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The soul of the city: A walking tour of London’s four oldest streets with Dr Matthew Green

By The Guardian Masterclasses

Date and time

Saturday, August 6, 2016 · 1:30 - 5:30pm GMT+1

Location

The Guardian

Kings Place 90 York Way London N1 9GU United Kingdom

Refund Policy

Contact the organizer to request a refund.

Description

An unforgettable walking tour through Cornhill, Cheapside, Fleet Street and the Strand with historian and broadcaster Dr. Matthew Green

Learn how London established itself as one of the greatest cities in the world at this epic tour with historian and broadcaster Dr. Matthew Green. During the tour, you’ll explore four of the city’s most historic thoroughfares: Cornhill, Cheapside, Fleet Street and the Strand. ‘These four streets’, wrote a Swiss traveller to London in 1725, ‘are, I imagine, the finest in Europe’, with their history stretching back to Roman times.

This whirlwind walking tour starts inside the gardens of the Church of St. Peter’s in Cornhill. You’ll begin by discovering how Cornhill became the epicentre of a global trading empire, and how Fleet Street emerged as the nerve-centre of Britain’s publishing industry. Then, you’ll explore the history of Cheapside, the seat of civic power, and the Strand, a glitzy parade of theatres, taverns and music halls.

Along the way, you’ll visit both iconic sites such as Somerset House, the sole surviving riverside palace, and lesser-known gems, from London’s first coffeehouse to the site of a chilling hermit’s cell. You’ll leave the tour buzzing with knowledge about the history of London and a newfound appreciation of how the city is changing in the 21st century.

More about your teacher…

Dr. Matthew Green is the author of the acclaimed book London: A Travel Guide Through Time, which has been described by the Londonist as ‘easily the best social history of London for a decade’. He also writes historical features for the Guardian and Financial Times among others, and has contributed to many TV and radio documentaries. He’s the founder of Unreal City Audio and tweets as @drmatthewgreen.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website

Organized by

Welcome to Guardian Masterclasses – a unique programme of learning embedded within one of the world's most forward-thinking media organisations.

We offer a broad range of short and long courses across a variety of disciplines from creative writing, journalism, photography and design, film and digital media, music and cultural appreciation.

Harnessing the expertise and specialisms within the organisation, our courses are led by first class and award winning guardian professionals whilst also drawing on the skills and expertise of other leading figures at the forefront of the creative and digital industries.

The programme is aimed at anyone interested in personal or professional development whether that be refining your skills, focusing your ambition or simply broadening your mind and gaining inspiration.

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