Private Sin & Salvation: River Thames Bike Tour

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Explore Roupell Street, a fascinating glimpse into 1820s London, with its charming Georgian houses built for the working class. John Roupel reclaimed marshy land and named the streets after his family. Postmen's confusion led to name changes. The area almost burned down in 1829, prompting fire insurance reminders. Notice plaques on houses – without one, private firefighters would let your house burn. Despite WWII bombings, these streets remain. Visit The King's Arms, a Grade II Victorian Pub, offering 10 real ales, including local brews. Once an undertaker's and magistrates' court, it now serves top-notch Thai cuisine.

   10 min

2. Discover Hopton Almshouses, built in 1752 using funds bequeathed by Charles Hopton, a wealthy Guild of Fishmongers member. Initially housing 26 poor, single, elderly Southwark men like gardeners and fishermen, they received a £6 yearly stipend and 32 bushels of coal. Marriage was allowed, but children couldn't burden the parish. By the 19th century, almsmen enjoyed a £10 yearly stipend and a cauldron of coal.

   5 min

3. Tate Modern, the world's most-visited modern art gallery, opened in 2000 after transforming a 1950s Bankside Power Station. Its twisted brick pyramid, a 2016 extension, features a 10th-floor viewing gallery. The impressive turbine hall hosts changing, monumental commissions. A masterpiece itself, the building is worth visiting even for non-art lovers. Admire works by renowned 20th/21st-century artists, from Mondrian and Richter to Rothko and Picasso.

   5 min

4. St. Paul's Cathedral, an emblematic London landmark, held Prince Charles and Lady Diana's wedding and Winston Churchill's funeral. Wellington and Nelson also lay here. With a rich history dating back to 604 AD, old St. Paul's was destroyed in the Great Fire of London, 1666. Christopher Wren rebuilt it, symbolising resilience. Despite WWII bombings, St. Paul's stands tall as an emblem of survival.

   5 min

5. Experience the magic of Shakespeare's Globe, a 1997 reconstruction of the original 1599 venue. As home to The Lord Chamberlain's Men, it saw the debut of many Shakespearean classics.

   5 min

6. Delve into Medieval Southwark, the Las Vegas of London, where bathhouses, brothels, gambling, and theatres thrived. Explore the notorious Clink Prison, owned by the Bishop of Winchester, who profited handsomely from its squalid conditions and harsh treatment. Prisoners faced debt, political dissent, and religious nonconformity charges, inspiring puritan pilgrims to flee England.

   5 min

7. Uncover the history of Winchester Palace, the Bishop's luxurious 12th-century residence, boasting magnificent architecture and gardens. Despite the Bishop's riches from vice, prostitution, and gambling, the palace faced criticism for loose morals and profiteering.

   10 min

8. Visit the replica of The Golden Hinde, Sir Francis Drake's famed galleon. Drake, a national hero endorsed by Elizabeth I, circumnavigated the world between 1577 and 1580, engaging in piracy against Spanish ships and settlements. Dubbed a pirate by the Spanish Crown, the vessel now serves as an educational center.

   5 min

9. Discover Borough Market, London's oldest and most famous food market, dating back over 1,000 years. The current building hails from the 1850s and has appeared in movies like Bridget Jones and Harry Potter. Today, it's renowned for specialty greengrocers, meats, fish, and street food. Visit the Ginger Pig Butchers, Monmouth Coffee, and Neal's Yard Dairy for an authentic taste of London. Enjoy a 10-minute break to wander, grab a coffee, beer, or cheese!

   15 min

10. Explore Crossbones Graveyard, a poignant 16th-century burial site for outcasts like single women, children, prostitutes, and suicide victims. Known for the Winchester Geese, it was a resting place for those suffering from poverty, disease, and violence. The name "Crossbones" refers to small crosses marking children's coffins. Today, it's a memorial site for sex workers worldwide and a cultural meeting point, fostering close ties with the Mexican community.

    15 minAdmission included

11. Visit the Ragged School, founded in 1844 by Dr. Thomas Barnardo, providing education, meals, and medical care to London's poorest children. The school closed in the 1900s, but its legacy lives on through Barnardo's Charity.

    5 min

12. Explore Leathermarket and Bermondsey Street, the epicenter of London's leather industry. Once known for noxious industries, the area has transformed into a trendy hub of galleries, food markets, and coworking spaces. Marvel at the area's rich history, from R.W. Auto's former stables to Morocco Street's leather warehouses and Victorian spice warehouse. Bermondsey Street is now a charming London "village," gentrified since the 1990s, and features the famous antique market on Bermondsey Square every Friday. Come witness this captivating blend of history and modernity.

    5 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Know before you go

How it compares in London

• Its from-price is 25% above the median of the 4793 experiences we list in London.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About London

London mixes royal ceremony, world-class museums and riverside landmarks with distinct neighbourhoods, markets and parks to explore on foot.

The Thames threads the city together. On its banks stand the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the Tower of London with the Crown Jewels, Tower Bridge and the long South Bank walk past the London Eye, Shakespeare's Globe and Tate Modern. St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey anchor the older skyline, while glass towers crowd the financial district.

Top-ranked sights in London: St. Paul's Cathedral, Stonehenge, Tower of London.

See all 4793 experiences in London