Britain's What's On Event Guide
Pepys Day in the City of London
Explore the City on Pepys Day, September 5th 2025
In September 1666 the Great Fire of London swept through the City of London. Man-about-town Samuel Pepys, witnessed and recorded the events of that extraordinary week. The fire started at 1.00am on September 2nd and by mid-morning Pepys was writing about it in his diary. The fire was put out on the Friday of that week, and we are marking this as Pepys Day in the City of London.
There is much more to Samuel Pepys and his Diary than that one fateful week in September. His diary covers just over nine years and our four tours will include much about him, his life and exploits and the times in which he lived as well as key moments from the Great Fire.
Following the sell out success of the first Pepys Day last year, we have added new tours for this year's event and have partnered with Engel bar and restaurant in the historic Royal Exchange.
There are four different walk routes:
Walk 1 (morning) : 'And So to Bed' goes eastwards and takes in the area where Pepys and his wife Elizabeth lived.
Walk 2 (morning) : 'I to Church' goes northwards taking in many of the places, people and incidents from Pepys' life.
Walk 3 (afternoon) : 'Up and by Water' takes us to the River Thames which played an important part in Pepys' life.
Walk 4 (afternoon) : 'From the 'Change' goes westwards via Pepys' experiences of Guildhall and Cheapside and onwards to The Old Bailey and Pepys' place of baptism The Wedding Cake church in Fleet Street.
In September 1666 the Great Fire of London swept through the City of London. Man-about-town Samuel Pepys, witnessed and recorded the events of that extraordinary week. The fire started at 1.00am on September 2nd and by mid-morning Pepys was writing about it in his diary. The fire was put out on the Friday of that week, and we are marking this as Pepys Day in the City of London.
There is much more to Samuel Pepys and his Diary than that one fateful week in September. His diary covers just over nine years and our four tours will include much about him, his life and exploits and the times in which he lived as well as key moments from the Great Fire.
Following the sell out success of the first Pepys Day last year, we have added new tours for this year's event and have partnered with Engel bar and restaurant in the historic Royal Exchange.
There are four different walk routes:
Walk 1 (morning) : 'And So to Bed' goes eastwards and takes in the area where Pepys and his wife Elizabeth lived.
Walk 2 (morning) : 'I to Church' goes northwards taking in many of the places, people and incidents from Pepys' life.
Walk 3 (afternoon) : 'Up and by Water' takes us to the River Thames which played an important part in Pepys' life.
Walk 4 (afternoon) : 'From the 'Change' goes westwards via Pepys' experiences of Guildhall and Cheapside and onwards to The Old Bailey and Pepys' place of baptism The Wedding Cake church in Fleet Street.
Friday 5 September
Monument for morning tours
Royal Exchange for afternoon tours London EC3R 8AH
Two morning tours from the Great Fire of London Monument will leave at intervals between 10.00 and 10.22.Two afternoon tours from the Royal Exchange will leave at intervals between 14.00 and 14.22.
All tickets £20 + booking fee. Tickets include a £5 discount at Engel to be used on the day. Proceeds to the Lord Mayor's Appeal.
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