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Jewish London Tour

• Bevis Marks
• Liverpool Street Station
• Sandy's Row Synagogue

• Discover the rich culture and history of London's Jewish community
• Led by an expert in Jewish history, trace the development of these communities from 1066 AD to the present day. We'll visit venues such as:

Synagogues in London

Commemorating those lost.

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Jewish London Walking Tours

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JEWISH LONDON WALKING TOURS - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Jewish London Walking Tours

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Jewish London Walking Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

A FREE SELF-GUIDED

WALKING TOUR 

FROM THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE

“Bravery, loss, unity and endeavour. This is the inspirational story of Jewish London.”

Why a self-led tour.

The 150th anniversary of the United Synagogue’s foundation in 1870 was a time to reflect on the historical development and achievements of our Jewish community and of the US. We – Rabbi Yoni Birnbaum and Ben Vos – designed a walking tour which allows you to guide yourself through London, and through our history, either through the streets or from the comfort of home.

Each of the fifteen stops has a map link to get you there quickly, or written directions if you prefer. And if you’re "walking from home", you can use Google Street View.

The central element of the stops are the podcasts, which are each around six minutes long. Each stop also has a picture and a document. Sometimes the podcast will be about a broad period or area of Jewish history in London, and the picture or text will focus on something narrower. Sometimes, the document or text will be about something seemingly unrelated to the podcast, but we hope it will give you context.

The history

Jewish history in the UK goes back almost a millennium, and has always centred on London. As our tour of London progresses, we slow down the passage of time and look in more detail as more is known about recent events. Even so, we have had to be selective about our choices. This tour is not supposed to give you a complete understanding of London Jewish history. Rabbi Birnbaum speaks about this in his introduction . We do hope, though, that you will learn new information, and gain something from what we hope is a fresh United Synagogue take on our collective past. If you want to feedback in any way at all, please do contact Ben Vos by clicking here .

The length of the tour

The tour begins at the Barbican and ends at Fournier Street, Spitalfields.

Walking at the pace used by Google Maps to calculate distances and timings, if one walked from the first stop at Barbican to the last stop in Fournier Street, Spitalfields, it would take 52 minutes to cover the distance of just under 2.5 miles.

However, each podcast is 5 or 6 minutes long, and there are fifteen of them. That adds an hour and a half to the tour, not including any detours, loo breaks, coffee stops or avoidance of rain.

Not all destinations are equally-distanced. The last six or seven destinations in particular, are closer to each other than the others.

All in all, we hope that a fit walker who is keen but not so uncurious that they won’t be distracted by anything, might comfortably complete the tour in under four hours, taking some time for something to eat and without rushing. This doesn’t include travel time to or from the start (nearest tube: Barbican) or the end (nearest tube: Aldgate).

You might find the walk easier if you don’t do it all on one day, or even if you use a bicycle or a scooter between stops.

Optional equipment you might want to bring

Smartphone with plenty of battery and data (i.e. that doesn’t need WiFi)

Suitable footwear

Food (optional but at least a bisl is recommended)

Please be sure to keep your possessions secure. Wear shoes suitable for walking a few miles, and carry with you a bottle of water if it’s a hot day.

Happy walking!

Rabbi Yoni Birnbaum and Ben Vos

Noa Hoffman, The Jewish Chronicle

I came away with a renewed appreciation of our community, its history

and our valued place in the capital today.

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• TOUR SCHEDULE

LONDON'S JEWISH EAST END

Explore the streets of jewish london.

• Private Bookings Only
• Any time to suit the group.
• Outside Whitechapel Art Gallery

WITH BLUE BADGE GUIDE ISABELLE SEDDON

Blue Badge Guide and City of London Guide Isabelle Seddon is an expert on the Jewish East End and, on this walk, she will take you on a journey of discovery through the streets of Spitalfields and Whitechapel to explore their Jewish Heritage.

One of London’s Most Diverse Area’s

It is an area where both the Sephardim and the Ashkenazim once jostled for trade. An area where refugees, fleeing the pograms in Eastern Europe in the latter quarter of the 19th century, settled and brought with them a culture and heritage that was both rich and diverse.

