William Morris & Friends
Stamford Brook tube station, London
Guided by Ann
Walk Times
| Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 June 2024 | Special | 2 pm | 4 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
Short read: Arts & Crafts & Fascinating Folk & Titillating Times in Hammersmith
Photo by Nick Sarebi
Meet your guide, sample the walk. Click here for Ann’s delightful podcast about William Morris and his circle, his work, his times and his Thameside places.
Long read: And now for a walk that banishes bland. It’s a well-I-never from first to last. The man, his circle, the neighbourhood, the history – they’re all so worth getting to know. Our man was the anti-parliamentarian who wanted to turn the Houses of Parliament into a dung-house. Designer. Artistic entrepreneur. Radical. Traditionalist.
Founding father of British Socialism. Poet. Storyteller. Bestseller. Dreaming boy. Bearded patriarch. Translator of Icelandic epics. Husband of a Pre-Raphaelite icon (whose affair with Dante Gabriel Rossetti was a Victorian show-stopper). This is his London. A couple of particulars. 1) We’re usually able to visit WM’s riverside house. 2) He spent the last 18 years of his life here – this was his neighbourhood. It was an arts and crafts hot-house: bookbinding, calligraphy, silversmithing, printing… there was creation here, there were beautiful things here. 3) Still are, not least because we’ll be walking along one of the loveliest stretches of the Thames. Guided by Ann.
WILLIAM MORRIS & FRIENDS – THE PRACTICALS
To go on the William Morris & Friends walk meet Ann outside the exit of Stamford Brook Tube, on Sunday 23rd June.
Photo by Alex Muller https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hammersmith_Bridge_2008_06_19.jpg
LONDON WALKS REVIEWS
“the unfailingly fascinating London Walks… If you can’t find one [of their tours] that captures your fancy, maybe you really are tired of life.” San Francisco Chronicle
“London Walks offer the very best walking tours of the capital” The Travel Channel
“by far the most impressive series of walks that I have ever encountered are those offered by London Walks” Travel and Enjoy
LONDON WALKS PRIVATE WALKS
If you can’t make one of the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, public William Morris & Friends walks do think about booking one as a private tour. If you go private you can have the William Morris & Friends 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 Peter or Niamh 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.
Fruit or Pomegranate by William Morris (1834-1896). Original from the The MET Museum. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel.
LONDON WALKS – STREETS AHEAD!
Don’t just take it from us.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Mary Wilson –
A really enjoyable and inspiring walk with our guide, Ann who has a huge hinterland of knowledge combined with the ability to tell a good story. Thank you.
Mark Allan –
Wonderful William Morris walk with Ann yesterday! Brought him and his circle and this fascinating area 150 years ago fully alive, with deep knowledge, and witty snippets about the often surprising personal lives of the people. Perfectly paced and structured and warmly presented. Strongly recommended.
Julian Gladwell –
Myself and a group of friends braved a cold Sunday afternoon to really enjoy this tour.
We learned so much about those fascinating times and multi-talented people whose lives are still touching ours today!
Ann is a great speaker. Her voice projects and she is great the way she engaged with us in a friendly and informative way. The walk experience was enhanced by her showing us some illustrations.
Do go on this walk!
Caroline Kerr –
A fabulous walk. Our guide, Ann, was friendly, inclusive and knowledgeable and the interesting route was very well structured. I learned a lot in an enjoyable way. Many thanks.
MSh –
I’ve been studying the Morris circle pretty closely for the past year or so, but this walk was a revelation in so many ways. Ann’s comprehensive overview of Hammersmith—places, personalities, their activities and legacies—was deeply informed by art history, social movements, graphic design . . . You name it! And she herself is articulate, congenial and energetic. We had a wonderful afternoon, Thanks, Ann!
M. K. –
Wonderful! One of my favourite walks so far. Ann was terrific and the focus is so compelling–especially in this day of mass over-consumption and fast everything.
Ms Rankin –
A perfect way to spend a gorgeous Sunday morning, walking through Chiswick learning about the interesting and sometimes strange goings on of Morris and his gang. Ann was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and I would recommend this walk.