Not Avenues, but Alleyways: A Backstreet Guide Around Fleet Street

London was once a city filled with hundreds of labyrinthine alleys and courtyards, but sadly many have been lost to the developer’s axe. On this walking tour, we’ll track down the ancient thoroughfares that remain within the vicinity of Fleet Street while I share a few fascinating stories about the people that once trod these streets. I’ll give you a peek into the history of Fleet Street, once the major entrance and exit to the city from the South West. You’ll learn about the area’s long association with the printing trade, its connection to several prominent writers and poets, and its ties to the legal profession. Highlights along the way include: • Dr Johnson’s House, the birthplace of the modern dictionary • The place Shakespeare visited when in need of an Italian translation • One of Twinings Tea’s first stores • Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, a charming pub where Dickens, Mark Twain, Alfred Tennyson and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were locals • A famous hangout of Tom Cox, known as the Handsome Highwayman This tour takes you to some of the major historical landmarks in what was once the city’s outskirts. As you walk the streets that highwaymen, nobility, millionaires and everyday Londoners alike once called home, watch as this iconic part of the city comes to life.

Price: £9.99 from VoiceMap