An Amazing Cast of Characters

There can be few districts of London that have yielded such a rich array of luminaries as this small quarter of the East End. Yet, the narrow streets that you will explore on this fascinating walk have nurtured the likes of poets, playwrights and authors, such Isaac Rosenberg and Israel Zangwill and Arnold Wesker; sportsmen such as Abe Saperstein, the founder of the Harlem Globetrotters; musicians, such as Joe Loss, the great band leader; and actors and entertainers such as Bud Flanagan and Jacob Adler.

You will learn their stories – some of them tragic, many of them uplifting and inspiring – and hear how they helped shaped this neighbourhood whilst leaving an indelible print on the very fabric of the streets, alleyways and buildings that Isabelle will introduce you to on this magical tour.

Highlights of the Jewish East End Tour

• The former Public Library where the likes of Selig Brodetsky, Jacob Bronowsky, Isaac Rosenberg and Israel Zangwill would meet in the Reading Room to debate all day.
• The remarkable 18th century building that, in its time has been a Chapel, a Synagogue and is now a Mosque.
• The Princelet Street Synagogue, founded in 1870.
• The former Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor.
• The streets and byways of the Jewish East End, several of which have hardly changed since the 19th century
• The Petticoat Lane Market where the poetic spiel of the Jewish stallholders was once as much of a tourist attraction as the Crown Jewels at the nearby Tower of London!

A True Feel For the Jewish East End

And, betwixt and between all these remarkable places, Isabelle will regale you with a sparkling narrative that will mingle fact, history, anecdote and gossip, all set against a background of colour and change, that will give you a real feel for the Jewish East End.

So join Isabelle for a journey through a neighbourhood that few visitors venture into but to which those who do always return.

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Jewish London Walking Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

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Jewish Heritage Europe

UK: A free new “Jews of London” self-guided walking tour launched

• Posted in: Itineraries / Routes / Tours , Tourism & Genealogy (general) , Travel apps
• Posted on: April 28, 2021

Just in time — United Synagogue, the British orthodox synagogue umbrella, has launched a free new smartphone self-guided walking tour of historic Jewish London .

The Jewish of London tour is organized around 15 thematic “stops” in central London and the East End.

It is not a downloadable app, like so many self-guided tours.

Instead, it is based on  podcasts about the places and their history, which users must contact on the spot via smartphone data.

The podcasts last around four to six minutes and are accompanied by a picture and text, as well as a map of the “stop” location and directions how to walk there.

Sometimes the podcast will be about a broad period or area of Jewish history in London, and the picture or text will focus on something narrower. Sometimes, the document or text will be about something seemingly unrelated to the podcast, but we hope it will give you context.

The walk is connected through a web site, which also has an overall map — and you can also listen to the podcasts and read the textual material in your browser.

The web site advises:

The tour begins at the Barbican and ends at Fournier Street, Spitalfields.

​ Walking at the pace used by Google Maps to calculate distances and timings, if one walked from the first stop at Barbican to the last stop in Fournier Street, Spitalfields, it would take 52 minutes to cover the distance of just under 2.5 miles.

However, each podcast is 5 or 6 minutes long, and there are fifteen of them. That adds an hour and a half to the tour, not including any detours, loo breaks, coffee stops or avoidance of rain.

Not all destinations are equally-distanced. The last six or seven destinations in particular, are closer to each other than the others.

All in all, we hope that a fit walker who is keen but not so uncurious that they won’t be distracted by anything, might comfortably complete the tour in under four hours, taking some time for something to eat and without rushing. This doesn’t include travel time to or from the start (nearest tube: Barbican) or the end (nearest tube: Aldgate).

You might find the walk easier if you don’t do it all on one day, or even if you use a bicycle or a scooter between stops.

2 comments on “ UK: A free new “Jews of London” self-guided walking tour launched ”

For those who cannot walk, it would be great to be able to access the talks online somewhere like youtube, where you could just play them through.

