Catch your History Tour. Our Guide leads through streets and parks of London – and plenty of free walking tours
King’s Cross Guided Walk
This is a guided walk of contrasts, from the old to the right now. King’s Cross station in London is an area still a work in progress. Your history tour guide will lead you through Georgian side streets and beautiful crescent, sharing stories of literary greats such as Charles Dickens and Poet Laureate John Betjeman among others.
Meet at Euston before embarking on a 90 minute tour exploring the hidden histories of the area of King’s Cross including an iconic hotel, station and a library. For a Guide, contact London Guided Walks
Oliver Twist Walk in 1837
Victorian London was a dangerous place especially after dark. This walk follows the footsteps of Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger on their final leg of their journey through London to reach Fagin’s lair as described in Charles Dickens’ book Oliver Twist.
“Please sir, I want some more”. The phrase comes from Oliver. Learn what they would have seen in 1837, heard and smelt as they headed into the depths of a London slum, to Fagin’s lair. Stealth is a skill necessary for survival in London’s underworld.
Suitable for all age groups. Start: Angel Tube Station. End: Farringdon Station. Duration: 90 mins
Royal Greenwich History Tour
The Greenwich Tour Guide Association offers a daily programme of guided walks through Greenwich with local experts. The company’s Royal Greenwich Meridian Walk is a leisurely tour through Greenwich Park, London’s oldest Royal Park and a favourite of King Henry VIII. Walkers later visit the spot where international time begins at the park’s Royal Observatory, before ending their walk in Greenwich town. The Greenwich Tour Guide Association also offer historical walks on the local areas’ maritime and military history, as well as the history of Greenwich riverside. These 90-minute guided tours make for a relaxing afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of central London and are available throughout the year. National Maritime Museum is one of several free things in London
Royal Parks and Gardens
The royal London includes many parks and gardens. Walk London’s self-guided tour through central London focuses on the history tour of the city’s royalty by exploring its Royal Parks and gardens. Beginning at St James’ Park, the walk follows in the footsteps of past and present kings and queens as it passes many of London’s prestigious royal palaces, households and landmarks. Taking just under one hour, this walk ends at the Italian Water Gardens. St James’s Park, London, SW1A 2BJ, UK
The London Wall Walk
This one follows the course of the old City wall of the City of London. It´s marked by wall plaques with pictures and text, and is a self-guided Walking Tour. This London Wall Walk tells an interesting history. You can walk in either direction, but we recommend starting at the beginning, at the Tower of London rather than the end near the Museum of London. You can actually see remnants of the London Wall within the Tower of London.
Plaque #1 is located near the introductory plaque at the subway between the Tower of London and Tower Hill tube station. You can see it at the Postern Gate.
End Museum of London. After the plaque #21, you’ve reached the official end of the London Wall Walk. If you so choose, you can head to the Museum of London afterward to see the exhibition Roman London.
Bizarre History Tour of London
The best sort of London history Walks alchemy What you conjure up when you mix off-the-beaten-path-London with history and tours. Here be knights, nuns and notoriety: an urban enchanted forest in the expurgated version. Fasten your seatbelts. Guided by Sue.
Meet; Tower Hill underground station, London (meet by the Tower Hill Tram coffee stand)
More info at Walks
Sherlock Holmes Walking Tour
This another way of seeing the city from a fresh perspective, while celebrating one of the UK’s most famous literary creations. The two-hour trip visits the locations that inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s great private detective. The adventure of Sherlock Holmes history tour begins in the place where Holmes and Dr Watson meet for the first time outside Granaio restaurant at Piccadilly Circus, before heading out on an elementary trip. The Sherlock Holmes museum is located to 221 Baker Street.
When: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
Meet: Outside the “Savini at Criterion” restaurant at Piccadilly Circus
Finish: Somerset House on The Strand
London liars tour
Liars’ tours are fun guided London walks involving prizes, forfeits and deceptions. At each stop, alongside some entertaining London stories, members of the tour read out two prepared scripts. One of these is true, the other a highly plausible lie. The audience must decide which is which and, whilst those who spot the true story get a nice token. These interactive London walking tours are great for work groups, team building and those interested in a more involved experience. More info London Street Tours
Harry Potter Tours
Perfect for families, these wizarding tours of London seek out locations from the eight movies. One tour explores the City of London, home to Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron. Another will leave you spellbound in Westminster, where you’ll discover the entrance to the Ministry of Magic. Muggles are welcome. City tours run every Wednesday from Temple tube station, 6.30pm, Westminster tours run on Saturdays from Westminster tube station, at 2pm, adults £8, children £3, free for under-8s. Walks invite you to the world of Harry Potter. Making of Harry Potter is a Warner Bros. Studio Tour.
London bombing history tour
On this history tour, you walk from place to place where the most devastating bombs struck London during the war WW2. Explore The Blitz statistic for local areas.
World War 2. Night after night, German bombers attacked British cities, ports and industrial areas. London was bombed every day and night for 11 weeks. One third of London was destroyed. German bombers dropped 503 tons of high explosive and 30,000 incendiary bombs on the city.
An interactive map showing the location of bombs dropped on London during World War II. It reveals the devastation caused by the Blitz over eight months. The website and android app also allow people to find out the types of bombs that fell.
Memories and pictures
The Bomb Sight project is mapping the London WW2 bomb census between 7th October 1940 and 6th June 1941. They will be able to explore where the bombs fell and to discover memories and photographs from the period.
Bombs rained down on St Paul’s Cathedral, which Prime Minister Winston Churchill said should be protected at all costs. Volunteer firewatchers patrolled the cathedral’s corridors, using sandbags and water pumps to douse the flames.
Mark Oakley, treasurer at St Paul’s Cathedral, said although made of stone, the cathedral also had a large amount of timber. The cathedral did suffer bomb damage but thankfully managed to remain a focus and encouragement to Londoners in their resistance to fascism.
“We must not forget Lieutenant Davies and Sapper Wyllie who removed an 8ft bomb from 27ft in the ground next to the cathedral without being able to defuse it. They drove the bomb to Hackney Marshes where it exploded and made a crater 100 feet in diameter. Such bravery is humbling for those of us who take too much for granted.”
Follow the WW2 London Map
More London Walks: Endless and Surprising
