East London & Old Delhi: A Tale of Two Cities
Step into a walking tour that straddles continents, rivers, and empires.
What of India does the Thames remember?
Were English sailors always invincible, or was there a moment when their ambitions nearly ended?
How does a city make room for the people it once conquered?
Led by an architect and Oxford-trained storyteller, this walk explores the ghostlines between East London and Old Delhi — two cities shaped by trade, migration, and the ambitions of empire. From docklands and bazaars to churches and caravanserais, we’ll uncover how tea, opium, rope-making, and revolution stitched these worlds together.
Did you know the very word Admiral comes from the Arabic amir-al-darya — “commander of the sea”? The highest honour in the British navy was borrowed from the East, a reminder that the empire’s story was never written alone.
Along the way, you’ll hear tales of pirates and pilgrims, Mughal emperors and British merchants, and the rise and fall of civilisations reflected in brick, water, and memory.
"Riya’s walk is highly informative. As an architect who has led guided walks in Delhi, she draws on a wealth of knowledge and delivers it with a light, engaging touch. This is no dry lecture, but history brought vividly to life. What I loved most is how she views historic figures from fresh angles, holding them up to scrutiny and shining new light on their stories." - Vanessa Buschschluter, BBC Journalist
📍 Starting point: Museum of London Docklands, entrance, next to Wetherspoon
⏰ Duration: 2 hours
👟 Level: Easy walk, with pauses for storytelling
Come curious. Leave seeing London - and the world - differently.
