As a tour guide, you tend to try and focus on what you can actually see around London. So this week’s blog is a little odd in that it’s all about something that no longer exists. Happily though, there are clues which aid our imagination.......
Since COVID-19 has hugely affected the tourism and travel industry, I’ve been offering fun, inspiring tours virtually.
If you’re interested in exploring London neighbourhoods with me you can join my virtual tour series (find out more here) or enjoy bitesize snippets that I filmed on Instagram Live below.
The Look Up London Live virtual tours are on hold for the time being while I focus on my Virtual Tour Membership but happily there are 25 tours exploring the hidden London neighbourhoods below!
Virtual London Walking Tours – Search on the Map
Virtual London Walking Tours – Search Alphabetically
A - Aldgate
ALDGATE
Uncover the story of a girl buried 2,000 years ago, a wonderfully moving sculpture and a big surprise behind some contemporary architecture!
B - Bethnal Green, Bloomsbury, Borough
Bethnal Green
From tragedies to toys, in this episode we’re in East London uncovering the unusual history behind institutions!
Bloomsbury
In Part I of our virtual Bloomsbury tour we encounter creepy crawlies, a jaw-dropping rooftop view and a mummified head…
Watch Part I here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=248429906471811
In Part II of our virtual Bloomsbury tour we uncover two brilliant museums in Bloomsbury; The Foundling Museum and Charles Dickens Museum, as well as a hotel with a chilling link to the Titanic…
Watch Part II here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2639779422972242
Borough
This video explores London’s naughtier side, like the Medieval sex industry, cheeky pub behaviour and – to restore the balance – inspiring female philanthropists!
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=506157173672821
C - Camden Town, Chelsea, City of London, Covent Garden
Camden Town
Explore Camden Town’s alternative music and fashion history hotspots! On the tour we keep our eyes peeled for curious remnants that tells us about Camden’s colourful past…
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=884198668744448
Chelsea
We’re in Chelsea this week, looking at Royal remains, historic gardens and eccentric neighbours!
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=507823523285401
City of London
Discover two extraordinary public spaces in the City; Guildhall and St Mary Aldermanbury.
We explore Roman ruins, a Saint that met a grisly end and a hidden park with a Shakespeare connection!
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=209281443719154
Covent Garden
In this video we explore the hidden alleys, powerful landowners, quirky details and the surprising history of the West End!
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2917316041657735
G - Greenwich
Greenwich
We’re in Maritime Greenwich in search of Royal palaces, breathtaking interiors and how you can walk under the Thames…
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2003005336498360
H - Hampstead
Hampstead
We’re in picturesque Hampstead in search of its watery origins and visiting some of the most jaw-dropping viewpoints, ceilings and gardens in London!
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2609870832616395
(Just to add, in the video when I mentioned Hampstead Station opened in 1860, that was Hampstead Heath railway station, the tube station where we start only opened in 1907!)
M - Marylebone, Mayfair
Marylebone
From badly behaved soldiers and royal surprises to some exquisite artwork, enjoy some hidden history…
Watch Part I here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=536954857018674
(Apologies for the screen recording, had a bit of a technical issue saving the original recording and so it’s a little out of sync sound-wise. Hopefully you can still enjoy the historic facts!)
We’re back in Marylebone for a virtual history tour. In this episode we uncover a jaw-dropping home, secret burial grounds and intrepid female spies!
Watch Part II here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2614438502161023
Mayfair
We’re in swanky Mayfair for this virtual walking tour, but as well as the well-heeled aristocrats and royals there’s also scandalous courtesans!
Watch Part I here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=626888641376189
N - Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Discover the unusual history behind its street plan, admire the colourful streets and hear the story behind the famous Portobello Road!
Watch Part I here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=654579171767996
We’re back in Notting Hill to discover the origins of the Carnival, questionable architecture and why you wouldn’t want to visit in the 19th Century!
Watch Part II here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=629701157616186
T - Temple, Tower Hill, Trafalgar Square
Temple
Delve into the hidden streets of Temple, admiring an Elizabethan hall, 12th century church and quite possibly London’s strangest cherubs…
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2980429211980242
Tower Hill
In this video we explore Tower Hill, discovering beautiful hidden gardens and a 17th century Londoner who had his own way of coping with a City-wide panic.
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=208844606996411
Trafalgar Square
Think it’s just for tourists and you know everything about it? Think again! We’re on the hunt for some surprising hidden history in one of London’s tourist hotspots!
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=522253661810029
S - Shad Thames, Smithfield, Soho, South Kensington, Spitalfields, St James's
Shad Thames
We’re crossing Tower Bridge into Shad Thames for this virtual tour. Discover the inner workings of London’s iconic bridge, beautiful industrial survivors and memorials to surprising heroes!
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=267275724441973
Smithfield
Discover hushed cloisters with some surprisingly gruesome history, oh and London’s oldest house!
Watch Part I here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=836741770155489
Hear about the cruel behaviour of Kings and Queens, a Sherlock connection and a surprising hidden masterpiece!
Watch Part II here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=251599115883526
Soho
Soho is bursting with stories, we lift a lid on some of the extraordinary artists, scientists, entrepreneurs and musicians packed into this small grid of streets.
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=572577126988054
South Kensington
Discover ‘Albertopolis’ in the first part of out South Kensington virtual walking tour. Uncover secret tunnels, a weird leftover and step inside one of London’s more impressive spaces!
Watch Part I here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=265579508177221
In the second part of our South Kensington virtual tour we explore some of the best bits of the V&A, plus two jaw-dropping and unique London buildings…
Watch Part II here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1088046014899464
Spitalfields
An emotional statue, forgotten Tudor mansion and quite possibly my favourite bit of typography in London!
Watch Part I here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=661117731349099
In Part II we’re on the hunt for hidden details on Fournier Street, a secret synagogue and a 17th century female entrepreneur!
Watch Part II here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=772340373295501
St James’s
We’re in swanky St James’s in search of some of London’s oldest shops, secret courtyards and a peek behind exclusive doors…
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2767910463307932
W - Wapping, Waterloo, Whitechapel
Wapping
Join me for a tour of Wapping to uncover lots of hidden history, tales of pirates and fantastic riverside pubs!
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2542850579297996
Waterloo
A wonderful street, a beautiful former hospital and a railway for the dead…
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=246514713416804
(FYI when I said Brentford in the video, I very much meant Brookwood Cemetery!)
Whitechapel
Often the focus is crime and poverty but on this tour we’re also uncovering philanthropic heroes and commemorating important community figures.
Watch here; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=937302466716196
London History Blog Posts
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I might have reached peak geek with this blog post but I’m very happy about it. Along Idol Lane – right by the gorgeous St Dunstan-in-the-East Garden – you can find an extravagant bollard. Not only is it decorated with the City of London crest......