Step into London’s streets and watch capitalism unfold in real time.
On The Business of History, your guide – author and former MP Tom Levitt – tells the story of Britain’s past through the fortunes of its companies. Not dusty balance sheets or boardroom jargon, but vivid human drama: ambition, invention, hubris, collapse, survival.
Tom draws on 18 iconic firms featured in his book The Business of History. Some are astonishing long-distance runners. W H Smith, for example, has been trading for more than 200 years. Others burned brightly and vanished. Many still surround us today as familiar household names, though often in forms their founders would barely recognise.
Over two absorbing hours we trace the rise and fall of the family firm, the growing power of shareholders, and the arrival of corporations deemed “too big to fail”. We meet dynasties, risk-takers and empire-builders. We see how private equity reshaped whole industries.
And as the story unfolds, London itself comes into sharper focus. Streets, shopfronts and buildings you’ve passed a hundred times begin to look different. The city reveals itself as a living ledger of success and failure, boom and bust. By the end of the walk, you don’t just understand business history better. You see London differently too.
This is history with its sleeves rolled up. A walk about money, power and people. And a fresh way of understanding how the modern world was made, one company at a time.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
Your guide is Tom Levitt: a former Member of Parliament for three terms, an author, and one of the country’s most insightful commentators on British business.
Tom served in Parliament from 1997 to 2010, giving him a rare, inside understanding of how commerce, politics and power really intersect. He’s the author of The Business of History: Tales and Lessons from Two Centuries of British Commerce, and now works as a consultant on responsible and sustainable business at the University of West London.
In other words, you’re being guided by someone who’s seen how decisions are made at the highest level, and who knows how Britain’s great companies rose, adapted or fell away.
And because no bio should take itself too seriously, Tom’s also a long-standing season ticket holder at Brentford FC.
What do they say about The Business of History?
Former MP Tom Levitt’s The Business of History has reviewers nodding so hard they risk whiplash.
FURTHER PARTICULARS
The Business of History Walk ends near Covent Garden Underground Station.
And what’s not to like: walk participants will receive a special code for 20% off Tom’s book.
MEET YOUR GUIDE
Here’s an interview with Tom.
Meet Your Guide – Former MP Tom Levitt
Brian –
Even with a microphone and portable speaker we had trouble understanding the guide because every stop was LOUD with traffic and ambient noise. Group was 25+ people to start – ended up with only 16 by the end (we counted the defectors). There also wasn’t much walking, and few (still existing) interesting items to point out. Perhaps the walk needs to be redesigned to quieter areas and actually include more walking. Finally we were not a fan of the guide hawking his own merchandise during the tour.
Malcolm Dewhurst –
Great stories of the risers and fallers and those who rose again. Told with humour and panache by a guide with knowledge from the inside and the outside.
Keith Hill –
I thoroughly enjoyed this walk. Tom is impressively erudite and a great story teller. Highly recommended.
Colin Startup –
Friendly and knowledgeable guide. Fascinating to hear about the turbulent history of well known British businesses.
Sarah Humphreys –
I echo the views expressed above. On my previous walk the guide used a body worn microphone which enabled all participants to hear clearly
Himanshu –
Fascinating topic from a knowledgeable guide. We had 25 on our tour which I think it’s too big. The tour necessarily goes through busy streets and a large group and traffic noise led to us not hearing the splendid details.