July - What's On?

Herstorical Tours
2 days ago
4 min read

Shop mannequins melt in a heatwave in London in 1929. Many of us can relate.

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past few weeks (and if you have - that’s probably been the coolest place you could possibly be…)

ITS SUMMER EVERYONE!!!!

and don’t we know it! with record-breaking June heat causing everyone to melt and combust across Blighty. We doughy Brits are ill-suited to heat, we were all forged in drizzle and disappointment (to paraphrase a recent funny meme I saw) 🫠

June re-cap

But the heat doesn’t stop Herstory being made. I sweated through several tours (thanks so much to everyone who braved the weather and turned up!!) including Jail Birds of Old London which I brought back for a one off (for now). I hosted two private tours, one was a ‘break-up’ tour where we ceremoniously sacrificed the ex in question’s prized cufflinks into the ‘execution fountain’ - very cathartic. We even had a celebrity eavesdrop randomly (Timothy Spall - if you’re reading - thanks for dropping by)!

It was a glorious month, with some fantastic promotion and feedback. I got a shoutout from Kerstin Rodgers/msmarmitelover after I hosted her in May, another shoutout from Tal who runs Bright Nomad Travel blog, I was in the Londonist: Things To Do, AND I was interviewed by the amazing Meat Suits Podcast. You can listen to the interview soon. Phew! what a month!

What’s on in July?

It’s a quieter month certainly - as everyone eases into summer holidays. Aside from a couple of private tours, here’s what’s happening and when. Click on the name of the tour to learn more and book!

17th July: Hex and the City

19th July: Southwark Hysteries

24th July - Votes for Women! (with the Bow Street Museum)

31st July - Harlots and Strumpets and Tarts, Oh My! (with the Foundling Museum)

Hex and the City

Why were certain women targeted in the witch trials? Why do they wear pointy hats and have cauldrons? Where was the last witch convicted? and where was London’s hidden long-lost pagan temple?

These are questions that are not only answered, but dramatically re-enacted. Hex and the City is my flagship staple that’s been running for the past 5 years. We venture into the Old City, and explore not just the locations of occult activity and witch persecution, but also bring to life these herstories using live theatre, comedy, and ritual! King of Horror Reece Shearsmith (of League of Gentlemen fame) is a fan, so we must be doing something right…

If you want to get a sense of the tour - Tal from Bright Nomad blog recently wrote a review here.

And you can watch a trailer here.

Southwark Hysteries

Who lives (allegedly) in the London sewers? Where were London’s sex workers buried?Who inspired Postman’s Park?

Mysteries, Hysteria, and Herstory….it’s all bound up in the veins of Southwark - London’s oldest Roman settlement! Wander along the river on a balmy summer afternoon and meet ladies of ill-repute, as well as nuns, Queens (of a sort!) and working class heroines. The forgotten women on Southwark are the focus on this tour. I’ve also added in a lot of comedy, song and poetry. Ooh and we end in a local pub!

The latest review is posted above, and there’s a trailer preview here.

Votes for Women! Suffragettes at Bow Street and Beyond!

Were the suffragettes elitist? Who were the working class suffragettes? Which music hall star famously helped a suffragette?

Votes for women! is a tour celebrating the suffragette London campaign, but within the wider context of the UK suffrage movement, and Victorian society. We visit places the suffragettes bombed, smashed, rallied and hid from authorities. I bring to life historic characters from the movement and give them a voice. The tour ends at the Bow Street Museum of Crime and Justice where your ticket gives you entry into the museum and old police cells themselves.

Trailer here.

Harlots, Strumpets and Tarts, Oh My!

What famous Covent Garden theatre was a prime orgy location ? What was the No.1 kink in 18th Century London? How many people in London ACTUALLY had STDs?

All these burning (ahem!) questions about 18th century sex lives and more are answered on our most popular prostitution walking tour! Explore Covent Garden’s seedy past and meet the bawdy gals themselves on this immersive fun tour. There are plenty of sobering facts, but we end at a gin palace, so you won’t be sober for long!

Trailer here.

Are you looking for a unique alternative event this summer?

A hen party, a birthday party, a team building day, diversity training, a celebration of ‘unlikeable’ women, a book club meet up, a school/university day out, a marriage proposal and, most recently, A break up celebration… These are some of the reasons people have booked private tours with me. Basically, I’m open to anything, and my tours fit so many different occasions! I can accommodate from 1 person up to 30 and am very flexible with times.

I’ve still got a lot of availability for private tours this month and next, so if you have anything in mind, drop me a line and we’ll discuss.

And finally, to finish this missive on something completely different! Has anyone seen Rivals yet? I’m a HUGE fan, and I know it may not be everyone’s cuppa, but even if you’re not bedazzled by ‘80’s nostalgia, you can’t help but be utterly captivated by the acting and script. I particularly love the centring and depth given to the female characters. They pretty much drive much of the story.

This scene between Monica (Claire Rushbrook) and Lizzie (Katherine Parkinson) - two long-suffering wives of adulterous and unfeeling husbands - had me reeling for days.