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:


21Nov
21 - Nov
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...

23Nov
23 - Nov
20:00 - 21:00

Virtual Tour – Churches, Castles and Country Towns – a Lincolnshire Journey

A history filled tour of one of England's largest counties Take a break from London for a virtu...

25Nov
25 - Nov
20:00 - 21:00

Virtual Tour – Made in London – A Tour of The British Museum

Treasures from the British Museum that were either made or found in London The British Museum is ful...

01Dec
01 - Dec
20:00 - 21:00

Virtual Tour – Christmas in Georgian London

A look at how Christmas was celebrated in the 18th and early 19th centuries At the start of the Geor...

02Dec
02 - Dec
11:00 - 12:30
Outside Finsbury Library - 245 St John Street, London, EC1V 4NB

Walking Tour – The Spa Fields Riots of 1816

In the autumn of 1816 London simmered with discontent, which came to a head with violent disturbance...

02Dec
02 - Dec
20:00 - 21:00

Virtual Tour – A Victorian Christmas in Islington

This online looks at the how Christmas was celebrated in Islington during the Victorian period with...

03Dec
03 - Dec
20:00 - 21:00

Virtual Tour – Christmas in Edwardian London

In the first years of the 20th century Christmas traditions started by the Victorians evolved for a...

05Dec
05 - Dec
14:00 - 15:45
Angel Tube Station - Islington, London, EC1V 1NE

Walking Tour – A Victorian Christmas in Islington

This walk looks at the different ways that Christmas was celebrated in Islington during the Victoria...

08Dec
08 - Dec
20:00 - 21:00

Virtual Tour – First Flights Over London

A look at the first balloon , airship and aircraft to fly over London, and the stir this caused amon...

10Dec
10 - Dec
10:30 - 13:00
Tower Hill Tube Station - Trinity Square , London, EC3N 4DJ

Walking Tour – Exploring Roman London

A morning looking at Roman remains in London There are a lot of Roman remains in London, although th...

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