History of Spitalfields Tour
This page is designed to give you an idea of some of the places we’ll see on this London walking tour.
Spitalfields has, for centuries, attracted successive waves of immigrants, due to its location outside the city walls of London.
Living outside the walls historically had advantages, with a relaxation of the rules and regulations that governed everyday life for those inside the city defences.
A Colourful
History
French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution, the Irish escaping from the potato famine, Jewish settlers escaping the pogroms of Europe and Muslims escaping the religious strife of the Indian subcontinent have all been and left their mark on the area.
Before that, there were the Romans, and the medieval priory, which served as a focal point of the area.
I’ll tell some of the stories of these people, and we’ll see the clues that are dotted along the way. Some are up on the buildings themselves, and some are on the ground.
A Rich and Varied Walk
The rich tapestry of Spitalfields’ history is still there, if you know where to look.
More recently, the area has attracted a number of artists who have made it their home, and added to the colourful makeup of the area.
By the end of the walk, you’ll have learned some of the inspiration for Charles Dickens’ characters, walked in the footsteps of Jack the Ripper and Elizabeth the first and heard about some characters just as fascinating, if less well known.
The tour will last approx 2.5 hours at a leisurely pace, and will finish next to Spitalfields market, which you can explore afterwards. Or you can explore neaby Brick Lane market on a Sunday. It is also just a couple of minutes walk from Liverpool Street station, for your return home.
For those of you who like to do your 10,000 steps per day, this will make take up about 4,500 of them in an entertaining way. The route is very flat and there are no steps or hills along the way.
You can book from a selection of dates on the link below.