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Southwark - an exclusive private walking tour full of surprises!

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Tickets from € 195.45

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The Southwark of today is a sophisticated area of London which hides a fascinating history of sleaze and glamour sat side by side in centuries gone by. Southwark became the entertainment centre for the City of London where the strict rules meant drinking, gambling dens, brothels, theatres and bear baiting were simply not allowed. Southwark had no such restrictions and so the young men from the City came tripping across London Bridge to sample its delights. But Southwark was not just about supplying its wealthy neighbour: living side by side with Southwark's poor were the Bishops of Winchester in their grand palace next to the magnificent Southwark Cathedral which they supported. Nowadays, there is still so much to see of a bygone era: the magnificent cathedral; the ruins of the once lavish Winchester Palace, the glorious Globe theatre and the life sized replica of the Golden Hinde.
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  • A fun, experienced professional, local guide, accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding
  • Food and drink - we can enjoy a break together but your food and drink purchases are at your expense
  • Gratuities - optional
  • Transportation to/from the start and end points of the walk
Departure Point

London Bridge, Station Approach Rd, London SE1 9SP, UK Go to the lower concourse of London Bridge station and I will be beside the finger post between Pret a Manger and the Body Shop

Return Details

London Bridge, Station Approach Rd, London SE1 9SP, UK Go to the lower concourse of London Bridge station and I will be beside the finger post between Pret a Manger and the Body Shop

