Honest Review: London Booze Brothels the Bard Guided Walking Tour

Right, fancy hearing a bit about something kind of, sort of, off the beaten path during your visit to London? As a matter of fact, I want to tell you a bit about my experience with the “London Booze, Brothels, and the Bard” walking tour. I had always wanted to experience it and was sort of, well, definitely hoping for a walk that provided a fun peek into some lesser-known aspects of London’s history, you know. Actually, what I experienced turned out to be pretty enlightening, a little titillating, and pretty memorable, to be honest.

Setting the Stage: What to Expect

Basically, before heading out, maybe it helps to get a little idea of what you are getting into, like your about to buy an actual experience and so on, yeah? I mean, the title is pretty suggestive, almost giving away the tour’s focus in a way. In fact, you might anticipate stories regarding drinking spots, historical red-light areas, and, naturally, a sprinkling of Shakespeare’s life and times in London. Yet, you shouldn’t picture something super scandalous or too academic either, actually. The thing is, it definitely balances fun trivia with genuine historical context rather well, pretty much keeping things engaging and very light. Anyway, a well-informed guide typically leads you through certain parts of London, commonly around Southwark or Shoreditch I believe, recounting tales that most guide books just totally skip over.

A Walk Through London’s Salacious Past

Anyway, as a matter of fact, let me share a bit about what really stood out, basically starting with the tales of the city’s old drinking establishments. Actually, pubs weren’t just some places to grab a pint, not at all. What they were actually were, at the time, sort of, almost social hubs filled with gossip, deal-making, and a bit of the unruly behavior, I have heard. We actually got insight into a bunch of pretty famous (and less-than-reputable) inns where, arguably, people from all parts of the social ladder mixed, right. Pretty much, your tour might meander down alleyways that are still almost resonating with echoes of the past, you know. Like, picture people yelling to the top of their lungs, and so on, haha!

Like your going back in time in some ways. You see, the “brothel” segment, I have heard, usually pulls no punches, and as a matter of fact it discusses the realities of London’s sex trade throughout history; which I liked and was rather engaging to hear. As I was saying, the tour leader might share stories of individual figures entangled in that way of life. Anyway, you may want to see, pretty much, what actions were taken by authorities (and people evading authority figures) at that period in time. Yet, its almost always handled with some thought, stopping short of making it seem insensitive, which it totally could. As a matter of fact, you might also begin to see how these activities came to impact London, almost changing the overall make-up of certain districts that are on full display. So there is actually things you learn; you see?

Shakespeare’s London: More Than Just Theatres

Alright, so now, to the “Bard” component of the whole experience. In fact, it’s totally interwoven throughout the entire tour in a way. Arguably, as you’re almost visiting different spots, the guide might describe some associations Shakespeare’s work or personal life had at the places, more or less. Well, like, for instance, it’s almost like hearing about the taverns Will frequented back then, pretty much picturing those places. Of course, it may be like, actually seeing how that city impacted what he wrote, his plays, and his sonnets, you realize.

The thing is, it’s less about a lecture and arguably more about storytelling in some ways, actually. I think this is probably intended in this way, basically, because Shakespeare himself actually knew, obviously, how to give someone something to actually visualize so it’s there own reality and therefore feels relevant, yeah? In that way it would definitely appeal in a broad fashion.

The Guide Makes or Breaks the Experience

Clearly, with any walking tour, your guide makes a big difference in some respects. Alright, I think if someone is engaging, experienced, and truly knowledgable, as a matter of fact that is what determines how well your personal connection to history feels and how you remember the facts and what ever else.

Now, by the way, I had a guide that really helped that history come alive. Like I mean it! Seriously though, they were actually bursting with details. In other words, there were almost, obviously, facts behind so many tales that just seemed real, so to speak! This really came through, and as a matter of fact really affected how everyone perceived it! Furthermore, because they knew actually where some jokes actually aligned and even had other trivia, I guess. Arguably they also adjusted very quickly depending on some group dynamic that they felt coming off of everybody on the walk with them.

Is the “Booze, Brothels, and the Bard” Tour Worth It?

Actually, that said, if you like seeing historical things differently, as a matter of fact you could find that kind of, sort of experience worth it, yeah. To be honest, it steps back from the super straight and serious, for instance the textbook explanations. Instead it has arguably a very unique and unforgettable twist in that respect.

Oh yeah, clearly that walking is ideal specifically for people almost looking specifically for something with an older soul. It also definitely brings more excitement than going into boring books, haha. Actually, but seriously, maybe plan it more like that. Basically plan for anything, I feel.

Know Before You Go: Practical Tips

• Wear some rather comfortable walking shoes: Of course, it’s just quite the standard tour, in that it includes tons of walking, for real.
• Actually check out the weather: Basically, London tends to be more random. Maybe definitely bring along an umbrella and also wear some more waterproof clothing in any event, so to speak.
• Actually remain open to everything: Keep at least an open-minded personality in those specific spaces that will maybe touch more specific things. Arguably. I almost can feel that happening though.
• Actually be careful as a solo person walking around at late hours: Almost be on a group, actually always keep watch for everything that happens and who does that and stuff in that direction, ok, right.

I am being completely straight to you. Alright, enjoy yourself!