Wonderful and unique tour of historic Spitalfields.
A superb walking tour of Spitalfields taking in the historic sites and the people who lived there from Roman times to the present day. The guide has in-depth knowledge of the area and is a superb racconteur. The tour was rounded off with tea and cakes in an historic Spitalfields house. Marvellous. Thank you Gentle Author.
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O3426OKdavidb
September 27, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Insightful tour from a passionate historian
Exceeded my expectations for a very insightful historical tour of Spitalfields from a passionate and knowledgeable historian. Each stop illustrated major elements of the nature and history of the area through details of actual residents of the places beautifully. A lively discussion over tea and historically accurate muffins concluded the tour.
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F9399EBkylew
September 13, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Excellent
Very good really interesting and informative, you see things that you would normally walk by, without noticing them and TGA has a very welcoming approach, bringing the neighbourhood to life with historic pictures.
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MelburyB
September 13, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Fascinating tour & insights to the history of Spitalfields
Truly fascinating tour of Spitalfields, having followed and read a lot of the Gentle Authors work it was fabulous to meet him too! Each story and stop was interesting and I enjoyed the photographic prompts - the tour time of 2 hours whizzed by and we packed in so much, so glad all the info was followed up with in an email for me to read and digest! Lovely group of people on my tour and finished with a cuppa and cake in a 1700 building! It was just perfect, I would highly recommend this tour! Wear trainers or comfy footwear!
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830marionj
September 2, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Highly informative, entertaining and enjoyable
A totally enjoyable afternoon - even the rain couldn't dampen it. As a reader of the The Gentle Author's blog it was a wonderful experience to meet him and have him share his marvellous in-depth knowledge and love of the area and it's history - from the Romans to today. He described the inhabitants and their lives in vivid detail (with photographs), including both the waves of poor immigrants and refugees that settled there, to many famous names across the centuries that we can all recognise - Shakespeare, Bud Flanagan, Tracey Emin and more. His in-depth knowledge of the architecture and the changes that have been made over the centuries were also informative. And it was all rounded off with tea and fairy cakes (a Huguenot recipe, of course) in an old silk weaver's house on Fournier Street. Loved it.
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D7899LZhelens
August 31, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
A wonderful, heartfelt tour of a fascinating part of London
A fascinating tour of Spitalfields that spans the centuries, from the Romans to the present day, and opens your eyes to the history that's all around us, if only we stop and look. An intriguing blend of social and architectural history, real-life stories and anecdotes, from someone who has made Spitalfields his life's work. The Gentle Author lives up to his name, he's indeed gentle - there is nothing bombastic or pretentious about this tour. He speaks from the heart and is a wonderful storyteller. All in all, a delightful two hours with tea and cakes at then end, baked to a recipe from 1720. A treat.
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M9652UUjs
August 30, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
An excellent snapshot of several hundred years of history by an expert local
The tour covered everything from Roman times to medieval and Reformation England, to Shakespeare and then the Great Fire of London, on to the Huguenots of the late C17th & C18th, then successive waves of other immigrants into the area, Jews, Indians, Bangladeshis etc - covering Protestant, Quaker, Jewish and Muslim religions - all by introducing individuals, and telling their stories on the spot. Some were very poor, others were individuals involved in the local Truman Brewery, and people he had interviewed over the years. We finished up in a lovely C18th house right next to Christ Church Spitalfields where he served up tea and a tasty cake made to a Huguenot recipe. He knew his stuff and was suitably articulate without being preachy or political. His passionate interest in the area and its previous inhabitants - as well as its original architecture - is evident. Highly recommended.
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798MartinH
August 29, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
A great walking tour in East London
A thoughtful and entertaining walking tour by someone who clearly knows his subject
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Getaway725709
August 29, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Fascinating, expert, unique
A fascinating way to spend the afternoon with an expert guide who clearly loves this area of London. A great mix of history, buildings and characters’ stories with delicious cake in a Georgian townhouse to end the tour.
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EllPezz
August 17, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
A fantastic guided tour.
What a fantastic guided tour! I've been on three tours of area now, and - although the others were about street art and food - this was by far the best organised, run and executed! We learned so much from an engaging and friendly tour guide who clearly knows and cares deeply about the area. The tour was a good mixture of historical events, architecture and inhabitants of the area. We ended having tea and cake in one of the Georgian buildings that are still standing. And truly remarkable experience that has made me want to visit again!