Come and explore some of these heroes on Saturday 5 October for free as part of Local London Guiding Day
Islington has a rich history, so it is perhaps not surprising that over the centuries certain residents would emerge who could be classed as heroes.
How about a woman, born in the sixteenth century who was motivated to philanthropy by just missing death from an archer’s arrow? Lucky enough to become considerably wealthy through marriage, she left many bequests including to Islington. She is remembered today in the name of streets and also a school.
Or a popular twentieth century science fiction writer whose novels were inspired by places and businesses in Islington near the delightful Georgian terrace where he lived. Although, in 2001, he died tragically early at the age of 49.
Or we have a nineteenth century woman who, at a time when what we now call Australia was a very precarious place, spent time in Islington as well as New South Wales. She would meet young women and girls off vessels in Sydney harbour to ensure they had safe housing and jobs to go to. Until 1992 she was remembered by Australians on their $5 note.
Come and explore some of these heroes on Saturday 5 October for free as part of Local London Guiding Day! We will be having hour-long tours leaving from outside Angel tube station from 10.00am until 4.00pm. The tours will be led by qualified guides from Islington Guided Walks – Islington Mayor’s official guides.
Walks begin at 10.00am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm
Free tour – just turn up or book online
Why not make a day of it? Visit all five places where similar tours are happening in the City of London, Westminster, Lambeth and Camden (see below).
| Local Heroes of Islington Hosted by Islington Guided Walks | This walk introduces the area around the Angel, highlighting heroes from the mid 16th century right up to the present day. From philanthropy to humanitarianism, a major infrastructure project, entertainment and literature, the walk will cover a wide range of the area’s former residents. Meeting point: Angel Tube Station exit |
| Local Heroes of the City of London Hosted by City of London Guides | Discover the people who have shaped the City of London – heroes of architecture, equality, charity and more. Along the way, we’ll meet the man who transformed our postal system, the woman who fought the Romans and the architect who built St Paul’s Cathedral before finishing up at London’s oldest surviving church. Meeting point: St Paul’s Underground (exit by the Co-op) |
| Local Heroes of Kennington, Lambeth Hosted by Lambeth tour guides | Explore Kennington’s heroes including an ambitious educator and his suffragette art students, a generous philanthropist and the community who saved her legacy, the son of a slave who risked his freedom to support the working class, and some trailblazing cricketers! Meeting point: Opposite Kennington Underground at Penryn House, SE11 4HU. |
| Local Heroes of Westminster Hosted by Westminster Guides | A gentle walk with a qualified Westminster Guide through Victoria Embankment Gardens, once considered the finest thoroughfare in Europe. In this peaceful picket of Westminster, a few steps from bustling Trafalgar Square, we can explore the statues and memorials of past and present heroes. Meeting point: Embankment station (north) |
| Local Heroes of Camden Hosted by Camden Guides | Join our qualified Camden Guides on a circular walk to discover London’s largest public garden, an oasis in the capital, with stunning buildings and memorials bringing to life our past heroes. Meeting point: Holborn station |
Local London Guiding Day has a proud history of supporting guiding associations in London to showcase free walks in their areas to local communities and the general public each year. The guides involved have been trained by the relevant guiding association.
Islington Guided Walks is the Mayor of Islington’s official guides. For more than 30 years we have been organising guided walks and tours in Clerkenwell and Islington, arranging customised private tours and training new guides. We can arrange private walks: email [email protected] to find out more.
