Darkest Victorian London
Monument Underground station, London (Fish Street Hill exit)
Guided by Karen or Richard III or Sue
Walk Times
| Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Weekly | 10.45 am | 12.45 pm | Winter Summer | Reserve Online |
Short read: Elsewhere is always surprising… Especially when elsewhere is the dark side of the moon – the Victorian underside of 21st-century London.
Long read: Here’s how we get there. We poke around in forgotten corners of the real London just over the river. We make some thrilling – and chilling – “finds”. Everything from trace evidence – archaeological fragments – to the whole kit and caboodle. Stuff from the old, furtive, toil-worn, hard-scrabble, soon-to-be-passing, villainous past: a paupers’ burying ground, a ragged school, “model dwellings”, Little Dorrit’s prison, Octavia Hill’s cottages, etc. We see it. And hear the people. Really hear them. Because they speak through the guides: chimney sweeps, prostitutes, the soon-to-be-executed “Black Maria”, pickpockets, street sellers, the Body Snatching Borough Gang, etc. It’s history as a seance. As for lunch after the walk, well these two words will suffice: Borough Market. Guided by Richard III and Karen (winner of the London Tourist Board’s Guide of the Year Award*).
Walker’s read: “Darkest Victorian London is one of the best tours I have taken in any city.” Andrysharose, TripAdvisor April, 2019
DARKEST VICTORIAN LONDON – THE PRACTICALS
Darkest Victorian London takes place at 10.45 am every Monday morning. The meeting point is just outside the Fish Street Hill exit of Monument Tube Stop.
WANT A PRIVATE DARKEST VICTORIAN LONDON WALK?
If you can’t make one of the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, public Darkest Victorian London walks do think about booking one as a private tour. If you go private you can have the Darkest Victorian London Walk – or any other London Walk – on a day and at a time that suits your convenience. We’ll tailor it to your requirements. Ring Fiona or Niamh or Peter or Mary on 020 7624 3978 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll set it up and make it happen for you. A private London Walk – they’re good value for an individual or couple and sensational value for a group – makes an ideal group or educational or birthday party or office (team-building) or club outing.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LONDON WALKS
A private London Walk makes a very special (and unusual) gift – be it a birthday or anniversary or Christmas present or whatever. Merchandise schmerchandise (gift wrapped or not) – but giving someone an experience, now that’s special. Memories make us rich.
LONDON WALKS REVIEWS
“award-winning London Walks are unrivalled for quality and range” American in Britain Magazine
“Even jaded Londoners find these London Walks a source of astonishing gems of information about the city in which they live.” Daily Mail, Top London Treats
“by far the most impressive series of walks that I have ever encountered are those offered by London Walks” Travel and Enjoy
MIND THE GAP
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
LONDON WALKS – STREETS AHEAD!
“If this were a golf tournament every name on the Leader Board would be a London Walks guide”
Laura Hayden –
Holy cow. 5 stars isn’t enough. We had the supreme pleasure of Karen leading us to Darkest Victorian London and she was fantastic. She gave us a sense of time and place as she expertly guided us through narrow streets and otherwise unknown areas. We were mesmerized by her clear, concise and informed delivery as well as her welcoming smile. She is simply the best. They don’t get better than this!
Wendy and Tony Bradman –
We did the walk with Sue on 16/9/2024
The walk was well paced we learned lots of information about the area Sue also recommended further reading which was great
Would recommend this walk
Charlie –
If you love social history, or you love Dickens, or you love both, then this walk should be top of your list. Richard is a unique character, just the sort of history teacher you wish you’d had at school: storyteller, ready wit, punster, every anecodote anchored with key facts and a wondefully dry sense of humour.
Richard III but definitely the Richard I of London Walks.
Lizzie Barney –
Darkest Victorian London with Richard 111 was certainly vividly & graphically brought to life. He was extremely knowledgeable & had quite a naughty twinkle ! Altogether a highly entertaining two hours & worth every penny
Sophia –
Entertaining and informative tour of Bankside and Monument area with lots of interesting insights into life in Victorian London.
Corinne Clark –
Thank you Richard III for a very interesting walk narrated with great wit and charm and the right touch of humour! It was a very enjoyable two hours. Highly recommend!
Warren –
Richard is knowledgeable, funny, and a unique character. He managed to imaginatively re-create the time supported by many locations that date from, and even before, the Victorian era. I particularly enjoyed his poignant commentary on housing. I look forward to participating in more of Richard’s walks.
A&L –
We did the Darkest Victoriam London walk with Richard III this morning and we had such a good time. He’s a great guide and a wonderful storyteller, we learnt many things and saw many places we would have never found on our own! Thank you so much!
Bozic –
Richard III was an amazing storyteller and truly brought everyone’s imagination to life! Fascinating walk
Natascha de Groot –
We loved Darkest Victorian London with guide Richard 3rd. He is funny but also very knowledgeble and brought th gloomy era to life with his brilliant storytelling. Highly recommended!!