‘When you are tired of London, you are tired of life’ the old saying goes. From the home of the British Royal Family to the packed pubs; from the heart of British politics, to the theatrical West End; from invading Romans to conquering Kings, London has it all.
Starting as a marshland with just a handful of celtic tribes, and soon subject to Roman conquest as ‘Londinium’ in 47 AD, London had a slow and unimpressive start. However, by the time of the 11th Century, the city grew as the epicentre of English royalty, throwing in several centuries of war with France, for good measure. Through sabotage, murder, and revolutions, the heads that wore the crown constantly shifted, from titanic sovereigns like Henry VIII and Elizabeth I in the 16th Century, through civil war and the ‘merry monarch’ Charles II in the 17th, to the Germanic Georges and regency in the 18th. London itself would grow as the centre of the British Empire – and arguably – the centre of the modern world, reaping the benefits of the Industrial Revolution and using the Empire’s immense imperial power to its advantage, with all the trade, violence, and suffering that came with it. With one hand dominating the globe, and the other making the most of its great wealth, the city evoked awe and wonder, developing into a hub of world-leading science, innovation, and arts. It is here that Charles Darwin would write On the Origin of Species, JMW Turner would redefine painting, and Charles Dickens would birth the modern novel, pain-stakingly putting the conditions of real Londoners to the page. After the brutal Great War of 1914-1918, Britain -and London itself- became tired and over-extended, plunging into rapid political and social changes. Just 20 years later, it would be pulled into another horrifying war, for a time fighting as the lonely bastion against the Nazi regime in Europe, as the Luftwaffe flew above wreaking havoc. By 1945, a new world emerged. With a huge labour shortage and a post-war vision to assemble, parliament turned to the commonwealth to build a modern Britain: it passed the British Nationality Act. Now, those who had previously been under the British yoke as subjects came to London as citizens. This change re-invigorated the city, setting it onto a new path. Soon London was the cultural place-to-be. Its bars were swinging with jazz and rock’n’roll, its galleries filled with contemporary art, and its theatres hosted the great plays and musicals of the century. To this day London inspires with its music and theatre scene, museums, and fashion.
Join us on our Welcome to London tour to hear and experience this astounding story yourself, and see the city as it’s meant to be seen. Starting in Westminster, we’ll take you to the most iconic and beautiful sites in London. We’ll talk about why Big Ben isn’t called Big Ben, see the Abbey that has witnessed over a 1,000 years of royal coronations, walk through the royal parks of Buckingham Palace, discuss great military battles both old and new, and get under the skin of modern London at Covent Garden. We might even end near a pub, in true London fashion. From Winston Churchill to the Suffragettes to Queen Elizabeth II to James Bond, London has a fantastic story to tell. And no worries – we’ll fuse history with tips and recommendations, and set you up for your London experience – so join us and get the perfect introduction to one of the greatest cities in the world!
Some of the sites we will see on this 2 hours 45 minutes tour include:
- Big Ben and Westminster Abbey
- The Houses of Parliament
- Buckingham Palace and St. James’ Park
- Trafalgar Square
- Pubs and Theatreland
- Covent Garden
- …and much, much more!
