The Royal Arsenal Tour: From the Battlefield to the Football field

I’m Richard Smith‑Gore, museum manager, tour guide, and enthusiastic trouble‑stirrer in the world of British history. For more than twenty years I’ve been running some of the country’s most fascinating heritage sites, from Charles Darwin’s home to Eltham Palace, Rangers House, and the Royal Artillery Museum. My CV says I’m “highly experienced in inspiring teams and delivering exceptional visitor experiences” which is a polite way of saying I’ve spent two decades convincing people that history is far too entertaining to be left in dusty display cases.

I founded Royal Arsenal Tours after the closure of Firepower so I could keep sharing Woolwich’s best stories. The heroic, the bizarre, the scandalous, and the downright unbelievable. If there’s a tale involving gunpowder, ghosts, eccentric Victorians, or someone behaving in a way their mother definitely wouldn’t approve of, you can bet it’s in one of my tours.

I’m originally from Liverpool, which explains the accent, the humour, and the occasional dramatic flourish. I’ve lived in London since 1998, hence the accent not being strong, raised two grown children who claim they’re immune to my storytelling, and somehow ended up as a Magistrate in the Family Court, proof that even professional mischief‑makers can be trusted with responsibility.

These days I also work as Premises Manager at Two Temple Place, one of London’s most beautiful hidden gems, which gives me yet another historic building to poke around in. Whether I’m managing a site, guiding a tour, or telling a ghost story, I bring the same mix of solid historical knowledge, warmth, and a twinkle in the eye.

If you like your history served with humour, humanity, and a generous dash of scandal, you’re in exactly the right place.

Thames Clipper - The most fun way to get to the start of the tour is via Uber Boat by Thames Clipper
Woolwich Arsenal Station - A 5-10 minute walk from the station. Use your map to head to the Royal Arsenal Pier
Crossrail - One day we hope it will open
Bus - Various buses serve Woolwich, most stop in Beresford Square by Woolwich Arsenal Station