Wapping and the Old London Docks: A Self-Guided Audio Tour
- 1–1.5 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Take a self-guided GPS audio tour through Wapping and the London Docks. The most famous building in Wapping is a pub, The Prospect of Whitby, which was a favourite with pirates and smugglers as well as with Charles Dickens and Samuel Pepys. This ancient village which stretches between the Tower of London and Limehouse has always been associated with seafarers. They tended to live a life apart from the rest of London, although in the eighteenth century the 36 pubs along the riverfront attracted many visitors including Dr Samuel Johnson. Three of these pubs survive. The London Docks were built in the early nineteenth century and were famous for the import of rum, wine and tobacco. The docks were closed in 1969, but many of the former wharves and warehouses have been preserved and converted into modern apartments. This retains the atmosphere of the past although the sense of danger evoked by Charles Dickens's novels has vanished.
Inclusions
What's included
- VoiceMap Application
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
- Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
- Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
- Lifetime access to Wapping and the old London Docks tour
What's not
- Smartphone
- Transportation
- Food/Drink
- Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
Itinerary
William the Conqueror built the original 'White Tower' in the 11th Century. Many famous people were imprisoned and executed here, including Anne Boleyn, Sir Thomas Moore and Lady Jane Grey.
St John's church itself was built in 1756 in red brick with white stone dressings, so that it would stand out amidst the dark and murky atmosphere of the area.
Stroll through this beautifully converted historic dock filled with luxury yachts and surrounded by restored 19th-century warehouses. Enjoy the peaceful waterside atmosphere where working docks have been transformed into a vibrant marina with cafes and shops.
Pass this traditional riverside pub tucked beneath historic wharves along the Thames foreshore. Discover one of Wapping's oldest taverns, dating back to 1545, where smugglers and sailors once gathered by the water's edge.
Walk along the Thames foreshore where pirates and mutineers once faced their grim fate at the water's edge. Learn about this notorious site where maritime criminals were hanged at low tide for over 400 years.
Marvel at this characterful riverside pub named after the infamous Scottish pirate who was executed nearby. Enjoy views over the Thames from the same spot where 18th-century sailors and smugglers once drank.
Stroll around this peaceful former dock basin, now transformed into a watersports center and nature reserve. Experience the tranquil contrast to Wapping's seafaring past as you walk beside the calm waters surrounded by converted warehouses.
Pass these striking converted warehouses that once stored precious cargoes from around the world. Admire how the historic riverside buildings have been transformed into modern waterfront apartments while preserving their original character.
Conclude your tour outside London's oldest riverside pub, dating from 1520, with its iconic flagstone floor and pewter-topped bar. Discover the favorite haunt of Charles Dickens, Samuel Pepys, and notorious smugglers who frequented this historic tavern.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- VoiceMap Audio Tours
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in London
- Its from-price is 97% below the median of the 809 city tours we list in London.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- 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.
Special offers in London
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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