'BRING YOUR BABY' GUIDED LONDON WALK: Call The Midwife Real-Life Locations

'BRING YOUR BABY' GUIDED LONDON WALK: Call The Midwife Real-Life Locations

Bring Your Baby Guided London Walks are sensitively devised to suit parents and carers of even the tiniest babies to enjoy London’s history.

By 'BRING YOUR BABY' GUIDED LONDON WALKS

Date and time

Wed, 15 May 2024 10:30 - 14:00 GMT+1

Location

All Saints DLR Station

East India Dock Road London E14 0EH United Kingdom

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 1 day before event
Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.

About this event

  • 3 hours 30 minutes

Walk starts: Outside 'All Saints' DLR station

Walk ends: 'East India' DLR station

You are welcome to bring friends and family who do not also have a baby - due to popularity of 'Call The Midwife' and its historical background we have had three generations together on this walk before, some who were even delivered by the real-life nuns and nurses! Please note every adult needs a paid ticket.

This walk is scheduled for 3 and a half hours as there are so many locations to fit in - but we do have a rest stop for lunch and baby change at 'Poplar Union' where there is also an amazing playground next door.

'Bring Your Baby' Guided London Walks are sensitively devised to suit parents and carers of even the tiniest babies to enjoy London’s history. We can stop whenever you like to feed and change - without the stress of feeling you are holding up the group. Patience and baby’s needs are at the forefront of each walk.

'CALL THE MIDWIFE'S POPLAR' REAL-LIFE LOCATIONS WALKING TOUR

8 months' research using the books, TV series and local archives went into writing this walk! Here's what you'll see and hear:

- The ACTUAL 'Nonnatus House', where Jennifer Worth, the nuns and nurses lived... and the parish hall used for antenatal classes, both still standing in Poplar.

- The streets where Chummy learned to ride a bike and knocked over her future policeman husband, Sergeant Noakes. Also see where his police station was, just around the corner from these streets.

- Chrisp Street Market, where the twins with the same husband, Meg 'n' Maeve had a fruit & veg stall... where 'Frank the Fish' from the Frank and Peggy workhouse story had a fresh fish stall... and where Sister Monica Joan stole a bracelet.

- All Saint's Church, where Tom is curate... and where Chummy & Sergeant Noakes, Patrick & Shelagh, Tom & Barbara and Luclile & Cyril all get married. It is also where Reggie's mum dies and is buried, the scene of another significant funeral and burial [omitted in case of spoiler], where Sister Monica Joan causes a disturbance, where Timothy Turner plays the piano, and where the TV show is filmed in the 2015 Christmas special. We also see the Rectory where Tom would have lived.

- The site of Poplar Workhouse which treated characters such as Frank and Peggy, Jane and Mrs Jenkins so badly. See photos and compare them to the site.

- 'Stinkhouse Bridge' and the Limehouse 'Cuts', where poor Mary slept when she first came to London... and where she met Zakir, and was tricked into prostitution on Cable Street.

- 1930s 'walk-up' blocks of flats, such as those lived in by Len and Conchita Warren and their 25 children!

- The Mission to Seamen's Institute, a location featured in TV episodes when Sister Monica Joan loses her beloved television to the Mission - and another when Reggie helps the Nigerian sailor with leprosy.

- The remains of East India Docks, where Kirsten Bjorgsen, the Swedish captain's daughter, gave birth on the ship... and where Sister Mary Cynthia was attacked.


If on the day of the walk we are forecast to have very bad weather, I may have to postpone the walk. If it's a bit of light rain we will cope!

If I feel unwell, I will cancel the tour. And if you or anyone in your household is unwell in the days or hours before the tour, it is imperative that you should not join us.

Every walk follows the usual health and safety guidelines, such as crossing at traffic lights where possible and having hazards pointed out to you at the start and along the route.

There may be times we have to stand in direct sunlight (although I will always choose shade where possible). Please bring all the necessary sun protection for yourself and your child.

It is recommended you bring appropriate drinks and snacks for the duration of the walk.

I will contact you with booking confirmation after you book. I will supply my mobile number in case of emergencies or in case you are running late. I will also ask you to provide me with a mobile number so you can be contacted before, during or after the walk, but this is *not for marketing purposes*.

If you like the look of any of my walks, but would prefer to book me privately, please make enquiries at Lucy@bringyourbaby.org. This may particularly be the case if you have people interested who do not have babies.

Important notes about booking:

Please feel free to invite baby-free friends.

