This is the starting point for the 'Shakespeare in the City Walk'. Meet me outside Blackfriars UNDERGROUND Station. Blackfriars underground station is on the Circle & District Lines. (Be careful - do NOT go South of the river to Blackfriars overground station). There is only one exit so you won't miss me. I will be standing metres away from that underground station exit, with a sign on my rucksack featuring Shakespeare's face.
A Shakespeare statue most people miss. Shakespeare's popularity. Why you should ignore the conspiracy theories.
The location of the original Blackfriars Theatre, and why you had to be rich to attend; plus how rich Shakespeare himself became.
The remaining fragment of the Blackfriars Monastery. Shakespeare's thematic obessions.
A really lovely, hidden quiet location connecting Shakespeare and King James.
The site of a Shakespeare house in London, and its fate. The play likely written here. PLUS, a church with a hidden sculpture of Shakespeare praying, and a very important document. The Researcher who makes Americans proud. The play 'Richard 111' and its connections to the area.
An extraordinary hidden totem pole made from a very famous William Shakespeare speech. You would NEVER find this weird and wonderful monument by yourself! Declan, who used to be a professional actor, gives the entire speech. Next, The College of Arms and the Shakespeare family's coat of arms. Why that honour came two months too late. Plus Ben Jonson's joke at Shakespeare's expense. Also information about Shakespeare's children.
On to a plaque revealing Shakespeare's generosity, why you should keep looking in dusty attics, plus the background to Shakespeare's two daughters and their very different fortunes.
To the magnificent St Pauls Cathedral and a breathtaking revelation about it (although we don't go inside). Shakespeare's best ever seller, plus his sonnets and a reasonable interpretation of his sexuality. Declan's favourite words by anyone EVER (clue: it's only 4 words and they are by William Shakespeare. And they are cosmic).
Next a section on Shakespeare's amazing vocabulary, and why it just wasn't enough. The location of a pub he drank in and who else drank there. Plus a section on Shakespeare's religion, and why he was lonely and reclusive.
Up next, a bust of William Shakespeare, and the men who honoured him; which plays we would lack without them. Plus revelations about his writing style. Also why you should NOT get all starry-eyed thinking about Love Lane!
The location of Shakespeare's second house, and why Shakepeare ended up in this area. Plus the full story of how Shakespeare made a marriage and then regretted it.
Finally, at a church he knew, the two best known actors of his age, and the sad case of his brother Edmund. Declan finishes with another complete and hauntingly beautiful speech from Shakespeare's last play, in which Shakespeare gets cosmic again. The speech is perfect because it is about saying goodbye...
Declan then walks to Barbican underground station if you want to accompany him to join the underground train system. Barbican is on three different underground lines: The Circle, Metropolitan, and Hammersmith & City Lines. By the end of this magical tour I promise - and the rave reviews here on TripAdvisor agree - that you will know William Shakespeare, and his London, infinitely better!
This was a very enjoyable and informative tour of some lesser known Shakespeare sites north of the river. Our guide, Declan, could not have been better. His passion and knowledge were obvious throughout the tour and really made for a most memorable and illuminating experience and one we would thoroughly recommend. Thanks very much.
Declan was excellent very passionate about his subject William Shakespeare. He’s enthusiasm & knowledge were contagious!! Would highly recommend. From a fellow London Taxi Tour guide Rod & Mandy
Declan gave us a great walking tour in trying weather due heat wave. He's a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide. Full of background info on life and times of Shakespeare. Highly recommend.
This was one amazibg very interesting tour. Declan, the guide, was absolutely amazing. He is very passionate about his job and you can really tell he enjoys it. The tour was interactive, fun and really just brilliant. I would 10/10 recommend!
The tour guide (Declan) was absolutely amazing. He kept us interested, and was very enthusiastic about the things he was talking about, showing how much he enjoys what he does. Brilliant experience!
Declan’s authoritative stroll thru the streets that Shakespeare strode is appealing and satisfying on its own, and during the brief instances he breaks into quoted verse from the Bard, we wonderfully revert to that past age! Extremely well done!
If you are interested in visiting parts of London you never knew existed , with a tour guide that combines real passion with knowledge and enthusiasm, then Declan is your man and this is the tour for you. Top draw ✍️. Highly recommend. DannyMac.
