London: Shakespeare Walking Tour North Thames & St Paul's

Walk Shakespeare's London with the man who's spent 40 years studying it

You meet your guide outside Blackfriars Station and walk north of the Thames through hidden Shakespeare sites: the Blackfriars Theatre location, monastery fragments, his second house, and St Paul's Cathedral. Declan performs two complete Shakespeare speeches, including one from a 20-foot totem pole sculpture, and shares 40 years of research into Shakespeare's real London life, his marriage, his children, and the people he knew. The walk takes 2–3 hours, groups stay under 15, and ends at Barbican Station.

Step-by-step itinerary

Shakespeare's London walk north of Thames

• Meet outside Blackfriars Underground Station
• See a rarely noticed Shakespeare statue
• Visit original Blackfriars Theatre location
• View fragment of Blackfriars Monastery
• Explore hidden spot linking Shakespeare and King James
• Discover site of Shakespeare's London house and church
• Admire hidden totem pole with Shakespeare speech
• Learn about Shakespeare family's coat of arms
• See plaque about Shakespeare's generosity
• View St Pauls Cathedral from outside
• Discuss Shakespeare's vocabulary and pub visits
• See bust of Shakespeare and learn about his style
• Visit Shakespeare's second house location
• End at church with famous actors and Shakespeare speech
• Walk to Barbican Underground Station to finish

The experience

Declan McHugh is waiting outside Blackfriars Underground Station with a sign featuring Shakespeare's face on his rucksack. He's a former professional actor who has spent four decades researching Shakespeare's actual life in London, not the myth, but the streets he walked, the theatres he worked in, the people he knew. The tour starts here, north of the Thames, and moves through a London most visitors never see: the hidden statues, the fragments of the Blackfriars Monastery, the site of his second house, the church with a sculpture of Shakespeare praying that almost nobody finds.

What makes this different from reading about Shakespeare in a book is that Declan doesn't just talk about the speeches. He performs them. There's a 20-foot aluminium totem pole made from one of his greatest speeches, and Declan delivers the whole thing just for your group. Later, at a church near the end, he gives another complete speech from Shakespeare's final play, the one about saying goodbye. In between, you're moving through real locations: the College of Arms where Shakespeare's family coat of arms is recorded, the pub he drank in, the exact spot where the original Blackfriars Theatre stood and why only rich people could afford to go. He talks about Shakespeare's vocabulary, his religion, his marriage he regretted, his two daughters and their very different lives, even the conspiracy theories people still believe and why you should ignore them.

The walk covers St Paul's Cathedral from the outside (Declan points out something about it most people miss), and takes you past memorials, plaques, busts, and statues scattered across the City. Groups stay under 15 people, so it's intimate enough that you can ask questions. The whole thing takes around two to three hours, and by the end you've walked in Shakespeare's actual footsteps through the parts of London he knew, heard his words performed by someone who's studied them for 40 years, and learned details about his life that don't make it into the standard biographies. When you're done, Declan walks to Barbican Station if you want to join him to catch the Underground.

What’s included

Your walk includes the professional guide Declan McHugh for 2–3 hours, two complete Shakespeare speech performances (one at a hidden totem pole sculpture, one at a church near the end), visits to the Blackfriars Theatre site, the Blackfriars Monastery fragment, Shakespeare's second house location, the College of Arms, St Paul's Cathedral (exterior), and multiple memorials, statues and plaques throughout the City. The tour ends at Barbican Station, where Declan walks with you if you want to catch the Underground.

Before you book

Days and timesFridayDeparts at 11:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (15 to 80 years) · Child (10 to 14 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 45

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by City Secrets Walks

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand Shakespeare's actual life in London (not the legend, but the streets, theatres, people and houses), and you'd rather hear it from someone who's spent 40 years researching it than read it in a guidebook. The small group size and fixed route mean you get the full story without arranging your own walking itinerary.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (10 to 14 years). Children under 10 can't be included in the booking.

Where do I meet the guide?

Outside Blackfriars Underground Station (Circle & District Lines). Declan will be standing metres from the exit with a sign featuring Shakespeare's face on his rucksack.

How long is the walk?

Around 2 to 3 hours, covering sites north of the Thames.

What's included?

The guided walk, two live Shakespeare speech performances by Declan, access to all outdoor sites and memorials, and drop-off at Barbican Station.

What's the maximum group size?

15 people per booking.

Do we go inside St Paul's Cathedral?

No, you see it from outside. Declan points out something about it from the street.

What if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in all weather. Dress appropriately for rain or cold.

Who is Declan McHugh?

A former professional actor with 40 years of research into Shakespeare's life and London. He performs speeches and shares detailed knowledge of Shakespeare's biography, family, and the actual locations he knew.