Black History in London Walking Tour

Black history in this London tour begins in the 1500s and continues to the end of the 20th century. It’s not all about slavery either, far from it. For 1000 years Westminster has been Britain’s royal and political power base and historically the centre of Empire. Trade, war, religion, reform: all originate or formulate in Westminster and Black history has been impacted by all four.

Whilst Black British history does not begin or finish with the Atlantic Slave Trade it does play a significant historical part. If you’ve ever wondered how the British side of the ‘triangular trade’ started and ended, this tour covers all points. We’ll also explore the lives of those involved through memorials, statues and buildings, Britons, Africans and Americans, men and women.

The legal status of Black Britons or, to be more precise, Africans owned by Britons, was similarly directed and legislated from this one small area. Although we will discover even this is not as tidy as you would suppose.

We’ll also discover some Black Londoners who had, what we would now call, a ‘lived experience’ as enslaved and free men and who wasted no energy in embracing freedom. Our story of people comes right up until today, where we’ll discover modern Black contributions to Britain’s political life.

The Black experience that has resulted from Westminster’s dual authority, royal and political, tells a diverse story of tolerance, persecution, legislation, racism, emancipation and integration.

In Westminster Black history is visible everywhere, even in fragments or within structures more universally ‘British’. If you know where to look the history surrounds us.

• Houses of Parliament
• Westminster Abbey
• Trafalgar Square
• The Cenotaph
• Ignatius Sancho
• Olaudah Equiano
• Victoria Tower Gardens
• …and more

Tour with a local guide: qualified, verified, experienced and friendly.

I’m your private London guide and I’ll be explaining as we explore. There are plenty of stops for photo opportunities. I’ll talk as we walk and when we’re up close.