The Ultimate Walking Tour of Charing Cross Train Station
*ONE DAY ONLY - Saturday 12th April*
Charing Cross - Where even God's make their daily commute!
Over 4 million people walk through Charing Cross Train
Station every year…… But have you ever stopped to look around?
Award Winning London Detours has teamed up with Network Rail & South-Eastern
Trains for a one off walking tour experience of Charing Cross Train Station!
The historical terminal is celebrating its 150th anniversary this
year and has many activities spread across a fantastic day of exploring its
stories of past and present.
On Saturday 12th April, London Detours will be leading 1
hour tours around the station throughout the day to seek out its extraordinary
past and immense history. The walking tour will delve into all corners of the
station to unearth stories of a peculiar nature. Starting with the construction
of the building and it’s foundations, we learn of Celebrity Haunts, Grade Listed
Sheds, World War Bombings & Dead Bodies left in Suitcases!
And
for the railway fanatics we have Trains Trains Trains Galore!
Charing Cross back in the day!
Come join us at the centre of London to explore a Charing
Cross that you never knew existed!
The ‘X Marks the Spot Walking Tour’ costs £10.00 per person and for every person that books London Detours will donate £1.50 of that money to Demelza, Kent Air Ambalance and CLIC.
Please see below for tour times:
11:00-12:15
13:15-14:30
15:30-16:45
17:45-19:00
To book a place on a tour please email info@londondetours.com with what time
slot you would like and the size of your group. We will then send through all
the details for the day.
If you have any questions or would like more
information then do not hesitate to get in touch.
I know, I know. It’s been a while since I’ve written on the blog. But it’s been a busy couple of months for London Detours. And now that Christmas is well on it’s way I thought I’d better fit in a cool little article on an amazing and creative street artist who has been spreading his way across the Capital.
I first came across Clet Abraham a couple of years ago while leading tours in Westminster. The street art was scattered over Covent Garden & Soho. It’s not always easy to find, but once you find one then you can’t stop looking!
Abraham’s use of creativity & use of environment is incredible. Have a look below at my ever expanding collection...
1. London Bridge Train Station
2. Covent Garden
3. The Shard, Borough
4. The Walkie Talkie, Fenchurch St
5. The Shard, Borough
6. Union St, Southwark
7. Spitalsfields
8. Union St, Southwark
9. Union St, Southwark
10. Seven Dials
11. Spitalsfields
12. Brick Lane
13. Brick Lane
Some amazing pieces of creativity. If anybody finds anymore Clet Abraham gems then please upload to www.facebook.com/londondetours
And of course, to book a walking tour or to purchase gift vouchers then please visit www.londondetours.com
Yeah Yeah I know, it's now feburary. I've been busy. So... Happy Valentine's Day!
And what an interesting blog to do with you're loved one. With our Greenwich Detour now up & running for 2013 why not go and explore Greenwich Park and find out the secrets that it holds.....
Queen Elizabeth's Oak
I know what your thinking.... Is that it! But to be fair the tree does date back to the 12th Century. It's history is immense, with Queen Elizabeth known for picknicking under the tree and her parents Henry VIII & Anne Boylen having a dance around the trunk. The tree was also hollow and was known to be a place to lock up badly behaved park users. Unfortunately the Oak eventually fell down in the early 1990's.
The Green Parakeets
These birds have been spotted in the South East of the country for quite some years now. They seem to have taste as quite a few of them have set up camp in Greenwich Park. So where did they come from? Loads of stories of their origin. Did they escape from a studio while filming 'The African Queen'? Did they escape a local zoo after the hurricane of 1987? Or was it Jimi Hendrix releasing them into the wild as a sign of peace? Wherever they came from they are now residents in the park, go find them....
Plus, why not also visit the Deer! They live and wander in a secluded part of the park.
