Rob Smith


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Tour guide Rob Smith at a riverside pub in London
Contact 07806 714006 or mail

Rob is a member of Clerkenwell & Islington Guiding Association.

“Despite my 35 years in London” he says “I’m always amazed how you can find a new street that’s got an amazing story to tell. The thing I like best about London is how a tiny thing, like a decoration on a building can tell a big story. When you’re walking you are following in the footsteps of Londoners from the past, it makes the history come to life much more than just reading about it”

Rob is most interested in social history, and the way that inventions have changed people’s lives, but he always makes room in his walks to tell the stories of his London heroes.

Rob’s walks take him all over London, and beyond with a series of walks along the River Thames heading out East of London towards the Thames Estuary. You can also join him on day trips out of London to places like Rochester, Reading and St Albans.

He has written a book The Industrial History of the Lower River Lea based upon one of his tours.

He has worked on TV with The Hairy Bikers on The Pubs that Made Britain, featured in a film about Barking Power Station, and appeared on a programme about the East India Company for Iran International TV, featured in a documentary about the Great Smog on French TV and worked with ITN News reporter Sally Williams. Rob has appeared on the Radio 4 programme Screenshot with Mark Kermode and on History Hit Podcast with Dan Snow.

When not out walking, Rob also teaches London History courses at Morley College, South Thames College and Bishopsgate Institute.

His current Footprints of London walks and online virtual tours are:


17Mar
14:00 - 16:00
Romford Railway Station - South Street, Romford, RM1 1SX

Walking Tour – The Liberty of Romford

This walk around Romford celebrates the Liberty Line - the new name for the London Overground betwee...

19Mar
14:30 - 16:30
Aldgate Tube Station - 3 Aldgate, London, EC3N 1AH

Walking Tour – A Journal of the Plague Year

This walk follows the events of Daniel Defoe's classic account of the plague of 1665 This walk follo...

20Mar
11:00 - 13:00
Whyteleafe Station - High Street, Whyteleafe, CR3 0AD

Walking Tour – Kenley’s Battle of Britain Heroes

Telling the stories of the men and women who served at RAF Kenley - the best preserved of London's B...

21Mar
11:00 - 12:30
Blackfriars Underground Station - North Entrance Blackfriars Bridge, London, EC4...

Walking Tour – Alexander Pope’s The Dunciad

Alexander Pope's 18th century satirical poem The Dunciad, highlights the stupidity and lack of taste...

21Mar
14:00 - 16:00
Tower Hill Station - Trinity Square, London, EC3N 4DJ

Walking Tour – London’s Port History – Part 1 the Roman and Medieval Port

The first of four walks telling the story of the Port of London. The walk starts with the Romans wal...

25Mar
20:00 - 21:00
Online Event

Virtual Tour – Exploring Roman London

Find out what you can see of Roman London on this virtual tourWhile the remains of Roman London migh...

25Mar
20:00 - 21:00
Online Event

Virtual Tour – Around The Kent Coast

Kent's coast is full of history. This online talk will take you on a journey from Dungeness to Sheer...

28Mar
14:00 - 15:00
Woking Station - High Street, Woking, GU22 7AE

Walking Tour – The War of the Worlds in Woking

A visit to the sandpit on Horsell Common near Woking - the place where Martians landed in HG Wells "...

31Mar
11:00 - 13:00
Green Park tube (Victoria, Picadilly, Jubilee lines) outside Stratton Street exi...

Walking Tour – Prime Ministers’ Homes

The Prime Minister lives at 10 Downing Street of course! But where have they lived before and after...

31Mar
14:00 - 17:00
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers - Vauxhall (St. George Wharf) Pier - St Georges Wha...

Walking Tour – Literature on the Thames

A literary odyssey along the Thames from Vauxhall to Barking ReachThe River Thames has inspired writ...

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