While London was never under Nazi occupation, the fear of an enemy invasion loomed over the British Isles for a good part of World War 2. The response of the British people to this fear was a memorable one, especially in London, where people lived with daily bomb raids and surrounded by destruction. 

This two and half hour tour focuses on East London and the Square Mile, around St. Paul's cathedral, one of the most heavily bombed during the war. It's the perfect counterpart to our Churchill War Rooms tour. We start round the corner from the Museum of London at the Fore Street site where the first Nazi bombs fell, from there, we'll work our way south via St Mary Aldermanbury and the Guildhall exploring more of Churchill’s links with the area.

We'll discuss how empty tunnels and underground stations along the Central Line were used extensively as air-raid shelters. Our conversation will include the fundamental role of the Ministry of Information, boosting the morale of people near and far, but also contributing to the effort to involve the US in the conflict. We'll discuss propaganda and daily life, destruction and rebuilt, as well as the iconic role that St. Paul's Cathedral came to represent. We may stop for a coffee break at St Mary-le-Bow, destroyed and then restored after the war before heading to the Blitz memorial north of St Pauls Cathedral, focusing more on specific vignettes that occurred on the streets around us.

Our tour will finish at St. Paul's Cathedral, with a visit to the American Memorial Chapel, a space rebuilt after being destroyed in the Blitz and dedicated in its entirety to the American dead of WW2.

FAQ

Where do we meet? Where does it end?

Generally speaking, the walk begins near the Museum of London. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map. The walk ends at St. Paul's Cathedral.

Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your guide will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.

Yes, we generally go inside and finish the tour at the American Chapel, however, if you prefer to skip this, we can adjust the tour accordingly.

We have created a Blitz walk for families that's specifically tailored for children.

No. This tour focuses on the area around St. Paul's Cathedral. However, we offer a Churchill War Rooms tour that can be booked separately or paired with this one for true WW2 fans.