Chequer Street Wooden Paving
when london's streets were paved with wood
A rare surviving patch of the wooden block paving that once muffled the roar of horse-drawn London.
Free to visit · City of London · Old Street · EC1Y 8PT
Opening: Viewable any time
Before tarmac, many of London's busiest streets were surfaced not with stone but with thousands of small wooden blocks, set on end like cobbles. The timber muffled the deafening clatter of iron-shod hooves and cartwheels, a real boon on streets outside hospitals, churches and grand homes where quiet mattered.
Almost all were torn up long ago, but a few rare patches survive, including one near Chequer Street, often tucked in a yard or doorway. It is free to find, a humble and easily missed relic of the noisy, horse-powered city, and a reminder of just how different London once sounded.
Getting there: Around Chequer Street near the Barbican, a short walk from Old Street station.
Best time to go: Daytime, on a curiosity walk near Old Street.
Insider tip: Look in sheltered spots like archways and yards where the old wood blocks were protected from wear. Once you know they exist, you may spot other surviving patches preserved around the City and beyond.
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide