Blackfriars underground station, London
Guided by Adam or Chris or David or Nick G. or Richard III or Simon
Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday | Weekly | 6 pm | 8.30 pm | Winter Summer | Reserve Online |
Short read: If you only have time for one walking tour, this is the one to go on…
Thinking about going on this one? Or on your way to the walk? Click here. This podcast is a perfect fit.
Long read: The classic London pub walk. It takes in London’s last remaining galleried coaching inn, its best riverside walkway, its oldest market, the most sensational art gallery in the world, the church where Harvard University’s founder was baptised, and an 18th-century pub that brews its own beer – plus lashings of Shakespeare, a jot of Dickens, lots of pub lore, and London’s best skyline panorama.
It gets better. Because there’s also, four centuries on, the recently discovered remains of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre (and its sister playhouse The Rose), to say nothing of the thrilling, thatch-roofed reproduction that’s risen, Phoenix-like, only a stone’s throw away. Let alone the astonishing replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hinde, the ship that the great Elizabethan mariner sailed around the world over 400 years ago. Anchored there in the murky Thames, its timbers creaking eerily in the misty London night and The Globe just yards away – it’s a ghost ship lost in time. Say it again, “the most exciting walk in London…”
The Along the Thames Pub Walk takes place most Friday evenings at 6 pm. The meeting point is just outside the exit of Blackfriars Tube. N.B. the walk ends less than a minute’s walk from London Bridge Tube and Railway Station.
“In four decades of guiding I’ve never once taken an umbrella.* It doesn’t rain on my walks.”** David, the Seigneur of this favoured realm [London Walks]
“I divorced weather forecasts five years ago. It’s like being unchained from a lunatic. You might as well look at a horoscope as pay any heed to UK weather forecasts” – London Walks guide, Adam, Visit England Superstar Finalist 2022.
London Weather Facts: Jerusalem, Gibraltar, Rome, Rhodes, etc. all get more rainfall than London. New York gets twice as much. London is one of the driest cities on earth.***
For a deep draught of the subject, try this richly satisfying (and eye-opening) podcast – https://www.walks.com/podcast/london-weather/
*Historically, the British public regarded the idea of not getting soaked when it’s pissing it down as ‘too French’, with accounts saying we called people a ‘mincing Frenchman’ if they were caught using an umbrella.
**Ok, we get the occasional mizzle but a mizzle does not pleasure and pain make, let alone a downpour [‘pleasure and pain’ is Cockney rhyming slang for ‘rain’]
***Needless to say London doesn’t have that reputation, it’s the last thing you’d expect. But this is the most mysterious, the most secretive city in the western world. Shape-shifting is par for the course for London. This place makes a speciality of pulling the wool over everybody’s eyes. Literally and figuratively – literally “the wool” is “the low London sky.”
“Best Tourism Experience in London” Gold Medal Winner, Visit London
“The original and best – there are several companies offering walking tours of London but London Walks (London’s oldest) is easily the pick of the bunch” London, Cadogan Guide
“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
“The best walking tours are organized by London Walks” USA Today
If you can’t make one of the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, public Along the Thames Pub Walks do think about booking one as a private tour. If you go private you can have the Along the Thames Pub Walks – or any other London Walk – on a day and at a time that suits your convenience. We’ll tailor it to your requirements. And – always with private London Walks and tours – we go to great lengths to make sure the guide-walker(s) “fit” is well-nigh perfect. Ring Fiona or Peter or Mary or Niamh 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.
A private London Walk makes a very special, indeed, unique 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.
“If this were a golf tournament every name on the Leader Board would be a London Walks guide”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Anne Santee-Stoner –
We thoroughly enjoyed our Thames Pub Walk guided by Richard III. It was, coincidentally, our third walk with Richard III during our stay in town. His dry wit, great stories, and perfect choice of pubs fit our desire for history, gorgeous scenery, picturesque streets and architecture.
michal baruch –
Adam was an outstanding guide! He was incredibly knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor, sharing funny anecdotes that made the tour informative and entertaining. The pace was perfect, allowing us to enjoy each stop without feeling rushed. Adam ensured we got excellent value for our money and even gave great recommendations on what to explore after the tour. If you’re looking for a memorable and fun pub tour, Adam is the guide to go with! Highly recommend
Nick –
Simon was our guide last night. He was excellent as always, informative, fun and full of energy. Superb!
Katherine –
Very interesting and informative. Unique spots that would never otherwise be seen. Very enlightening how names and phrases came to be. While I’m not sure it’s possible, it would be nice to be able to sit in a pub together with the conversation/lesson continuing.
JJ –
Disappointed with this tour. No context to why we stopped at the particular pubs that we stopped at
Thanks for your feedback, JJ. We’re very sorry you were disappointed with Chris’s Along the Thames Pub Walk. And slightly puzzled by your comment because she does in fact talk about each of the pubs she stops at. And for that matter puzzled that you didn’t flag her down in the pubs and put any “context” questions you had to her. She happily would have answered pretty much any questions you would have had for her. She lives locally, knows those pubs inside out.
I’d just add that we receive hundreds of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reviews every year. Naturally we take negative feedback very seriously indeed.
If you would like to expand upon your feedback about “context to why we stopped” – i.e., tell us what you feel can be improved – by all means email us directly at [email protected]
It is well-known that London Walks provides the best guided tours in London – which is probably why you booked with us in the first place. Our walkers’ feedback is very important to us.
Thanks for ‘getting in touch.’
Walter Bolliger –
The Cotswolds Tour is a fabulous and memorable tour and highly recommended. It combines sublime nature and ancient history during a most enjoyable walk in picturesque villages and along meandering creeks. Simon, our guide, was just amazing. He is an amalgamation of scholar, comedian, nature lover, motivator and old buddy. Simon elevated the Cotswolds experience to an even higher and unforgettable level. Thank you Simon for your unrivaled enthusiasm
Walter Bolliger –
Richard was a brilliant guide for the Thames Pub walk. Very knowledgeable, witty, and attentive to our needs and questions. An absolute highlight of my visit to London.
Jack M –
The highlight of our week! Simon led our “Along the Thames Pub Walk”. It was great. He talks loud enough that everyone could hear him easily. He gave us both a history lesson and an introduction to three of the most amazing pubs in London. I mean, London has 1000 pubs, and most of them are very nice, but these pubs that Simon took us to were AMAZING. The walk with Simon ranked right up there with the Churchill War Rooms as our favorite London experience.
David Kennedy –
Loved this walk: true to his name, Richard III is a monarch…of London history, interesting conversation, and kindness. It was truly a pleasure to walk and learn about London from Richard III, and, as a bonus, if you’re are an avid reader or historical fiction, he can provide you with some great recommendations!
Nicole –
Absolutely one of the best parts of my trip to London. After doing some virtual tours with Richard III during covid, I was pleased as punch to see him at Blackfriars Station to lead this walk! Naturally, he was just as charming and charismatic as can be. Our group spent a wonderful few hours together, learning about history and seeing new places. Tip: when Richard III makes a beer recommendation, don’t ignore it!