London explorer?.. Love a bit of Victoriana and Industrial Heritage?.. Interested in the Blitz?.. Dead pubs?.. Ghostsigns?.. or maybe you’re new to the East, or thinking of moving?. Come on a history walk with me to explore the delights of Newham & the Thames Gateway….Off the beaten track, but crammed with history, our area is going through lots of changes as London looks to the east..
Explore the Royal Docks
Named after Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and King George V, and created between 1855-1921, this part of Docklands is rapidly regenerating as part of post-Olympics ‘New’ London.. You’ll see the regeneration developments of the last few decades: Emirates AirLine, ExCel Centre, City Airport, the Thames Barrier, University of East London, and the London Regatta Centre, as well as the huge residential developments taking place as you explore the remaining Victorian relics and vanishing industrial heritage of the area.
Along the way, discover industrial relics, hidden histories, tales of disasters, and meet characters like Keir Hardie, Jean-Michel Jarre, and Charles Dickens as we explore 200 years of history and happenings and find out how the Industrial Revolution, the Blitz, and recent regeneration projects have shaped the area.
Next one: December
Bombsites, lost pubs, ghostsigns, pie & mash!
A backstreets adventure of hidden Plaistow, London E13!..
Discover bombsites from the Blitz and how they have shaped our ‘interesting’ estates in this part of East London..Discover unscathed Victoriana & Edwardiana .. Discover our vintage shopfronts, ghost signs, dead pubs and the heritage of West Ham United FC – including the in-demolition Boleyn ground as we investigate a fading local culture..
Walk on top of one of London’s great engineering feats.. Discover traces of an ancient village hidden in the urban sprawl.. Discover one of London’s best food markets, and meet characters like Dick Turpin, Anne Boleyn, Bobby Moore and Edmund Burke along the way.. We’ll finish off with lunch in one of the area’s last Pie & Mash shops if you fancy it – a perfect winter warmer. For anyone interested in secret London, London History, the Industrial Revolution, the Blitz, social change.
Next one: December
Explore Old Stratford – like 2012 never happened!
Most will know about the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.. But do you know about the deeply rich, hidden history of the wider Stratford area and its surrounding neighbourhoods?.. Explore traces of the ancient Abbey, find out about lost rivers and the history of London’s canals. Discover the Cathedral of Sewage! Discover how the Olympic Park looked before those sporting heroes performed their feats in 2012. Visit the historic Gin Distillery and film studios at Three Mills. Explore the traces of the ancient Abbey of Stratford Langthorne.. Along the way, we’ll meet Big Brother, Bloody Mary, and Brendan Behan as we discover the waves of historical happenings that shaped the area.
Next one: Soon
easterndrifts walks are booked through my partners at funzing
Please email dan@easterndrifts.com for any enquiries or further information, including private events and tailored walking tours:
“A staff team of 20 of us were led by Dan around this East London neighbourhood and along the Thames – Dan was brilliant, an authoritative and knowledgable guide, and the tour took in history, culture, architecture, and some fantastic views. I would have no hesitation in recommending this tour, and Dan’s tour-guide skills.”
Ed Mason, Director, Five Points Brewing Co.
london eastern drifts 