West Smithfield Monks to the Knights Hospitallers Walking Tour
See how the NHS would look in a medieval city
Table of Contents
About the Monks and Knights Walking Tour
This guided walk investigates the wisdom of two quotes about medical care in the City of London.
“Nobody is healthy in London, nobody can be.”
– Jane Austen
“I have two doctors, my left and right leg. I need only call on my doctors and I shall be well”
– G M Trevelyan
Take a walking tour for your health and combine the history of medicine, and the history of the City of London. See a 900-year-old hospital and priory, learn about a catastrophic plague, and discover the role of the Knights Hospitallers.
The tour includes entry to St Bartholomew the Great and sections of Bart’s Hospital.
The tour will also uncover the starring roles for Rahere, Lopez, Harvey, and many more!
This walking tour ends at St. John’s Gate, where you will be able to extend your history lesson with free entry to the Knights Hospitallers museum.
Key facts about this tour
| Start time: | 11:00 am |
| Expected end time: | 13:00 (1pm) |
| Leaving from: | Henry VIII gate West Smithfield |
| Ending at: | St. John’s Gate |
| Estimated walking distance: | 1 mile |
What to expect on this walking tour
This walking tour is 120 minutes long. You will walk approximately one mile and see hundreds of years of history.
Once you have experienced your tour you will be able to say you have seen:
- Barts
- Charterhouse
- St. John’s Gate
- And so much more!
Tour location map
Things to do after your tour
Once you’ve finished your walking tour why not visit some of the other exciting London locations below?
St. John’s Gate
Dating back to 1504, St. John’s Gate in Clerkenwell is a notable piece of London’s history, originally serving as the entrance to the medieval Priory of the Knights of St John. This Tudor structure now houses the Museum of the Order of St John, showcasing artefacts and stories of the Knights Hospitaller.
Smithfield Market
Smithfield Market, one of London’s oldest markets, is a bustling hub of activity with a vibrant history of over 800 years, renowned for its wholesale meat trade. Opening in the wee hours, the market pulses with energy as butchers, retailers, and restaurateurs gather, and with a few early-morning eateries and historic pubs nearby, it offers a unique slice of London’s culinary tradition.
Book your ticket now
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