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Booze, Brothels & the Bard: London's Bawdy Borough

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About the activity

Travel through a thousand years of history, meeting William Shakespeare, medieval 'Winchester Geese' prostitutes, Charles Dickens, and the wonderfully named Doorkins Magnificat!

  • Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
  • Instant confirmation & Mobile tickets
    Receive your ticket right away. Use your phone or print your voucher.
  • Live guiding
    English
  • Duration
    2 hours
  • Includes
    • Guide
    • Tips
Highlights & Description

Highlights

  • Explore Southwark with a guide and learn why its known as London's Bawdy Borough
  • Discover over a millenium of history filled with debauchery and seedy goings-on
  • See two notorious prisons and what remains of the Bishop of Winchester's palace
  • Uncover Charles Dicken's connection to London's infamous neighbourhood
  • Visit London's largest and oldest market and Shakespeare's famous Globe Theatre

Description

Travel through a thousand years of history, meeting William Shakespeare, medieval 'Winchester Geese' prostitutes, Charles Dickens, the ghost of a nineteenth century pub landlady, and the wonderfully named Doorkins Magnificat!

On our walking tour we'll visit the areas around Borough and Bankside, which being outside the jurisdiction of the City of London were for centuries the site of seedy goings on. We'll learn how the area had been notorious for prostitution since the arrival of the Romans, visit the locations of Southwark's two most notorious prisons of which parts can still be seen today, take in the sights of a millennium-old market, view the remains of a medieval palace, and find Shakespeare's Globe Theatres both old and new!

The walking tour begins outside Borough Station, ends near to London Bridge Station, and will take around two hours. Total distance is about two miles.

Ticket sales will be limited to fifteen attendees, to ensure maximum enjoyment for everybody on the tour.

Good to know before you go
  • The total talking distance for this tour is 2 miles (3.2 km)
Meeting point

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the cancellation policy for this activity?
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
2. When will I receive the confirmation of my booking?
You will receive an email notification right after your successful payment. If you don't see it in your inbox, check your spam or junk mail folder. When the payment is completed you have the option to download your ticket directly.
3. Are mobile tickets enough or do I have to print them?
Tickets don't need to be printed. You can show your ticket from your smartphone as a PDF.
  • Participant
    0-99 years
May 2025
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