The Krays In London
The East End, Gangland & The Dark Side Of The Swinging 60s
The legend of the Krays looms large in London…
Twin brothers Ronald and Reginald Kray were born in Hoxton, East London in 1933 and began their career in crime with protection rackets in their native East End. They soon graduated to Long Firms – fraudulent businesses trading on credit and selling the goods on without payment. The public face of their business was represented by their nightclubs – a touch of West End glamour in the East End.
Their violent modus operandi would eventually lead to murder – indeed a central part of the Kray myth is that each brother goaded the other when it came to their “graduation” to what Ron in particular is said to have viewed as the ultimate criminal badge of honour.
Events came to a head when Ron became the first of the twins to kill – the shooting of rival gang member George Cornell in the Blind Beggar Pub, Whitechapel on 9th March 1966 is central to the Kray myth.
The Krays had their portrait taken by famous photographer David Bailey and published alongside those of Mick Jagger and Michael Caine. That famous picture is the very model of that phrase from the baptismal rite, the glamour of evil. It is part of the National Portrait Gallery’s collection… it’s the image that branded the legend… and it’s the picture that hit the front page in 1969 when they were finally brought to book.
Our tour will weave a path between the legend and the truth looking at every facet of the Kray’s life and criminal career – as murderers, as East End Robin Hoods, as gay and bisexual men in post-war working-class London, as army deserters and as icons.
We’ll visit Bethnal Green & Whitechapel for the famous Kray locations including…
The Blind Beggar Pub
Pellicci’s Cafe
The Carpenter’s Arms
Vallance Road
We’ll look at the bit-part players of the tale, hold conspiracy theories up to the light and along the way we’ll look at the filming of Legend, the 2016 biopic starring Tom Hardy.
Welcome to the dark side of the Swinging Sixties.
Tour ends at the Blind Beggar Pub, Whitechapel
This tour is NOT suitable for children.
Anything else? Yes, it’s packing a superstar guide.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
Don’t just take it from us…
Happy true crime fans at the end of the tour with guide Adam
Paul & Josh –
Just a quick thank you very much for our great Kray tours walk yesterday, we really enjoyed it and you were really great!
Janet Adam –
This was our second tour with Adam so we knew it would be good. A very interesting and informative walk around the Kray’s East End Highly recommended
Wendy Steibelt –
Adam is a a brilliant story teller and a very well researched guide. His knowledge of the Kray brothers and their nefarious associates must be second to none. Despite joining Adam on a wet, cold and grey Monday we had a fabulous tour and thoroughly enjoyed his unique style. I would highly recommend both Adam and this particular tour.
Mark b –
Brilliant. Adam was entertaining and certainly knew his stuff! Fully recommend this tour!
Phillip –
Walking today with Adam on a drizzly London day was brightened by an enlightening walk with Adam on learning more about the Kray brothers and family, narrated in Adam’s inimitable stylle the history came to life as we walked passed many of the Kray’s haunts. Pubs and churches feature prominently as do a certain undertaker. And no one can pronounce ‘murder’ like a Scotsman!
Caroline & Ronnie –
Thoroughly recommend a Sunday walk around the East End with Adam – he certainly knows his stuff and is a great storyteller!
Vivienne Lodite –
An entertaining and insightful morning following the story of the Kray twins. Thank you Adam you certainly knew your stuff! Will definitely do another tour with you next time we are in London.
Kevin Ashton –
Great walk. Adam is a consummate story teller with a keen sense of comic timing. The Krays and their manor provide an abundance of edgy and macabre material to work with. All told, right up there with the best of the many London walks I have done so far. So a big thank you from me…
Tim Gifford –
I very much enjoyed the Krays in London tour yesterday and Adam brought humour and irony into the dysfunctional but unquestionably ‘glamorous’ world of the mid-20th Century East End. An interesting take on the lives of two damaged individuals whose lives flourished because of each other. Fascinating stuff!
Tom Tanton –
Interesting, fun walk through London’s East End. Adam was informative and entertaining and made the walk very enjoyable. Highly recommended.