As the article says, you can listen on your browser

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

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Jewish London Walking Tours

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Jewish London Walking Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Jewish London Walking Tours

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JEWISH LONDON WALKING TOURS: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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Virtual Walking Tour of London: The Heart of Jewish London and England Today

Hosted By: The Museum of Jewish Heritage-- A Living Memorial to the Holocaust

Join the Museum of Jewish Heritage and Our Travel Circle to virtually explore the City of London. On this tour, attendees will visit one of the main centers of Jewish London and Britain. The tour guide will walk attendees down Golders Green Road to look at Jewish butchers, bakers, bookshops, restaurants, synagogues, a welfare center for the aged and Holocaust survivors, and several different Jewish religious groups. There’s even a special medical center for Jewish patients. Travelers will discuss patterns of immigration, history, and London’s population.

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• Tours of Jewish London
• Hampton Court Palace, and Windsor Castle with Jewish connections
• The Beautiful City of Oxford plus Jewish themes
• Stonehenge, Salisbury and the amazing Magna Carta
• About Stephen / Testimonials
• Contact Stephen

It's a wonderful experience for individuals, social club outings, school trips, family adventures or just groups of friends out together

My tours can be taken as reasonably-priced private tours any day of the week (morning, afternoon or evening). For more information or to book a tour please click below on Contact Stephen . Click also on the next three pages for my fascinating tours to the fabulous Hampton Court Palace and Windsor Castle, the Beautiful City of Oxford and Stonehenge, Salisbury and the Magna Carta.   All my walking tours are also available as a combination of short strolls and riding in a comfortable vehicle for up to six people - so do enquire about this extra service with the vehicle if of interest to you.

After reading the tour highlights below, please click on DATES, TIMES AND CONTACT ME for further details of my regular tours. There is also a form to seek more information if required and to book a tour.

Spitalfields and Aldgate

  Give a Gift Voucher!  Click above on Contact Stephen for details of a novel present.

Old Jewish Quarter …in the districts of Aldgate and Spitalfields

Fascinating sights and magical stories await you on this 2 hour 15 minute tour in this famous part of London's East End as we explore the enthralling history and rich hertitage of the Jewish community

• A visit inside the exquisite Bevis Marks Synagogue - the oldest synagogue in England dating back more than 300 years and spawning several internationally famous sons who I will introduce you to.  Discover why there was a staggering 156 synagogues in just a tiny two square mile area of the East End;  see the Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor, lifesaver to thousands of impoverished souls every day;  the first Yiddish theatre in England which was the scene of a real life tragedy;  and other interesting sites
• Hear heartwarming and heartbreaking stories, from the hilarious spiel of traders in the famous Petticoat Lane Market to the impoverished Jewish immigrants escaping East European oppression only to face wretched living conditions here and a life of toil in the notorious clothing factory sweatshops (and we touch on several other immigrant cultures too).  There's the 366 year exile of England's Jews and their joyous return thanks to one of the country's toughest rulers.  You will also learn about the infamous Jewish Catwalk where unsuspecting Jewish girls, fresh off the immigrant ships, were lured into a tragic and pitiful life of prostitution (this last one can be adjusted with young children)  
• Meet colourful characters from the past including the real-life 19th century Fagin;  England’s chief rabbi who told Russia: “DON’T let my people go!”;  the Angel of the East End who devoted her life to the Jewish community's underpriviledged;  and the secret Jew who became the Queen’s physician.  I will even take you to the very spot where visible evidence convinced many that the infamous Jack the Ripper was Jewish (this last one can be adjusted with young children)

I also tailor-make tour routes to include addresses of clients' ancestors who lived in the Old Jewish Quarter ... much to the delight of hundreds of my former clients.  I will do this for you too if you wish!

Extended Old Jewish Quarter tour with more fascinating sites to see and enthralling stories to hear!

It’s a popular tour (at little extra cost) lasting around 3 hours 30 minutes and combining my Old Jewish Quarter  tour in the East End districts of  Aldgate  and  Spitalfields  (see highlights above) ... PLUS  some sights and stories in the neighbouring  Old Jewish Quarter district of  Whitechapel (see below) .    The tour is taken at a pace to suit you with plenty of stops on route and opportunities to sit. 