I discovered Shakespeare quite late in life and regret that I didn’t find him sooner. My daughter treated me to this tour as a Christmas present and what a Christmas present! We had a thoroughly enjoyable time. I learned so much, it was hugely enjoyable and our tour guide, Declan was entertaining and so knowledgeable. I recommend this to anyone, even if you have just a passing interest in The Bard. You will see parts of London which you may otherwise have walked past without a thought.
Today we went on a Shakpeare City tour with Declan. He gave an amazing tour full of very interesting facts about Shakespeare’s life. We learned so much from him about this amazing man and visited places we would never have known about until today. Neale & Chris
Such a brilliant tour! Declan is hugely knowledgeable and passionate about Shakespeare. I’ve studied Shakespeare, performed his plays, and I’ve lived in London for over 20 years and I still learnt loads of new, interesting facts and was captivated. Feel like I’ve discovered a whole new part of my city!! Thanks Declan.
Declan is a great tour guide! Fascinating, entertaining, much better than you'd get from a guide book. Recommended.
It was a great tour. Declan provided many great details about Shakespeare, London and history that were fascinating. At times, I felt transported back to life many centuries ago.
Bravo! Declan is a warm and witty guide. His tour was a highlight of this trip to London. I am a Shakespeare nerd, and others on the tour that day were not, but Declan adapted his style and skill for each of us. His deep knowledge of the material and the sites is at his fingertips. He is a remarkable storyteller. He engaged with each of us on the Walk. Declan took us to sites that those familiar with James Shapiro's scholarship will find especially revealing, affirming, and moving. Declan put the sites in the context of Shakespeare's life and the historical events and movements of that time, including Henry VIII's Dissolution Act and the ensuing recusancy in the times of Mary, Elizabeth and James. Declan touched on the difference between the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods of Shakespeare's life and work. He addressed the "Shakespeare didn't write Shakespeare" rumours, historical and contemporary. An astonishing highlight was Declan's performance of "All the world's a stage" from As You Like It beneath Richard Kindersley's "Seven Ages" sculpture. Recited deftly, with just enough gravitas to remind us that Shakespeare's words are the simple stars of this grievous and uplifting monologue, Declan contextualized the poetry in the author's oeuvre, pointing out that Shakespeare was a mere 35 years old when he composed it. By that time, Shakespeare had experienced grief and loss beyond his years, and his art had perhaps begun to unmake him. Declan ended our revels near a Medieval church in the Barbican, where he deftly rounded our little walk with relevant lines from The Tempest. It happens that there were clouds in an unusually bright late-afternoon sky, and the light, for a few moments, was an insubstantial pageant. Did I say "moving"? Yes. Declan appreciates the few autobiographical details we have of Shakespeare, and he clearly understands the vulnerability of talent, especially when a glover's son's talent is doubted by the "educated" class. (Sorry if this review is pedantic -- that's on me. This tour is suitable for any new visitor to Shakespeare's footsteps, and, if you are going to see a play by Shakespeare, it will enrich your experience of both the plays and the City!)
Such an insightful tour wending our way through Bard-related nooks and crannies north of the river. Declan led the walk at a perfect pace and opened our eyes to so many treasures hidden in plain sight. Thank you!
Our guide had huge knowledge of Shakespeare's history around the corners of London that it would have been impossible to get to know by myself. In addition, great artistic skills for bringing quotes from Shakespeare's plays during the tour! Highly recommended!
We would highly recommend this walk. Declan is passionate and knowledgeable about his subject . We learnt all about the places where Shakespeare lived and worked on the north bank of the river. If you take this walk you are truly walking in Shakespeare's footsteps.
A well researched and dramatized telling of the history and personal details of Shakespeare’s many connections hidden in plain sight within the small parameters of the City of London (not greater London, just the original small city). Fascinating to hear both undeniable historic facts and relationships as well as plausible speculation on motivations and social realities form this time period. Well worth your time to walk the city and imagine yourself in the steps of Shakespeare!
