Fleet Street is one of the most interesting but underrated spots in London. I recently took a walk down the street with my mum, who’s a Blue Badge tour guide, and she regaled fascinating stories from the city!
Here are some interesting places to visit on Fleet Street, with websites and Google Maps links!
1. Boundary marker between Westminster and the City of London
Look for the dragon statue on Fleet Street. This marks where Westminster ends and the City of London begins.
The two cities grew separately: the Romans built Londinium (now the City of London), and the Anglo-Saxons later created Westminster beside it.
You’ll notice a different feel as you cross the boundary.
Westminster has theatres and restaurants, while the City of London is full of banks and offices. It’s usually quiet at weekends when workers go home.
2. Twinings Tea Shop (established 1706)
Twinings is one of London’s oldest shops and still sells loose-leaf tea from its original site.
The doorway is the narrowest in London, but the shop stretches back further than it looks.
Above the entrance, you’ll see a faded royal warrant showing that Twinings supplies tea to the royal household. Inside, there’s a small tea museum and tasting area.
The shop usually opens from mid-morning. It’s worth arriving after 11am if you’d like to browse or try the tasting counter – see their website for more information.
3. Royal Courts of Justice
This grand Victorian Gothic building stands opposite Twinings.
Civil court cases still take place here, and visitors can join a short guided tour (more information here). If a hearing is happening, you may be able to watch from the public gallery.
The building dates from Queen Victoria’s reign and is known for its elaborate stonework and spires. High-profile cases, including celebrity divorces, have been held here.
4. Middle Temple and Temple area
Step off Fleet Street into Middle Temple Lane and you’ll find a quiet network of courtyards surrounded by historic chambers.
This area was once home to the Knights Templar in the 12th century, and later became the centre for barristers’ offices.
Look for original gas lamps still in place. Many period dramas have filmed here, including Downton Abbey. It’s a peaceful place for a short walk away from the main road.
Google Maps link for the entrance here
5. Temple Church
Built in the 1100s by the Knights Templar, this circular church was modelled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The round design is unusual and makes it easy to spot.
Temple Church features in several films, including The Da Vinci Code. It’s sometimes closed to the public, so check opening times before visiting – their website is here.
6. Middle Temple Hall and Garden Room
Middle Temple Hall was built in the 1500s and is still used for formal dinners for barristers. You can book lunch here as a visitor.
A three-course meal costs around £28, which is very good value for central London! More information about that here.
There’s also a small café called the Garden Room, open on weekday mornings and early afternoons.
7. Former Bank of England branch (now a pub)
Across from the Middle Temple area you’ll find a former branch of the Bank of England, now converted into a pub.
Inside are chandeliers and grand interiors, and there’s even a red double-decker bus in the garden. It’s run by McMullen’s brewery. See their website here.
It usually opens around midday. Ideal for a drink or lunch after exploring the legal quarter.
8. Prince Henry’s Room
This is the only building on Fleet Street that survived the Great Fire of London in 1666. It dates from the early 1600s and now houses the Government of Catalonia’s offices. Look up to see the Catalan flag, which is displayed above the window.
Everything else around here was destroyed in the fire that started on Pudding Lane. It’s worth pausing here to imagine how the whole street once looked before the rebuild.
9. El Vino wine bar
El Vino is a Fleet Street landmark with a surprising past. In 1982, it became the centre of a gender discrimination case after the bar refused to serve women at the counter. Two professionals, a solicitor and a journalist, took the owners to court, and won!
The case changed the law on equal access to bars and restaurants. The venue is still open today and popular with journalists, though its practices have thankfully moved on.
10. Dr Johnson’s House
Just off Fleet Street stands Dr Johnson’s House, where Samuel Johnson lived while writing the first English dictionary. He’s also known for the quote: “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.”
We didn’t actually find the house itself, but you can see more information about it on their website.
11. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
One of Fleet Street’s most famous pubs, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese was rebuilt in 1667 right after the Great Fire. Writers such as Charles Dickens and Samuel Johnson drank here, and the pub still feels like it belongs to that era — narrow passages, wood panelling, and low ceilings.
Inside, you’ll find a board listing every monarch who has reigned since the pub reopened, including King Charles III at the bottom. It’s a good place for lunch or a pint surrounded by real London history.
12. St Bride’s Church
St Bride’s Church is known for two things: its tiered spire, which inspired the design of the modern wedding cake, and its connection to journalists. Inside there’s an altar and memorials dedicated to reporters who died while covering conflicts around the world.
It’s open most days and welcomes visitors. If you step inside, look for the displays on Fleet Street’s press history. It’s often called the “journalists’ church.”
13. Temple Bar archway
Before the modern boundary markers, Temple Bar once stood across Fleet Street as a ceremonial gateway into the City of London. It caused traffic jams even in horse-drawn carriage days, so it was dismantled and moved. You can now see it beside St Paul’s Cathedral.
The archway is richly decorated and still carries the city’s emblems. It’s a striking piece of Victorian architecture that marks where the old city gates once stood.
14. One New Change rooftop terrace
End your walk with one of London’s best free viewpoints. The rooftop terrace at One New Change overlooks St Paul’s Cathedral and the surrounding skyline. You can also see the Old Bailey, the Tate Modern across the river, and skyscrapers like the Shard.
Access is free via lifts inside the shopping centre. Go up at sunset for the best light on St Paul’s dome.
