🏨 Southwark - a private walking tour full of surprises! Activity

Southwark - a private walking tour full of surprises!

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From $197.39

Price varies by group size

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Pricing Info:

Duration: 3 hours

Departs: London, London

Ticket Type: Mobile or paper ticket accepted

Free cancellation

Up to 24 hours in advance.

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Overview

The Southwark of today is a sophisticated, classy area of London, a delight to walk around, but it hides a fascinating history of sleaze and glamour which sat side by side in centuries gone by. Southwark became the entertainment centre for the City of London where the strict rules meant drinking and gambling dens, brothels, theatres and bear baiting were simply not allowed. Southwark had it all 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 and the magnificent Southwark Cathedral which they supported. Nowadays, there is still so much to see of a bygone era: the soaring arches and dramatic ceilings of the cathedral; the ruins of the once lavish Winchester Palace, the glorious Globe theatre and the life sized replica of the Golden Hinde. This is, simply, a tour not to be missed.

What's Included

A fun, experienced professional, local guide, accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding

What's Not Included

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

Traveler Information

TRAVELER: Age: 0 - 120

Additional Info

I am guiding family units of up to 5 only for the foreseeable future. I will bring hand sanitizer for my own use and for that of my guests. I am quadruple vaccinated.
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The tour will cover a distance of about 2 - 3 miles in total.
The tour will last up to 3 hours.
Your comfort is my priority - if you need to stop for a coffee or a comfort break, just let me know.

Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Service animals allowed
The tour is an outside walking tour but does include one internal stop to see the inside of Southwark Cathedral.
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!
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 customer, the best experience you could possibly have so if you have any special requests, be sure to let me know what they

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

What To Expect

Hay's Galleria

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 • Admission Ticket Included

Borough Market

This centuries old market used to be a raucous market place for the wholesale trading of cattle, fish and grain. Merchant wholesalers sold to the greengrocers who in turn supplied local shops in inner and outer London; individual farmers set up stalls on the periphery of the market to sell their wares. But all this changed in the 1970s when the arrival of the new Covent Garden market upstream and the emergence of supermarkets which killed off the individual greengrocers. From then emerged a new style of market with artisan food businesses moving in to the abandoned warehouses. It now enjoys its reputation as a food extravaganza of international repute. We will wander through the market and if you want to stop to buy food to sample after the tour, that's fine with me! Or we can walk through just enjoying the atmosphere - we'll take as long as you like.

• Admission Ticket Free

Southwark Cathedral

This is one of the oldest churches in London which somehow survived the purge on churches 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 her Majesty's 60 years on the throne; 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 and the most recent memorial to the 51 people who died in the Marchioness tragedy, a pleasure cruiser which sank on the Thames close to the Cathedral in 1991. 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 • Admission Ticket Free

Golden Hinde

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 touch 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!!

• Admission Ticket Free

Winchester Palace

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, what buildings were within the palace's extensive grounds 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! It will take me about 10 minutes to update you on the interesting history of the palace.

• Admission Ticket Free

Clink Prison Museum

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 to house those within the Bishops' territories who had done wrong to harbouring heretics for daring to espouse views contrary to the Bishops' own. In our 5 minute stop outside, 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.

• Admission Ticket Free

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

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! We will spend about 5 minutes here.

• Admission Ticket Free

Tate Modern

As this old power station towers above, it is possible to imagine this is London's biggest museum of art.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Menier Chocolate Factory

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 World War I raged in Europe, the neutral 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 we'll spend about 5 minutes here so that I can tell you Menier's history.

• Admission Ticket Free

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Southwark - a private walking tour full of surprises! Activity - London Travel Guide

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