Some of the additional features in Whitechapel include:

• The manic goings-on at Britain’s most famous Yiddish theatre; the hospital making astonishing efforts to cater for its Jewish patients; the story behind the host of different Jewish trade unions and political groups.  I will introduce you to colourful characters including the boss of the notorious gang known as the Kosher Nostra;  the chief rabbi who ‘saved’ Queen Victoria;  the Jewish leader who backed an anti-Semitic election candidate whose policy was to rid the East End of its Jewish immigrants;  and the world famous hairdresser who was twice a hero to the Jewish community.

NEW!   Old Jewish Quarter  tour  ... in the district of Whitechapel

It’s my full length tour (2 hours 15 minutes) in the famous and fascinating district of Whitechapel offering sensational stories and interesting sights and where I introduce you to truly amazing characters from the past who left lasting impressions on this enthralling part of the East End.

• Discover the tiny synagogue dwarfed on all sides by a Mosque;  the hospital going overboard to cater for its Jewish patients;  the pub where the order of the day was lager and a latke;  why a monument, dedicated to a King of England, was paid for by the East End’s impoverished Jewish community;  the wine shop which, in a most ingenious way, smuggled kosher claret to the mayor of New York during those days of alcohol prohibition
• Learn about the fatal battle between rival Jewish gangs known as the Kosher Nostra;  the manic goings-on at Britain’s most famous Yiddish theatre;  the day Jews and non-Jews united to stop fascists marching through the Jewish East End;  the fighting spirit of a host of Jewish trade unions and political organisations; and how a Jewish immigrant was the only witness to a Jack the Ripper murder (this last one can be adjusted with young children)
• Meet some interesting Jewish characters including the lord supporting the General Election candidate who wanted to rid Britain of its Jews;  the battling hairdresser who was twice a hero of the Jewish community;  the wedding photographer bringing Hollywood to the East End;  the Chief Rabbi who ‘saved’ Queen Victoria;  the boxer whose greatest match was outside the ring;  the Yiddish actress who insisted the show must go on despite bombs falling all around
• And there are other fascinating sites to see, stories to hear and colourful characters to meet on this enthralling walking tour

NEW!   Old Jewish Quarter tour ...in the district of Stepney

An enthralling area of the Old Jewish Quarter , considered the ‘better part’ of the Jewish East End.  It's the district of Stepney and as we stroll through pleasant streets and quaint alleyways I will point out interesting sights and relate their fascinating stories.

• See  the secret 300-year-old Jewish cemetery hidden within an astonishing modern setting;  the amazing sight of the giant department store forced to build around a tiny jewellery shop whose owners, three Jewish brothers, refused to sell out; the 125-year-old family business that makes all the boots for Britain’s army; and a former major synagogue that is now a luxury apartment block, yet amazingly retains incredible features of its former life
• Learn why Jewish community leaders hoped this ‘better’ part of the Jewish East End would be off limits to the Eastern European Jewish immigrants;  hear about the famous Siege of Sidney Street as we stand on the very spot where a young Winston Churchill directed the attack against Russian Jewish anarchists;  discover why pupils at a Jewish school were taught English hymns and frowned upon for wearing their skullcaps;  also why the Jewish leadership said NO to having a Jewish hospital in the East End
• Meet larger-than-life characters such as the international star of the silver screen who wished he was Jewish;  the top Jewish lawyer, defender of Britain’s most infamous gangsters; the cheeky kid thrown out of school for selling sweepstake tickets and became Britain’s top impresario; the non-Jewish immigrant learning Yiddish to bring 40,000 sweatshop workers out on strike;  the Jewish billionaire who started his business life selling cans of food from a market stall
• While we stroll along Stepney streets, I will describe the incredible joy of one-time oppressed Jewish immigrants who lined these same streets as they cheered a Jewish regiment marching off to liberate Palestine from the Turks.  And there are many other wonderful sites to see, enthralling stories to hear and colourful characters to meet on this truly memorable tour

London's Famous Attractions …with amazing Jewish connections too!