The Meridian Line
Greenwich Park is home to the Prime Merdian of the World (Longitude 0` 0` 0") based at the Royal Observatory. It is all very complicated when trying to explain about the Merdian Line, but what is really cool is that you can stand on both the Western & Eastern Hemisphere. Look at the photo, I'm showing you how to do it! For more info on the technical stuff to do with the Prime Merdian then visit the website below, they do a better job at explaining it than I do! http://www.rmg.co.uk/about/history/royal-observatory/
Roman Remains
WOW!!!! This can be found in Greenwich Park??? Erm, well yes and no. This photo is a reconstruction of what the Roman Temple would of looked like when it stood in AD43-AD410.
The temple would of been used by travellers and the community for a place of worship. Tony Robinson & Time Team have had a dig of the area and over the decades 300 coins have been found as well as marble tablets, stone inscriptions and parts of statues. Of course thats not an excuse to go and start digging up the park. The below photo is what you can find today....
Oooooo Roman Remains!
The Blackheath Cavern
I love Blackheath. It's right next door to the north of Greenwich park and is famous for it's open heath area (hence the name). Everyone in the area uses the heath from dogwalkers, kite flyers and sporty folk. But how much do they know about what lies beneath the heath! (Excuse the rhyme).
First of all, Let's get the urban myths out the way. There are no plague victims under Blackheath. The area supposdly got it's name from victims of the Black Death in the 1300's being buried in the area. This is not true. 'The Black Death' was a title that was coined by the Victorians and no bodies have ever been found under Blackheath.
Another good reason for the myth not being true is for the numerous caverns and tunnels that are located under the heath.
The Cavern in 1833
We have known about the cavern since the late 1700's but believe they were built from around the 15th Century. So what were they uesd for? They were chalk mines mainly but the Victorians used it as a tourist attraction & a bar was installed for naughty evening parties until it was finally closed. The caverns were re opened in the 1940's with the idea of it being an air raid shelter for the area, however, they went against the idea. And I dont blame them considering in 2002 part of the A2 collapsed because of the tunnels underneath.
There are also numerous tunnels under Greenwich Park which were built by the Victorians. All are closed off to the public which is a shame but watch your footing, you never know, one slip and you could be have a Goonies adventure looking for One Eyed Willy!
Cavern FAIL!
Queen Caroline's Bath
This little gem can be found in the top part of Greenwich Park where Montague House once stood from 1798-1813. It's the only remaining part of the building that was once owned by Queen Caroline the estranged wife of George IV. Caroline was notorious for having private parties and entertained many a Navy man, starting rumours of an illegitimate child and adulterous going's on. Who knows what happened, but she left the country in 1814 and the house was soon demolished. You could say, they washed their hands of her! (Terrible I know).
So these are just a few secrets of Greenwich Park and the surrounding area. Let me know your thoughts or if you have any secrets yourself (of Greenwich).
Well, 2012 is nearly behind us. And what a year it has been, Queen's Jubilee, Olympics, Boris Johnson hanging around and Paul McCartney having every opportunity to sing 'Hey Jude'.
This year has also been successful for London Detours. We have been achieving what we set out to do, providing walking tours of London showcasing everything that the Capital has to offer. Not only that, but appearing in TimeOut Magazine & the Londonist for our epic fundraising event, The 24 Hour London Tour.
But enough bragging, lets move onto what really took your interest to click onto this page. The Street Art of Southwark. I've wanted to write about this subject for a while, and in someways I'm glad I've left it until now. For the past 6 months Borough Market and the surrounding area has been the new hunting ground for some of the countries leading Street Artists. And I bet you didnt even know they were there........
Have a ganders below to see my favourite Street Artists hitting the area, you never know, we might even start doing a 'Street Art Detour - Southside'! I'm already thinking out a route!
XYLO - The South American Street Artist has decorated the walls of Borough Market with his trademark 'Gold Frog' tile. The frog represents the species of animals becoming extinct in the rainforests of South America due to the cutting down of trees & pollution. (Notice in the background his other well known symbol of a circle with an egg timer in the middle).
