Castles, Crusaders, Communists & Courts
5
Castles, Crusaders, Communists & Courts
By Ye Olde England Tours
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About
Get a taste of real London as we explore narrow lanes & see a different side to London. Starting at Smithfields, where William Wallace of Braveheart fame met his terrible end.
At St. Barts we will hear how one of the oldest hospitals in the world came to be created by a Crusader after a close encounter with a Saint & explore some of the places that were built as a result.
Nearby Charterhouse started off as a Priory. It also sits next to one of the biggest known plague pits in London, we can see the remains of an unfortunate victim who was recently unearthed.
See old gatehouse of the Knights of St John and see some of their great treasures & pass through old Dickensian Clerkenwell whose terrible poverty saw the first meeting between Lenin & Stalin.
See beautiful streets & squares of one of the most prominent legal districts in London including the largest (& unvisited) square in London before we finish at the end of famous old Fleet Street outside the Royal Courts of Justice.
Free cancellation • Full refund if cancelled up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time).
Reserve now & pay later • Secure your spot while staying flexible.
Lowest price guarantee • Find a lower price online? Get the difference refunded!
Ages 5-99
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- In-person guide
- Entry/Admission - Church of St. Bartholomew the Great
What's not included- Tube travel, before or after the tour.
- Entry/Admission - St. Paul's Cathedral
- Entry/Admission - Old Bailey
- Entry/Admission - The Viaduct Tavern
- Entry/Admission - London
- Entry/Admission - Marx Memorial Library
- Entry/Admission - Royal Courts of Justice
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
- Option 1Panyer Alley, City of London, London EC2V 6AA, UKJust outside St Pauls Underground Station by Caffe Nero
- Option 2Farringdon Station, Cowcross St, London EC1M 6BY, UKAn alternative starting point just outside the station.
Pickup details- Please let us know your hotel details if you would like us to meet you in the lobby and then travel by Tube to the tour starting point at Farringdon, otherwise we'd meet just outside Farringdon Station.
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.End:- The Royal Courts of Justice (Stop M), London WC2A 2LL, UKJust outside The Royal Courts, a short walk from Temple Underground Station.
- Wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 8607P71- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- We have earmarked this tour as especially safe during the Coronavirus outbreak due to generally quiet places that we visit where social distancing is generally not a problem. All of our tours are private so it is just you/your family and your guide. To make it easier and safer for all concerned we would suggest starting this tour a little later than the usual time, perhaps around 10.30-11am which allows us all to miss rush-hour. We are happy to still come to your hotel to meet you but for the moment we would suggest meeting us at the tour starting point. This allows you to arrive by a taxi or uber rather than public transport. Please feel free to wear masks throughout or at times during the tour. Your guide will also have a mask with them.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 8607P71
From
£175.00
per adult (price varies by group size)
Select date and travellers
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- LightPacker7402720 contributionsBeautiful location and delicious food!We came here to celebrate someone's 60th birthday. The location of the hotel is beautiful. Unfortunately, we didn't book a room to stay-in so I can't comment on the rooms. The restaurant itself was spacious and has a great view of the lake. We came during lunch time. They offer a 2-course and 3-course meal. They also offer a children's menu. Overall, we loved the selection offered to us. The meals we ordered were all delicious. The portions were great too, even for the kids' portions. My kids who are usually picky eaters loved their meals too. On top of this, service was great. The staff are kind. They surprised the celebrant with a bday dessert at the end, and they also kindly gave us milk for my baby's bottle. I definitely would go back to this place again. Remember to book though as it was full when we went.Written 16 March 2025
- Naughty-Nosha0 contributionsRAF HendonDidn't do the tour (nonTour not listed) but a well laid out set of hangers. Easy to find, free large carpark and free entry!! Nice on site café with good variety of basic meals! Highly recommend.Written 23 January 2025
- JudyH4100 contributionsEdinburgh must seeGreat! We enjoyed touring the castle and could have spent many more hours seeing it all. Highlights were the Scottish Crown Jewels, and the small chapel. We were fortunate to be there in August and attend the Military Tattoo on the Castle esplanade.Written 10 December 2024
- Sara C0 contributionsFun and Interesting way to spend an evening in Oakham. Highly RecommendStephen is extremely well versed in all things historical and is also very personable. We had a fun tour around town visiting four pubs with a drink included at each stop. He had anecdotes about the pubs’ history and also lesser-known facts about the town I grew up in. Entertaining for locals and visitors - a perfect balance of history and beer! We look forward to doing another one of Stephen’s tours in the future. Especially as he is totally open to customize any tour to suit your interest and the price is very reasonable.Written 30 November 2024
- Sunshine038505368030 contributionsFascinating historical tourA very entertaining and educational experience. There is so much to learn about the wharf areas of london. Kevin, our guide, is exceptionally knowledgable. He added a rich layer of insight to the known history of the area and pointed out the non obvious. I highly recommend this tour.Written 28 November 2024
