The Shocking East End
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The now fashionable East End was once a sprawling mass of closely built houses that created a labyrinth of lanes, snicketts and alleyways. It was enough to confuse and unnerve even the most intrepid traveller. Mix in some fog, soot and pollution ‐ the famous London smog ‐ and you can really start appreciating how the area became notorious for pickpockets, crime, mobs and gangsters (e.g. The Krays), unsolved mass murders ( e.g. Jack the Ripper) as well as a place where freaks and misfits (e.g. The Elephant Man) could hide almost unnoticed. It gained notoriety as an ‘exotic’ nation of its own and was usually left off Victorian maps of London.
On this tour, we learn the origin of the names of Brick Lane, Houndsditch and Spitalfields, we see a mosque that was once a synagogue and, before that, a church and find out why Petticoat Lane is now called Middlesex Street. It’s a tour that tells the story of the people of the East End and their lives, particularly highlighting the plights and legacies of immigrant groups from all over the world, including Jews from Portugal, Spain, Poland and Russia as well as refugees from Ireland, France, Bangladesh and not forgetting the most recent arrivals – the hipsters! |
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What our guests are saying:
"Emma was a wonderful tour guide-she's great fun, full of energy, very engaging with the kids and full of interesting facts about buildings, streets, signs, the river etc.-loads of things that had been under our noses for years walking around Central London, but which we didn't ever notice or know about. She really opened our eyes to interesting features of buildings, what they meant, who had shaped the London landscape as we know it and why. I would highly recommend this walking tour for the whole family, and we'll definitely be booking onto more of them!" |
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READY TO BOOK?
Private tours start from £270. Contact Emma for details and pricing for your group.