MARLARKY - The carnival colours of this British born artist needs to be seen. Not that you would miss it. This is just half of the art work covering the shop shutters of Borough. Marlarky always uses the images of cats, bats and foxes in his artwork, animals that come out at night, just the same as this skillful artist. (Notice the cat tucking into a banana, makes sense as the shop is a greengrocers. Marlarky using his environment to bring the artwork to life).
GOLD PEG - This female artist is a big part of Bristol Based Burning Candy Crew. Known mainly for hitting the railway lines around the London Bridge area Gold Peg tags the rooftops with paint sprayed clothes pegs (Some can be seen near Borough Market). This message in itself represents her rebellious side but also making a statement to others that she can reach places that others cant.
BANKSY? - This stencil is sprayed on the building which was used in Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels. But is it a Banksy? This is a well known Banksy Stencil but is it a copy cat? The stencil popped up over a year ago and I'm surprised its still there but with no offical word from Banksy and his team the chances are it's the work of a 12 year old kid following in his hero's footsteps. Oh well, it made it in my blog so some coverage I suppose. To make up for the fake, take a 5min walk down the same street towards The Globe and you will find Lorettos feelings on this years Olympics.
SHOK1 - Take a trip up to Borough Tube Station and you cant miss the work of SHOK1, this street artist has been changing the walls of this area for over a year and gets locals and visitors turning heads with his huge art pieces that take over the shop shutters and walls. Even the newspaper booth right outside the entrance of the tube station is covered in his detailed imagination.
NATHAN BOWEN - Nathan came into the mainstream after his work was showcased on this year's 'The Apprentice', but this artist has been around for some time scribbling the construction sites of the Capital. Famous for his marker pen builders, a few still remain opposite The Hop Exchange in Southwark. Nathan is a proud Londoner and a ex builder who now makes his living from selling his crazy marker pen canvases and was recently comissioned by Borough Market to paint Mural Market Scenes while building work was carried out in the area.
STIK - I've always been a fan of STIK's work. This artist is a rags to riches story, as a homeless man living on the streets of London, STIK was inspired by drawing stick people. Making something that is non-creative and mundane into a story with emotion and feeling. STIK can usually be spotted in East London covering the walls with his giant STIK people but this one can be found just off Tooley Street near London Bridge. It's a difficult one to seek out but if you do find it then you will drawn in by the image of a stick man lost in an area of vast storage space and dark corners. Interesting and clever.
So, there we have it, a selection of just some of the Street Art taking to the walls of Southwark. All that walking around can be thirsty work so a visit to The Miller Pub maybe needed. And of course it wont disappoint. The pub is covered in Street Art and the inside is just as fun. Even the condom machine in the Men's toilet has it's own graffiti of interest:
Merry Christmas Everyone and look forward to seeing you all on future Detours.
'If You're Going Through Hell, Keep Going' ~ Sir Winston Churchill
So, it's taken me quite a while to getting around to writing this post. The past few weeks have been hectic with running tours, creating upcoming new tours and organising future events. But now I have found the time to sit down and write my experience of the 24 Hour walking tour that I completed. I hope you enjoy the blog, and any comments then please leave below. It's always lovely to get people's opinions and thoughts.
On Saturday 25th August 2012 I took on the challenge of a lifetime and a guided walking tour of London for 24 hours. The epic tour was split into 5 smaller tours covering subjects from Street Art, History, Culture, Ghost Stories & all Things London. All money raised for this event was donated to The Rob Knox Foundation that helps campaign against street violence and knife crime. www.robknox.org
I came up with the idea of a 24 hour tour of London a couple of years ago. People who know me will know I'm always coming up with strange & odd (but interesting ideas) all the time, this being one of my better ideas. My problem was I didn't put the idea into action. Instead I got on with establishing London Detours & put the 24 Hour Tour to the back of my head. The problem with putting something at the back of your head is that it never really goes away. It just sits there looking at you while you try your best to ignore it.
It started to grate on me. My head was saying "Just get on with it! Do the 24 Hour Thing! Do it Loser!". My brain is known for bullying me sometimes. However, I was a busy guy, I was setting up my own business and honestly didn't have the confidence, time or support to take on this challenge.
Then this happened.......
