British Empire Walking Tour in London Westminster: May Bank Holiday Weekend
This alternative tour tells the story of colonisation and decolonisation through statues and monuments in public spaces.
Date and time
Location
Churchill Statue
Parliament Square London SW1P United KingdomRefund Policy
About this event
- 2 hours
Join me on a walking tour around Westminster - the beating heart of British politics, that was once the centre of a global empire. Even though Britain’s imperial power is relegated to history, the long process of colonisation and decolonisation defines the world we live in today.
At its height, the phrase "the Empire on which the sun never sets" was used to describe the vastness of the British Empire.
Today, symbols of decolonisation such as statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela occupy the same space as Imperial heroes like Sir Winston Churchill. What does this tell us about post colonial Britain and the soft power of monuments?
We will discover how stories and ideas from history connect to our present through the Black Lives Matter movement, the Gurkha Justice Campaign and the Policing Bill 2021.
Meeting point is by the statue of Churchill in Parliament Square.
Reviews of the British Empire Tour
"Manasi was a great guide. She had a very fresh perspective to offer on the British empire’s portrayal in public spaces. She discussed many details of spatial configurations embedded in the architecture of Parliament Square area which was very intriguing. It was very educational and engaging throughout the tour." - Anvita on Google Reviews
"I highly recommend Manasi’s tour. It offers a unique and important perspective on London as an imperial capital, highlighting statues and architecture that can tell us so much about Britain’s varied relationships with the countries it controlled." - Joanna on Tripadvisor
ABOUT HISTORY SPEAK
Hi! My name is Manasi and I run the History Speak culture and heritage consultancy.
My background is in creating Narrative Environments and I enjoy storytelling through spatial experiences such as waking tours and workshops.
HEALTH & SAFETY
- It is entirely outdoors and therefore it is possible to maintain social distancing.
- Face coverings are not mandatory during the tour but you are welcome to keep them on if it makes you feel more comfortable.
- We will be walking along the main road so please be aware of traffic and adhere to the traffic lights.
- Please also be aware that the tour starts and ends in front of the Parliament where there might be protests and demonstrations on the weekend.
Frequently asked questions
This walk is for tourists, Londoners and people living in the UK who are interested in knowing more about the history of the British Empire. People who live in London or have visited before and are looking for something different to do, find this walk interesting.
Children over the age of 12 years find the walk engaging. Attendees below 16 years of age can come for free with an adult. All ages are welcome to join as we maintain a comfortable walking pace and keep to a maximum duration of 2 hours.
The guide will be holding a sign that says - British Empire Walking Tour
The meeting point is near the statue of Winston Churchill on Parliament Square in London Westminster. It is located opposite the Houses of Parliament and is facing the Big Ben clock tower.
The tour ends near the statue of the Gurkha Soldier on Horse Guards Avenue.
The email confirmation and reminder email will have the phone number of the tour guide. Please get in touch by calling before the start of the tour or by SMS/ WhatsApp after the tour has started. For WhatsApp users, the guide will be able to share live location.
Refunds up to 1 day before event Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.
Organized by
We are running in-person walking tours in London to discover the stories of the British Empire through monuments and places in the city.