Shakespeare's London Walking Tour - bards, brothels and bawdy bankside
When
Selected Thursday afternoons from Spring / Summer 2023.
Where
Starts from outside the Barrowboy & Banker pub near London Bridge station. Check confirmation email for further details.
Your trip to London would not be complete without exploring the life and neighbourhood of William Shakespeare and his contemporaries, so a trip to Bankside is a must!
Shakespeare’s Bankside was a packed, turbulent, and rowdy pleasure quarter, while today it is arguably the most vibrant, creatively diverse arts and entertainment cultural centre in London.
He may have died over 400 years ago, but there are still remnants of Shakespeare’s London, which we will explore on our walking tour. We will follow in the footsteps of the Bard, visiting the sites of not just Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre but also three other Elizabethan theatres including The Rose Playhouse where Shakespeare met contemporary Christopher Marlowe and premiered his very first plays Titus Andronicus and Henry VI in 1594.
During the tour it will become clear that Bankside was not just a theatre district, but a complex mix of adult entertainment, brothels, and taverns. We will pass by a famous cathedral, discover the remains of Winchester Palace, and hear about the bishop’s particular way of licensing prostitution. And for those foodies, we will pass through the ancient and vibrant Borough Market, and finish the tour at one of the most atmospheric pubs in London.
Highlights
- Discover the surprising history of the Globe Theatre
- Enjoy the company of an expert who has worked at the Globe and the Rose Theatres
- Discover ancient hidden sites including a napoleonic cannon and a waterman’s seat!
- Locate the stunning remains of the ancient Winchester Palace and hear about the vibrant sex industry in Tudor London.
- Find out about the sordid and macabre side of London, including the location of an old prison
- Available Dates
Available dates are in highlighted, Unavailable dates are greyed out
