London Sovereign Grounded Pilgrimage (Vivobarefoot x British Pilgrimage Trust)

Walk the Sovereign Line with BPT's Guy Hayward

We take a fresh urban approach to the ancient art of pilgrimage. It really is the most surprisingly impactful day – many pilgrims have been stunned by the pilgrim riches that London offers.

What others have said

Ruby Wax: 'the real thing...earth-shatteringly interesting'!
The Times, Porter.com, London Real (3-min video). Listen to podcast with Rupert Sheldrake and Mark Vernon speaking about this experience.

The Sovereign Line

‍With British Pilgrimage Trust Director Guy Hayward singing London songs along the way, you will delve into the heart of England’s history in the modern city, and be introduced to ways of grounding your bodies even within the urban spaces of London.

From the early 14th century until the reign of Charles II, a procession would be led for each coronation along this ancient way from the Tower to Westminster Abbey. The 5-mile route passes through the Temple Bar portal between the commercial City of London and the political and priestly City of Westminster. There are many beautiful historic churches, places of sanctuary and peace, as well as holy wells, ancient stones and a Roman Temple. The concentration of pilgrim places is particularly high in the City of London, where the churches are only open on weekdays.

We will arrive at Westminster Abbey around 4.30pm in order for those that want to experience Choral Evensong from 5.00-5.45pm (a genuinely world-class 45-mins of music, as heard during the Coronation last May).

Take in relics of an old mythic enchantment, when London was thought to be the New Troy, and Westminster Abbey was the holy of holies.

For a more detailed written introduction to what you will experience, look here.

‍Grounding the Day

‍We are proud to announce a partnership with Vivobarefoot to launch the first fully-conductive Grounded Vivobarefoot shoe: “The Pilgrim”. With your ticket you will automatically register to possibly be gifted a pair of these new shoes to walk in. The Vivobarefoot Pilgrim shoe, as well as being a Wide, Thin & Flexible barefoot design bringing you closer to the earth and natural movement, will provide a further grounding by conducting your body's electrons straight into the ground. Several health benefits are associated with grounding, such as stress reduction, anti-inflammatory, sleep improvement and gut health. Including this event, a series of pilgrimages will be held to celebrate the launch of this exciting next step for Vivobarefoot, starting with an exclusive event in Broughton Sanctuary on Fri 3- Tue 7 May, with Avebury on June 2nd and Glastonbury on June 9th.

This Pilgrimage will include:

‍New ways of meeting old pilgrim places (bring your own beliefs...)
- London folk songs on the path
- Many layers of mythology, history and story of London
- Opportunities for silence and musical rapture.
- Meeting the sacred layer of London, in addition to its residential, commercial or industrial status.

FAQ’s

What does my ticket include? A fully-guided day and £10 donation shared between the churches and holy spring we will visit.

Why on a weekday? the pilgrim places are open during the week but not at the weekend.

Who can come? Anyone over 18 (or under 18 with parental guidance, bearing in mind the walking distance).

What to bring? Appropriate London clothes and shoes (and also bring an open mind around barefoot shoes!); Waterproofs or Umbrella (optional); Waterbottle.

Is this religious? All and no-faiths are equally welcome. We operate a “Bring Your Own Beliefs” policy. We ask that all participating pilgrims tolerate one another, whatever their beliefs.

Will I be asked to share my feelings with the group? We like to keep things light and breezy, so there will be no group emotional sharing moments. If you want to share your feelings in personal conversation when walking with others that is up to you, but certainly not compulsory.

Are there fitness limitations? Pilgrimage is moderately intense. If you struggle to walk all day, this type of pilgrimage may be an unsuitable activity for you right now. There are always plenty of escape points en route. But we will walk slowly, and start early, and five miles is a very manageable distance for the majority of people. Unfortunately this pilgrimage is not suited for mobility-impaired people or those requiring wheelchair access.

Can I bring my dog? Sadly not - we can’t accommodate dogs on our guided pilgrimages. However, if you have a registered assistance dog, they are welcome.

What does my money go towards? The British Pilgrimage Trust is a charity, and profits raised from this limited space event will enable the team to make it possible for everyone, of all means, to make pilgrimage themselves. For more details about our charitable activities, please read the 'About Us' section of this website. We will also distribute £10 of the ticket price to local organisations from whom we have benefitted along the path.

If you would like to make a donation towards a ticket for someone on low income click here.

We hope to see you on the path.

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