In September 1666 the Great Fire of London swept through the City. 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.

Pepys Day is on Friday, September 4th with all net proceeds going to the Lady Mayors Appeal. 

The tours, hosted by the CLGLA, and led by fully qualified City of London guides, are scheduled to start every 10 minutes from 12.00, with five heading east and five heading west from the City Information Centre, at St Pauls. This will give all guests the opportunity to enjoy the spectacle of the Temple Bar gates being opened at 11.00 and then proceed on their Pepys Tour.

Pepys Day 2026 – guided tours

In September 1666 the Great Fire of London swept through the City. 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 September 6th and we are marking this as Pepys Day.

There is so much more to Samuel Pepys and his Diary than that one fateful week in September. His diary covers just over nine years and the tours, with an official City of London Guide, 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.

There are ten walks across two different itineraries. They start at 12.00, one walk heads east from the City Information Centre, the other heads west.

Tickets cost £15.00 plus booking fee, and the event supports the Lord Mayors Appeal

Book your tickets at PEPYS DAY

Image (c) National Portrait Gallery