A Unique Urban Stroll Above the City
When considering a walk in London, parks and green spaces often come to mind. However, the City of London offers a distinctive urban experience with its blend of residential towers and corporate offices. The brutalist Barbican Estate, home to the renowned arts venue, was designed to create a unified community for professionals and senior staff. This 1970s concept initially divided opinion, creating contrasting environments for working-class residents and wealthy office workers.
The Pedway Network
In the 2000s, initiatives to reconnect these worlds led to the development of pedways, officially known as highwalks. These utilize existing elevated walkways on the Barbican estate and purpose-built bridges to link residential towers with facilities and shared areas via pedestrian-exclusive routes. The result is a mile-long elevated journey offering unique views of Central London's skyline.
Stage 1: Former Museum of London to Barbican
Start at the southern edge of the London Wall roundabout, where the former Museum of London once stood. Climb the staircase and cross the roundabout to the northern side. Bear left along the walkways beside Aldersgate Street, where street artworks become visible from above. Continue to Beech Gardens at the corner of Barbican station, marked by three enormous residential towers that were London's tallest until Canary Wharf.
Stage 2: Barbican Estate
Veer right around the piazza behind the Barbican Centre. To explore the arts complex, enter through any door along the way. To rejoin the walk, use the Level 2 exit near Osteria restaurant and turn right. Alternatively, follow the building's perimeter to Speed Highwalk and take the first right before Milton Court Guildhall School. Either path leads to the main pedway across the estate, offering breathtaking views of the artificial lakes—a scene reminiscent of Singapore or Hong Kong. Continue straight to Wallside junction; go straight to return or turn left to complete the full mile.
Stage 3: Barbican to Guildhall
Cross a modern suspended walkway that sways gently—by design and perfectly safe. Examine the remains of the original London Wall and St Giles' Cripplegate church. Turn right onto Bassishaw Highwalk to traverse London Wall road. Continue through communal spaces, spotting City offices with floor-to-ceiling windows at pedway level, evoking a set from The Apprentice. Descend stairs or a ramp to reach Guildhall, the City of London's town hall. Walk left along Basinghall Street for a quicker route to the front. Explore the art gallery, the former City of London Police headquarters turned events venue, or the Guildhall Library. Here you return to ground level after completing a mile elevated above the Square Mile. Happy exploring!
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