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Posts Tagged ‘london walk’

The New Jack the Ripper Historical Resource

Saturday, June 12th, 2010

We’ve been working hard on this.

Our Jack the Ripper Walk is widely acknowledged as being the best in London.  We offer you expert guides, limited numbers and a truly atmospheric route that starts right in the heart of the area where the murders occurred in 1888.  We are also passionate about what we do and devote a great deal of time, energy and resources to ensuring we bring you as much information about the Jack the Ripper mystery and East End History as we can. Indeed, the reason for our silence on the blog of late is that we have been working hard to create a truly in depth resource on the history of Jack the Ripper.

Now you can actually see for yourself that we know what we’re talking about when it comes to Jack the Ripper. Our full Jack the Ripper Resource shows you that we are passionate about the subject and that we share the information BEFORE you have to sign up to join our Jack the Ripper Walk.

We are the only company that does this.  We will give you all the information and then you can decide whether you want to join us and pay, or simply read the information and then go and do your own Jack the Ripper Tour using the information.

Our unique approach means that you can really make a study of the case before you join the walk and then be up to speed on all the facts. This makes for a far more enjoyable tour, as you will then be able to discuss the case with your expert guide.  And the fact that we limit our numbers to a sensible numner of around 34 participants is an added bonus that with us you can enjoy an in depth walk that visits more of the actaul murder sites than any other Jack the Ripper Walk.

The Harry Potter London walk

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

We recently changed the Harry Potter London walk to incorporate the fact that the photograph of the Harry Potter actors is no longer on display at the National Portrait gallery.
Both the website and the Harry Potter London tour PDF have been updated to incorporate this change, albeit since the tour actually still passes the National Portrait Gallery it is worth popping in if you have the time.

Otherwise the Harry Potter tour of London is up to date as of March 2010 and can be obtained by the simple, magical ruse of sending an email to harry-potter-pdf@discovery-walks.com.

This is now a totally automated system so the owl responds within minutes and drops the downloadable pdf into your mail box. It’s that simple.

The great thing about our DIY London Walking Tours is that you are able to do them at your own pace. You don’t have to turn up at a scheduled departure point, and you most certainly don’t have to be crammed onto a tour with a large group of people.

Our DIY walking tour format has proved incredibly popular and we’re going to be adding a lot more of them this year. The first to go live will be the Riverside Pub tour, which has been mapped out and is now just waiting to be written up. As with the Harry Potter Tour the Riverside London Pub Walks will be laid out in such a way as to provide plenty of history, lots of atmosphere and they will also incorporate a pub quiz and treasure hunt that will keep you occupied throughout!

We’re planning on the London Pub Walks being as popular as the Harry Potter tour, as our DIY format lends itself perfectly to exploring the city’s haunted pubs.

So keep an eye on our blog for more details of the coming Free London walks.

London walks for those who think they know London

Saturday, February 6th, 2010

If you live in London the chances are you think you know your way around and know the majority of things which you can do in and around the city.

For a great day out to really test your knowledge of our capital city, then why not embark on one of our treasure hunt London walking tours at Discovery Walks. We have a vast selection of treasure hunt London walks in our portfolio; however the ultimate has got to be The Mother of all Treasure Hunts.

This London walk is an all day event and great to do with a few friends or as part of a group activity. Teamwork is essential and you can also compete against your own friends to discover who really does know their city the best.

The format of our treasure hunt walks are based around cryptic clues which will send you all over the city. The difficult part is however, that you will need to work out where to go based on specific clues.

Knowing your London history is just as important as knowing your way around, as even if you know the shortest way to get to a place, if you have got the answer to your clue wrong then you really could be led up the garden path.

At Discovery Walks we ensure your day is filled with activity and you will meet genuine, and not so genuine, London characters along the way. They may help you or hinder you so ultimately it is up to you to complete this London walk successfully.

Fulfil your mystical curiosity with a Harry Potter London walking tour

Monday, January 18th, 2010

With the recent release of the sixth Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the half blood Prince, it looks like no matter how much he grows up, Harry Potter is not going anywhere as his adventures just get bigger and better.

People of all ages are obsessed with Harry Potter and what better way to get involved in this magical world than with a London sightseeing tour around the locations seen in the famous Harry Potter films?