Here's an enthralling tour that delights visitors to London and locals alike ...it's really two tours in one!  We visit many well- known landmarks and iconic sites, but as well as relating their fascinating stories I also reveal a whole host of extremely interesting (and little known) Jewish connections.  And there are two ways to enjoy this tour.  It can be a walking only tour or one that combines short strolls and riding in a comfortable vehicle with extra sites to see and stories to hear.  The vehicle, along with me, collects you for the start of the tour and returns you after the tour to your accommodation or elsewhere in central London if you prefer.

Just some of the iconic sites you will see and stories you will hear include:

• While viewing Buckingham Palace you will discover the surprising Jewish blood line which our late Queen's grandson and heir to the throne, Prince William, is said to have married into when he wed Kate Middleton
• In Parliament Square I will recall the tragic and cruel fate that befell 18 prominent members of the Jewish community, all on wicked false charges.  And in the shadow of the awesome Supreme Court I will introduce you to an incredible Jewish family whose eldest son rose rapidly to become head of the country’s legal system
• As we stand before famous 10 Downing Street you will hear about the little-known Jewish ancestry of a recent Prime Minister; beside Westminster Abbey learn how the Church of England has 13th century Jewish leaders to thank for the building of this most notable place of worship; in Trafalgar Square I relate the ironic story of billionaire Jewish cousins financing opposing sides in the Napoleonic Wars; and there’s the incident that dented Winston Churchill’s unrecognised sympathetic approach to the Jewish people and Zionism
• In the heart of cinema land, as we admire the statue of a London-born Hollywood screen star, I will tell you about his secret wish to have been Jewish.  At Piccadilly Circus I will present to you the renowned 19th century Lord, a Christian Zionist, who called for a Jewish state in Palestine; and there’s the multimillionaire (and swindler!) who rescued one of London’s most famous landmarks.  There are even more sites to see and tales to hear on this thrilling tour including Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Whitehall, the River Thames and Horse Guards, the home of the King’s Household Cavalry

Jewish West End ...and its remarkable hidden history!

London's West End is renowned today as one of the city's most fashionable areas and the centre for entertainment and shopping. But two particular districts in the heart of the West End - Soho and Fitzrovia - are also steeped in a fascinating hidden history of a vast Jewish community that lived there as recently as 75 years ago. See highlights below. (Enthralling early evening private Jewish West End tours also available 6.00pm - 8.00pm) :

• Be shocked at the abject poverty and utter deprivation in the West End among the Jewish people living just yards from the luxury homes of the ultra rich of London;  and learn the story behind those famous 'Nippies', the waitresses at the much-missed Lyons Cornerhouse Restaurants which were founded by two enterprising Jewish men
• Hear about larger than life personalities including the Jewish billionaire's daughter who devoted her entire life to creating happiness among working class girls;  the Eastern European immigrant with 10 daughters who gave up tailoring to run a pub;  the chief rabbi who upset many of his brethren by being an ardent Zionist;  the London boy winning the highest civilian gallantry medal during World War 2;  and the Hebrew school pupils studying alongside (and often making friends with) Soho's red light ladies
• Discover how bitter rivalries within London's Jewish congregations split the synagogue establishment and led to a new religious movement throughout the country
• We will together stroll along historic Berwick Street, Dean Street and Frith Street, each offering many wonderful stories such as the comical antics of market traders including the notorious 'Queen of the Shleppers';  a noted kosher restaurant where its most enthusiastic diners were famous Hollywood stars;  one of the first Governement state schools that was really Jewish in all but name;  and where the celebrated Great Tailors' Strike began 100 years ago involving thousands of Jewish workers led by a non-Jewish Yiddish-speaking German immigrant.  Learn also why a tiny synagogue, tucked away in side street boasted an astonishing 1,000 congregants

Willesden Jewish Cemetery …legends in Jewish history!

We visit the last resting place of both the famous and the unknown whose varied lives produce for us stories that are enthralling, inspiring, tragic and even humorous.  