THEEEE best Shakespeare tour guide Declan was FANTASTIC! He KNEW all things Shakespeare because it is his love and passion! I could tell right away that we were in for a treat! I missed my start time two Fridays ago (London train traffic! Urgh) so Declan let me join today with my friends and two other Americans. Declan KNEW what he was talking about, answered all our (mostly mine!) many questions and recited key portions of keep plays at crucial locations. Part historian, part actor, always fun and passionate, Declan was great. I highly, HIGHLY recommend Declan.
Brilliant walk. So many places and things you could walk past and never know they were there and the connection to Shakespeare. Declan was a real passionate font of knowledge.
We had a brilliant time on the Shakespeare in the City tour. Declan was extremely knowledgeable and passionate and took us to an area of London you wouldn't otherwise see (beautiful side streets away from the main hustle and bustle). We learnt lots about Shakespeare and got a real sense of his life in this part of London. We also liked his approach of photos are only taken once he has finished talking as it meant the whole group was fully engaged and listening. We would highly recommend.
This was an excellent and highly informative tour. I particularly loved the talented delivery of the speeches from 2 of my favourite plays. Learned a lot I didnt know about Shakespeare and places in the city I had not seen before Thank you Declan
If only I could write as well as the Bard I’d leave a more poetic review - but the tour was fantastic and highly recommended. Declan is informative and entertaining and his knowledge of the sites was brilliant. Well worth it!
Declan really cares about Shakespeare and shares his knowledge of fascinating places and stories associated with Shakespeare and his life.
Absolutely fabulous. Shakespeare's LondonCity walk with Declan. Really good for the knowledgeable and the not so knowledgeable. I strongly recommend this ultimate history of the Bard in the City of London.
I loved Declan's tour!! Went with my two best friends (who are visiting from the US), and we all learned so much. I can't think of a better way to spend time with friends on a Saturday morning in this beautiful city. We went to so many hidden spots in the city following the foot steps of Shakespeare, and Declan is such a marvelous storyteller. There were so many poetic moments in the tour that we couldn't stop thinking or talking about it for the rest of the day. If you are looking for an enriching experience full of inspirations that will stay with you for a long long time, don't miss this tour. :)
We enjoyed our walk with Declan through places and times of bygone London. We enjoyed learning about Shakespeare's life and family. We also enjoyed learning more about his life in the places he frequented. I learned a lot of about London's (and the City of London in particular) neighborhoods through the years. Declan has the right balance of facts, storytelling, quotations from Shakespeare's works, and information about today's London. Definitely better than a big touristy show. Highly recommend!
Brilliant walk if you are into Shakespeare. Declan the guide showed a wealth of unusual spots and interesting places that opened up some really interesting facts about the Bard and his life... and with ex-acting experience told the stories as if we were back in the day. Thanks very much xx
It was an absolute pleasure to be on this walk, with such lovely people, and the excellent Declan as a guide. Declan is so knowledgeable and imbued in his subject, and the fact that it takes place on the North of the Thames, perhaps less associated with Shakespeare's time in London, made it particularly informative. I couldn't recommend the walk more highly.
Declan is a knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and engaging tour guide who knows many secrets of London City and the life of Shakespeare. Really worth the money.
A very interesting walk by well informed and passionate guide, Declan. He gave us clear instructions and managed the croup very well throughout the walk.
Incredible tour taking in Shakespeare’s world north of the Thames. Declan, our tour guide, was full of historical facts and additional knowledge we’d never heard of. It was fun and informative and I would highly recommend it
Declan is the very best Shakespeare guide you could imagine. He's obsessed with Shakespeare so he knows him better than the back of his own hand. And he knows Shakespeare's plays just as well, so as he guided us around hidden parts of London with Shakespeare connections he treated us to speeches from the plays: the last one was so beautifully delivered I was in tears. Don't go on any other Shakespeare London tour until you've been on this one ... and then you'll want to do this one again. Brilliant, professional and funny too.
I highly recommend this Shakespeare tour around the City of London! Took my sister along and we both loved it. We got to see many sites and features for the first time, a few hiding in plain sight(!). Declan’s what you want in a tour guide - enthusiastic and very knowledgeable on the topic of Shakespeare and clearly a fan! Plus happy to answer our questions and gave ample opportunity for photos. Plenty of great insights into the history of the area and the playwright himself. Thoroughly enjoyable!
