Welcome to the first post from Camden Guides for 2025, and for the new year, we have some new walks for you, which explore and highlight the very diverse history of the borough, from St. Giles north to Hampstead, via King’s Cross, the Inns of Court and Primrose Hill, starting with:
Secrets of St. Giles: a walk through London’s infamous past
Join Elena to discover the fascinating history of St. Giles.
We will delve into the darker chapters of London’s past as we uncover the secrets of this infamous neighbourhood. We will wander through the alleys where tales of poverty and crime once echoed (Dickens will get a mention or two, of course…) and discover the remnants of centuries-old buildings that bear witness to St Giles’ tumultuous history. As we wind our way from the ancient church built on the site of a leper colony to the site of the infamous rookeries and gallows, now replaced by some of the most striking modern architecture in London, we’ll talk music, pubs, executions and developers’ greed. There is something for everyone!
This walk takes place on the 18th of January, and can be booked by clicking here, and also on the 31st of January, which can be booked by clicking here.
Primrose Hill and the Navvies
Primrose Hill is now one of London’s desirable areas, but it was born with the blood, sweat and toil that built the canal and railways. The neighbourhood radiates brilliant industrial solutions of Victorian engineers, but who built it? This walk puts hard-working navvies at the centre of the story and tells how the area developed in the face of the railway’s soot and smoke. The walk follows a beautiful stretch of the Regent’s Canal, and from the top of the famous hill you have great views over London. You’ll see railway landmarks as well as the artists’ studios and pastel-painted streets that came later, in one of which lives Paddington Bear. Primrose Hill cherishes a high street largely free of chain shops and numerous good pubs. It’s all minutes from Camden Market but feels miles away.
This walk takes place on the 25th of January and can be booked by clicking here.
Barristers, the Bard, and Beyond: Exploring London’s Inns of Court
Step into the heart of London’s legal and literary history with our captivating walking tour, beginning at Holborn and exploring the iconic Inns of Court. Wander through Gray’s Inn, Lincoln’s Inn, Inner Temple, and Middle Temple, where centuries of legal tradition and stunning architecture come to life. These historic institutions have been the training grounds for barristers and solicitors, shaping the British legal profession since the Middle Ages.
Along the way, you’ll uncover ties to renowned literary figures such as Shakespeare, whose plays were performed here, and Dickens, who wove these Inns into his stories.
This walk takes place on the 21st of February and can be booked by clicking here.
Steam engines to search engines: a guided walk in King’s Cross
Discover the fascinating history of King’s Cross, one of the most successful regeneration project in London, with Elena.
200 years ago King’s Cross was a rather desolate place, marked by brick kilns, rubbish heaps and slums. The arrival of the railways changed the area forever: join Elena’s walk to discover the traces of King’s Cross past – pioneering stations, model dwellings, splendid hotels and many historic building and structures which have been beautifully reimagined and repurposed for 21st century living. Today, King’s Cross is hailed as one of the great success stories of urban regeneration. Come and discover why!
This walk takes place on the 28th of February and can be booked by clicking here.
A history walk in Hampstead, the quaintest of urban villages
Perched on a North London hilltop, Hampstead has retained the charm of a country village with wisteria covered cottages, atmospheric pubs, cobbled street and a history that goes back centuries. This “urban village” attracted, and continues to attract, artists, actors, writers, musicians and glitterati of all kinds: indulge in a bit of celebrity spotting while walking up and down its quiet streets lined by pretty houses from all architectural eras. It feels a bit like finding yourself on a film set!
We will admire the grand Burgh House, and Fenton House, the oldest surviving mansion in Hampstead. We will be walking in the footsteps of famous thespians, like Dame Judy Dench, bestselling authors like HG Wells and Daphne Du Maurier, and world renowned painters like John Constable, who was inspired by the Heath and painted his view of St Paul’s Cathedral from here. And we will visit a back-to-front church and an old graveyard which is the last resting place of many celebrities.
This walk takes place on the 7th of March and can be booked by clicking here, and also on the 11th of March, which can be booked by clicking here.
Our next newsletter will be on the first Saturday of February.