Follow London's St Olav Way: a guided poetry pilgrimage exploring the life, legacy and sacred places of St Olaf in the City.

St Olave Poetry Pilgrimage through the City of London

Saturday 10th October 2026 from 3pm-4.30pm

Join us for a unique poetry pilgrimage through the heart of the City of London, following the footsteps of St Olaf —the Viking warrior who became a saint and whose story is woven into London's own history.

Beginning at St Olave Hart Street, we will journey between ancient churches, Roman walls, hidden streets and the Thames, pausing to hear newly commissioned poems, written especially for this pilgrimage and read by some of the poets who created them. Each poem will invite us to see the City anew.

Among the highlights are:

St Olave Hart Street – discover Olaf's extraordinary transformation from warrior to saint, surrounded by centuries of art, prayer and healing dedicated to his memory.

The Roman Wall and All Hallows by the Tower – stand beside remains that Olaf himself would have known, and encounter one of the few surviving Anglo-Saxon doorways from his lifetime.

London Bridge and St Magnus the Martyr – explore the dramatic story of Olaf's legendary assault on London Bridge, remembered in saga and tradition for over a thousand years.

The lost churches of St Olave – uncover the forgotten stories of St Olave's Old Jewry and St Olave Silver Street, reminders of how deeply the saint's name was once woven into London's streets.

St Paul's Cathedral – reflect on the endurance of Christian witness from the Saxon age to the present in one of the world's great churches.

Along the way, the pilgrimage will explore themes of courage, conversion, healing, kingship, peace and pilgrimage itself, connecting scripture, history and contemporary poetry.

Whether you come as a lover of poetry, history, London, or simply in search of a reflective afternoon, this is an opportunity to experience the City in a new way and to rediscover the remarkable legacy of England's Viking saint.

Description supplied by the event organiser.