JAN25: Under the Walls and Lookout over the City

GET SOCIAL THIS JANUARY! This event is one of loads of events taking place over the same weekend! Check out all the events over the weekend of 17-19 January 2025: OutdoorLads.events/JAN25. Great for new and regular members!

SUNDAY EVENT

WAITING LIST: Please note if you are on the waiting list, due to capacity and bookings at some sights, I will be unable to increase the attendance over 20.

We will visit the City Wall at Vine Street, Leadenhall Market (drinks also at the Lamb Tavern) and the viewing platforms at The Lookout and public garden at Sky Garden.

We’ll also stop to see hidden sights, gardens and outside only of the churches (All Hallows by the Tower, St Dunstan’s ruined church and St Olave’s church ) within the medieval street plan of the City of London, shadowed by skyscrapers and modern sculptures.

You will need to pass through airport style security to enter some of the buildings. Your bags will be searched, so please bring the minimum you need to save time. No food or alcohol to be taken into the Lookout or Sky Garden.

There will be time for a quick lunch (around 30 minutes from 1245), and separate drinks stop at the Lamb Tavern in Leadenhall Market (around 1445) https://www.lambtavernleadenhall.com. 

Optional drinks if guys wish at end: Crosse Keys pub on Bishopsgate - https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/the-crosse-keys-city-of-london/

Please note that all sights have free entry. If you sign up, subject to usual provisos, please can you avoid cancelling at the last minute as I will have made bookings for us.

We won’t be guided around each place, but will have time to explore and meet up at the end of each visit to move on, and I will introduce each sight.

The route is here: https://explore.osmaps.com/route/24286401/odl-city-jan-2025

The sights 

City Wall at Vine Street https://citywallvinestreet.org/#about

This part of the 3km Roman wall that protected Londinium was hidden from view until this museum opened in May 2023. We’ll descend below street level to reveal the wall (190-230AD) and only remaining London Roman bastion (375AD), plus the well displayed artefacts found here (Roman tiles, medieval “debris” and a tile with cat paw print). This was hidden until 1979 but without public access, until the recent development of student accomodation. 

The Lookout https://www.8bishopsgate.com/lookout

This viewing platform at No 8 Bishopsgate opened in 2023 and reaches 204m. We’ll ascend to the 50th floor for a stellar view westwards over London, south to the Thames and a bit of the east. There is only one small lift, so it’ll take a while to get us up and down, but it’s less popular and “cosier” than the taller (278m) neighbour Horizon 22, visited on my previous event https://www.outdoorlads.com/events/londons-highest-view-and-down-its-foundations-240322)

Leadenhall Market

Drinks stop at https://www.lambtavernleadenhall.com. We will admire the Victorian (1881) structure which marks the site of a much older 14th century market, and Roman forum. Dick Whittington acquired and gifted the market to the people of London in 1411. He also funded first public toilet with space for 64 men, but also 64 women. We love toilet trivia!

Sky Garden https://skygarden.london/what-is-sky-garden/

We will visit just before dusk. This is London’s highest public garden at 20 Fenchurch Street, otherwise known as the Walkie Talkie. It was opened in January 2015, and is 38 stories high at 162m. The view stretches along the Thames and both southwards but also north to the cluster of skyscrapers in the City itself. It “won” the Carbuncle Cup in 2015 – you decide! It’s not quite Kew Gardens at the top, but there are ferns, succulents and (subject the weather and not after dark) an outdoor viewing platform southwards.

New Members

New members are very welcome. Please message me if you have any questions or concerns before the day. Whilst we are a very open and welcoming group, if you wish, we may be able to organise an existing member to buddy up with you before or on the day. Do also feel free to arrive early as I’m always around much earlier than the start time. 

Dogs

Sorry, no dogs are permitted at these sights.

IMPORTANT! – Participation Statement

You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.

(All images were taken by Alex Young.)