Drink, Death & Debauchery: A Walking Tour of London

Join us for a special walking tour through leafy Bloomsbury and London's West End.

Join this walking tour to learn about the debauched and boozy history of 18th-century London, where half a pint of gin only set you back a penny! This guided walking tour takes in the colourful history of London’s West End around St Giles, Seven Dials and Covent Garden. Learn about the notorious gin craze of the 18th century and the history behind William Hogarth’s famous Gin Lane: gallows, plague pits and prostitution.

Meet at the Dominion Theatre on Tottenham Court Road to be guided from Denmark Street to Holborn, ending at the Foundling Museum where you can see some more famous Hogarth paintings. Enjoy a discounted drink in The Lamb pub on Lamb’s Conduit Street, built in the 1720s, and reputedly the haunt of Charles Dickens, Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.

11am: Meet at Dominion Theatre, 268-269 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 7AQ

1pm: End at Foundling Museum, 40 Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AZ

This tour will last approximately 2 hours and will require both walking and standing. Unless severe weather is forecast, the tour will be going ahead so please bring an umbrella/waterproof jacket.

About your guide:

Bridget Chandler is a tour guide who has been leading historical tours for a number of years for various museums such as The Charterhouse, The Foundling Museum and the Museum of London and organisations including the Art Fund and the Fine Art Society.

We signed up to a walking tour of London called 'Drink, Death and Debauchery'. Had a brilliant 2+ hours with a wonderful guide called Bridget whose knowledge of the area and historical information was amazing! Learned so much and finished off at the museum which was included in the ticket price. Highly recommend!

-Tripadvisor review, June 2024