Walking Tour around Spitalfields in the East End of London

Overview

Available languages

English

2 hours

Mobile ticket

Join us on a walking tour of sightseeing and storytelling, devised by London's leading blogger and guided by a member of the local community in Spitalfields.

Ramble through two thousand years of culture in the heart of London and encounter some of the people and places that make this ancient neighbourhood distinctive.

Discover Spitalfields’ rich and diverse history of resourcefulness driven by successive waves of migration from across the world - Huguenots, Jews, Irish and Bengalis among many others - telling the story of how modern Britain was created.

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Not recommended for travelers who cannot stand and walk for two hours

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Tea and cakes baked to a 1720 recipe served in a 300 year old house

What To Expect

Christ Church Spitalfields

Nicholas Hawksmoor's masterpiece of English Baroque

Admission Not Applicable

Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor

We meet people whose lives were bound up with with this institution to minster to the needs of Jewish immigrants who came from East Europe, the area now known as the Ukraine

Admission Not Applicable

Options

Walking Tour around Spitalfields in the East End of London

Reviews

5.00

129 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

129

History of Spitalfields bought to life.
tommH3558MZ,
Nov 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A fabulous two hours of informative stories and history of the Spitalfields area by The Gentle Author. All finished off with a restorative cup of tea and delicious cakes in the upper rooms of a gallery/house. Simply Essential.
An excellent, interesting walk around Spitalfields
Cla1reS,
Nov 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fascinating walk around Spitalfields, I learnt lots I didn’t know and it really made the area come alive. Initially I was concerned about hearing everything, as the author didn’t have a microphone but actually it was fine and no issues at all. I know the area reasonably well but even so, there was so much new to discover, and the walk ended with tea and cake in a period house, what more could you ask for!
A taste of Spitalfields
555stellav,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I really enjoyed the walk and am happy to recommend it. I already knew the area a little bit from reading and walking around. Going with someone who knows and loves the area I learnt a lot more. I heard stories about things I had wondered about and discovered areas I hadn’t found. It was a great afternoon for me. A cup of tea and a cake in a beautiful old house was the perfect finish.
History of Spitalfields
Vacationer559705,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Jan G Wonderful tour around Spitalfields with the Gentle Author ,highly recommend this tour for group or individual.Such an Iconic area with so much History and Culture,
If you do only one your, make sure it is this one!
Traveler536479,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
If you do one thing in London, do this tour! The tour is based on fascinating true stories. Although the focus is Spitalfields, The Gentle Author’s unique perspective reveals broader themes of London life and history. Not to be missed!
Highest Praise — the Walking Tour around Spitalfields in the East End of London
X987DSwilliamr,
Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We have the highest praise for the Walking Tour around Spitalfields in the East End of London, led by The Gentle Author on 25 October. We have never been on a more informative and inspiring tour than this one! – William and Melinda
Excellent tour
sarahrC9791GS,
Oct 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent tour with a knowledgeable and interesting Gentle Author. History of the area with stories based around the people who worked and lived in Spitalfelds.
Delightful Tour of Spitalfields
Vendredimanche,
Oct 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This two-hour walking tour, led by the Gentle Author, begins in front of Christ Church and unfolds into a rich journey through the Jewish and Huguenot silk-weaving past of Spitalfields. Along the way, the Indian and Bangladeshi heritage of the area is also beautifully acknowledged, adding another layer to the story of this diverse neighbourhood. Architectural wonders and social history are brought vividly to life with anecdotes and photographs of former residents. It ends with the remarkable building that began as a Huguenot church, later became a synagogue, and today stands as a mosque – a powerful symbol of the many communities who have called Spitalfields home. The pace is gentle, with plenty of time to enjoy the atmosphere, and the narrative is full of charm, detail, and humanity. The tour ends with tea and cakes in a nearby gallery – a perfect conclusion to an afternoon of discovery. Very highly recommended for anyone with an interest in London’s history, architecture, or simply the joy of uncovering hidden stories in familiar streets.
A Unique and Very Personal Insight into the History and Cultural Diversity of Spitalfields
76marionb,
Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I enjoyed the tour enormously. Our guide was very engaging, happy to share his lived experienced of the area and also his research. It was very obvious that The Gentle Author had been involved in lots of different research projects in and around Spitalfields and, as a consequence, had a great deal of material to share with the tour; including first hand accounts of past residents, their stories, businesses, places of worship..... From these experiences I gained a truly unique perspective of the many layered history of Spitalfields. I would highly recommend this tour.
A fascinating tour - looking behind the scenes.
judithsH7755DA,
Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This is a fascinating tour which goes 'behind the scenes' in a way that most tours don't. The Gentle Author is local and well-known in the area. Spitalifields is the place where people who for various reasons were sent outside the city walls, and came through tough times to be skilled artisans and artists.