Eastern Cluster walking tour - Wednesday 18 June 2025 5.30pm

Join Open City for a walking tour exploring how the unique architecture and public realm of the Eastern Cluster in London’s Square Mile

This insightful walking tour — led by City of London guide Paul Lincoln — will explore how over the past forty years the eastern part of the City of London has become home to some of the most distinctive architecture in the capital. Although many of these buildings from Tower 42 to 30 St Mary Axe and the Leadenhall Building, are an important part of the London skyline, less attention has been paid to the way in which this area can be enjoyed at street level.

This is a district known mainly for financial services is now developing new public spaces, public art and landscape projects.  This part of the City is also a place of considerable historic significance, from the Roman London Wall to Bevis Marks Synagogue, the only synagogue in Europe that has held regular services continuously for over 300 years; to St Peter's Cornhill which stands on the highest point of the City of London, this is a completely fascinating part of London.

This walk will look at the Roman invasion and the building of the London Wall;  the development of the City of London as a financial district, the impact of the City of London's  policies and voting system on the planning of the area; the approach to tackling climate emergency and planned improvements to the area.

Key information

Meet: Outside The Aldgate Tap Bar, Aldgate Square EC3N 1AF (2nd stop on this tour is 70 St Mary Axe/the Can of Ham)

Duration: 2.5 hours approx

End: Fen Court, 120 Fenchurch Street. 

The Fen Court Roof Garden is open to the public if you would like to visit after the tour.

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Paul Lincoln is a member of the City of London Guide Lecturers' Association and lives in the City in Golden Lane Estate where he coordinates the campaign: Imagine Golden Lane at Net Zero. He has an interest in the politics of the City of London as well as post-war architecture, landscape and urban design. Paul has an MA in Cities, Design and Regeneration and is also a printmaker at East London Printmakers. He has been guiding tours with Open City since 2016.