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:


12Dec
12 - Dec
14:00 - 16:00
East India DLR Station - Aspen Way, London, E14 9GF

Walking Tour – London’s Port History – Part 2 East and West India Docks

The 2nd of 4 walks telling the story of the Port of London, looks at the docks built for the East In...

20Dec
20 - 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...

21Dec
21 - Dec
14:00 - 15:00

Virtual Tour – A Victorian Christmas in Islington

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

22Dec
22 - Dec
20:00 - 21:00

Virtual Tour – Letchworth – The First Garden City

Letchworth is where social reformer Ebenezer Howard put his idea of the Garden City into practice -...

04Jan
04 - Jan
20:00 - 21:00

Virtual Tour – True Spy Stories

Spy stories from the streets of London during World War One and Two A 50 minute talk about espionage...

05Jan
05 - Jan
20:00 - 21:00

Virtual Tour – The First Voyages of The East India Company

Stories of the fragile beginnings of the East India Company with their first journeys to Indonesia,...

06Jan
06 - Jan
20:00 - 21:00

Virtual Tour – Hackney’s Best Buildings

London Borough of Hackney has a wonderful variety of buildings from Tudor Sutton House to modern Bri...

11Jan
11 - Jan
20:00 - 21:00

Virtual Tour – Ships built in London

The stories of ships built in London from the sailing ships of Tudor times to the battleships of Wor...

12Jan
12 - Jan
20:00 - 21:00

Virtual Tour – A Journey Along The Northumberland Coast

A virtual journey visiting the castles , country houses, beautiful beaches and ancient abbeys along...

13Jan
13 - Jan
14:00 - 16:00
Royal Victoria DLR Station - Seagull Lane, London, E16 1BZ

Walking Tour – London’s Port History – Part 3 The Royal Docks

The 3rd of 4 walks telling the story of the port of London looks at the huge docks built for steamsh...

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