Customer refunds must be requested at least 24 hours before an event starts. We cannot guarantee you can move your ticket to the next month but you are welcome to enquire at Lucy@bringyourbaby.org

If for any reason Bring Your Baby Ltd are forced to cancel or postpone an event (for example in the case of illness or extreme weather conditions), you are within your rights to request a refund, though we will always suggest an alternative date for you to attend.

Organised by

Bring Your Baby Guided London Walks have been sensitively devised to suit parents and carers of even the tiniest babies to enjoy guided local history walks with their pram or sling.

 

Each walk has been planned so that you can stop whenever you like to feed and change - without the stress of feeling you are holding up the group. Because every participant brings their baby, patience and baby’s needs are at the forefront of each walk.

 

As a local historian and also a recent new mother, I noticed there was a real absence of activities for parents and carers to enjoy something stimulating for both brain and body while caring for baby.

 

The focus of these walks is enjoyment: gaining new local history knowledge and exploring the outdoors, while at the same time feeling unpressured when baby’s needs arise.

 

Everyone who comes along is welcome to stop as they need to comfort, feed and change. Either we can stop as a group, or you can use the map provided to rejoin us further along the route. There are many stops, and always lots to see and hear about, so it is always easy to catch up.

 

I will always add a pit-stop halfway through (such as a cafe or pub large enough to accommodate us) so that we can take a breather and meet baby’s needs at this time if it hasn’t been required earlier.

 

Adults £20; children go free.

 

Lucy Madison is a life-long London history nerd and mum to 4 year-old Evan. Trained in guiding walks and with a background in Primary School teaching, she is used to organising large groups of people! Lucy also founded 'Bring Your Baby Pub Quizzes' which take place all over London and increasing areas of the UK, and which can also be found at BringYourBaby.org. Apart from looking for the latest new adventure with her family, developing new walks and running Bring Your Baby Ltd, Lucy is a committee member of Hackney History and co-wrote the sell-out book 'Women from Hackney's History' which is soon to be reprinted.

 

FAQ

What kind of places will there be to feed or change my baby?

We always have a halfway pit-stop for lunch and/or refreshment and baby change, and I will never rush you to finish eating, feeding or changing. We just take as long as everyone needs. If we visit a park or green space, there are almost always plentiful benches or grassy spots depending on your level of comfort feeding or changing there. You can always request to stop somewhere convenient outside of these times. Patience is at the forefront of these walks.

 

Since having my baby I need to rest quite often. Will there be places to sit down?

I always try to arrange stops at points of interest along the route at places where there is a bench, wall or other suitable area to perch! Though this is not possible at every stop, it is something I consider when planning every walk - I had a Caesarian myself, and remember the need for respite!

 

I’m embarrassed to ask the group to slow down or stop when I need to use the loo / feed or change baby / have a rest.

You never need to feel embarrassed, guilty or stressed in asking the group to stop or slow down for any reason. That's what Bring Your Baby is all about. Simply make me aware and I’ll modify what we’re doing at the time to meet your needs.

 

How long are the walks?

Approximate distances and durations are indicated on each listing and I shall remind you when the walk starts. No walk is ever over 2 miles. Owing to the nature of these walks it may be we need more time to complete the walk if stoppages are needed.

 

I’m bringing my baby, but can I also bring my other children?

My walks are often a great learning opportunity for children, particularly if we visit green spaces with plenty of natural sensory elements. However it is the parent or carer's responsibility to ensure their children are safe, particularly near roads.

 

Will I be able buy food along the way?

Packed food, drink and snacks are always recommended as we are being active and you may get hungry! However, snacks, tea and coffee etc. can be purchased at the place we stop at halfway for refreshment.

 

Can I come on your walk if I don’t bring children?

Unfortunately not. These walks have been designed to provide something unique for parents and carers of small children. Therefore I have to prioritise and cater for this group only. This does not mean there is a limit to the number of adults you can bring - mum, dad, childminder and granny all welcome as long as there is a child! All adults need to be paying ticket holders.

 

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No, I'll have you already on my list.

 

What is the refund policy?

Refunds need to be requested with 24-hours notice. In some circumstances I will allow you to attend a future walk instead with your ticket if you cancel at late notice.

 

Will the walk be cancelled if it rains?

Walks go ahead in light rain, but heavy rain or high winds are not safe for taking babies out on guided walks, so in this circumstance the walk would be postponed. You can request a full refund if you can't make an alternative date.

 

I can’t make your date. Will you be repeating the walk?

Walks generally get repeated every month or so. The more popular ones such as Suffragettes' East London and Nursery Rhymes London get repeated more frequently.

 

Where can I contact you with any questions?

Drop me a line at Lucy@bringyourbaby.org

£22.38