I was sitting in a pub with friends in Brixton just a few hours before the riots broke out in the South London area. I love London, and this just made me angry.
While sitting in the pub my friend gets a txt message, he lets us know that unfortunately someone has been stabbed in Brixton. We all look at each other, shrug are shoulders and say "That's a shame". Then we carry on drinking.
You see, me and my friends have grown up with this sort of thing happening all the time. Not always on our doorstep but always knowing of the street violence and stabbings that occur in the area. To us, it is an everyday occurrence.
It wasn't till a few days later that I thought about the way that I had reacted to someone being stabbed and the damage of the London Riots. This was wrong. I cant believe that the way that I responded was embedded in me. People had lost homes, People had lost businesses, People had lost lives.
And so, that idea that was sitting at the back of my head, the one who was calling me a loser, started to get bigger.....And Bigger.....AND BIGGER.
I don't see myself as a leader. I'm never going to be a politician or a councillor. I will never fight for my country or do anything to change the world.
But I will help others to reach those goals.
I set up London Detours to inspire and educate and now I was going to use my skills to lead a 24 Hour Tour of London for charity.
But where do I go from here? I have an idea, I have a reason to turn the idea into an action and I have the confidence. What I really needed was support and guidance, and the three following people I will be forever grateful. Thank you.
Some of the Map Planning for the 24 Hour Tour
Virginia Hyland (Good friend & someone who knows other people) put me in touch with Mick Wearing & Daniel Eycott of http://pixelformstudios.com/
These two guys have been a massive help with the completion of this challenge. Pixelform Studios are a production company that provide the best in video production. Both Mick & Dan were willing to give up there spare time to help plan and film this amazing event.
That's right! Film! We were now turning this challenge into a film!
It was all very daunting. I remember Mick saying to me that it's just like organising one big tour. That made me feel better. However, I found out quite quickly that wasn't the case.
The start of the 24 Hour Tour - Interview with BBC LONDON RADIO
And so the day didn't start well. I hadn't got much sleep the night before which I knew wasn't going to help with the 24 hours. But I couldn't help it, I was excited.... and incredibly nervous. Months of organising had come down to this day. And it could just all fall apart. I had many worries, mainly that no one would turn up, that would of been a huge disappointment. I had emailed, phoned past customers and annoyed my facebook/twitter followers for many weeks leading up to the day.
I arrive at Aldgate East Tube Station at 07.30am and find I'm the first person there. And of course it's raining. My worries are soon put to rest as my tour group start to turn up, just a few at first and then the whole lot, a group of 20! It's a big group to start with, but it's well worth it. The group were ready for the tour (more ready than me!). It was also great to be interviewed for BBC London Radio. I was overwhelmed with the support of everyone. So, I got the show on the road, starting with the amazing and creative street art of East London. I'm a huge fan of East London and it's artwork and it was honour to showcase the area. But I hadn't paced myself so well. In fact, within the first 30 mins I was already drinking water as my voice was already going. Brilliant! But the energy and excitement from the group was infectious. I had to calm down and get into a pace that was comfortable for me.
The Street Art Tour was coming to an end and I seemed to of got the walk and talk to a nice steady pace, it was a success. But, I had only completed 4 hours, there was a long way to go. The East London Tour started at Old Street Tube Station, and again, it was a nice group of people. We went straight into the second tour with no time for me to rest. This tour is a favourite of mine, it was great to have a walk down City Road towards Regents Canal and Hoxton. There is so much to explore and always something new to find, nothing was left out about East London and I had lots to talk about, from Jack the Ripper & The Krays to Banksy & The Blitz. Half way through the tour we stopped for good old fashioned Pie n Mash. This was a great time for my group to have a break. Me on the other hand kept busy with serving everyone's lunches and making sure that everyone was doing ok. It was at this point that the heavens opened and the rain poured down.
