Hi - new here and cannot figure out how to search this forum. Apologies as I'm sure this is a common question. Looking for recommendations for private tour guides for walking tours in London. We enjoy walking with a knowledgeable trained and licensed guide with interesting stories, and facts about neighborhoods. We'd like to tour Spitalfields either a Jewish history tour, Huegenot history, or architectural. I'd love any suggestions from personal experience if you know someone or have taken a similar walkabout. TIA
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14818 posts
Many of us have done walks with the London Walks company. You can organized private walking tours as well.
www.walks.com
Another group is London City Guides and although I’ve never walked with them I will work one in some time, lol. There is also a guides page which lists their credentials and areas of interest.
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
3895 posts
Another thumbs up for the London Walks Company.
Look at their website for an amazing variety of walks to choose from.
All their walks and guides are excellent.
Posted by
Land of La
9261 posts
3’s a charm!
London Walks: Excellent, informative, inexpensive, reasonable sized groups. I enjoy one each visit. Last year Inns of the Courts.
Been traveling to London since’72. Trust me Spitalfields has gone through major changes since then. From grungy to gentrified. It’s a favorite site and I meander about each trip. If you like vinyl records see if your dates coincide with Vinyl Fridays on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month.,
FYI regarding the search engine on this website.
On the banner where it reads Rick Steves Europe you should see 5 horizontal lines on the left. Click on them, Search box should open.
Posted by
Louisiana, USA
370 posts
Have to agree with the others and suggest London Walks. We've done several walks and they were all great. Also did a day trip to Salisbury and Stonehenge that was top notch.
Posted by
689 posts
Hi RB,
Regarding Huguenot history, you may want to tour the Dennis Severs House (prior sign-up required). We did so exactly a year ago. Very interesting private museum. His imagined home environment from Huguenots and more. Sound effects. Talking discouraged. Afterwards, visitors can buy unique faux-historic matchboxes plus beeswax candles typical of the era.
We actually have done a recent TR about that London trip, one that shows a fair deal of Spitalfields. It is a quirky mix of imagery, music, humor and tips. It is really looooooong and we just put the finishing touches to it last night. The title is ‘Back to Brick’.
One can view it over on Fodors forum, where I go by ‘zebec’.
I am done. the TR
https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/back-to-brick-london-tr-w-fotos-1715655/
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5865 posts
I took this London Walk a number of years ago (before the pandemic). While it has been a while, It covered Spitalfields and we also went into the Bevis Marks synagogue. I always recommend London Walks as they consistently have excellent guides.
https://www.walks.com/our-walks/the-old-jewish-quarter/
Posted by
OP
Bellevue WA
2 posts
Thanks, everyone! This is really helpful!
Posted by
SF Bay Area
330 posts
I second Dennis Severs' house. Well worth doing!
& we've also been doing London Walks for decades. Always top notch.