128, account number 75471878.

If you see unpaid by your name, just ignore it. Only you can see it.