My mood changed completely. It felt that it was all ruined and my energy took a huge dip. This was the first time I wanted to stop (and it wouldn't be the last). I think what kept me going was knowing that these people had given up their weekend for a unique experience and I couldn't let them down. It was time not to see this as a problem but as an experience, and a good one at that! My group were surprisingly upbeat, and Mick from my support team bought a load of black sacks to wear. looking back it was one of my favourite images of the 24 hours. It showed everyone's persistence and interaction. Working together to try and stay dry. Plus, it was interesting to talk about the life of Shakespeare while standing in a council estate corridor!
The East London Tour finished at The Monument. I was starting to feel the pain mentally and physically, the rain wasn't as hard but it was still spitting and as I let one group go a knew one started to turn up. Groundhog Day springs to mind.
Before the Southwark Tour my energy was perked up by a visit from Sally Knox from The Rob Knox Foundation. Sally has been a great help and support with the 24 Hour Tour, she is an inspiration to everyone. She gave a talk at the beginning of the tour and it brought home what I was doing this for. I thank her for that. It gave me the strength to carry on, knowing the money we raise will help & educate others.
So, for the first time we go South of the River. Walking over London Bridge we took in the sights of Tower Bridge, Tower of London & HMS Belfast, making our way to City Hall. We stopped for a fun game at the longest water feature in London. I gave everyone a piece of paper, for which they had to make paper boats to sail down the stream. We were recreating the Boat Parade of the Queen's Jubilee. (And if I'm honest, Our Parade was better!)
Again, my energy started to take a dip but I hadn't eaten since 8am and it was now 8.30pm. So that could of been the reason. I gave my group a break at The George Inn Tavern while I quickly nipped out for two slices of pizza, (Not the best choice I know but on a Saturday night in London Bridge it was either that or a kebab!)
Southwark was buzzing with drinkers and people going out for dinner. However, for someone who had been walking for nearly 15 hours I saw the area in a different light. I was tired and wet. Noises and laughter were starting to annoy me and I just wanted it to be over with. The rest of the tour felt rushed. I wasn't happy.
City Tour (Graveyard Shift Part 1) - 23.00pm/04.00am
Oh dear, just writing this sentence is reminding me of the City Tour and how much this stretch of the 24 hours hurt. Alot.
This was never going to be my favourite part of the challenge.
However, I plodded on, walking back to the north of the river over the Wobbly Bridge towards St Paul's Cathedral. This tour was a difficult one, it was dark and cold and I hadn't been able to get dry from the down pour earlier on but yet again it was the group that kept me going. I had people from past tours giving me support plus some old friends. Seeing them all lifted my spirits but it didn't help me remember my route or information.
I had been going for so long that I had forgotten parts of the route and certain stories, plus, I had started slurring my words. I was starting to sound drunk! It was an interesting part of the challenge and I learnt alot about myself. To never give up and enjoy the experience (However mad and crazy it might be).
Westminster Tour (Graveyard Shift Part 2) - 04.00am/08.00am
And so the 24 Hours were nearly over. Just 4 hours to go. Starting at Charing Cross I met my group one by one. My friend had also brought some cereal bars with him which I took full advantage of. This was it, the end tour. That perked me up alot. Knowing it will be over in just 4 hours! I was excited and emotional. That was something else I noticed throughout the whole challenge, how much this meant to me. Every now and then I would get teary, knowing what I was doing would make a difference but also the fact that I had made it happened. I was proud of myself. And never felt that before.
The Westminster Tour is always the most popular of my day tours but at night it had its disadvantages. the usual places I would take people were closed off so the route took a different direction. However, I still talked about my most favourite people, Sir Winston Churchill, Samuel Pepys, Claude Duvall, Nelson, Charles II & Dickens. And of course visiting the places that make London's history, Trafalgar Sq, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey. The Olympics got in our a way slightly, we were unable to make it near Buckingham Palace due to the area being taken up for Beach Volleyball & the Cycling. But I was still able to talk about it from afar.
My favourite moment of this tour happened at sunrise by the side of the Thames.
