The Perilous Path of the Great Fire of London
Tour description
“A most horrid malicious bloody flame? It made me weep to see it" were the sad words the diarist Samuel Pepys used when fire ravaged through the old City of London in September 1666.
Join me on this fascinating adventure through the oldest part of the City of London tracing the path the flames took on those five fateful days in September 1666. Hear how the flames engulfed London's greatest institutions and monuments from magnificent churches with elegant spires to imposing halls and markets which were the very lifeblood of commerce and trade in 17th Century London. How did the people escape the flames and react as fear, panic and fury gripped rich and poor alike? And see how a vibrant and modern City rose from the ashes as one of London's greatest architects Sir Christopher Wren built his awe inspiring legacy
Whilst the story of the Great Fire of London runs throughout this tour there are many other great tales to enjoy. Hear about great characters in the city's long history - Dick Whittington, Gog and Magog and Rahere – who founded London’s oldest hospital. Learn how the City became such a centre of wealth and importance over the centuries with it’s vibrant City Guilds. Some of London’s darkest secrets are revealed from revolting jails to sinister body snatchers who preyed on freshly buried corpses and places of execution and murder. We finish the tour in Smithfield, one of the most historic parts of London, with the Greatest Ghost story in London’s history.