• Strolling through this 140-year-old cemetery we come across the famous scientist, robbed of the glory for one of the 20th century's greatest discoveries;  four former chief rabbis each with revealing stories;  the father and son Rothschilds who could not have been more different;  the London teenager who emigrated to the other side of the world and became a Prime Minister;  the royal illusionist, inventor of the incredible saw-the-lady-in-half trick;  two business giants, one in groceries and one in furniture;  Lady Chutzpah who continually stunned the world with her flamboyance;  the son of an East End second hand clothes dealer who literally went from rags to riches;  and there are many other fascinating lives to celebrate and tragic young deaths to lament

For dates of public tours for all the above, please click below on Dates, Times & Contact Me -->

• Jewish London Walking Tours

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The Jewish Soup Kitchen ...it was a lifesaver every day to thousands of impoverished Jews in the East End

Champion Harry Mizler …his finest match was outside the ring as you will discover on the Whitechapel tour

Exploring the alleyways and main thoroughfares on a choice of Jewish-themed tours in and around London

Learn of the sadness and the tragedy that this little Jewish girl and her 10,000 friends represent

On the Whitechapel tour we will stroll the same streets where Jews and non-Jews united 100 years ago to stop fascists marching through the Old Jewish Quarter. They said: “They shall not pass!”

Meet the notorious head of the East End’s ruthless mob of gangsters known locally as the Kosher Nostra

Recalling when 3,000 at this East End Yiddish theatre in Whitechapel warmed to the singing of a young cantor

Meet the Chief Rabbi who became Queen Victoria’s very own hero.

Make up a group of friends, relatives or colleagues and join me on tour

…and there’s the Jewish immigrant who made good and became the closest confidant of Britain’s King Edward VII

Stephen Burstin Telephone: +44 (0)7967 561759.  Email: [email protected]

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Jewish London Private Tour

Officially licensed guides, guided walking tour, flexible rescheduling, jewish heritage in london tour.

Discover the Jewish heritage of London. Together with your  Jewish Blue Badge Guide  explore London, one of the most diverse, multicultural cities on earth. 

This tour focuses on the history & modern traditions of the Jewish population, one of London’s oldest immigrant groups. We will visit areas such as  The City , London’s historic heart, and  the East End which was the Jewish district 100 years ago .

Your guide will  bring to life the heritage & customs of Jewish London .

What’s Included In Our Jewish London Private Guided Tour?

• Be met by your professional  Jewish Blue Badge guide
• Visit London’s famous East End, the heart of Jewish life
• Visit  Bevis Marks , the oldest surviving synagogue in Britain (subject to opening times)
• Hear about the lives of the Jews who have contributed significantly to British society
• Learn & sample traditional food  – from visiting a London Jewish baking institution where you can try the doughnuts that your guide grew up on to sampling fish & chips (yes, this British staple has a Jewish background!)

Jewish London Tour Itinerary

Starting in the medieval old city where they lived nearly one thousand years ago. Only fragments remain but you will hear the stories of how these Jews lived and where they prayed.

We will then move to the East End, just outside the old city walls. This is the area where, 100 years ago, the newly arrived Jewish immigrants lived and worked. A shtetl in the center of London. Yiddish was the language of the streets here as this dirt-poor community struggled to make a home and life for themselves.

When open, we will visit inside Bevis Marks, the oldest surviving synagogue in the UK. You will hear stories of great British Jews such as Prime Minister Disraeli and philanthropist Moses Montefiore. Sweatshops and street markets, singers and poets, shuls and soup kitchens.

Along the way, you will sample traditional Jewish food such as bagels, fish & chips & herring (if you’re game!)

Why You Should Choose Luxe For Your Jewish London Tour:

• Learn about the wider context of London’s story & how Jewish life plays an integral part
• Hear the hidden stories of Jewish London and go behind the guidebooks 
• Learn the first-hand experience of what it’s like being Jewish in London & personal family stories from your guide 
• Sample traditional London Jewish cuisine

Tour Duration:  Approx 3 hours

Meeting point:  At your centrally located London accommodation OR at St Paul’s underground station

Let us know your questions!

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Pay securely online & meet your private guide at a pre-arranged meeting point

Contact Us About The Jewish London City Tour

At London by Luxe we understand that no two private tours will be the same, and we endeavor to tailor every tour exactly to the tastes and requirements of our guests. So if there is anything we can do to customize your tour, just let our friendly planners know in the form below.

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