I decided to make my mark on the challenge by writing down my feelings and details on a piece of paper which I then threw into the Thames. My idea behind this was that whoever finds the bottle will be inspired by the 24 Hour Tour and in turn will do something to make a difference. The bottle at this moment in time has not been found but I'm a big believer in it being found. Whether its next week, next year or 20 years. Someone, somewhere will find it.
While at Big Ben it tolls 7 O'clock and I know its nearly all over. I've never felt so much relief of knowing that I have completed something incredible and challenging. Yet, there's a problem, we have an hour left and we are 15 minutes away from the finish point. I start to panic, this comes across to the group and so I panic some more. I was not going to do just 23 hours and 15 minutes. I was in this for the whole thing. So, I decide to take a Detour, taking the side streets of Whitehall. I even talk about London buses for 20 minutes! Which is not easy! Seriously, try it now, bet you cant do it.
With 3 minutes to go I could see the finish point, right in front of Trafalgar Sq, the official centre of London. I was there. I had done it!
24 hours of a guided walking tour of London, covering 5 boroughs of the Capital with over 60 people.
I was happy. I was tired. I went to bed.
Thank you to all who came on the tour. You made it a special day.
Thank you to all who donated money. You made a difference.
Thank you to all who supported me. You inspired me.
Together we all raised £1,852.00 for The Rob Knox Foundation. But this isn't the end........ It's only just the beginning.
‘Come and join in & be part of the most compelling & creative charity event of 2012’
STREET ART – EAST LONDON – SOUTHWARK – CITY - WESTMINSTER
My name is Joe Morris and I am a London Tour Guide. I am about to embark on the challenge of a lifetime and I want you all to come along to join in.
This Summer on Saturday 25th August I will lead a guided walking tour of London for 24 hours. That’s 24 HOURS! Walking and talking for 24 HOURS!
Some people would say this was crazy, some people would say what's the point. For me, this is a great unique personal achievement that has never been done before. And not only that, its all for charity too! Plus, it could be a World Record! Plus, it's being filmed for a documentary!
All money raised for this fantastic project will go towards The Rob Knox Foundation; the Foundation raises money to help campaign against street violence and knife & gun crime. The Foundation also helps to advance the education in communities (in particular) school children on the subject of Citizenship. This is something I'm a big believer in and it is important for helping our communities grow in a positive way. For more info and to learn more visit www.robknox.co.uk
"I want to show people that we have a London that we can be proud of.
I want to show a London where people live, work and play.
I want to show a London that people love.
If we respect London, we respect our communities and we respect ourselves."
- Joe Morris
So, How Does the tour work?
Don’t worry; you don’t do the 24 Hours, that’s just me!
The 24 hours is split into 5 smaller tours which you can book yourself on to. The smaller tours last between 4.5-5 hours and cost £20.00 per person. Get booked up quickly as there are only 17 spaces on each tour. All money raised goes to The Rob Knox Foundation.
I will be working my way across London from East to West, starting with a Street Art Tour, then East London, a walk over the river to Southwark, followed by The City and then lastly Westminster. Within the tours you will find out everything that London has to offer, from its history, traditions, cultures and people. Also, showcasing the London that we live in today, from small charities & businesses, creativity in communities and local characters with local stories. And the great thing is, depending what tour you book, you see a different side to London, whether it’s the busy lunchtime rush, the lively evening out or the silent sunrise. London is a place for everyone & everything.
Which Tour should I choose?
There are 5 tours to choose from, have a look below for which one sounds right for you.
STREET ART – Meeting Point: Aldgate East Station 08.00am Finish Point: Old St Station 13.00pm
It's an early start, but what a great way to see East London, walking around the creative hub of the Capital looking at famous artwork and watching the city wake up and come alive. Over the past decades London has witnessed a creative revolution. Street Art has hit the Capital with colour and vibrancy, making it a hotbed for artists from all over the globe taking to the walls to express their emotions, feelings and opinions. In turn, making London one of the largest outdoor art galleries in the world. We start at Aldgate East with a quick history lesson in street art and why East London in particular is the cool place to be. We then start the adventure and hit the market areas of Petticoat Lane, Spitalsfield and Brick Lane. Delving into the side streets to seek out the leading Street Artists of Ben Eine, D*Face, Pablo Delgado, Banksy, Pez, ROA, Malarkey and many many more. We get to the heart of what Street Art is all about, looking into the questions of what is street art, is it creative and eye opening or just pointless vandalism?
