Spitalfields Walking Tour: Discover 2000 Years of Culture in the Heart of London

Embark on a captivating walking tour of Spitalfields in London, exploring its 2000 years of culture and the fascinating stories of its diverse community. Join us now!

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Christ Church Spitalfields - Nicholas Hawksmoor’s masterpiece of English Baroque
  • Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor - We meet people whose lives were bound up with with this institution to minster to the needs of Jewish immigrants who came from East Europe, the area now known as the Ukraine
  • Old Spitalfields Market - We learn the story of…
What's Included
  • Tea and coffee provided
Additional Information

Embark on a walkabout of narrated exploration, crafted by the top blogger of London and directed by a local community representative in Spitalfields.
Wander amidst two millennia of culture in central London and meet some individuals and venues that render this old neighbourhood unique.
Unearth Spitalfields’ abundant and varied past of ingenuity fuelled…

Location
Christ Church Spitalfields
Commercial Street
Our tours begin and conclude outside the entrance to Christ Church, Spitalfields in Commercial Street. The meeting point is a 10 minute walk from Liverpool St Station. Please be early or on time as we cannot wait for latecomers.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(111 Ratings)
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Sarahlm7919ql
May 5, 2025
I recommend you take this tour - I have been on 3 of the Gentle Author's walking tours (the others were The City and most recently Petticoat Lane) and I can highly recommend them all. The GA is extremely knowledgeable about this historic area of London and he peppers his tours with portrayals and photos of the people who have lived and worked here. This is not some run-of-the-mill tour or guide - it and he thoroughly deserve a score of excellent.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gillianbwilson
May 3, 2025
Amazing walking tour of Spitalfields - The best afternoon ever! What a wonderful day to remember. The historical walking tour was wonderfully interactive with old photos of streets to compare with how they look now. Our fantastic guide was so knowledgeable and passionate about Spitalfields - he spoke so highly of all the old Spitalfields characters. I learnt so much and now have a solid understanding of the history of this wonderful part of London. We were given a beautiful map to keep. The afternoon ended with a lovely cup of tea and a Queen cake in a beautiful old silk weaver’s house. I will definitely return and book on again. Can highly recommend.
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806nwk
Apr 26, 2025
Brilliant afternoon - This was an exceptionally good tour. I’ve spent most of my life in and around the east end, and found myself engrossed in the Gentle Author’s detailed and fascinating perspective on Spitalfields. The guide clearly has such a profound respect and adoration for the area; its architecture, history and local community. Not just as a historical relic, but as a living, continually evolving eco system. The love and enthusiasm for local people and their stories made the tour feel very meaningful, far more than others might. I came away with a deep sense that we must protect and remember the value of the places in our city which hold historical and cultural resonance, and never take for granted how they can be gradually eroded by careless, short sighted land grabs and corporate greed… I cannot recommend this tour highly enough!
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N1962kwpaulc
Apr 13, 2025
Fascinating and absorbing....... - What a truly fascinating gentleman the Gentle Author is. He not only knows and understands the East End but he relates his fund of stories and local history in a most interesting way. Even if you think you know the East End and Spitalfields, you will learn much more of the history and local personalities by taking one of the Gentle Author's walks. Enjoy....I know you will.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nadine480
Mar 9, 2025
A magical journey through the past and present - A truly magical and enlightening tour by the gentle author, whose love and knowledge of this area and the people in it both past and present shines through. This is a tour like no other and you will feel enriched and enchanted by it in equal measure, whether you are a visitor to London or have lived here for a long time this is not to be missed
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Producerkaren
Feb 20, 2025
So happy I did this! - Many people find this tour through The Gentle Author's (TGA) beloved "Spitalfields Life" blog. When my trip to London coincided with an available tour, I was so excited. It's not to be missed! TGA brings so much insight and heart to these walks, and you'll learn things that mainstream tours get wrong or miss, altogether. Whether you're a local or a visitor (like me), you'll be happy you spent some quality time with TGA and fellow attendees. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
I598oqsophiea
Feb 8, 2025
Be transported back in time - Highly recommended walking tour. The knowledgeable guide brings history alive through the stories of the people who lived and died in the city. Pausing at the Jewish Soup kitchen we are shown a photograph of a young man who remembered being a child refugee from Ukraine, a story told to our guide by the man himself. An alleyway which housed the Sikh who in 1940 assassinated the man who ordered the Amritsar massacre. Spanning centuries whilst being relevant to today this tour is an absolute joy. Learn about London and its long history of commerce , immigration and community. See beautiful buildings and be transported back in time. And complete this amazing tour with a free cup of tea and a delicious cake at the Townhouse Spitalfields, a Georgian gem of a place.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rachel
Dec 21, 2024
A fascinating afternoons walking tour - I am a long time subscriber to The Gentle Authors daily blog, which is always a great read at the start of each day so was excited to book this walking tour. The tour follows the stories of real people through history who have lived here. The Gentle Author is a skilled storyteller who brings the area to live. Despite being familiar with the area, I learned so much today. I would highly recommend this walking tour as a refreshing antidote to the more lurid tours focussing on crime and murder.
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Hungrybutchoosy
Nov 17, 2024
2000 years and more of historic London - I thought I knew quite a bit about this fascinating area but was intrigued enough to book. Turns out I knew about 1%, and the other 99% was delivered with style, aplomb, great story telling skills and an impeccable ability to link the past with the present. His manner was always empathetic to, and culturally respectful of, the characters whose lives, existences and deaths he drew for us in magnificent detail . What’s more, I could hear him, which was a challenge on a busy Saturday afternoon. I was totally engrossed, charmed and fascinated by the whole experience, which ended with tea and cakes and follow up notes by email. Can thoroughly recommend this activity and can’t wait to try the walking tour of the City.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ben
Nov 17, 2024
Informative and entertaining walking tour - Great walking tour, with a focus on stories and social history. Our guide was warm and friendly and we learned lots about this diverse area of London
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $87
up to 5 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).