Shakespeare's Crazy London Tour
Do you want to explore the London of William Shakespeare? Walk in his footsteps and discover what his plays were really about.
Our tour begins in Guildhall Yard, where a bust of the bard stares back at you. Standing next to a building he would have known well—the 600-year-old Guildhall—you will learn what brought him to these streets, all the way from his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon.
As we wander round the corner, you will find yourself in a hidden churchyard with another bust of Shakespeare. Why is it there? The answer lies beneath our feet, where actors John Heminges and Henry Condell are buried.
You will then journey down streets with peculiar names, most of which have remained the same since Shakespeare’s era, before arriving at a plaque. This is where wigmaker Christopher Mountjoy lived with his family in 1604. But why was this location a part of Shakespeare’s life in London?
As you trace surviving elements of London’s Roman and medieval city walls, you will come across statues of leopard heads. What can they tell us about Shakespeare’s London and why he moved here in the first place?
After more winding lanes, suddenly St Paul’s Cathedral appears. Although the English Baroque dome would not have been known to Shakespeare, he would have seen the original church daily, as it was by far the tallest building in London at that time.
Crossing the street, you’ll find yourself in a secret courtyard with a plaque that mentions the King’s Wardrobe. From the monarchs to the Shakespearean actors, clothing was a vital visual element of Elizabethan flair, and you’ll find out just how expensive it was to get hold of some good klobber.
After a few steps downhill, a tall statue appears, with seven heads placed one on top of the other. This monument commemorates one of Shakespeare’s former theatres, known as Blackfriars Theatre.
Your tour ends along the River Thames with a stunning view of Shakespeare’s Globe, the Elizabethan-style theatre that was rebuilt in the spirit of the original. You’ll understand why, unlike the Blackfriars Theatre, it was only partially roofed, and you’ll also hear how the first Globe Theatre burnt down during a live performance.
Tour Duration: 2 Hours
Meeting Point: Guildhall Yard
End Point: Milllennium Bridge