VIRTUAL TOURS
VIRTUAL MAYFAIR WITH ROWAN FREELAND
From Grosvenor Square to Belgrave Square (and beyond)
£10 per person
This virtual tour takes you through the heart of Mayfair, the most expensive square on the English Monopoly Board and still one of London’s most expensive districts. We will celebrate an area of strong connections with the United States, Churchill’s first apartment, the remains of an aristocratic garden, and will finish by walking along (or rather above) the River Tyburn. Along the way we will admire some great twentieth century architecture, some of London’s oldest trees, an allegedly haunted house, the most inaccessible painting by Banksy, London’s famous guerrilla artist, and will end with London’s oldest trade mark.
LADIES NOT FOR TURNING WITH EMILY B
Great Lives, Great Contributions
If you assessed British history by statues in London, you’d think only men have shaped the world. But there are many powerful and inspirational London women who have influenced Britain and beyond. We start with a warrior queen and end with Savile Row’s first female master tailor. In between we’ll meet an MP, social reformer and author (among others!). As we examine the legacy of powerful London women, we’ll also virtually explore a wide range of London neighbourhoods.
THAMES PATH PUB CRAWL
WITH EMILY DELL
It's time to pour yourself a drink, as we go in search for the perfect pub.
£10 per person
Are you always on the hunt for that perfect pub with a view? well look no further. This virtual tour will guide you along the Thames Path from Richmond to Canary Wharf, whilst picking out the most historical river side pubs ready for your next visit to London.
UNDER YOUR FEET
VIRTUAL TOUR WITH ROWAN FREELAND
London Life Below the Surface
£10 per person
Most tours ask you to look up. This virtual tour asks you to look down, at the pavements you walk along every day and what lurks beneath, from the London Hydraulic Power Company's high pressure water pipes, to the services without which our homes and offices would not function (and the link between kerbstones and shop windows).
VICTORIA AND ALBERT: LOVE STORY OR POWER STRUGGLE? WITH EMILY B
Virtual Tour
Victoria and Albert’s relationship was intensely passionate. But the result of that passion was lots of babies, which made it harder for Victoria to focus on her royal duties. Couple that with Albert’s dissatisfaction at playing backup and you have a recipe for discord within the marriage. And yet to the public, the couple appeared to have domestic bliss.
Join this virtual tour for a behind the scenes look at the realities of the marriage and how the couple’s promotional efforts changed the face of the monarchy forever. You’ll see lots of glorious art and visit royal sites in London and around the UK.
IN AN ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN
WITH EMILY DELL
VIRTUAL TOUR
With Spring singing through the trees, it is time to take a virtual tour around England and visit some of the countries most treasured gardens. Within this 90-minute tour you will be taken to some of the most mesmerising and romantic green spaces in the country, whilst getting to know their creators and fascinating stories along the way.
England in Springtime is a burst of activity and colour; giving us lime trees at Sissinghurst, rhododendrons at Stourhead and the wisteria walk at Wisley. These are just 3 of many gardens featured on this virtual tour.
So pour yourself a cup of tea and have a generous slice of cake on the side, as England in Springtime is coming your way.
VIRTUAL LEGAL LONDON WITH ROWAN
Explore Legal London with a former lawyer
£10 per person
The Royal Courts of Justice and the Inner and Middle Temple lie at the very heart of the English Legal System, but few Londoners other than lawyers ever visit and even most lawyers do not know their history. The Courts are a masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture, and the Temple contains some of London’s most beautiful late seventeenth and eighteenth century vernacular architecture, and one of London’s oldest churches. Rowan, a former lawyer, knows the area well. Learn the history and listen to the stories on his virtual tour!
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WRITING LONDON: FROM CHAUCER TO BRIDGET JONES
VIRTUAL TOUR WITH EMILY LAURENCE BAKER
History through the Lens of Literature
£10 per person
London's development is reflected in its literature. This 50-minute virtual tour with Emily Laurence Baker, traces London’s development from the perspective of well-known writings and authors, encompassing many of London’s best-known neighbourhoods. We’ll begin in Southwark with the pilgrims of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales and end there with Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones. In between, we’ll travel all around London with characters and life stories of Charles Dickens, Hilary Mantel and Virginia Woolf, among others.
CANALSIDE WALK
WITH ROWAN
Virtual Tour
The canal is the ultimate back street. Join Rowan as we walk (virtually) along the Grand Union Canal from Ladbroke Grove to Little Venice, see the boats and buildings, old and new, which we pass (on screen) and learn the stories of the people who lived and worked in them.
A WALK IN THE PARKS WITH EMILY LAURENCE BAKER
Explore London's Green Spaces
It’s Spring! Fancy a walk in the park? One of London’s most distinctive features is its varied parks, from the formal layouts of St James’s Park to the broad open expanse of Hampstead Heath. Greater London has more than 1000 parks and green spaces, making this city one of the greenest in the world.
But how did they come about? What’s the difference between the royal parks and other green spaces? And is it true that the Queen could change her mind at any moment and forbid the public from visiting Royal Parks?
In this virtual tour with Emily Laurence Baker, we’ll wander amongst the 12,000 roses of Regent’s Park, past the numerous waterfowl that call St James Park home and hear why Green Park is just that – green.
As we explore, we’ll learn about the development of London’s open spaces and how the Royal Parks evolved from former hunting grounds of England’s early monarchs. We’ll hear about the care and management of parks and also a bit about their future. Will they always be here for visitors and residents to enjoy?
Pack a picnic and let’s enjoy the sunshine!
THE DARK SIDE OF LONDON
WITH EMILY DELL
£10 per person
London is a delightful place, but every great City has skeletons in the closet and London has so many that the closet is about ready to burst. From terrifying murders, heads being placed on spikes, deceitful deals and of course sex scandals. Join me on this virtual tour and let's unravel London's darkest secrets.
VIRTUAL MAYFLOWER IN LONDON
WITH EMILY LAURENCE BAKER
Exploring Pilgrims' Heritage with a Mayflower Descendent
£10 per person
As a Mayflower descendant, I have a personal interest in the saga of the passengers who bravely left England for the new world on a rather rickety ship. This 50-minute virtual tour explores the background story of the Pilgrims before they left England, as well as London’s role in journey preparations. We’ll look at some of the myths that surround the voyage and first settlement and ponder why such a small group of settlers achieved almost mythical status in the formation of America.