Charles Dickens' London - this mostly took place around the Inns of Court where Dickens worked as a law clerk and which were also used as locations in his novels. The weather was terrible- freezing cold winds, rain, sleet. But somehow we managed to do the 2 hour walk with another 10 or so foolhardy souls. Locations used in Great Expectations, Bleak House, Martin Chuzzlewit and The Mystery of Edwin (?) Drood were the most frequent ones covered. Of course, the guide also provided information about the operation of the legal system at the time, changes in buildings and topography (such as the river bank).
The other tour was very different. Called the Unknown East End, we met at Whitechapel tube station. Harry, the guide, had lived in the East End. His grandparents had arrived as poor Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe early last century.
The dominant story of the area is one of industrial workplaces, waves of immigration, religious and ethnic diversity, poverty and crime (most notoriously the Kray brothers). Also a story of ethnic and religious cooperation between one of the synagogues and Muslim mosques and religious charity which ensured no-one starved and the London hospital which provided free medical care before the NHS.
The current population seems to be predominantly Muslim Bangladeshis., particularly evident in areas like Brick Lane. Overall it is now a much safer area to go to but I admit I was glad to have done this exploration with a guide.
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