When people think of “Shakespeare’s London,” their minds immediately go to the thatched roof of the Globe on the Southbank. While the Globe is a magnificent reconstruction, it isn’t actually where the Bard lived, worked, or spent his daily life.
To find the “real” William Shakespeare, you have to cross the Thames into the City of London. Here are three hidden gems where you can stand in the footsteps of the world’s greatest playwright, without the tourist crowds.
1. Silver Street: Standing Where He Wrote ‘Othello’
While we know very little about Shakespeare’s private life, we know exactly where he was living in 1604: Silver Street (near modern-day Barbican). Shakespeare was a lodger here with a French Huguenot family named the Mountjoys.
- The History: This wasn’t just a place to sleep; it was a place of inspiration. The Mountjoys were makers of luxury headpieces, and it’s believed their household gave Shakespeare the “insider info” on French culture used in Henry V.
- What to see today: While the Great Fire and the Blitz took the original house, a commemorative plaque on Noble Street marks the spot. Looking out over the ruins of the Roman Wall nearby, you get a sense of the ancient, cramped City Shakespeare knew.
2. Playhouse Yard: The ‘Winter’ Theatre at Blackfriars
Most fans don’t realize that for half the year, the Globe was too cold for performances. In the winter, Shakespeare’s company moved to a far more exclusive, indoor venue: the Blackfriars Theatre.
- The History: Unlike the rowdy, open-air Globe, Blackfriars was a “private” theatre with higher ticket prices, candlelight, and an indoor stage. Shakespeare specifically wrote his later “romance” plays—like The Winter’s Tale and The Tempest—to take advantage of this intimate, indoor atmosphere.
- What to see today: Tucked away behind the Blackfriars pub is Playhouse Yard. Standing in this quiet square, you are standing on the foundations of the theatre where Shakespeare performed for the elite of Jacobean London.
3. St. Mary Aldermanbury: The Men Who Saved Shakespeare
This is perhaps the most moving site in the City. Shakespeare died in 1616, but half of his plays (including Macbeth and Julius Caesar) had never been published. If it weren’t for two of his fellow actors, John Heminge and Henry Condell, those plays might have been lost forever.
- The History: Heminge and Condell were churchwardens at St. Mary Aldermanbury. Seven years after William’s death, they gathered his scripts and published the First Folio.
- What to see today: The church was destroyed in the Blitz, but its beautiful garden remains. In the center stands a memorial topped with a bust of Shakespeare, dedicated to the two friends who “gave us the Bard.” It is one of the most peaceful spots in the Square Mile.
See the “Bard’s City” for Yourself
Reading about these locations is one thing, but standing on the very cobbles where the King’s Men walked is another.
If you want to skip the gift shops of Bankside and discover the secret history of the man behind the plays, join us on our Shakespeare London walking tour Led by professional actors, we bring the streets of Silver Street and Blackfriars back to life with the words of the Bard himself.
