For groups of ten or more, we offer local walking tours.
Please note: we are not taking any further bookings for May 2026.
Led by our experienced and knowledgeable Cathedral Guides, this is an opportunity to explore Southwark at a leisurely pace, including stops and visits at sites of interest. Group leaders may wish to combine a tour of the Cathedral with an escorted walk in the surrounding area.
We have six walking tours on offer.
The Wrong Side of the River: Historic Bankside Walk
Bankside, the area surrounding Southwark Cathedral, has a rich and colourful history. Sometimes referred to as the “side of the undesirables”, this walking tour uncovers the time when bishops, bards, and prostitutes lived and worked alongside each other. The walk includes a palace ruin, the site of the famous Clink prison, St Mary Overy Dock, and the many sites associated with Shakespeare.
Borough High Street Walk – A Travellers’ Tale
This old Roman road and main entrance into the City of London has been a place of travellers and inns meeting the needs of those on long journeys. Chaucer’s Canterbury pilgrims started their pilgrimage from an inn in Southwark. This walk will explore the history of Borough High Street, visiting he sites of several inns including the last surviving galleried inn in London.
Medicine in Southwark Walk
Hospitals have been in the local area for over 800 years. Explore the historic links between Southwark Cathedral, St Thomas’ and Guys Hospital as well as other medical ‘professionals’ associated with the area. The tour visits the Cathedral's herb garden, with herbs which the Augustinian canons used for healing, passes the site of the old St Thomas' hospital founded by the Priory. It includes a look at Guys’ hospital buildings and precincts, and a visit to the Chapel and the crypt which isn’t normally open to members of the public.
Dickens in Southwark Walk
Charles Dickens spent time in Southwark when his father was sent to Marshalsea debtors’ prison in 1824. Young Charles’ regular visits generated ideas and inspired characters which would appear in his novels. This tour takes you to places associated with Pickwick Papers, The Old Curiosity Shop, David Copperfield and Little Dorrit finishing with a visit to St George the Martyr Church on Borough High Street.
Biscuits and Bombs: Bermondsey Street
Join us for a walk down hip Bermondsey Street, "where you move after you've outgrown Shoreditch" and hear recent and ancient stories of tanneries, an abbey, artists, biscuits and bombs. Bermondsey has been through many changes and continues to evolve, so come for a glimpse of the modern vibe, where every name tells a story.
Key information:
Dates: Guided walking tours are available from Tuesday – Saturday. (Group tours are not available in December)
Start times:
- 10:00
- 11:00
- 13:00
- 14:00
- 15:00
Duration: 90 minutes
Tickets: £14 per person
Meeting point: Welcome Desk, via Millenium Courtyard
How to book
All group visits must be booked and paid for in advance. Please note we do not take booking requests less than two weeks out.
A member of the team will aim to get back to you within 7 working days. For more information, please contact cathedraltours@southwark.anglican.org.
All profits generated by Group Visits are used to help maintain the ministry and fabric of Southwark Cathedral.
Terms and Conditions
If you need to change the number of people in your group, please let us know in writing no less than two weeks in advance of the date of your visit and we will amend your booking accordingly.
We cannot accept cancellations or changes in numbers within two weeks of your visit. We are unable to refund the cost of any absent guest(s) on the day of your visit.
Either party may cancel the visit in the event of a Force Majeure – any circumstances beyond our control. This includes but is not limited to, the breakdown of equipment supplied by Southwark Cathedral or by third parties, failure of or disruption to utility services, acts of God including fire and flood, police restrictions, Royal or State occasions, special religious services, terrorism and public disorder or any other instance which causes the closure of Southwark Cathedral