Our Harry Potter walking tour at Discovery walks is perfect for the entire family and a great day out for the children. Our London walk takes you to all the famous sites and you will see the real places where the members of Hogwarts really went.

At Discovery walks we know that children do not miss a trick, which is why our London walk of the Harry Potter sets includes areas which are in the sixth film. You will get to see everything from the Diagon alley to riding the Hogwarts train and not forgetting the famous nine and a half platform at London’s Kings Cross station.

Our Harry Potter walking tours are self guided, meaning that we provide you with a detailed map and you and your family can make your way around the places where Harry went at your own leisure.

Beware of dragons and ghastly encounters as your embark on this London walk – magical powers are essential if you are going to make it to the Hogwarts express in time.

London walks for those who think they know London

Monday, January 18th, 2010

If you live in London the chances are you think you know your way around and know the majority of things which you can do in and around the city.

For a great day out to really test your knowledge of our capital city, then why not embark on one of our treasure hunt London walking tours at Discovery Walks. We have a vast selection of treasure hunt London walks in our portfolio; however the ultimate has got to be The Mother of all Treasure Hunts.

This London walk is an all day event and great to do with a few friends or as part of a group activity. Teamwork is essential and you can also compete against your own friends to discover who really does know their city the best.

The format of our treasure hunt walks are based around cryptic clues which will send you all over the city. The difficult part is however, that you will need to work out where to go based on specific clues.

Knowing your London history is just as important as knowing your way around, as even if you know the shortest way to get to a place, if you have got the answer to your clue wrong then you really could be led up the garden path.

At Discovery Walks we ensure your day is filled with activity and you will meet genuine, and not so genuine, London characters along the way. They may help you or hinder you so ultimately it is up to you to complete this London walk successfully.

Start the New Year With a London walk

Friday, January 1st, 2010

Happy New Year. Why not blow away the cobwebs by taking one of many London walks that will show you the hidden places of this magical City?

A good starting point for this London Walking Tour is Temple Underground Station.

Turn right out of the station and then swing left along the Victoria Embankment. Having crossed over Temple Place pause to admire the ferocious silver dragon that stands on a plinth by the road. He is the guardian of the City of London and marks the boundary where the City of Westminster ends and the City of London begins.

Continue past him and go left through the first gate you encounter.

The arch ahead might look familiar if you’ve seen the new Sherlock Holmes movie as it features in the film.

Keep going up the incline of Middle Temple Lane and pause in the courtyard on the left. To your left is Middle Temple Dining hall which dates from the 1570’s.  A little further along go right through the arch and enter Pump Court. High up on he wall on the left is a sun dial that dates from the 1680’s and on which you will read the motto “shadows we are and like shadows depart.”

Keep ahead through the cloisters and on your left is one of London’s true treasures Temple Church which was built by the Knights Templar in 1185. It features in the film and the book of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code.

Go clockwise round the church and when on its other side cross to the railings where, on the ground, you will find the tomb gravestone of author Oliver Goldsmith.

Backtrack and, at the end of this first walk, go right and out through the fate onto Fleet Street.

Take a stroll along Fleet Street looking our for the magnificent clock on St Dunstan’s In The West, which dates from 1683 and where two giants still chime the hour.

If you keep going all the way along Fleet Street and then over and up Ludgate Hill you will come to St Paul’s Cathedral.

On just a short walk you will have seen much, explored some lovely old parts of London and ended at one of her iconic sights and sites.

These are the sort of things that our London walks make possible. If you would like a print off free tour of London then why not enjoy our Harry Potter London Tour simply send an email request to

harry-potter-pdf@discovery-walks.com

and our automated dispatch will send it to you by return.

Get the true East End story with a London Discovery Walk

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Are you from another part of the United Kingdom or another country and are fascinated by London history and the way of life? If so, then this London walk is perfect for you. This London sightseeing tour will take you through all the streets and buildings of the East End, to allow you to really imagine what life was like years and years ago.

Walk through the medieval streets to discover what made this area of the city so different from the rest and what made the people in it tick. Breathe in the classic East End atmosphere to give you a real sense of adventure during this London walk.