- beckyah040 contributionsA important City Filled with History and KindnessWhat a charming and delightful city! Me, my Daddy, my brother Brad and my Mum have decided to do the walking tour of Lincoln of the attractions of Lincoln that I never been before and the attractions in Lincoln were excellent and more important to other people when visiting Lincoln and I done the walking tour of Lincoln back in December 2012 when I was a young girl that I was in awe of the history, diversity and genuine kindness of the people we encountered.Written 21 November 2024
- ToffeeDee0 contributionsWonderful Living MuseumWe always wanted to visit the museum and we were not disappointed. We had a wonderful experience visiting all the different area's. The staff are excellent and very knowledgeable throughout the park. We visited over two days as you need that time in our opinion to take it all in.Written 18 November 2024
- C2271IUtonym0 contributionsA walk through the history of the North EastSo much better than a normal museum mainly because of all the volunteer workers who interact in character and know so much about the era they are representing. The visit to the mine will live long in my memory as I had to bend so low to walk how on earth the miners managed is beyond me. Seeing pictures of miners working in an 18” high seam made me wonder how much of their body was covered in cuts and bruises and no doubt scabs. I have a greater understanding of the courage of these people now. The rest of the museum was as good especially the 1950s street but it’s churlish to pick one over the over. A great day for all the family for sureWritten 14 November 2024
- Shimmer19640 contributionsOn holidayWe visited here it's not cheap to get in but it's a year pass so if you come more than once it's worth it , but brilliant place to visit goes back in time it's a memory trip can spend hours inWritten 13 November 2024
- 752claref0 contributionsBloomsbury Walking tourAn informative and enjoyable walk around Bloomsbury learning about the famous and creative past inhabitants. Stephen was a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide with a very easy manner and a relaxed way of delivering information and facts. Great fun as a late birthday treat. He even laid on the sunshine (well, possibly!)Written 19 October 2024
- ChicagoJal20010 contributionsBest tour guide ever!Marty was a fabulously entertaining guide. He went into great detail, and thoroughly answered all our questions. If you take this tour, ask for Marty!Written 12 October 2024
- derekw9930 contributionsTop class tour, top class company, top class guideOn the strength of a brilliant and informative tour of Lincoln with Ye Olde England tours and our guide Stephen we booked Stamford and Oakham Private Tour. Once again this was a well thought out and delivered tour covering both the highlights and the lesser know little gems of these very different towns. Stephen met us in Oakham where he is now based and straightaway we knew that his vast knowledge of his subject and easy style would prove to be a winner as we explored this beautiful Rutland town before moving on to Stamford where once again we were treated to an informative tour of both the major and not so well known sites. Our day finished with an add on visit to picturesque Rutland Water and the beautiful and iconic Normanton Church. If you are looking for an informative and interesting tour delivered in a friendly and fun style then you can't go wrong with Ye Olde England ToursWritten 9 October 2024
- derekw9930 contributions5* Lincoln tour with a 5* guideHaving chosen to visit Lincoln on a short break we decided that the best way to get to the heart of the City and its history was on a private walking tour and so we booked with Ye Olde England Tours and boy did we make the right choice. Stephen, our guide for the day was absolutely amazing, from meeting us at our accommodation right through to the end of the tour he was perfect, his depth of knowledge together with his easy, relaxed style and sense of humour make him the perfect host. With Stephen we got to see not just the big tourist highlights but other lesser known places of interest around the city that we simply would never have even known about much less visited had we been on our own. I cannot recommend Ye Olde England Tours and Stephen highly enough, so much so that we booked for another Lincolnshire tourWritten 9 October 2024
- todayisthebest0 contributions"The handshake" Please encourage men today to join and help othersHappy to say, Kevin was our guide again. My husband and Kevin are Free Masons - hence "The handshake" Please encourage men today to join and learn how to help others.Written 3 October 2024
- Miranda C0 contributionsFantastic Secret Gardens of London Walking TourPlease request Kevin for your next tour in London! He is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about History. He is a fantastic storyteller and narrator as well. He takes good care of the people on his tour and makes you feel safe on the busy streets of London. Your time will be well spent with him!Written 3 October 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Sergio J
Baja96 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Seriously the most cool walking tour available in London. No tourists. Just you, Stephen and the an insiders view at some of the most overlooked places with the most amazing pieces of London history: the place where William Wallace (of Braveheart fame) was drawn and quartered, the Templar church (yes, those of the Crusades), the bar where Stalin and Lenin argued (naturally just a few steps from the Karl Marx institute), the Old Bailey, the houses Dickens used as inspiration for Bleak House and Scrooge (and where the boy bought the Christmas goose), the Priory of St John (yes! the ambulance guys to this day!) and so very much more. It is an amazing trip through history and the personalities and proclivities that shaped it. Very much off the beaten tourist path. Highly recommend!
Written 5 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
That was such a good day. I'm so glad that you enjoyed this tour as I had created it during Covid and of course had no takers for a year or two. I'm really glad you enjoyed it as much as I did and am very appreciative of your lovely review.
Written 7 February 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.