Shakespeare's London

Self-guided walk

This trail will help bring Shakespeare to life, helping you understand how he lived, the people and important landmarks that contributed to his life.

William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, but spent the greatest part of his life in London. Much of his time in the capital was spent living and working in the City of London (north of the River Thames).

Along the route, you'll discover many fascinating traces of Shakespeare's life and legacy such as the site of the only home he owned in London. You'll also see the site of the Blackfriars Playhouse theatre and a magnificent memorial to two of Shakespeare's fellow actors. To get a complete sense of Shakespeare's life, you have to cross the river to Southwark, where the most famous of his theatres, the Globe once stood. The walk finishes at the new Shakespeare's Globe.