The Royal Exchange in the City of London is a historic building that has served as a hub for commerce, finance, and social life for over 400 years. It was established by Sir Thomas Gresham, a merchant and financial agent to Queen Elizabeth I, who sought to create a centralised marketplace for London’s merchants, modelled after the bourse in Antwerp. The building was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth herself in 1571. She granted it a royal charter, giving it the name The Royal Exchange and making it the first formal stock exchange in England. The Royal Exchange was a hub for trading goods like spices, silk, and precious metals, as well as a place for merchants to gather, negotiate, and socialise. It can be considered the Wall Street of its time.
After the original building was sadly destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, under the watchful eye of Sir Christopher Wren (the architect of St. Paul’s Cathedral). The grand new design lasted until 1838, when it was demolished to make way for a larger, more modern structure. The building as we know it today dates back to 1844 and features a neoclassical façade with Corinthian columns, a grand portico, and a dome inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. It currently serves as a luxury retail and dining destination, home to premium brands such as Hermès, Tiffany & Co., and Fortnum & Mason, as well as fine dining restaurants and cafés.
Mary Poppins is undoubtedly one of the most iconic heroines of children’s literature. Appearing in 8 books and 2 unforgettable films, PL Travers’ most beloved character has captivated kids and adults alike for generations. The city of London plays a major role in the books and the movies as the backdrop for Mary’s adventures with the Banks children, and our immersive private walking tour gives you the chance to follow in their footsteps and see some of the most emblematic spots depicted in the stories and on screen.
On your private 2-hour tour, you will:
Step into the world of London’s most famous nanny on this enchanting private walking tour through the heart of one of the world's greatest cities. Designed for curious minds of all ages, this journey through London's streets and stories brings together the rich literary legacy of P.L. Travers' beloved books, the timeless charm of the classic 1964 Disney film starring Julie Andrews, and the wonder of the 2018 sequel Mary Poppins Returns, weaving them seamlessly into the living, breathing city that inspired them all. Your adventure begins right in the heart of the city, where your dedicated local expert guide, steeped in the lore of Cherry Tree Lane and its most extraordinary visitor, will be on hand exclusively for you and your group from start to finish.
From the City of London's grand Edwardian streetscapes, the very world that shaped the stiff-collared patriarch Mr Banks, you'll set off on a route that is, in the best possible tradition, practically perfect in every way. Along the way, your guide will illuminate the fascinating history of the Edwardian era in which the stories are set, revealing how P.L. Travers drew on the culture, class and character of early twentieth-century London to create her enchanting tales. Expect hidden details from the original books that even devoted fans may never have encountered, alongside intriguing behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the iconic 1964 film starring Julie Andrews.
No Mary Poppins pilgrimage would be complete without a pause at the storied steps of St Paul's Cathedral, one of London's most majestic landmarks and the very spot immortalised in the song Feed the Birds. Standing where the Bird Woman once sat, tuppence in hand, you’ll feel the history of that beloved scene wash over you. In the middle of the tour, the city itself becomes the spectacle as you glide up to a rooftop with sweeping panoramic views across London's glittering skyline, and let your imagination take flight. Up here, it's not so hard to picture Mary Poppins floating gracefully overhead, parrot-headed umbrella catching the breeze, looking down on the chimney pots and church spires with that particular expression of serene satisfaction.
The tour also ventures into the world of Mary Poppins Returns, tracing a series of filming locations from the 2018 sequel across the city. The grand finale is a discovery that delights children and adults in equal measure: a tucked-away hidden alley, the very one used as the exterior of cousin Topsy's upside-down shop. Few visitors ever find it on their own, and walking through it feels genuinely like stepping through the screen. This tour ends in Covent Garden, one of London's most vibrant and beloved neighbourhoods, leaving you perfectly placed to explore at your leisure, or simply sit with a cup of tea and reflect on the places you've been and the stories you've uncovered.
Whether you're travelling with little ones discovering Mary Poppins for the first time, or with adults who have loved her for decades, this tour offers something rare: a genuinely fresh and imaginative way to experience London, guided by someone who knows it deeply and loves it well. Supercalifragilistic? Quite possibly. Unforgettable? Absolutely.
Please note that this is an independently operated, theme-inspired tour and is not an official or licensed product. While the route celebrates locations associated with the stories and film of Mary Poppins around London, it is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with the rights holders, production companies, or studios connected to the character. All references are for thematic and entertainment purposes only.