Fantastic tour , Declan was engaging throughout and well informed. The details and sites covered during the walk have really expanded my knowledge of both Shakespeare and the time he lived in, thanks Declan.
I had an amazing tour with Declan today! He explained everything in a very interesting and even showed his talent as an actor!
Very knowledgeable tour guide, visited hidden gems of the city and learned lots of interesting facts. Would definitely recommend taking this tour.
Declan is a very knowledgeable, friendly and entertaining guide. We were really impressed with how much history he had to share in a short distance and time. There were frequent pauses breaking up the walking and lots to look at and talk about on the way. Thanks for a great tour.
This tour was absolutely brilliant. My sister and I had the chance to be the only two people on the tour that day (probably because of the cold weather), which made the visit all the more special. Declan is an amazing guide, who communicates information with a strongly contagious passion. He had a variety of niche anecdotes to share as he led us through the City. It is truly remarkable how much there is to discover about Shakespeare in those tiny streets and courtyards, and Declan made sure we learnt a lot. He was always happy to answer questions, and definitely impressed us with his renditions of monologues and other quotes from Shakespeare's plays. We would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who wants to learn more about the playwright with a passionate guide, while also avoiding the crowds. Thank you Declan!!
Declan certainly knows his stuff and his enthusiasm for Shakespeare is obvious. Great to see hidden places associated with the bard. Well worth taking this tour.
Fascinating stuff. A whole tsumani of knowledge about the real Shakespeare delivered by an undoubted expert in a very entertaining and fact packed way. My wife Sue and I thoroughly enjoyed Declan's delivery. Just glad I was able to tell him about JK Rowling's use of the name Rookwood (in addition to Fawkes of course) in the Harry Potter books! I've purchased his book about Bloody Lodon on the strength of today's walk From Mervyn and Sue Hathaway
Excelent tour to get to know the daily live of William Shakespeare, his houses, theatre, church, taverns he went to socilise. The guide offers an inside of who Shakespeare was. He also performs some short monologues from important plays. I reccommend it.
Declan took us for a very interesting and informative walk around all the Shakespeare-related locations in London, on the north bank of the Thames, which we would never have found for ourselves. His delivery was clear and humorous and full of unique insights. He recited lines from Shakespeare's plays and poems which further illustrated hidden aspects of Shakespeare's life and times. It was well worth it!
Enjoyable and informative walk. we discovered lots we did not know about both Shakespeare and the times and areas he lived in. Declan, the guide was entertaining and interacted with our small group through out the walk. Would highly recommend booking.
Declan brings Shakespeare’s London to life. He clearly loves his subject & it was a treat to have him show us the hidden parts of London that Shakespeare lived & worked in. I could have been in Declan’s knowledgeable & witty company all day. Sadly it was over all too soon.
I've done one of Declans tours before and loved it, as I did this one! I saw parts of london I'd never noticed before, heard facts and interesting pieces of history I didn't know and was moved by the chosen quotes from Shakespeare and their meanings. Declans passion and deliverance mean you will be engaged, inspired and intrigued to dive deeper into your own research. The tour felt unique and well thought out, thorough enjoyed :) Highly recommend this tour as well as Declans book and other tour!
Informative, entertaining, Shakespeare loving tour - great insight into the City of London walking along the same streets that Shakespeare did, learning about the city of London as it was then and learning so much along the way. The tour guide was exceptional, clearly loves both Shakespeare and the history of the city
Great tour. The places included are off the beaten path and little known facts of Shakespeare are sprinkled throughout the tour. The tour guide was very knowledgeable with many snarky and witty quips and even recited full Shakespearean speeches in full dramatic effect. Would recommend to Shakespeare fans and people on holiday in London.
Declan was an excellent guide. Passionate about Shakespeare’s history, he enthusiastically presented historical information and entertaining stories about the Bard. As a small group, he took time to interact with each of us while guiding us to places we never would have found ourselves. If you are interested in Shakespeare, this is a fantastic tour for you.
Great tour, Declan was very knowledgeable and entertaining. Joining instructions were very clear. Would definitely recommend this walking tour and look forward to booking one of his other walking tours!
Great tour of Shakespeare’s life on the north side of the Thames. Well researched, funny and very interesting. Really worth doing.
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