Exploring the lost Walbrook River: Tour through the hidden heart of the City

Last seen more than six centuries ago, the hidden currents of the Walbrook still flow beneath the modern streetscape of the City of London. This walking tour follows its forgotten path, threading through the ever-changing urban fabric from Shoreditch, outside the City walls, to the Thames itself. Trace key moments in London’s history from the cataclysmic Great Fire, the resolute reconstruction after the devastation of the Blitz to the exodus to suburban living since the Victorian times. Witness the relentless adaptation to accommodate the burgeoning finance industry, while concurrently witnessing a contemporary shift towards reimagining urban landscapes and revitalizing public spaces. Buildings encountered en route include the 1980s Broadgate Centre, Soane’s Bank of England, Foster’s Stirling Prize winning Bloomberg building and Wren’s ingenious domed church of St Stephen Walbrook – all have undergone careful revaluation, showcasing the evolving landscape of urban design. Along this journey, we delve into the historical, cultural, and architectural layers that define the river’s course, culminating in a rendezvous on the Thames foreshore. Here, at low tide, we uncover the final vestiges of London's most significant yet obscure waterway.

Dr Tom Bolton is an urban researcher and writer, specialising in architecture, urban planning, and regeneration. He leads community review and research at Frame Projects. Setting up panels for developments like Isle of Dogs and Old Kent Road, he has worked with the GLA on design quality management and led the development for cross-sectoral design principles for the National Infrastructure Commission. Tom is the author of Camden Town: Dreams of Another London, Vanished City: London's Lost Neighbourhoods , London’s Lost Rivers: A Walker’s Guide and A Walker's Guide Volume 2.

Meet: at Shoreditch High Street Station for a prompt start at 11:00am