Connected Clerkenwell architecture walking tour - Saturday 1 August 2026 11am
Regular price £29.50Join Open City for a walking tour exploring how centuries of connectivity shaped the unique architectural, landscape and urban history of Clerkenwell
From industrial manufacturing to the global trade in architecture and design services — this insightful walking tour tells the story of how Clerkenwell’s central location as a hub for London’s creative industries shaped its extraordinary built environment.
This walking tour between the soon-to-open London Museum and Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration explores the varied connections which defined Clerkenwell – covering people and their stories; communities and the built environment; and the area’s layered history and the lively streets of today.
Clerkenwell is one of the oldest parts of the capital, with its development at the edge of the City of London dating back to medieval times, and it has long been the connective tissue and buffer zone between the City merchants and the rural and suburban outskirts.
Over the past few decades, Clerkenwell has transformed from a down-at-heel post-industrial pocket of London to a thriving centre of bars, restaurants and creative industries at the heart of the capital. The streets that were once a hinterland for the meat-trading of Smithfield Market are now populated with designers, architects and workers in the global creative industries.
Further north, what was once one of the poorest parts of London has become a leafy, spacious home to parks and apartments, the eateries of Exmouth Market and the social and architectural milestone of Lubetkin’s Finsbury Health Centre.
Highlights include an external preview of the new London Museum at the site in Smithfield Market where the spectacular complex of buildings are being constructed. The walk ends at another innovative new venue, the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, which opened in June, a reinvention of a waterworks engine house as a unique museum with a collaborative approach to storytelling and ideas.
This is a walk that offers the opportunity to think about how old and new can come together in a sustainable way, how new and old institutions can build connections with the public, and how a small area of London can have vital connections with the rest of the city and the world beyond.
Key information
Meet: Outside Farmer J, 50 Cowcross St EC1M 6AL
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The 2nd stop on the tour is Outside Port of London Authority building, Charterhouse St EC1M 6AL
End: Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, 1 Myddelton Passage EC1R 1AG
Duration: 2.5 hrs approx
Distance: 2.8 km
Route notes: This walk follows pavements throughout, though some surfaces are uneven. There are a few sets of steps along the route and these can be avoided.
About your tour guide
Debbie Kent is a Clerkenwell and Islington Guide, as well as a member of the Walking Artists Network. She has lived in London all her life – both north and south of the river, but currently in EC1 – studied at LSE and Goldsmiths, and has a passion for learning about the city and sharing her experience with others. She works as a journalist.
Kent is a graduate of the 2023 Golden Key Academy — a masterclass for urban and architectural tour guiding run by Open City. She joined the Open City tours team in May 2026.
Photo: by Debbie Kent
Please select pay it forward ticket if you feel you can to help our charity to help offer reduced concessionary tickets to others who may otherwise be unable to attend.
We offer reduced-price tickets for people who are currently without paid work (e.g., job seekers). If you're retired, please select the Over 65s ticket, which also includes a small discount if you require this.
We aim to be inclusive and accessible where possible, please contact Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk to discuss your accessibility needs, reduced ticket prices and if you require a free carer ticket.
Tickets are non-refundable and tours go ahead rain or shine.
Photography may be taking place on any of our tours, please indicate on the day if you do not want to be in any of the photos.
* Please check for any planned transport engineering works, planned strike action or large scale events that may affect your journey before making your ticket purchase *
If you find you can no longer make the tour for any reason including Covid we are unable to transfer you to another date, but please feel free to pass your booked place onto a friend to go and enjoy the tour in your place.
In the event your tour date is cancelled you will be issued with a credit note (with no expiry date) that you can use to
- book onto a rescheduled date
- book onto any other tour from our programme
or you can request a refund.
All ticket purchases are in support of the work of our organisation including our pioneering education programmes. We really appreciate your support!
Get in touch with Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk with any queries.
