Friday, 16 August

Walking Tour - St Giles: In Search of a Slum

Exploring the legacy of a slum through some historic social buildings, atmospheric old streets and fine churches in London's West End.

By Richard Watkins, Footprints of London

Date and time

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 14:30 - 16:30 GMT+1

Location

Tottenham Court Road tube station, outside exit 4, Charing Cross Road exit, east side

Tottenham Court Road , outside exit 4, Charing Cross Road, east side, south of Centre Point Charing Cross Road London London W1T 7RJ United Kingdom

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 1 day before event

About this event

2 hours

St Giles was once one of the most squalid, insanitary and criminal areas in the country; it was said to contain, “the lowest conditions under which human life is possible.”

It grew from the early 1600s as a colony of new arrivals, those expelled from the City, the sick and the poor. And it became an urban forest of overcrowded courts, alleys, open sewers and gin shops. Fielding, Hogarth and Dickens chronicled its conditions and campaigned for its improvement.

Richard’s tour explores this area caught between Bloomsbury and Covent Garden, finding some fantastic historic social buildings, fine churches, atmospheric old streets and posh shopping thoroughfares which reveal a great legacy of an appalling slum.

Organised by

Richard Watkins, Footprints of London