Photos: Ewan Munro from London, UK, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 BLM Oregon & Washington, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Ewan Munro from London, UK, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 BLM Oregon & Washington, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bankside's prison walls and the river's dark past
Your local guide
Elena Popescu
View profile
Highlights
- A phrase traced to one specific wall
- A district outside the city's own law
- A prison's surviving stonework
- The river's less polished history
- A short walk with a sharp contrast
About this tour
This session looks at Bankside's history as a district that once sat deliberately outside the City of London's authority, using the surviving wall of a notorious former prison as its anchor. It covers where a common English phrase actually comes from and why this side of the river developed so differently from the other. It is a short, history-focused session away from the market itself.
We start on Clink Street with the prison wall and the phrase it gave the language, then walk to the riverfront for the wider jurisdiction story. Questions about the area's reputation over the centuries come up steadily. I close with a note on how the area has changed since.
It suits history enthusiasts interested in London's less polished past. It also pairs well with a market session nearby for contrast.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 5 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of London before heading out.
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Clink Street facade 15 min
The camera holds on the street's name and the surviving wall of a former prison, and I explain how the phrase in the clink came directly from this specific building.
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Bankside riverfront 15 min
Walking to the river, I explain how this stretch was historically outside the City of London's jurisdiction, which allowed activities banned across the water to operate here instead.
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Your questions 7 min
Time to ask anything about London: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 3 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Afternoon tea and Shoreditch, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in London time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 9 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through London, showing you Clink Street facade and Bankside riverfront live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to know the history already?
No background needed. The guide explains everything as it comes up.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We connect on a video call along Clink Street, viewing the old prison site from the public street outside.
Times shown in London time (GMT)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Mon 26 Oct · 9 seats left From 18,00 €
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