The Story of English Tea (1)

Through objects at the Victoria & Albert Museum

Meet outside the fabulous V&A Museum in South Kensington for a tour of the museum with a difference. I shall take you from China and Japan to India and the British Galleries at the height of Empire, to exquisite and lesser known objects in the ceramics galleries upstairs. You will be surprised at the stories these beautiful and specially selected objects have to tell and their surprising connections to the story of English tea drinking. Start with a sip of tea from a flask on arrival and finish with a private tea tasting at a nearby venue where you will be offered a selection of teas of the highest quality to sample (East India Company or similar). Relax in good company at the end.

This will be a scheduled tour event. Join my mailing list to be the first to hear when it will happen next, or contact Redpath Tours to book your own private version (with or without a tea tasting at the end).

close window

The Story of English Tea (2)

On foot through St James' and Picadilly

Meet at St James' tube station for a walking tour on the theme of English tea and how it went from being a Queen's luxury in the 1660's to the refreshment of choice of an entire nation. This walk will take us from the Ritz hotel to the East India Company flagship store on Conduit St, via Green Park, Buckingham Palace, St James' Palace, Pall Mall, Picadilly and Regent St with a sip of tea from a flask at the start and a chance to sample top quality teas at the end. (Duration 2 hours)

This will be a scheduled tour event. Join my mailing list to be the first to hear when it will happen next, or contact Redpath Tours to book your own private version (with or without a tea tasting at the end).

close window

Westminster Abbey

Royal church and pantheon

Westminster Abbey has been called the "Eye of the nation" because of the unique way in which it has borne witness to some of the greatest moments in English and British history. It has hosted 38 coronations and 16 royal weddings. 17 kings and queens are buried within its majestic walls. And it is, of course, where Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, married Catherine Middleton in 2011. It is full to bursting with the tombs and memorials of the most outstanding sons and daughters of our nation, from Sir Isaac Newton to William Shakespeare. This tour can be adapted to your schedule and last anywhere from 1 to 2.5 hours.

.

close window

The East India Company

From spice, cotton and tea to Empire

Together we will investigate the hidden history of this brilliant but at times monstrous corporation on a walk through 'The City'. See where it's monumental head office stood and hear about the treasures once held in its India Museum. We shall learn about the East India Company's pioneering business model and consider the incredible impact the company had on thousands of people's lives from sailors and weavers to Sultan's and Kings, both here and across the globe. Together we will investigate why this fascinating company's legacy is so fraught with controversy even today.

This tour will be a scheduled event. Join my mailing list to be the first to hear when it will take place, or contact Redpath Tours to book a private tour on this theme.

close window

Sketch and learn

Tour first then sketch an object of your choice

Have a 1-1.5 hour Blue Badge guided tour of the British Museum, or National Gallery, V&A Museum or St Paul's Cathedral, then, return to your favourite object or angle to sketch an object of beauty. This is what I call 'beauty therapy'. With this experience you not only learn, but stop to really observe and enjoy. This is for all levels of artistic ability from beginners to professional artists as the aim is to observe and absorb what you see. If your drawing is good at the end that is a bonus but not the main aim. I have loved art, museums, architecture and drawing all my life - but when do we really make time to look and see? Observing beauty in our rushed world is under-rated and can have huge benefits for our inner selves. I will offer you all the tips and advice you need to get going. Drawing materials provided. Bring your own portable chair if required.

These tours can be commissioned privately or join my mailing list to be the first to hear of the first scheduled dates.

close window

Gallery Crush!

High energy gallery tours for busy people

Coming in 2017. You work full time or simply have a very full schedule. You want to tune in to the art scene in London by visiting private galleries and artists' studios to see what the buzz is. These whirlwind tours are for curious art lovers who want to pack as much as possible into their visit to London or who live in London and yet have never been to the most influential private galleries due to time pressures. We travel by luxury coach to get the most out of your time. In the morning visit 2 or 3 established big name private galleries with strong exhibitions on. In the afternoon, visit a gritty up and coming, happening part of London like Shoreditch or Peckham - where real Londoners live and where hundreds of galleries and studios have sprung up recently.

