Friday 24th May 2024
Members: £15
Guests: £16
Escape the crowds with a gentle stroll by the water! The Thames is the heart of London and the reason for its existence. This tour starts at Tower Hill on the edge of Docklands where we will remember some of the people and institutions that made up London’s docks, before exploring the first of our docks, linked to the luxury goods trade.
The atmospheric neighbourhood of Wapping is dotted with historic riverside pubs and stories of smugglers and pirates. We will learn how this was countered with the creation of the world’s oldest uniformed police force and the creation of the 19th century cargo docks. These made London the “warehouse of the world” and we will explore some of the best-preserved stretches of Victorian warehouse architecture.
Of course nothing lasts forever, and London’s docks experienced a rapid decline between the late 1960s and late 1970s, before their most recent redevelopment and reimagining. The tour ends with a symbol of this rebirth – Canary Wharf
Meeting Time: at 5:45pm for a prompt start at 6pm
Meeting Place: just outside the exit from Tower Hill tube station, London, EC3N 4DJ
End: approx. 8pm in Wapping (5 mins walk from Wapping Overground station, or alternatively catch a bus back to Tower Hill)
Post-tour drinks: Caroline will not be booking a table for post-tour drinks, but there is a great option near the end of the tour which she can recommend
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About Your Guide
Caroline Piper is a Downing College history graduate (1997) and a London Blue Badge Tourist Guide, the highest guiding qualification available. She is passionate about history, literature, architecture, films and finding the “off the beaten track” London gems. You can find out more about her on her Piper Tours website http://pipertours.com where you can also find links to her Tripadvisor page, facebook page and memberships of professional guiding bodies. She has led regular tours for the Society for 7 years.
*Only members of the Cambridge Society of London (and their one guest) may book tickets – if you are not currently a member and would like to become one, please enrol via this link.
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Cambridge Society of London Transfer and Refund Policy
i) At least 14 calendar days before the event: We will provide full refunds (minus any booking/transaction fees, which are nonrefundable). Alternatively, if you have found a suitable replacement, we can change the name on the ticket on the understanding that you will reclaim the ticket price from them separately.
ii) Between 4 and 14 calendar days before the event: Our arrangements with our hosts are always finalised 4 calendar days before each event. With more than 4 calendar days’ notice we can still change the name to someone named by you on the understanding that you will reclaim the ticket price from them separately. Alternatively, we MIGHT be able to sell it to someone else; there is no guarantee of that but we will do our best and then refund you if successful.
iii) Less than 4 calendar days: We regret that we cannot offer refunds if given less than 4 calendar days’ notice.