We did not go anywhere in particular today and yet we went to lots of places, all without any fixed plan, just turning here and there as we felt like it.

Myddelton’s deli

We started with coffee at the deli, sitting in the sun at the table immediately to the left of the shop door.

Spa Fields

We walked past Spa Fields Park and even though it looked inviting, we didn’t go in.

What follows is a random selection of photos taken here and there with no sense of an itinerary.

No longer a shop

The “corner shop”, usually run by a family living on the premises, used to be found in every neighbourhood and was well used by the neighbours. But since the mid-20th century they have been closing down, often transformed with greater or lesser alterations into dwellings.

Boys’ entrance no longer

This complex site comprises an early 20th-century school and a collection of subsidiary buildings. This door bears the word “BOYS” but the letterbox shows that is no longer a school entrance but the door to a dwelling.

Sans Walk

This narrow street, Sans Walk, with a pavement wide enough for only one person was named in 1893 after a local family called Sans, but why they were so honoured I do not know.

Hugh Myddelton Schools

This handsome early 20th-century school, probably commissioned by the London School Board though the latter’s name does not appear in it, displays the name “Hugh Myddelton Schools”. The sign, however, calls it “Kingsway Place”, showing that it is now an apartment block.

St James’s Walk

Another narrow street, pleasantly quiet, this one is called St James’s Walk, not because St James ever strolled here but because…

Church of St James Clerkenwell

…beside it stands the Church of St James Clerkenwell. The present church was built in 1792 (restored 1882) but its history goes back to a 12th-century nunnery.

Hayward’s Place

This intriguing street – or passage – is called Hayward’s Place and was built, as a plaque informs us, in 1834. Two centuries before it was build, the Red Bull Theatre (1605-65) was sited hereabouts. The present name derives from James Hayward (1701-1851), an ironmonger who, I believe, owned some of the houses.

Decorated façade

We entered Brewhouse Yard where this building displays an unusual and slightly startling decorated façade.

The Old Brewery

Still present is the old brewery. I was pleased to see that the clock was showing the correct time.

Modern monstrosity

Why do modern architects build such monstrously ugly buildings and why do their customers let them do so?

Can we go out this way?

After several more turns, I was no longer sure where we were but Tigger of course knew. Finding ourselves in this passage, we wondered whether there was a way out. There was and, going through it, we found ourselves in…

Clerkenwell Road

…Clerkenwell Road and I now again knew where we were.

People’s Choice Cafe

We turned right into Goswell Road and saw the People’s Choice Cafe. As it was, or could be, lunchtime, we went and had lunch.

Entering the Barbican

When we emerged, it was spitting with rain which suggested we go in somewhere. Quite close was the Barbican Estate and within it, the Museum of London. (The museum is soon to move to a new site in Smithfield Market.) So thither we went.

The Barbican – a complex site

The Barbican is a complex site, with private and public areas and it is easy to become lost – unless, of course, you have a Tigger with you, in which case you will be led safely to your destination!

Varied views

As you follow the walkways, you see a series of varied views and it’s hard to form a picture of the whole. In fact, for me, this feeling of wandering through an ever-changing landscape, not sure where I am or where I’m going, is part of the pleasure.

Residents’ Gardens

There are also tantalising glimpses of gardens but these are for residents only and are not accessible to the public.

Ironmongers’ Hall

As we approach the museum, I always look out for Ironmongers’ Hall. The Company of Ironmongers is one of London’s anciently established livery companies. The Barbican seems to have grown around their pre-existing hall. Quite how this all fits together I do not know.

Museum shop

There were “events” going on around the museum and crowds of people but we went straight in and started by visiting the museum shop. There are a lot of interesting items there though we did not buy anything this time.

The Museum Cafe

We next visited the museum cafe. I grabbed a table, nicely sited in a corner, while Tigger went to the counter.

Tea, coffee and banana cake

We spent a pleasant while in our corner with the drinks and banana cake chosen by Tigger.

Sunken garden

In the way out from the museum we pass this little garden lying below the level of the walkway. It is not open to the public.

St Botolphe without Aldersgate

This unusual-looking church is known as St Botolphe without Aldersgate, meaning that it was built just outside the city gate. The present church is as it was rebuilt in 1788-91.

Towards St Paul’s Cathedral

We continued down the street towards St Paul’s where we intended to catch a bus home.

St Paul’s from Queen’s Head Passage

Walking along Queen’s Head Passage gives us this dramatic glimpse of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Aboard the 4

At a stop near the St Paul’s we caught a number 4 bus which carried us back to the Angel and home.