This eye-opening tour with historian Dr Matthew Green will transport you through the different ages of Bankside, London’s historic strip of depravity and debauchery. From bear pits to brothels, graveyards and playhouses, you’ll discover how medieval Bankside was traditionally immune to the authority of the City of London. You’ll also learn about the world from which Shakespeare’s writing sprung, giving you a fresh understanding of how London’s social history and literature are intertwined.
The tour begins at Wren’s Church of St Magnus the Martyr, on the north bank of The Thames. You’ll then walk to London Bridge to enjoy a panoramic view of the city, with Matthew evoking the timbered houses, taverns and shops that once bulged beyond the bridge’s 19 arches. After a pint at the George Inn, you’ll immerse yourself in the sinful world of historic Bankside, hearing about the Bishop of Winchester’s medieval palace and the unsavoury conditions in the Clink, London’s worst prison.
Along the way, the tour provides magnificent juxtapositions between historic and present-day Bankside, home to cultural landmarks such as Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and the London Eye. By the end of the tour, you’ll have a richer appreciation of Bankside’s social and literary history, and how the city’s past continues to shape its present.
More about your teacher…
Dr. Matthew Green is the author of the acclaimed book London: A Travel Guide Through Time, which has been described by the Londonist as ‘easily the best social history of London for a decade’. He also writes historical features for the Guardian and Financial Times among others, and has contributed to many TV and radio documentaries. He’s the founder of Unreal City Audio and tweets as @drmatthewgreen.
Details
Date: Sunday 21 August 2016
Times: 1.30pm-5.30pm
Location: Meeting point – outside the Church of St Magnus the Martyr, London EC3R 6DN. Click here to view a map
Price: £49 (includes VAT, booking fee and refreshments)
Event capacity: 24
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