How about gangster lovers? Maybe you are a big fan of old East End gang culture or have seen the film The Krays so many times that you cannot wait to see where this evil duo grew up and committed most of their crimes and torture.

Or you may have grown up in the East End of London and want to know where you came from and if you have any traits that relate to the East End. Think back to stories your parents or grandparents told you and relive their moments through the narrow and cold streets. You can discover so much you didn’t know about London with a London sightseeing tour.

See with your own eyes how little this area has changed and what makes it so unique. This is just one of the many walks of London and is a true insight into the history and culture that made the East End of London the charismatic place it is today.

Explore London’s Gateway with a Thames London Walk

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

The Thames River is brimming with London history and every person who visits London or lives in London will no doubt take time to see this iconic stretch of water and learn about the fascinating history behind it with a London walk.

With Discovery Walks, our London Panorama tour begins at the heart of London, on the banks of the River Thames. Explore these famous river banks by foot and take the paths of the Roman legions where Julius Caesar first crossed over the river.

As you continue on these London walking tours you will sense the strong historic tales that it holds. You will walk through places where the battles between the Saxons and the Danes took place during the Dark Ages, right up to more modern times where it is used for more leisure-based activities.

This London sightseeing tour then takes you on a boat and actually along the River Thames. This will enable you to see the huge scale of this river, and help you envisage why it was also used as a highway for the transportation of goods.

View the Anglican St Paul’s Cathedral which sits at one of the highest places in London city itself. Plus, you can sail towards the most famous bridge, Tower Bridge, just a stones throw away from the Tower of London where the Crown Jewels are held.

This London walk finishes back on foot at Westminster Bridge
, where you can see the Houses of Parliament or Palace of Westminster as it is also known. This London walk is a great way to see a vast amount of London sights in one tour.

Seat of the soul

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Bored, stressed, tired and feeling a bit overwhelmed at work, but not sure how to counter it? Being out in the great outdoors can often be a great source of rejuvenating the anatomy of your soul. “You have got to be kidding me” you may think to yourself.

You shouldn’t – London walks are a great stress reliever, and a great way to absorb the capital’s wonderful culture.

The sense of self

Finding solitude and a sense of “stillness” is what you can find on a London sightseeing tour. Going on a famous walk in London may be exactly what you need, just to allow yourself to ‘stand still’ for a moment, break away from the daily hustle and bustle and appreciate the beauty surrounding you in this extraordinary capital.

All year long, you had been driving around, trying to meet those all important deadlines, exposing you to every frustration bumper to bumper traffic has to offer. A London walk may be just what you need!

London walks offer you a great opportunity to break free from just that. More so, you are able to experience an uplifting endeavour such as this all by yourself, with your family, kids and loved ones.

With the many different London walks we specialise in, we like to think of ourselves as offering healing for the soul and an opportunity for you to make up for lost time – something we are all too familiar with. Reconnecting with the seat of your soul ultimately can do wonders for the next time duty calls.

Green, green grass of home

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

For a while, you had been toying with the idea of taking at least one tour through London. The city of London promises breathtaking, extraordinary sightseeing – bringing back to life its magical history; a history that surrounds the people and places in contemporary London.

A walk in London, is simply one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself

Regardless of whether you are a local or a foreigner, every traveller’s worst nightmare is being ill informed about the city’s sights and where they can be located. Here at Discovery Walks we allow you to thoroughly research your options, and we are committed to our service delivery.

Our knowledge base stretches beyond simply knowing about the best London walks you may experience in the hub of Britain’s capital. Our main priority, you will find, is based upon the premise that we want your most valued memories linger on.

Choices of walks vary, ranging from walks through the Scottish Highlands, notorious walks, to London walks through the city’s most renowned East and West Ends. You are sure to find a London walk suited to tickle your every fancy, depending on your level of sense of adventure.

You may be aware of Britain’s variable weather patterns, as well as, though limited, dangerous wildlife. Flexibility is what you, the traveller, ought to build into your approach when deciding to explore this gift to yourself. Our trained professional staff are here to offer you not only assistance with best choice of London walk, but also practical advice on making your choice of London walk pleasant, safe and last but not least, memorable.