.png)
Secrets of Southwark Tour
Secrets of Southwark Tour
Bear baiting, brothels & brawls: Southwark has seen it all.
For centuries, if Londoners wanted to drink, gamble, watch a bear fight or catch Shakespeare's latest hit, they crossed the river to Southwark. Follow the Thames from Minerva Square to Tate Modern and uncover the secrets of London's most notorious neighbourhood, still hiding in plain sight.
What to Expect
This is a beautiful walk along the river, but without a guide the history is easy to miss. Your guide will take you from the very beginning, when London Bridge gave Southwark its reason to exist, through the age of the Bishops of Winchester, the brothels, the Clink Prison and the bear pits. You'll stand where Shakespeare's plays first drew the crowds, see how the docks turned the riverside into London's Larder, and hear how the area fell silent in the 1960s before roaring back with Shakespeare's Globe, Tate Modern and the Shard.
What Sets Us Apart:
Most Bankside walks focus only on Shakespeare but we tell the whole story, from the medieval town at the foot of London Bridge to the Shard.
Our guides are actors and performers, which means the bishops, brothel keepers, playwrights and dockers come to life with plenty of humour along the way. It’s history told as a story, not a list of dates. Perfect for first time visitors, history lovers and anyone looking for unique things to do in London.
Discover London through the eyes of a true local that go above and beyond.
Enjoy fully customisable private tours that match your interests
Benefit from guides with in-depth knowledge and insider access
Designed for small groups, allowing for a more intimate experience
Language English
Start Time 2pm
Duration 2 Hours
Price Free
Tour Highlights
Learn why Southwark became the place for everything London banned. Few corners of London have packed so much into so little space.
Find out how London Bridge, the only crossing over the Thames for centuries, gave birth to a whole town on the south bank.
Meet the powerful Bishops of Winchester, who ruled this patch of land, took rent from its brothels and locked troublemakers in the Clink.
Discover how the Rose and the Globe turned Bankside into the West End of its day, while bears fought dogs just down the road.
See how wharves and warehouses packed with tea, butter and spices fed a growing city, and why it all went quiet in the 1960s.
Hear how Shakespeare's Globe was rebuilt, a power station became Tate Modern, and the Shard put Southwark back on the map.
Itinerary
Starting in Minerva Square, we follow the river west to Tate Modern, moving through 2,000 years of history as we go. Each guide tells the story in their own way, so stops may vary slightly.
Borough Market
London's oldest market which has been feeding hungry Londoners for over 1000 years.
Shakespeare's Globe
The rebuilt home of Shakespeare's company, and the start of Southwark's great comeback.
The Golden Hinde
An accurate replica of Sir Francis Drake's iconic vessel which circumnavigated the globe in 1577.
Book Your Tour Today!
Ready to uncover the secrets of Southwark? Book your free place now and look for the guide with the red umbrella.
Want to see what was happening on the other side of the river? Try our Historic City of London tour next.
What Our Customers Say
Loved by over 8,000 guests and with thousands of five star reviews across Google and Tripadvisor, our guides know how to tell a story. Here’s what people have said about our London tours.
Meeting Point
The tour starts in Minerva Square. It's about a 5 minute walk from London Bridge station (Northern and Jubilee lines). Follow the signs for Borough High Street and leave the station.
Look for your guide with the red umbrella. We recommend arriving 10 to 15 minutes before the tour starts, so there’s time to grab a coffee on the way.