London has a rich and colourful history layered with historical conflicts, relics from bygone eras, and so much more. Walking the streets, especially on a foggy morning, can take you back to Victorian times when Jack the Ripper roamed the streets at night, and Londoners wore tophats and rode chariots down the cobblestone streets.
Consider taking a London walking tour, where you’ll feel as if you’re turning the pages of a historical novel where you are the main character, and London is the magical setting.
1. Royal Heritage Walk
Symbolic (and sometimes actual) home to the United Kingdom’s royal family, London has been the hub from which many Queens and Kings have presided over the nation.
The royal heritage walk is ideal for exploring the nation’s relationship with royalty over the years.
Your first stop should be the Tower of London – a fortress that has withstood the test of time and still remains a key symbol of royal power after 1,000 years.
From the Tower, make your way over to Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the British monarch, to get a glimpse of life as a royal. Along the way, you’ll pass by several iconic London landmarks, including Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey – each of which has a role in the city’s regal traditions.
(Source: Pixabay)
2. Victorian London Walk
Another route that starts at the imposing Tower of London, if you want to explore London’s Victorian roots, this walk should satisfy your curiosities.
The Tower of London, as a medieval fortress, served as a prison during the Victorian era, and was visited by Queen Victoria.
After you’ve taken up the sights at the Tower of London, head over to St Katharine Docks, a key hub for international trade in the capital during Victorian times. Built in 1828, you can spend a moment or two in the area marvelling at what once used to be a trading point for Victorian London.
No Victorian tour of London would be complete without visiting some of the sites associated with the mysterious Victorian killer Jack the Ripper.
Here are some of the best places to visit to learn more about Jack the Ripper’s sinister actions:
- The Ten Bells Pub – A pub seemingly stuck in Victorian times, and known to have been frequented by several of Jack the Ripper’s victims before they met their untimely deaths
- Mitre Square – This square is one of the most famous sites associated with Jack the Ripper as it’s the place of Catherine Eddowes’ murder, the fourth of the “canonical five” victims
- Henrique Street – Located in Whitechapel, Henrique Street was in an impoverished neighbourhood at the time, and the site of Annie Chapman’s murder, the second of the “canonical five” victims
(Source: Pixabay)
3. Literary London Tour
If you’re an avid reader and book lover, you’ll feel right at home in London.
With a rich literary history, there are plenty of places you can go to satisfy your book cravings in the city and follow in the footsteps of legendary writers.
Start out at the British Library, where you’ll find original manuscripts from many significant literary figures. Make your way to the Charles Dickens Museum, where you can learn all about Dicken’s life and explore his family home.
Along the way, you’ll pass by several significant literary locations that inspired the works of some of the greatest authors, from Shakespeare to Virginia Woolf.
If you’re fascinated by the origin of words, make time for a visit to Dr. Johnson’s House, where the first comprehensive English dictionary was born.
(Source: Pixabay)
4. World War II Historical Walk
If you’re a history buff and love learning how cities came to be as a result of past conflicts and wars, there are plenty of World War II markings etched into the streets and buildings of London.
Start out at the Churchill War Rooms, which served as the Prime Minister’s underground bunker from which he directed Britain’s war efforts. From there, you can walk over to the unmissable Imperial War Museum, home to many important artefacts and stories from the Second World War.
Keep your eye out for St Paul’s Cathedral – it’s an important building that survived the bombings and became a symbol of hope for the city’s residents during an immensely challenging period.
(Source: Pixabay)
Explore London’s Rich History
London has so much to offer beyond what’s on the surface. If you look beyond the modern skyscrapers such as the Shard and fine eateries everywhere you glance, there’s a rich history waiting to be discovered.
Every walk you take around the city is steeped in complex layers of conflict, literature, revolution and resilience.
