City of London - West of St Paul's Cathedral

This walk starts from St Paul's Underground Station on the Central Line Zone 1. The Central Line is one of the most useful, joining West and East London in one long continuous fast route.

Leaving the Tube, we pass Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece, St Paul's Cathedral. This domed building is the cathedral church of the Anglican diocese of London. It has recently been cleaned and restored, and is now looking at its best. St Paul's has memories for me - I was ordained here in the year 2003.

Passing through the newly rebuilt Paternoster Square our walk takes us past Stationers Hall and up the Old Bailey, home of London's Central Criminal Courts. We then turn along Holborn Viaduct and descend to the road below. Farringdon Street marks the course of the old Fleet River below.

We pass through fascinating parts of the old City and into Gough Square where Dr Johnson's house is preserved. Writer of the famous Dictionary you can even see a bronze of his pet cat in the tiny square opposite Johnson's house.

Thence we enter Fleet Street, erstwhile base of many national newspapers until the showdown between printing trades unions and proprietors such as Rupert Murdoch, and the death of hot metal with the rise of direct input into publishing programs on computer. Most of the newspapers moved to the East End and vacated Fleet Street for good.

We leave Fleet Street by St Bride's Church, pass the Black friar, Apothecaries Hall and the church of St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe. This part of London is rich in history. I try and give a flavour of its origins during the walk.

Finally we return to St Paul's Cathedral via Queen Victoria Street and the ancient College of Arms. This time we pass to the East of St Paul's and return to our starting point at St Paul's Underground.

Thanks for joining me on these walks, whether you walk them with your iPod or just listen to the soundscape from home. Do keep sending me your comments and requests at http://londonwalks.libsyn.com I look forward to reading them and try to respond to each message I get.

This was another cold walk, but Spring is just round the corner.