London‘s Alternative History Tour: Uncovering the City‘s Secrets

(283 reviews)

London audio tour: London‘s Alternative History Tour: Uncovering the City‘s Secrets

This is a 1mi walking tour

It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.

London

The United Kingdom

$9.99

Access all 27 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

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About the Tour

If you like humorous history, quirky facts and hidden surprises, this walk right in the centre of London is the tour for you.

We walk around some of London‘s most famous areas and familiar landmarks, but you won’t hear the stories kids learn at school. Having lived in London all my life, I decided to dig out the wacky parts of its history. I‘m also an avid traveller and understand the importance of experiencing a city with a local guide. But more importantly, I love sharing this city‘s amazing history!

On this tour, you’ll learn about the secret behind the flow of the River Thames, the origins of the name “Covent Garden”, and the story of a drink most wouldn‘t associate with Britain.

You‘ll also discover:

How the Americans stole coffee from the British
The only street in London that confuses taxi drivers
London‘s most notorious 18th-century brothel and the now-extinct police force that shut it down
The last Victorian gas lamp in the city
London‘s hidden Italian-style square
...and much more!

Whether you’re visiting London for the first time or are a local curious about the city‘s alternative tales, this tour is a valuable introduction to the city‘s alternative history.

Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for this walk. Plenty of cafes, restaurants, and bars are along the route for a quick (or lengthy!) stop.

Tour Producer

Joey Leskin

3 tours

Born and bred in London, Joey is a multiple-award winning travel and culture writer and the host of one of VoiceMap's most popular tours. He has visited over 70 countries and strives to immerse himself in local culture wherever he goes, with a focus on supporting authentic, sustainable and independent businesses. He believes strongly in the significance of having a local guide to really get the most out of a trip - whether in person or through your headphones.

He worked as a radio host and walking tour guide before turning his attention to international development work, while always continuing to write. He holds a Masters degree in International Relations and Global Development and is the Founder of Beer in the City, a project helping people find the best independent food and drink establishments in London and globally, often collaborating with local venues around the world. His day job right now revolves around event facilitation, communication skills training and leadership development for non-profits and charities.

Preview Location

Location 15

Somerset House Courtyard

This Square is the Somerset House Courtyard. In my opinion it's London's finest square. Stand here for a moment and take in its grandeur. Most Londoners don't even know that this exists – a huge courtyard, right in the centre of the city.

Somerset House was originally owned... This Square is the Somerset House Courtyard. In my opinion it's London's finest square. Stand here for a moment and take in its grandeur. Most Londoners don't even know that this exists – a huge courtyard, right in the centre of the city.

Somerset House was originally owned by – you guessed it – the Duke of Somerset. This harks back to our old friend Henry VIII. In his day, there were a lot of Catholic religious buildings along the Thames. He dissolved them and sold them to new landowners when he founded his new church. The new landowners built mansions and townhouses along the Thames. The Duke of Somerset waited until all the others had been built and then made sure that his was the biggest. Wonder if he had a big ego? Somerset House is also the only one that fully remains.

In front of you, there is a triangular pediment with a green dome underneath it. Can you see it?

Well, the house was initially designed by Inigo Jones in 1630 and later refurbished in 1685 by Sir Christopher Wren. It was then refurbished again by Sir William Chambers about 100 years later, partially using Jones' design. Confused yet? So, the mixture of different design styles is apparent. The architects were inspired by pillars, domes and pediments they saw in France and Italy. It was quite unusual in London the 1600s and 1700s.

The building hosted many intellectual societies over the years but for 150 years, Somerset House was home to one of the most glamorous professions. The Inland Revenue , which is the British tax service, was housed here until 2009.

Let's start walking straight-on, through the square now. As you have a look around, I'll tell you more about the architecture. The stone is taken from the Isle of Portland, which is just south of Dorset in the south of the UK. It has a very interesting chemical property: when it rains, it tends to self-clean. You'll notice that some stones are cleaner than others. That's because they're in the direct line of the rain.

Keep walking straight all the way through to the door. Above the door you'll see a sign saying "Seamen's Hall". Go inside and walk straight through the middle and out onto the veranda at the front. There also toilets here and a cafe if you do feel like a quick stop before you head out onto the front veranda. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Covent Garden
St Paul’s Church Covent Garden
Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Thames Magistrates' Court
Lyceum Theatre
Strand
Somerset House
Victoria Embankment
Waterloo Bridge
Carting Lane
Savoy Theatre
The Savoy

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
35 The Piazza, London WC2E 8BE, UK
Total distance

2km
Final location
Strand, London WC2R 0EZ, UK
Distance back to start location

240.84m

Directions to Starting Point

Apple Covent Garden, No. 1, 7 The Piazza, London WC2E 8HB, United Kingdom

Head to Covent Garden tube station on the Piccadilly line. When you're at Covent Garden tube station, turn right down the pedestrian road James Street. Walk to the bottom, then turn right under the covered walkway. You'll be outside the Apple Store. Face away from the store – this is where we begin!

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

There are a huge number of cafes, restaurants and pubs all along the route. You'll also pass the Royal Opera House and the London Transport Museum. The Coal Hole pub, at the very end of the tour, is a great historical pub to enjoy a well deserved drink!

Best time of day

Any day, between 8am and 10pm.

Precautions

As always, just ensure you look the correct way when you're crossing the roads –especially if you're used to cars driving on the right!

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App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”