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London in the Blitz WWII Tour for Kids with St Paul's Cathedral

Learn about daily life in wartime London with our family expert
From US$544 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
2.5 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
  • Guildhall
  • Museum of London
  • St. Paul's Cathedral
Photos & Highlights
  • Get a sense of London during WWII
  • Led by a local historian
Tour Description
In 1666, the medieval city all but disappeared in the Great Fire of London. The city was rebuilt on the footprint of its predecessor, but once again fell in danger of destruction during the Blitz of 1940-1941. One of the worst nights was the Sunday between Christmas and New Year's Day, December 29, 1940, when German planes devastated the area around St Paul’s while most Londoners were enjoying their Christmas break. Those working on the ground dubbed it 'The Second Great Fire of London. On this London WWII Tour, led by a local historian, we'll explore this dark chapter of the city's history, and discover how England's resilience allowed them to overcome the fierce bombings.

"I ended the tour having walked the Blitz, felt inspired by the resilience of the British population."

London WWII Tour

 Our walk will start at the Museum of London with its post-1666 galleries, a recent addition, where we will discuss the life of Londoners before and during the war. We will continue with a walk into the Barbican and then to Guildhall, telling the story of that fateful night in 1940 and the people who fought to save what they could of the city and its people. Thanks to the vigilance of the firewatchers on the roof of St Paul's, the cathedral, a symbol of strength for Londoners, was saved.

After the Blitz

Much of the City of London was rebuilt, and the most important buildings were restored while others were removed altogether. We will see sites that fit into both categories: churches carefully put back together and others that were left as ruins—a memorial to that awful night. We will pass by the original location of St. Mary Aldermanbury, dismantled and shipped to Fulton, Missouri after the war. 

At St. Paul's

 Our walk will end at St. Paul's, where we will learn more about the church that helped sustain the spirit of the city's residents. If time and stamina allow, we will climb to the very top, above the dome, and marvel at the roofs of the cathedral, so carefully protected every night by its teams of volunteers. From there, we have a bird's eye view of the city through which we have been walking.

Take Aways

Finishing our tour, we'll come away with an understanding of how fragile the fabric of cities really are. We will also develop a deeper knowledge at the havoc caused by both the two 'Great Fires' of London and how the local community came together on both occasions, to restore the city to its former glory.

FAQ

Where do we meet? Where does it end?
The walk begins near the Museum of London and ends at St. Paul's. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map, and emergency phone number.

Do we go inside the venues or just see them from the outside?
We will go inside the Museum of London and St. Paul's.

What if it’s raining?
Tours operate rain or shine, but most of this tour takes place indoors. It never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.

Is this a walking intensive tour?
This walk covers about 1 mile overall. There are occasional opportunities to sit, use the bathroom, and get something to drink if needed.

Does this tour include the Churchill War Rooms?
No, this tour does not include the Churchill War Rooms, but we do offer a longer, more in-depth tour of WW2 that includes the Churchill War Rooms. You can book it here.

Where You'll Start
34 Reviews (4.79)

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

Peter is a local guide who has a personal connection to the neighborhood and historical period he shared with us. He is extremely informed and had an insightful message. We felt lucky to meet him.
We did a private tour and feel the cost was astronomical compared with comparable tours. Our tour guides were very good, but having taken other much less dear tours, I think Context need to re-evaluate it’s pricing structure.
Peter was exceptional. His easy going demeanor and amazing amount of knowledge about The Blitz kept all three of our teenage/pre-teenage boys entranced for the entire guided tour, or guided seminar, as Peter described the walk. We learned an incredible amount about the Blitz, its impact on Londoners and the propaganda that it enabled. Thank you Peter for a wonderful experience.