Urban Tales: Free & Social London Walks

Join us for a shady summer walk from Highgate to East Finchley, passing through Queen’s Wood, Highgate Wood and Cherry Tree Wood — three beautiful remnants of the ancient woodland that once covered much of this part of London.
Queen’s Wood and Highgate Wood are both ancient woodlands with a long and fascinating history. Highgate Wood has revealed evidence of human activity dating back to prehistoric times, as well as Roman remains, including the remains of a Roman pottery kiln.
Queen’s Wood has its own share of legends. There is no evidence that plague victims were ever buried here, but the rumour has persisted for centuries. The wood is also home to the source of the River Moselle, a tributary of the River Lea. And for those in need of refreshment, there is now a rather trendy café in the middle of the wood — Queen’s Wood Café, which has become something of a social-media favourite.
Queen’s Wood Café
Then we enter Highgate Wood, another ancient woodland steeped in history — and apparently, a little mystery. Local folklore claims that the wood lies on a ley line running from Highgate Cemetery, through the Gate House pub, and onwards into the woods. The Gate House is itself said to have a ghost, but Highgate Wood may have one too. Numerous independent witnesses have reported seeing a tall figure, swathed in black, silently gliding between the trees — sometimes accompanied by a sudden drop in temperature. 👻
Highgate Wood also has a charming café in the former cricket pavilion, making it another good place for a coffee break.
Finally, we reach Cherry Tree Wood, a surviving fragment of the much larger Finchley Wood, which in medieval times stretched from Highgate all the way towards Whetstone. Cherry Tree Wood was once known as Dirt House Wood, a rather less romantic name reflecting its practical role: night soil and horse manure collected from London’s streets were brought here as fertiliser for the surrounding hay meadows. The “Dirt House” itself is long gone — but the name survives in the White Lion, next to East Finchley station.
We’ll finish our walk at the White Lion, where we can enjoy a well-earned refreshing drink. 🍻
And if you fancy staying on, the pub is hosting an open mic later in the evening — so you can either take to the stage yourself or simply sit back, listen and enjoy the atmosphere.
Distance: approximately 2–4 km
Terrain: Mostly woodland paths, with some uneven ground
Finish: East Finchley
Please note that this walk is undertaken at your own risk.

Join us for a fascinating walk through the hidden layers of the City of London, exploring Roman remains, vanished rivers, medieval churches, lost markets, and historic riverside lanes.
We begin at Aldgate, where our first stop is the historic The Hoop and Grapes, a pub that has been located here since the 16th century.
Nearby, we visit the impressive surviving section of London’s Roman wall at Vine Street, one of the City’s newest archaeological displays. A Visit To London's New City Wall At Vine Street - Living London History
We then continue to America Square and the Tower of London, where further remnants of the Roman wall and a medieval postern gate can still be seen.
Our route next takes us to All Hallows by the Tower, founded in 675AD by Barking Abbey and one of the oldest churches in London, with Saxon origins. We will take a brief look inside.
The walk continues past the site of the former Mark Lane Underground station, through the atmospheric ruins of St Dunstan-in-the-East, and on to the hidden church of St Mary-at-Hill.
In the old cobbled lanes nearby stands the historic hall of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen, one of the City’s ancient guilds closely tied to the River Thames.
Along Lower Thames Street we encounter the site of the old Billingsgate Market and the fascinating Billingsgate Roman House and Baths, which can usually be visited on Saturdays. Billingsgate Roman House and Baths - City of London
We then arrive at St Magnus the Martyr, the historic church standing beside the northern approach to old London Bridge. A weathered dark wooden column traditionally believed to have originated from a Roman dock stands beside it.
After crossing the modern London Bridge, we reach the site of London’s original medieval trading port. Of interest is the Steelyard near Cannon Street, where merchants of the Hanseatic League maintained their London base between the 13th and 15th centuries. Steelyard - Wikipedia
This area is also where the lost rivers Walbrook and Fleet flow into the Thames.
Having passed several forgotten sites of old London, we eventually arrive at the newly created riverside park built above the construction works for London’s “Super Sewer” project. Old super sewer building site opens as new public space on Thames - BBC News
Our walk concludes at the remarkable The Blackfriar, one of London’s finest Art Nouveau pubs. Nicholson’s Pub in London | The Blackfriar
Please Note

• The walk is undertaken entirely at your own risk.
• We will wait 5 minutes before starting.
• Once the walk has begun, I will be unable to take phone calls and messages.