Fleet Street and its neighbour St Paul’s are close to both the West End, and the City of London, and perfect for exploring. They offer a mix of London landmarks (including St Paul’s Cathedral) as well as lesser-known historic buildings, hidden gems and old, winding alleyways.
All the locations in this article are close together, so you can see a fair bit even if you’re pushed for time. The area used to be home to the British printing industry, but there are also infamous tales, legal history and literary landmarks to discover. Here’s our guide to exploring hidden London in Fleet St and St Paul’s.
Getting to Fleet Street and St Paul’s
You can start your wandering from either end, but for the purpose of this article let’s imagine you’ll start at the top of Fleet Street and make your way down to St Paul’s, the nearest stations are Temple (Circle and District), Blackfriars (Circle and District and mainline train), or Chancery Lane (Central Line) and it’s also along the No.11 bus route, which is great for sightseeing.
Check out the Gothic architecture of the Royal Courts of Justice
Technically, this is still The Strand, but it’s at the eastern edge and its imposing, 19th century Gothic architecture is too impressive to quibble about postcodes and street names. If you’re short on time, it’s still worth taking in the outside of the building, which is one of the senior courts of England & Wales. But if you do have time to spare, you can enter the building for free and take a peek around its 88 courtrooms (without interrupting legal proceedings, of course!) and gaze up at the vaulted ceilings. There are also daily guided tours, which you need to book in advance for £20.00 if you want to know more about the building’s history. Superstitious visitors might enjoy the lore of Room 666, allegedly the RCJ’s coldest room – creepy!
Enjoy baked goods or Mediterranean food at Toklas
Conveniently close to Temple station, and round the corner from Fleet Street itself, Toklas has got a bakery if you fancy a cardamom bun and a caffeine stop as you stroll, although please note that the bakery is shut on weekends. And if you’re looking for something more substantial, head a couple of doors up to the restaurant for Mediterranean food. The restaurant also does a decently-priced pre-theatre menu (£24.00 for two courses for £28.00) if you’re looking for some early dinner.
Venture down some old and infamous alleyways!
There are so many hidden alleyways and courts around Fleet Street you could easily spend your time in the area just stomping around those. We’d encourage you to explore a little further, but one of the most infamous alleyways is Hen and Chicken Court associated with fictional Victorian murderer Sweeney Todd. There are more pleasant side alleys to explore too, including Wine Office Court and the photogenic Clifford’s Inn Passages.
Visit some of London’s oldest pubs
A wander around the alleyways will also lead you to some interesting old London pubs, including Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, one of the oldest pubs in the city. The original building was destroyed by the great fire of London in 1666 which ripped through the area. But, was rebuilt and has been serving up pints since 1667. The cosy, wood-panelled interiors are particularly inviting during the colder months, stop by for a refreshing drink or hearty pub food. The area is also home to Ye Olde Cock Tavern (they’re not all named Ye Olde something!), The Old Bank of England (which yes, you guessed it, used to be the Bank of England) and The Blackfriar.
Take a tour of the crypt at St Bride’s church
St Bride’s Church is another of Fleet Street’s architectural landmarks. It was designed by the architect Sir Christopher Wren in 1672, and reconstructed after the Blitz in the early 1950s. Due to its location, St Bride’s has a long association with journalism, but one of the best things to explore is the ancient crypt and museum which contains artefacts dating back to the Roman era.
Visit some of hidden London’s literary landmarks
The area has also been home to several notable writers, as well as being the home of The first British newspaper The Daily Courant, which was published in 1702 and, interestingly, had a female editor – Elizabeth Mallet. You’ll find two blue plaques commemorating the newspaper, one off of Fleet Street and one on Ludgate Hill. Other famous residents included William Shakespeare who lived in the The Gatehouse at Blackfriars, famous London diarist Samuel Pepys was born in a house on Salisbury Court which also has a blue plaque. Head to Gough Square to visit Dr Johnson’s House museum, which includes the first edition of his famous dictionary.
Take in city views from St Paul’s Dome
Round off your trip with a visit to the iconic London landmark, and if you’re able to make the epic, 528-step climb to the top of the dome, which is the largest in the world. Once you’ve ascended to the dizzying heights of The Golden Gallery, you’ll see panoramic views over the city and spot other landmarks including Blackfriars Bridge, the Thames, and The Shard.
There are plenty of beautiful things to look at inside too, including The Whispering Gallery. Sightseeing tours are around £25.00 and it’s a huge building, so allow plenty of time to see the main Cathedral, floor, Crypt and of course the Dome Galleries. If the climb isn’t accessible for you, there are sweeping views to be found elsewhere in the area which can be accessed via a lift. St Paul’s also has lovely gardens if you’re short on time and want to explore the exterior instead.
Have a rooftop drink or afternoon tea at Sabine
If you’re visiting in the warmer months, head up to the secret garden at Sabine. Just a stone’s throw from St Paul’s tube – the rooftop venue does afternoon tea during the day or cocktails and small plates by night if you want food and drinks with a view.
And finally, find the subterranean River Fleet
There are many rivers buried beneath London’s streets, and Fleet Street takes its name from one of them! The river Fleet is almost completely covered now, but if you head to the corner of Saffron Hill and Greville street and you’ll spy a grate where you can see water from a tributary of this hidden London river flowing.