EAST LONDON – Meeting Point: Old St Station 13.00pm Finish Point: Monument Station 18.00pm
The daytime is spent in East London, exploring the local areas in the hustle & bustle of London's most up and coming district.Through the centuries the area has been riddled with crime, industrial buildings and World War bombings, but now it’s vibrant, trendy and the main hang out for all the cool kids. Be shown the creative area and take in the sights, smells and sounds of East London. We will explore the area of Hoxton and stop for some traditional Pie n Mash before discovering the tales of Jack the Ripper & The Kray Twins. The past few decades East London has been regenerated to a trendy and creative area that boasts famous street art, markets, restaurants, clubs, galleries and people. Community has never been stronger, come and experience what London is really about.
SOUTHWARK – Meeting Point: Monument Station 18.00pm Finish Point: Tate Modern 23.00pm
A great time to hit the 'Entertainment District' of London. With the sun starting to go down, let's delve into the debauchery....
For centuries Southwark has been the seedy entertainment district of London, with gambling dens, brothels and taverns hunched in every dirt ridden corner of the area. However, over the decades, Southwark has been regenerated into an area of business, creativity, community and wealth. Its poverty past is near enough forgotten as it now boasts booming food markets, quirky backstreet artwork and cool fresh businesses. Come and explore the area of Bermondsey to discover glassblowing, climbing walls, arts and crafts, hidden cemeteries and historic pubs with famous links to Shakespeare and Dickens. Plus, a stop at the oldest galleried inn pub in London for a pint, sing song and stories of Victorian life in Victorian pubs!
CITY – Meeting Point: Tate Modern 23.00pm Finish Point: Charing Cross Station 04.00am ...And so into the night and into the City. The oldest part of London it’s sure to excite with its grisly past that hasn’t disappeared, ghost stories galore on this tour. Plus, what an amazing opportunity to see a famous part of London at a time when everyone is in bed. I always believe that you must see London at all different times of the day to watch it breathe... The City Detour delves into the history of the Capital that makes the square mile such an incredible place to be proud of. It is layered with an ever changing history, with Roman Settlements, Great Fires & Plagues, Bombings and modern high-rise buildings that now scatter our skyline. Plus, a stop at Sweeney Todd's Barber Shop!
WESTMINSTER – Meeting Point: Charing Cross Station 04.00am Finish Point: Trafalgar Sq 08.00am The early bird tour of Westminster. It's a time when people are fast asleep, snoring and snoozing, dreaming of nice things. However, this tour is the most popular of the lot! This is when London starts to erupt with action. Experience the quiet before the storm and the blast of activity, from the street cleaners to the hustle and bustle of tourists and visitors. Plus watch the sunrise on Westminster Bridge... With the Westminster Detour we explore the shopping districts of Piccadilly and Covent Garden, indulging in everything London, from a seedy gruesome history to music hangouts. We stroll down the Capital’s most famous postcodes to find a mixture of theatres, street performers, classy west end boutiques and multi cultural communities. Then the Detour takes a twist as we venture on to discover Palaces, Politics and Abbeys. So, if you want to search for the Seven Noses of Soho, stand on the Official Centre of London, walk down London’s Narrowest Alley, find the World’s Smallest Police Station or spot Invader Street Art then this Detour is for you…. And there’s lots more to discover!
Wow! This sounds amazing! How do I Book a Tour? It's easy to book a tour....
Give me an email on info@londondetours.com let me know the following: Your Name What tour you would like Number of spaces you would like booked (Please put in the Subject Box: 24 Hour Tour)
I will get back to you ASAP with more details for the tour. I can’t come on the 24 Hour Tour but would still like to make a donation... Not a problem.
I have set up a Just Giving page. So any donation big or small is welcome. Give the link below a click. Thank You
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