Booze, Brothels & The Bard: A Walking Tour of London's Bawdy Borough
5.0
49 Ratings
Greater London
Embark on a captivating walking tour of London's bawdy borough, exploring its scandalous history, encountering famous figures like Shakespeare and Dickens, and uncovering hidden secrets of the past.
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • St George the Martyr - The only remaining part of the Marshalsea Prison
  • Crossbones Graveyard & Garden of Remembrance - The final resting place for thousands of Southwark’s outcast dead
  • The Hop Exchange - The largest extant reminder of Southwark’s beer trade
  • George - London’s last surviving galleried coaching inn
  • Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret - Europe’s oldest surviving operating theatre
  • London Bridge - The world famous and iconic London Bridge
  • Southwark Cathedral - London’s oldest surviving gothic church
  • Borough Market - A one thousand year old food market
  • Winchester Palace - The remains of one of the most prestigious homes in medieval England
  • Clink Prison Museum - The site of the notorious Clink Prison
  • Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre - The reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
What's Included
  • Walking Tour Guide included
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Venture on a millennium journey touching upon illustrious personalities such as William Shakespeare, immoral medieval workers known as Winchester Geese prostitutes, Charles Dickens, a nineteenth-century ghostly pub owner, and the creatively dubbed Doorkins Magnificat!

We’ll traverse the areas surrounding Borough and Bankside on our foot trail. Since these areas laid beyond the legal authority of the City of London, they witnessed centuries of notorious activity. We’ll understand how the region became infamous for prostitution post the Roman invasion, explore the sites of Southwark’s two most infamous jailhouses - remnants of which endure till this day, admire a thousand-year-old marketplace, scrutinize the ruins of a medieval fortress, and identify Shakespeare’s Globe Theatres from the past and present!

The foot trail inaugurates outside Borough Station, terminates near London Bridge Station and should last approximately two hours. The entire stretch comes to about two miles.

Ticket availability will be restricted to approximately ten spectators, to guarantee a well enjoyed experience for all attendees.

Location
Borough
Borough High Street
We meet outside the exit of Borough Station. Please aim to arrive five minutes early as the tour will start on time. If you aren't able to make the tour or you will be late, please message me on +44 7783 401 129 so that I know whether to send you our live location on WhatsApp.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(49 Ratings)
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Sarahog3802pn
Jun 9, 2024
Excellent value, informative and very knowledgeable guide. - Today’s walking tour was Informative, very interesting, funny in parts and moved at a very good pace. At the end, We were perfectly positioned to go into the Globe Theatre afterwards and still have plenty of day left. Really keen to join Toms other tours and would thoroughly recommend this tour to others.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
L4990rhalexs
Jun 5, 2024
Amazing - Amazing tour! Tom didn’t cancel even though me and my mum were the only ones who’d booked tickets for that day, and he’s a great guide, we were very impressed. The tour allows you to see parts of central London you’d normally not see or take notice of, and we loved learning about some of the darker parts of London’s history!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Passport46621486065
Jun 3, 2024
Fun, Informative, Unique Tour - I've been to London a few times, so I was looking for something different to do. This tour - and Tom - offered a fun new perspective on the city. It was fun and informative, and Tom answered my questions. I would absolutely recommend it to see a new side of the city.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Safaa
May 5, 2024
A fun walk in the old borough district of London. - Tom is an excellent guide, friendly and knows his city well. I will definitely book another tour with him and will recommend his company to my friends.
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558clivem
May 3, 2024
A wonderful insight into London’s history - Excellent walking tour of one of the most historic parts of London. Tom is a great guide and conjures up unforgettable images of the past, taking you to places you’d never find on your own with stories you’d never guess. Highly recommended.
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Csmitchell58
May 3, 2024
Excellent - This an interesting, fun, full of unusual information, detailed tour. Behind the back scene details you don’t get on larger tours. Questions explored and answered. Well sourced information. Cannot recommend enough. There are currently 4 different tours with this company, we have done 3 so far….!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
478abbiej
Mar 22, 2024
We loved it! - Thank you so much Tom, what an interesting tour we really enjoyed it. Very informative and historical, we are really looking forward to your next tour that we will surely book on.
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Kimberlyty5026cm
Mar 20, 2024
A Nice Afternoon Tour - This was a great way to see a part of London that we hadn't toured before. I would definitely do another tour with this group again.
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Mcdanio
Mar 4, 2024
Excellent tour, most recommended if you want to know London in and out. - The virtual tour was so excellently run by Tom, that I felt like it was in real life. The tour give me many new tips and information, I was not aware of, even though know few things about historical London and the City of London too. Tom’s skills to present and vast knowledge made my experience incredible. Most recommended London guide among very few great one.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anahib89
Mar 1, 2024
Great experience! - The tour guide, Tom, was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. The tour itself was full of interesting information, and he was more than happy to answer all our questions and elaborate on the stories he was sharing. Would definitely recommend.
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up to 15 guests
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June 2024
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