  • Hay's Galleria, London, United Kingdom
    A beautifully renovated space, this converted warehouse is now home to shops, restaurants, offices and apartments. Emerging onto Queens Walk at the back of the Galleria, there are fantastic views of the River Thames and the City of London on the north bank.
    10 minutes
  • The Queen's Walk, London, United Kingdom
    Following the part of this path between Tower and London bridges gives us a chance to enjoy views of London's iconic skyline with buildings spanning a timeline of more than 900 years! On the one hand, the White Tower of the Tower of London is a reminder of Norman power from the 12th century whilst the City of London next door is filled with buildings yet to celebrate their 12th birthdays! A wonderful contrast between old and new, something to look at as we consider the history of this area back to a time when this was one of the busiest dockyards in the world.
    15 minutes
  • Borough Market, London, United Kingdom
    This centuries old market used to be a raucous market place for the wholesale trading of cattle, fish and grain. As we wander through the vibrant market of today, we can enjoy its hustle and bustle and imagine how things used to be.
    10 minutes
  • Southwark Cathedral, London, United Kingdom
    This is one of the oldest churches in London which somehow survived the purge by that most notorious of kings, Henry VIII. Designated a cathedral since 1905, nothing prepares you for the sheer beauty of the interior: soaring arches and a dramatic ceiling give the feeling of space and wonder. There is much to experience here: a stained glass window dedicated to the playwright Shakespeare who lived and worked in the Borough; a Diamond Jubilee window to celebrate the late Elizabeth II's 60 years on the throne and Harvard Chapel commissioned by alumni of Harvard University to honour its founder John Harvard who was baptized in St Saviour's church as it was then. We will go inside the Cathedral for about 20 minutes and although entry is free, there is a small charge for photography which is payable on entry.
    20 minutes
  • Golden Hinde, London, United Kingdom
    A replica of the ship which circumnavigated the globe in the 1570s stands majestically beside the River Thames. Once you have come to terms with the fact that a ship this size could possibly complete such a tough and challenging journey, it is interesting to catch up with a few fun facts about the voyage: what was the famous ship called originally, who was on board and how many of the original fleet made it back to England? We will stop for about 5 minutes so that I can answer these questions plus pass on a few other interesting facts!!
    10 minutes
  • Winchester Palace, London, United Kingdom
    You will gaze on the ruins of what used to be the large and luxurious home of the Bishops of Winchester. In an area full of sleaze and narrow, run down alleys and yards, once stood this beautiful palace proof that the privileged lived right next door to the poor. You will learn about the power of the Bishops and the meaning of the term Winchester geese - you might be a little surprised by what went on inside the boundaries of the Bishop's lands!
    10 minutes
  • Clink Prison Museum, London, United Kingdom
    The Museum stands on the site of the original Clink prison which was inside the lands of the Bishops of Winchester and next door to their luxurious palace. There could not be a greater contrast between the two. The Clink went from being a prison housing wrongdoers to one housing heretics for daring to espouse views contrary to the Bishops' own. I'll tell you about the prison's conditions, how you could buy your way to a more comfortable stay inside and how this most gruesome of places was finally put to rest.
    5 minutes
  • Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London, United Kingdom
    You get two Globe theatres for the price of one on this tour! We pass by the location of the original Globe built towards the end of the 1500s and within half a mile, get to admire the magnificent modern Globe which exists because of the perseverance of an American actor called Sam Wanamaker. Having seen the outside, you will want to book to see a performance on the inside too!
    15 minutes
  • Tate Modern, London, United Kingdom
    As this old power station towers above, it is possible to imagine that it houses London's biggest museum of art. It is one of four Tate museums in England concentrating on the display of the work of international artists since the 1900s.
    5 minutes
  • Menier Chocolate Factory, London, United Kingdom
    A much loved theatre today, this historic building used to be home to a chocolate factory run by Meniers who, in the latter half of the 1800s, was the largest chocolate manufacturer in the France. Sadly, as the two World Wars raged in Europe, neutral countries like Switzerland gained the advantage formulating new recipes for chocolate with delicious fillings, an advance which Meniers could not complete with. The building became derelict but was designated a grade II listed building in the 1990s meaning that it could not be demolished. It then began its new life as a successful, off-West End theatre and I'll explain Menier's interesting history.
    5 minutes
  • Crossbones Graveyard & Garden of Remembrance, London, United Kingdom
    This graveyard was only discovered when Transport for London was working on the Jubilee line extension. Archaeologists from the Museum of London who joined the excavations estimated there were 15,000 bodies buried on the site. This is where you'll hear more about those Winchester Geese!
    10 minutes
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • When your booking is confirmed, you will receive contact details for me (Sandy) your guide on this tour. My aim is to give you, the client, the best experience you could possibly have so if you have any special requests, be sure to let me know what they are!
  • Your comfort is my priority - if you need to stop for a coffee or a comfort break, just let me know.
  • The tour will last up to 3 hours.
  • The tour will cover a distance of about 2 - 3 miles in total.
  • The tour will go ahead come rain or shine so please don't be put off by the weather. Do wear comfortable shoes and clothing. If needs be, bring waterproofs and an umbrella!
  • The tour is an outside walking tour but does include one internal stop to see the inside of Southwark Cathedral.
  • Unlike some other guides, I specialise in just five areas of London, Southwark being one of them. This means that I have detailed knowledge of the area which I pass on to my clients in a fun and interesting way.
  • 100% of my Trip Advisor/Viator reviews are graded 'excellent' and as I now have over 100 reviews in total, I must be doing something right!
  • I prefer to guide small groups of up to five family or friends so everyone can hear what I am saying above the usual street noises of a busy city. Also, everyone can ask as many questions as they like.
  • I ALWAYS contact my customers before a tour so if you have not heard from me one week before the date of the tour, please contact me instead.
  • I only accept bookings directly from customers. Any bookings made by a travel agent on behalf of a customer will be cancelled.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
Jeanette P
19 Sep 2024
Sandy is a very warm person who was full of interesting facts and stories about the area in which we did the tour. London has an amazing history and Sandy’s anecdotes about Southwark made the tour very enjoyable and fun.
martinpI111BD
19 Sep 2024
We met sandy at the prearranged spot exactly on time. We then headed into the heartland of southwark. Her knowledge of the history together with anecdotal stories provided a wonderful image of times from the Roman era to current days. Wandering around borough markets with the sight and smell of the food offerings then meandering around the alleys and buildings showed how much had changed to the better since my days as a youth living in london and particular southwark. We'll done sandy
RMDLondon
23 Jul 2024
We enjoyed Sandy's tour of Mayfair so much that we booked her Southwark tour, and as she points out at the start, it's a very different, but equally fascinating part of London. Once again Sandy's enthusiasm and encyclopedic knowledge of her subject were clearly evident - I suspect she does an awful lot of research! Although some of us were already familiar with the area, we learned much about the historical background of this everchanging part of London. What makes Sandy's tours so special are the little insights she gives ( ones that other guides might miss? ) and her ability to bring to life the atmosphere and lives of some of the past inhabitants. Her tours are highly recommended - 2 down and 2 to go!
This tour in London is organized by Hobnob Tours

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