Free introductory tours, conducted by Guildhall Art Gallery’s team of City Guides, are available every day, from Tuesday to Sunday.
Walk through a scientific history of transformation.
London was not only built in stone and gold: it was shaped by centuries of obsession with transformation.
This walking tour explores the hidden alchemical imagination of the City: the pursuit of the philosopher’s stone, the dream of turning base matter into perfection, and the early scientific and spiritual ideas that helped shape modern London.
Moving through historic streets and buildings, you'll uncover how architecture, commerce, belief, and experimentation intersected in a world where the boundaries between mysticism and science were far more fluid than you might expect.
At its heart, the walk also reflects on belonging: how people across time sought their place within a changing city, using transformation not only to reshape matter, but to understand identity, community, and purpose.
Expect gold, fire, faith, and a few surprises; not as legend, but as part of the lived history of the City itself. Come walk the alchemical London that still echoes beneath the surface.
Time: 11.30am–1pm Thursday 18 June
Tickets: Tickets are free but must be booked in advance.
