English.
Christmas Walks, Christopher Wren's London, City churches, Crime and punishment, Evening walks, Gardens and open spaces, General city tour, Great Fire of London, Guildhall Art Gallery, Journalism and the press, Literary tours, Livery companies, Medieval London, Pub tours, Religion, River Thames, Romans, Romantic walks, Samuel Johnson, Samuel Pepys, Seasonal, St Paul's Cathedral, Wartime, Women.
Hello! As well as being a City of London guide I'm also a producer of TV history documentaries which have included C4's Time Team and the BBC series Monty Don's Italian Gardens - experience which I hope helps me to bring a storyteller's ear and eye to my guided walks. Oh and I'm also a published crime novelist :)
I am passionate about the extraordinary 2000-year history of the City of London - the capital's ancient heart - and keen to share that passion.
My walks are limited to 12 people to enhance personal interaction and I'm delighted to say that my walkers come back again and again! The walks - usually around 90 minutes - take us into the City's hidden corners to discover its eye-opening stories - the quirky, the unexpected as well as the bigger historical events - while always aiming to leave my guests with a smile on their face. We tend to end up at a pub for those who fancy a natter and a drink/lunch.
If you are interested in upcoming walks please sign up for my occasional newsletter over at londonhistorywalks.co.uk
I also love devising bespoke private tours whether for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, or for organisations - my recent bookings included two major media organisations, a firm of lawyers, two City charities, and a group of US college students.
Check out my 24 five-star reviews on Trip Advisor -
https://tinyurl.com/3an338h2
Tours cover a wide range of themes but here are a few of my most popular walks
Troublesome Women - from medieval merchants to pinstriped brokers, the City has traditionally been run by men. This walk uncovers the sometimes astonishing history of women and their contribution to the economic and political life of the City. We meet Boudica and Georgian silversmiths, the medieval women who ran 14th century brewing, a cross-dressing criminal mastermind, and the scandalous Victorian barmaid turned Lady who saved a key City landmark for posterity.
City of Words - Toerags and Tenterhooks. Discover the extraordinary number of words and sayings that the City has given us over the centuries. The language of the streets, of trade, crafts, and the imported words of immigrants. But it also gave us words and phrases that still survive today
Londinium AD43 - what the Romans did for us. The extraordinary stamp they left on London to this day in the shape of ruined temples, public baths, and 7000 seat amphitheatre - and one of the City's most stunning gardens!
To receive a (very occasional) newsletter with upcoming walks, sign up here!
https://www.londonhistorywalks.co.uk
A small selection of Trip Advisor reviews:
'Alison is wonderful! She is mine of relevant of knowledge and presents it with humour and inclusivity. Most importantly, the walk wasn't rushed and it felt like we were strolling with a group of friends.' - Alan H, Wanstead.
'Cannot recommend enough! Alison had a clear structure and communication from the start, ensuring all of us on the tour understood everything and could follow along the entire tour. Very engaging and knowledgable, I learned a lot and can’t wait for the next one! - Mathilda, London SW11
'We learnt so much from Alison who is knowledgeable, engaging and can spin a great yarn with warmth and good humour. Our dog Billie, who is quite a history buff, was made very welcome and greatly enjoyed her walk.' - Paul, Twickenham
'Alison gave us a superb mixture of erudition and humour. I felt I'd really learned something new about London, though have lived here all my life, and the tour is well-named -- there really were secret gardens on the trail.' - Jane, West London.
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