Explore the heart of the city of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, and Pudding Lane where a small fire in a bakery led to what became known as "the Great Fire of London" in September 1666. It was one of the capital's most historically significant and devastating events, leaving destruction and despair in its wake. The fire led to the modernisation of housing and infrastructure in London, forcing huge attitude changes toward the safety and poverty of the people.
On your private half-day walking tour, you will:
In the early hours of September 2nd, 1666, a small fire broke out at a bakery on Pudding Lane. The conditions were optimal for disaster – the timber and thatch houses were situated in extremely close proximity to one other, one witness reported that you could wake up in the morning, open the window and shake hands with your neighbour.
The city had also been plagued by drought for about 6 months, meaning that the timber was particularly dry. The fire escalated rapidly, burning down around 13,000 homes and 87 churches over four days and severely damaging St Paul’s Cathedral. What happened and how did the fire wreak so much havoc?
On this private walking tour, you will learn about how the fire began and how it spread. Debate some of the key issues surrounding the topic with your expert guide. If not for Baker Thomas Farriner’s carelessness with a few dying embers, would London have remained a medieval city? Or was this a tragedy waiting to happen?
Did the fire paradoxically cause more good than bad, or do we underestimate the scale of the fire’s damage? What about the people who lost their homes, livelihoods, and even their lives? Hear some historic eyewitness accounts.
You and your guide will trace the key sites of the Great Fire with a walk around the City of London: from Pudding Lane, Monument, and old local churches to alleyways and pre-1666 taverns. See how the area has been transformed, and what remains of it and explore some archival materials to build up an accurate picture of London at the time, and the events that would reshape the city forever.
End with a fascinating hour-long guided tour of the majestic St Paul's Cathedral - rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren and Hawksmoor after the Great Fire largely destroyed it. Inspired by Michelangelo's Dome for St Peter's Basilica in Rome, it was for many years the tallest building in London.
It has been the backdrop to numerous royal occasions including the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Admire its magnificent architecture, and hear about the process of rebuilding.
At Black Cab Heritage Tours, we have a wide range of private tours and day trips from London, but our priority is to make sure you have a memorable experience, and that every detail of your tour is taken care of.
This “Build Your Own Tour” will allow you to work with one of our staff members to create the perfect customised tour according to your requests.These tours have been designed to be delivered within the city of London. If you want to do a day trip out of town or to a different area, please reach out directly so we can reconfirm the duration and the itinerary for the day.
We look forward to welcoming you to London soon!
Please note
Explore the 800-year history of the City of London, the global financial heart of Britain, with its melee of medieval streets, iconic skyscrapers, and historic buildings, and hear tales of the most notorious financial fraudsters through the ages.
On your private tour, you will:
With its eccentric mix of historic buildings and iconic skyscrapers, the City of London is a unique district in the heart of London with a history dating back over 800 years. Learn about the financial institutions that drive the City and hear the dramatic stories of fortunes made and lost through fair means and foul.
Learn of the rise and fall of the East India Company, forged banknotes by American fraudsters, the Lloyd's of London insurance scandal of the 1990s, the Poyais scam of 1825, and the South Sea Bubble implosion. Hear about charming thieves and audaciously dodgy investors through the ages.
Discover the origins of the East India Trading Company – a mercantile powerhouse that made a fortune on the back of the slave trade. Learn about the illegal sales of opium in China and the endemic corruption that led to its demise.
Entering Change Alley, your guide will describe the street as it stood 300 years ago - a crowded alley, filled with traders, rumour, and wild financial speculation: the collapse of the South Sea Bubble, a slave-trading business that shook Britain to its core.
Learn about the rise of Lloyd’s coffee house on Lombard Street – a popular place for sailors, merchants, and shipowners to gain their shipping news and discuss business and trade. It then became its own insurance business: Lloyd’s of London. It is now infamous for the huge scandal of the 1990s in which many lost millions.
End back at the elegant Threadneedles Hotel, where you'll hear the story of the scandal of the thieves of Threadneedle street - an attempted heist by American robbers that would have ruined the City had it not been spectacularly foiled. Perhaps enjoy a well-earned G&T at the Wheeler's Bar afterwards!
At Black Cab Heritage Tours, we have a wide range of private tours and day trips from London, but our priority is to make sure you have a memorable experience, and that every detail of your tour is taken care of.
This “Build Your Own Tour” will allow you to work with one of our staff members to create the perfect customised tour according to your requests.
These tours have been designed to be delivered within the city of London. If you want to do a day trip out of town or to a different area, please reach out directly so we can reconfirm the duration and the itinerary for the day.
We look forward to welcoming you to London soon!
Please note
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