Private Sin & Salvation: River Thames Bike Tour

Delve into Medieval Southwark, the Las Vegas of London, where bathhouses, brothels, gambling, and theatres thrived. Explore the notorious Clink Prison, owned by the Bishop of Winchester, who profited handsomely from its squalid conditions and harsh treatment. Prisoners faced debt, political dissent, and religious nonconformity charges, inspiring puritan pilgrims to flee England.

Uncover the history of Winchester Palace, the Bishop's luxurious 12th-century residence, boasting magnificent architecture and gardens. Despite the Bishop's riches from vice, prostitution, and gambling, the palace faced criticism for loose morals and profiteering.

Visit the replica of The Golden Hinde, Sir Francis Drake's famed galleon. Drake, a national hero endorsed by Elizabeth I, circumnavigated the world between 1577 and 1580, engaging in piracy against Spanish ships and settlements. Dubbed a pirate by the Spanish Crown, the vessel now serves as an educational center.

Discover Borough Market, London's oldest and most famous food market, dating back over 1,000 years. The current building hails from the 1850s and has appeared in movies like Bridget Jones and Harry Potter. Today, it's renowned for specialty greengrocers, meats, fish, and street food. Visit the Ginger Pig Butchers, Monmouth Coffee, and Neal's Yard Dairy for an authentic taste of London. Enjoy a 10-minute break to wander, grab a coffee, beer, or cheese!

Explore Crossbones Graveyard, a poignant 16th-century burial site for outcasts like single women, children, prostitutes, and suicide victims. Known for the Winchester Geese, it was a resting place for those suffering from poverty, disease, and violence. The name "Crossbones" refers to small crosses marking children's coffins. Today, it's a memorial site for sex workers worldwide and a cultural meeting point, fostering close ties with the Mexican community.

Visit the Ragged School, founded in 1844 by Dr. Thomas Barnardo, providing education, meals, and medical care to London's poorest children. The school closed in the 1900s, but its legacy lives on through Barnardo's Charity.

Explore Leathermarket and Bermondsey Street, the epicenter of London's leather industry. Once known for noxious industries, the area has transformed into a trendy hub of galleries, food markets, and coworking spaces. Marvel at the area's rich history, from R.W. Auto's former stables to Morocco Street's leather warehouses and Victorian spice warehouse. Bermondsey Street is now a charming London "village," gentrified since the 1990s, and features the famous antique market on Bermondsey Square every Friday. Come witness this captivating blend of history and modernity.

Discover the Tower of London, an iconic historical site built by William the Conqueror shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Once a royal palace, menagerie, observatory, and armoury, it is most famous as a state prison and execution site. Entering through Traitors Gate often meant a grim fate. Notable figures like William Wallace, Thomas More, Henry VI, and Edward V met their demise here, as did Henry VIII's wives Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Today, the Tower houses the magnificent Crown Jewels, a must-see for any visitor.

Tower Bridge, an iconic symbol of London, is a combined bascule and suspension bridge that spans the River Thames. Completed in 1894, it was designed by Sir Horace Jones and engineered by Sir John Wolfe Barry. The bridge features two neo-Gothic towers connected by a central walkway and has become a major tourist attraction. The Tower Bridge Exhibition, housed within the towers, offers visitors a chance to learn about the bridge's history and enjoy panoramic views of the city from the glass-floored walkway. The bascules are raised around 800 times a year to allow tall ships to pass through, providing a spectacular sight for onlookers.

Explore Butler's Wharf, once the largest tea warehouse globally, and now a prime real estate area, thanks to Terence Conran's investment in 1983. Nearby, you'll find Saint Saviour's Wharf, a rare example of Victorian London industrial architecture. This area was once the heart of the spice trade and had connections to gin production. Charles Dickens, who knew the area well, based Fagin's den in Oliver Twist here. Concordia Wharf, another historic site, was built in the 19th century as a sugar refinery within the famed "sugar triangle.” You'll also discover a thought-provoking Banksy artwork from February 2008, featuring a kid with a syringe. This powerful piece draws attention to social issues and showcases the unique and controversial style of the world-famous street artist.

Explore the historical St Mary's Church, where Christians have worshiped for over 1,000 years. Completed in 1716, it replaced the 12th-century building and holds deep maritime connections to the Mayflower and Prince Lee Boo of Pelau. The church houses a memorial marking the resting place of Christopher Jones, captain of the Mayflower, which took the Pilgrim Fathers to North America in 1620. Don't miss the statue of Christopher Jones, whose grave is lost within the church grounds. This captivating sculpture depicts St Christopher, patron saint of travelers, holding the baby Jesus. Representing the Old World, Christopher looks back while the baby looks forward to the New. The statue was unveiled in 1995 to mark the 375th anniversary of the voyage.

The Mayflower Pub, originally the Shippe Pub (1550) and later the Spread Eagle & Crown, was renamed in 1957. Here, the Pilgrim Fathers set sail aboard the Mayflower Ship, captained by Jones who moored to avoid taxes. In 1620, the ship left with 65 passengers to meet the Speedwell, which ultimately leaked, leaving the Mayflower to sail alone. They wrote and signed "The Mayflower Compact" on board. Today, enjoy a pint and buy US & UK postage stamps at this historic pub, where Mayflower descendants can request a special book.

The Brunel Museum is dedicated to the Victorian engineering superstar, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, known for his bridges, ships, and tunnels. The Rotherhithe Tunnel, an early underwater tunnel, was a significant engineering achievement. In 1827, the tunnel's ceiling collapsed, and Brunel narrowly escaped. A solution to London's congestion, it was built because bridges couldn't accommodate the traffic. Brunel used a diving-bell to examine the riverbed, inspiring onlookers. His pioneering technology, including the first soft-ground tunneling shield, is still used today.

The Kernel Brewery, founded in 2009, specializes in locally brewed craft beers like IPAs, stouts, and ales.

Maltby Street Market, a popular foodie destination, emerged from humble beginnings in 2010. Lassco, an architectural salvage company, operates within the market. The Rope Walk, dating back to the 19th century, was once a sweatshop for rope production, with workers known as "Rope-walkers.”

Trinity Church Square, built between 1824-1832, is one of South London's most beautiful squares and part of the Newington Estate, founded by the General Lighthouse Authority charity for seamen and their families. Holy Trinity Church, opened in 1824 and designed by Francis Bedford, was built on a site where cloth merchants dried their samples. Damaged in WWII and closed in 1961, it reopened as Henry Wood Hall in 1973, serving as a rehearsal and recording hall for orchestras like the London Philharmonic. Shakespeare frequently referenced music in his works, using lyrics, symbolism, and metaphors.