A Road to Ruin Private Tour

Investigate a number of fascinating buildings along an ancient Drover’s road into London including an ‘in and out pub’, a world famous inn, a brewery, two gin distilleries and even a licensed pawn broker!

During this private tour will also be investigating the relationship between Londoners and their alcohol, whether that’s making, drinking or selling it. We explore different classes of society and how the popular English past-time of drinking was interpreted by artists of the day including Georgian engraver and artist William Hogarth.

Delve into the past & investigate the relationship between different classes of society in London and what this meant for the alcohol they were able to drink. What was the impact of production and consumption of alcohol? How did artists depict society and the expectations put on the different classes.

In a time of pleasure gardens why were illegal stills and drinking dens become a necessity? Get to know what business men did to keep their workers working and their clients coming back time and time again.

Learn how we gained the expressions ‘One for the road’, ‘a Mother’s ruin’ and ‘dead drunk’.

Perfectly suitable for tea totals; no alcohol consumption involved. You have the option to end the tour at a unique pub.

• Start: Angel Tube Station
• End: Farringdon Station