Commuting to work in London is one of the best times to people watch. There are at least half a dozen walking tours taking place, the guides sharing their knowledge to travelers that have yet to discover all that the city has to offer. Though Londoners might be jaded by the city they call home, having lost the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed enthusiasm that all tourists have, Insider London’s Modern Architecture tour could be something to reawaken that inner spark and one of the most surprising things to do in London. Yes, I know what is running through most people’s minds: “Is there really such a thing as a history of modern architecture? Especially in a place like London?”

The answer is – of course – yes! There was a recent announcement that the restaurant located on top of the post office tower (aka the BT Tower) is being reopened for the public. Despite the relatively young age of the building, there is already nostalgia associated with it! Below is a sneak preview of some interesting architectural tours that attempt to celebrate the spirit and pride of London.

There is usually a good mix of people from varying backgrounds that partake in these tours – ranging from journalists and other business men from London to tourists and other visitors who wish to soak up the culture and learn about the area.

The great thing about tours – especially walking tours – is the sheer amount of knowledge that can be absorbed in one outing. The chance to stroll through the streets one usually sees in the movies, and witness firsthand all the major buildings and monuments learned about in school or mentioned on the news. On these tours, one can learn any range of information, from why there are no high rise buildings within the vicinity of St. Paul’s Cathedral, or how the cocoa mill behind the Tate Museum was recently converted to posh residences. Gain insight to why the Millennium Bridge wobbled and how it was repaired, and have a chance to see the Blue Fin building; learn how the Tate Modern will have much more space than its original and historical counterpart, Tate Britain; hear the story behind Will Alsop’s award-winning Palestra office building, featuring high-tech and futuristic pods that house the London Development Agency themselves.

Awareness of the basic facts behind the buildings isn’t all these tours have to offer – they allow participants to gain a fuller understanding of the diversity and history that make up English culture, and why various buildings in London are built as they are. For example, the Paternoster Square, adjacent to St. Paul’s, is known for its patchwork-like architecture, and was created just so because of a contest among various architects to design the space - but there was no winner. So instead, various parts of the square were designed in accordance to many architects’ designs!

The tour guide, Lisa, is very knowledgeable – in fact, she’s a qualified architect who practiced in Canada for several years before coming to London. She was aware of even some of the most trivial details of the architecture field, like the signature styles of famous architects! One of the main things I took away from this tour was how eco-friendliness is fast becoming the new mantra for architects worldwide. Other interesting things I learned were some jargon from the industry (though they mean the same as they do in layman’s terms, so I suppose they don’t count too much), and that new buildings designs are now taking into account the possibility to offer public roof access or include terrace gardens.

The only thing to be aware of before signing up for this kind of activity is that it usually involves walking around the city for about four hours, so it would be advisable to bring a drink or some snacks to munch on during the tour.

Architectural tours are new concept to London, but there are a few options that are available, such as the Modern architecture tour . Although London does not currently offer a wide range of architecture tours in comparison to other major cities, like Chicago (where the Chicago Architecture Foundation offers a numerous amount of tours to choose from), there is fast emerging a new breed of tour guides in London who have built unique products like Quirky London – Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square, Shopping – Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane, and Street Art – Shoreditch and Brick Lane.