Uncover the rich and unexpected connections between Southwark and the City of London on this fascinating walking tour.
From governance to the hop trade, iconic taverns, and medicinal herbs, explore how this vibrant borough shaped London’s history.
Discover why parts of Southwark were under the rule of the City of London until 1899, and step back in time to Borough High Street, once lined with bustling inns where brewers sourced hops to flavor their beers. Learn the difference between ale, beer, and the foreign ‘lager,’ and hear about gruit, an ancient herbal mixture once used in brewing for both flavor and medicinal benefits.
This tour will also reveal the healing properties of hops and other medicinal herbs, as well as their role in the borough’s great hospitals. Find out why Southwark Cathedral has an herb garden and why an attic at St. Thomas’ Hospital was once filled with drying medicinal plants.
📍 Meeting Point: Southwark Gateway Needle
ABOUT DAFYDD WYN PHILLIPS
Dafydd Wyn Phillips is a London Blue Badge Tourist Guide as well as a City of London Guide. Dafydd also leads tours around Fuller’s Griffin Brewery in Chiswick.