Power and Scandal: City of London Private Half-Day Walking TourPrivate Tour

Explore the history and scandals of the City of London on a private half-day tour. Walk along historic cobbled streets between modern skyscrapers and Georgian mansions in this global financial hub.
Adults: 2 Children: 0
Total

Things to know

Duration:

2 hrs 30 mins

Categories:

Culture, Culture, First Time Visitor, History, Off the beaten path

Private Tour:

You and our own professional guide. 100% exclusive

Transport Mode:

Walking tour: no transportation is included

What's included:

A professional, local tour guide for your own private group, Plenty of time to take memorable photos

What's not included:

Hotel pick up/drop off, Food and drink, Gratuities
Meeting points: Your guide will meet you outside the main entrance of the Threadneedles Hotel, 5 Threadneedles Street, London

What makes this tour special

Explore the 800-year history of the City of London, the global financial heart of Britain, with its melee of medieval streets, iconic skyscrapers, and historic buildings, and hear tales of the most notorious financial fraudsters through the ages. 

On your private tour, you will:


With its eccentric mix of historic buildings and iconic skyscrapers, the City of London is a unique district in the heart of London with a history dating back over 800 years. Learn about the financial institutions that drive the City and hear the dramatic stories of fortunes made and lost through fair means and foul. 

Learn of the rise and fall of the East India Company, forged banknotes by American fraudsters, the Lloyd's of London insurance scandal of the 1990s, the Poyais scam of 1825, and the South Sea Bubble implosion. Hear about charming thieves and audaciously dodgy investors through the ages. 

Discover the origins of the East India Trading Company – a mercantile powerhouse that made a fortune on the back of the slave trade. Learn about the illegal sales of opium in China and the endemic corruption that led to its demise. 

Entering Change Alley, your guide will describe the street as it stood 300 years ago - a crowded alley, filled with traders, rumour, and wild financial speculation: the collapse of the South Sea Bubble, a slave-trading business that shook Britain to its core.

Learn about the rise of Lloyd’s coffee house on Lombard Street – a popular place for sailors, merchants, and shipowners to gain their shipping news and discuss business and trade. It then became its own insurance business: Lloyd’s of London. It is now infamous for the huge scandal of the 1990s in which many lost millions. 

End back at the elegant Threadneedles Hotel, where you'll hear the story of the scandal of the thieves of Threadneedle street - an attempted heist by American robbers that would have ruined the City had it not been spectacularly foiled. Perhaps enjoy a well-earned G&T at the Wheeler's Bar afterwards! 

What you'll see

London Bridge
Leadenhall Market
The Gherkin
East India Company
Southwark Bridge
The Royal Exchange

Book with Travel Curious, an exceptional experience guaranteed

Putting People and Planet First

Prioritising Your Safety

Flexible cancellation

Do not worry, we have you covered with our flexible cancellation terms.

Avoid the crowds

Travel like a VIP, avoid crowds, and unnecessary queues.

Authentic Experiences

Bespoke local tours handcrafted for you by our global travel specialists

Professional Guides

All guides are handpicked, trained and licensed to ensure you are immersed in the local culture

Carbon offset for

kg CO2e

Carbon Footprint

kg CO2e

Carbon Offset

m²

Forestry Conserved

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FAQ

QWill there be other people on the tour or is it just us?
AAll of our tours are 100% private and exclusive, which means that it will just be you, your group and your guide on the tour.

Your tour will be completely tailored to your needs and we will make sure to find a guide that best suits your group.
QAre entrance tickets and transport included in the cost of the tour?
AIn the ‘Things to Know’ section at the top of this page you will find details of whatever entrance tickets and transport are included in the tour. If you have any questions about this, then you can either use the chat button in the bottom right hand corner, send an email to <team@travelcurious.com> or call 1-212-710-1322 (US) or +44 20 3009 2392 (UK).
QWhat is your cancellation policy?
AOn tours cancelled more than 48 hours before the scheduled departure time, we are happy to offer our customers a full refund - minus a 5% credit card fee and the cost of any tickets that have been purchased.

For tours cancelled less than 48 hours before the scheduled departure time, we are unfortunately unable to offer refunds. If you would like to reschedule a tour, this is usually possible if we are given enough notice, but we cannot guarantee the same guide.

Changes made to bookings may be subject to rebooking fees to cover the cost of tickets purchased, transport, guide rescheduling and administration.

To cancel or change your booking, please contact us at <team@travelcurious.com> or call 1-212-710-1322 (US) or +44 20 3009 2392 (UK).
QWho do I contact if I have any questions about this tour or if I want to make changes to my tour?
AAt Travel Curious, we provide a free concierge service to help you plan your time abroad and they will be able to answer any questions you may have about this tour or any other tours. We are normally able to customise or personalise tours to suit your needs.

Please do get in touch by either using the chat button in the bottom right hand corner, sending an email to <reservations@travelcurious.com> or calling 1-212-710-1322 (US) or +44 20 3009 2392 (UK).
QAm I able to book more than one tour?
AAbsolutely, you can book as many tours as you like! You can add them to your cart by clicking the ‘Book Now’ button or you can get in touch and we can put together an itinerary for you. To get in touch, you can either use the chat button in the bottom right hand corner, send an email to <team@travelcurious.com> or call 1-212-710-1322 (US) or +44 20 3009 2392 (UK).
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