Tale of Two Slums in St Giles Private Tour

Uncover the lost world of St Giles as you journey through the notorious slums of The Rookery and Seven Dials. Once some of London’s most infamous areas, these streets were home to poverty, crime, and resilience. On this private tour, you’ll trace the transformation of these neighbourhoods, from Dickensian hardship to their modern-day revival.

Starting at Tin Pan Alley, once the heart of London’s music scene, you’ll explore St Giles in the Fields Church and Resurrection Gate, uncovering their links to Queen Matilda, a leprosy hospital, and public executions. Learn how The Rookery became a feared and overcrowded warren of alleyways, filled with Irish migrants struggling to survive.

Walk through Betterton Street, once part of The Rookery, and hear stories of desperate poverty and crime, including the infamous Rat’s Castle lodging house. Visit the striking Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, which has long supported the city’s most vulnerable, and see how its soup kitchen still provides aid today.

Marvel at the neo-Gothic architecture of the former Endell Street St Giles National School, now a shelter for the homeless run by St Mungo’s. Discover the remarkable story of the Endell Street Military Hospital, a groundbreaking wartime institution run entirely by women during the First World War.

Moving into Seven Dials, once a slum teeming with thieves and warehouses, witness its incredible transformation into a vibrant shopping and dining district. Follow in Dickens’ footsteps through its maze of streets, uncovering the untold histories behind its old pubs and alleys. Concluded in the colourful Neal’s Yard, a once-neglected space brought to life in the 1970s and now a thriving hub of independent shops and cafés.

This tour offers a glimpse into the lives of those who shaped St Giles, revealing stories of struggle, reform, and resilience in a city that is constantly changing.

What to Expect on Your Private Tour

• A guided exploration of one of London’s most infamous slum areas, uncovering the real-life history behind The Rookery and Seven Dials.
• Fascinating insights into how Victorian Londoners lived, worked, and survived in one of the city’s most challenging districts.
• Stories brought to life by a London tour guide, including links to Charles Dickens, the Endell Street Military Hospital, and the transformation of Seven Dials.
• The chance to walk through historic streets that have evolved dramatically over centuries, from crime-ridden slums to thriving cultural hubs.
• A mix of architecture, from medieval churches and Victorian-era schools to modern redevelopments.

Tour Details

• 🗺️ Start: Tottenham Court Road Station
• 🏁 End: Neals Yard Covent Garden
• ⏳ Duration: 90 minutes
• 🎓 Led by a qualified London tour guide

This private tour offers a unique opportunity to explore the striking contrast between the area’s dark past and its vibrant present, now transformed into a lively cultural destination — all led by an experienced London guide.