Commission a private 'Gallery Crush!' tour to suit your schedule and tastes or join my mailing list to be the first to hear when the next scheduled Gallery Crush! small group event will be.

close window

British Museum

Highlights tour of the world's museum

Visit this temple to human culture, history and civilization. A highlight tour would include the famous Rosetta stone, key to unravelling the meaning of hieroglyphs that had been lost for hundreds of years. See the stunning frieze sculptures rescued from the ruins of the Parthenon in Athens and the monumental statue of Ramses II, pharoah god of Egypt over 3000 years ago. From Britain you could be dazzled by the Mildenhall silver treasure trove, or the 800 year old Lewis chessmen brought to life in the film 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone', both found in heart-stopping circumstances. The objects on your tour will span the millenia and come from the four corners of the globe, and all will have fascinating stories to tell. A highlights tour typically takes from 1.5 to 2 hours but can be adapted to be shorter or longer.

Book a highlights tour of the British museum by calling or emailing Redpath Tours now.

close window

The Tower of London

Be moved and dazzled at the Tower

The Tower of London represents almost 1000 years of history. Be moved by the fate of prisoners at the tower, including three young queens who would lose their heads there too. Be dazzled by the crown jewels including the Imperial State Crown containing over 3000 precious stones and pearls and which is still worn by our Queen today. Meet the Beefeaters, guardians of the tower, as well as some of the tower's other residents - the lions, elephants, monkeys and polar bear that once lived there. A visit to the tower of London would typically take about 2.5 - 3 hours including your guided tour (1.5 hours)and free time to view the crown jewels and explore independently.

Book a Redpath Tour of the Tower of London by calling or emailing me using the contact details below.

close window

National Gallery

Tour some of the highlights of this magnificent collection of master works from across Western Europe.

The National Gallery houses over 2000 masterpieces dating from 1250 to 1900. Amongst those on display are some of the most famous paintings in the world: Leonardo da Vinci's 'Virgin of the Rocks', JMW Turner's 'The Fighting Temeraire', Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' and many more. A highlights tour taking you from the 13th to 19th Centuries via England, France, Italy and The Netherlands will be a feast for the senses.

To book a tour of the National Gallery simply call or email using the contact details below. Tours can last from 1 - 2 hours and can be tailored to your schedule and interests..

close window

St Paul's Cathedral

Discover the luminous architecture, art, spirit and monuments of Wren's masterpiece.

St Paul's Cathedral with its wondrous dome is one of the most striking landmarks on the London cityscape. It has stood proudly for over 300 years, famously surviving the London Blitz. St Paul's is the resting place of many of the nation's finest military and naval heroes - most notably the Duke of Wellington and Admiral Lord Nelson. It is also where Prince Charles married Princess Diana in 1981. St Paul's is not only a working church, reflecting the life of the nation, but is also the most remarkable of all of the churches built by Sir Christopher Wren at the end of the C17th, after the cataclysm of the Great Fire. Our tour will commence with a look at the famous dome and facade from the outside, before moving inside where highlights include several beautiful works of c20th and c21st art, the dazzling mosaics and painted dome, dramatic memorials all around the altars and nave, and the tombs of artists and heroes in the crypt below. St Paul's will not fail to move you.

To book a tour of St Paul's cathedral simply call or email using the contact details below. Tours last approximately 1.5 hours. If you'd like to climb up into the great dome of St Paul's for stunning views of both the interior of the church and of London outside, allow an additional 45 minutes for this.

close window

Three Walking Tours

City, West End and Royal London

Choose from one of my three walking tours.

1 - City of London from Roman times to the future in glass and steel. Meet and finish at St Paul's. Duration 2 hours. Includes secret gardens of the City, Guildhall, Roman Wall, Bank of England, Royal Exchange and St Paul's Cathedral.

2 - Thames to West End. Enjoy this fantastic introduction to the heart of London starting at the River Thames at Embankment and winding our way up to Picadilly via The Strand, Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery, Charing Cross Rd, Leicester Square and Picadilly Circus. Duration 2 hours.

3 - Royal St James'. Really explore the Royal heart of London with a relaxing walk from Westminster and Westminster Abbey, through St James' Park to Horseguard's Parade, taking in Buckingham Palace, St James' Palace and The Mall. Another wonderful introduction to London.

Email or call me to book any of these tours.

close window