BESPOKE HERITAGE TOUR IN LONDON

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Dive into the captivating history of London!

Welcome to London, a city that has influences from virtually all over the world. I have enjoyed discovering and studying these over many years, which means I can now identify and showcase a huge amount of sights and knowledge to share with you during my London Black Cab Tour.

Below is a condensed history to outline the sort of thing we can do in a day on one of my London tours. However these tours will vary tremendously depending on you. We literally have a blank page!

Remember, the best way to experience London’s history is through the eyes of a local. And who better to guide you than me, a London Cabbie and fully qualified taxi tour guide. I know every nook and cranny of this city, and I’m always ready with a fascinating fact or a funny anecdote.

Roman history

London’s story begins nearly 2,000 years ago when the Romans established Londinium in 47 AD. Picture yourself standing on the banks of the Thames, watching as this small settlement grows into a bustling port city.

As we drive through the narrow streets in my London black cab, I will show you the remains of the old London Wall. Built circa 200 AD, it stretched over two miles to protect the city from invaders. Today, portions of it can still be found dispersed across certain tucked away areas of the city.

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WHAT'S THE DEAL?

From £440
Min 4 hours

Hotel or central London postcode pickup and drop-off

Price is per tour not per person (max 6 people in my cab)

Bottled water and snacks

Live commentary on board

MEDIEVAL LONDON

Fast forward a few centuries, and we find ourselves in medieval London. The year is 1066, and William the Conqueror has just seized control of England and crowned himself King William I at Westminster Abbey. Can you imagine the excitement and fear in the air? It’s during this time that London truly begins to take shape as the heart of England.

Now, let me tell you about one of my favorite landmarks – the Tower of London. Construction began in 1078 under William I, and it’s been standing guard over our city ever since. The Tower of London has seen it all over its lifetime! A Royal Palace, a place of execution, a prison, the Royal Mint and now home to the most famous jewels in the World – the Crown Jewels. If those walls could talk, oh the stories they’d tell!

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The Black Death and other disasters

London’s history isn’t all kings and castles though. In 1348, we faced one of our darkest times – the Black Death. It wiped out nearly half of London’s population, which was about 50,000 at the time. But Londoners are a resilient bunch, and we bounced back stronger than ever.

Speaking of resilience, the Great Fire of 1666 was another disaster that destroyed 60% of the city, but from those ashes rose the magnificent St. Paul’s Cathedral and many other iconic buildings that we can see today.

As we roll into the 18th century, London became the beating heart of the British Empire. Our population exploded from 1 million in 1800 to a whopping 6.7 million just a century later.

Public domain image showing the bubonic plague in London circa 1665
Public domain image showing the Great Fire of London at Ludgate and old St Paul's in London

War time London

Of course, we can’t forget the more recent history. The Blitz of 1940-1941 tested our mettle once again, but Londoners stood strong. And in the 1950s, we welcomed waves of immigrants from the Commonwealth, adding vibrant new threads to our cultural tapestry.

Modern times

Today, as I drive you past the gleaming skyscrapers of the financial district in the city of London, it’s amazing to think that this same area was once the center of Roman Londinium as we discussed earlier. From Tower Bridge to Big Ben, from the winding alleyways of the East End to the grand leafy suburbs of the West, every street has a story to tell.

So hop in my London Black cab, and let’s explore this incredible city together. Whether you’re interested in royal history, wartime tales, music, film locations, culinary hotspots or just the everyday lives of Londoners through the ages, I’ve got a tour for you. After all, in London, you’re never more than a stone’s throw away from history.

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