Wheelchair accessible Culture & history Guided tours Tours Neighborhood tours Educational activities

Join a guide with experience of hidden homelessness on a walking tour of London Bridge. Explore lesser-known streets around the area, and learn about local history of poverty and social exclusion.

Highlights

• Explore hidden areas around London Bridge and learn about the area's history
• Discover the poignant resting place for the area's poor at Crossbones Graveyard
• Take in the stunning Southwark Cathedral, one of London's few gothic churches
• Find the original site of the Globe Theatre, and its current incarnation
• Hear tales of medieval knights, crime, ghosts, and bear-fighting dogs

Description

Join David on a fascinating Unseen Tours walking tour of the hidden areas of London Bridge. Hear about the area's history of poverty, social exclusion, and homelessness - with personal insight of David's own experience of hidden homelessness. Unseen Tours is a not-for-profit social enterprise. Our mission is to support and empower vulnerable individuals with experience of homelessness, through providing the opportunity to become a tour guide which boosts their confidence and amplifies their voices. Our brilliant guides know the local streets intimately and will show you the real London through their stories and unmatched knowledge of the area’s history. Your ticket helps our guides to earn a living doing something that they love, with the majority of our sales going back directly to them. It also allows our guides to lead conversations that challenge perceptions about homelessness and generate social change. On this tour of London Bridge, you will explore alternative areas in the south side of the Thames and discover its mystery and historical tales. Along the route, you will see Borough Market, the world’s greatest food market, a gothic cathedral, an infamous prison, and a secret archaeological dig. You will also learn about powerful symbols of inequality and social injustice, and hear sordid stories of crimes and ghosts – before ending up at one of London’s oldest pubs. Hear more from David himself: “Hi, I’m David and I have lived in London all of my life. I have had lots of jobs, mainly in industrial work, factories and warehouses. I speak English, and enjoy writing, performing poetry and lyrics, and using social media. I also like attending church and church events. Back in 2003, the landlord of the house that I was sharing with three other people wanted to terminate our tenancies. So I had to find myself a new place to live. At the same time, the firm I was working for decided to relocate, and I was told I needed to move with them if I wanted to keep my job. This meant that I couldn’t move into the new place that I had found, and I only had two weeks to find somewhere in the new area. I didn’t manage it, and this is how I became homeless for the first time. Fortunately, one of my friends let me have his room for two weeks whilst a friend of his was on holiday, enough time for me to find a new flat. A few months later, I became unwell and needed to go into hospital. Whilst I was in hospital, my new landlady terminated my tenancy. I spent six weeks in hospital and a further six weeks in a homeless hostel before being given a one bedroom flat, which I still have. My experience highlights what it means to be a ‘hidden homeless’: you would not have seen me on the street, but I was homeless nonetheless.” Wheelchair and mobility scooter accessible upon request, and pet friendly. Any donations will help our mission to train more vulnerable individuals to become tour guides and challenge stigmas around homelessness. Thank you for your support!

Includes

Guided walking tour by a local guide Visit to Crossbones Graveyard Visit to Southwark Cathedral Visit to the Globe Theatre and it's original site Entry to a historical pub

Important Information

• Wear comfortable shoes to walk in Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately as the tours take place no matter the weather Bring a camera to capture your memories Water is recommended to stay hydrated during the walk

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund