PEPYS DAY

In September 1666 the Great Fire of London swept through the City. Man-about-town Samuel Pepys, witnessed and recorded the events of that extraordinary week. The fire started at 1.00am on September 2nd and by mid-morning Pepys was writing about it in his diary. The fire was put out on the Friday of that week, and we are marking this as Pepys Day in the City of London.

There is much more to Samuel Pepys and his Diary than that one fateful week in September. His diary covers just over nine years and our four tours will include much about him, his life and exploits and the times in which he lived as well as key moments from the Great Fire.

Following the sell out success of the first Pepys Day last year, we have added new tours for this year's event. There are four different walk routes:

• MORNING TOURS STARTING POINT - THE MONUMENT FISH STREET HILL.

Two routes in the morning start from the Monument on Fish Street Hill, and both end inside the Royal Exchange where your ticket includes a £5.00 discount in Engel on food and drink.

• AFTERNOON TOURS STARTING POINT - THE ROYAL EXCHANGE

Two routes in the afternoon both of which set off from from Engel inside the Royal Exchange and your ticket will give you a £5.00 discount in their bar/cafe/restaurant.

Each tour will be lead by an official City of London Guide. Booking is essential.

MORNING TOURS FROM THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON MONUMENT will leave at 5 minute intervals starting at 10.00 with the last departure at 10.22.

Walk 1: 'And So to Bed' goes eastwards and takes in the area where Pepys and his wife Elizabeth lived. Departs at 10.00. 10.05, 10.10, 10.15 and 10.20

Walk 2: 'I to Church' goes northwards taking in many of the places, people and incidents from Pepys' life. Departs at 10.02, 10.07, 10.12, 10.17 and 10.22

AFTERNOON TOURS FROM ROYAL EXCHANGE will leave at 5 minute intervals starting at 14.00 with the last departure at 14.22.

Walk 3: 'Up and by Water' begins by going down to the River Thames where Pepys spent a lot of his time. Departs at 14.00, 14.05, 14.10, 14.15, 1`4.20

Walk 4: 'From the 'Change' goes west from the Royal Exchange, via Pepys experiences of Guildhall and Cheapside and onwards to The OId Bailey to Pepys' place of baptism "The Wedding Cake" church in Fleet Street. Departs at 14.02, 14.07, 14.12, 14.17, 14.22

Proceeds will go to the Lord Mayor's Appeal which supports charity partners focused on mental health and tackling homelessness: https://www.thelordmayorsappeal.org/

We aim to make our tours inclusive, but please note there are a few steps (these can be avoided apart from Walk 3 which includes steps up and down from a road bridge), some of the streets have uneven surfaces and drop kerbs are not always available.

Engel is on the mezzanine in the Royal Exchange and celebrates the style and flamboyance of 1920s Berlin. We feel Pepys would have welcomed this addition to the 'Change he knew and frequented! www.engelbar.co.uk