Learn about some famous folk as well as some more obscure immigrants from German-speaking countries and their impact on London’s history.
Germanic people have been coming to live in Britain since Roman times at least, from every level of society and for a wide spectrum of reasons. Many were driven out of their home countries by political turmoil; others came seeking economic opportunities or religious freedom. There was so much migration from German-speaking areas of Europe that, up until the 1890s, Germans were the largest foreign community in London. On the numbers alone, it’s clear that they would have a big impact, but due to their extensive involvement in fields such as music, art, politics, and philosophy, their influence reached far wider than even their large numbers would suggest.
Join Catherine on this 90-minute stroll through Soho and Mayfair to hear about the background and history of Germanic migration in London as well as the achievements of many famous- and several lesser-known- migrants from countries such as Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Several prominent females- a neoclassical painter as well as a philosopher and novelist who was banned from Paris by Napoleon, are included on the tour, which takes us through some narrow alleys and quiet corners of the City of Westminster.
The walk is entirely free of steps and relatively flat. It does involve walking on cobblestones and other uneven pavements, as is the nature of many small streets and lanes in Soho, in particular.
This walk is led by a qualified City of Westminster guide, Catherine Gritz. Meet Catherine on Leicester Square next to the statue of Mary Poppins (a short walk from Leicester Square Tube).
This free walk is part of the “Inside Out” programme of walks, kindly supported by Westminster Council.
After the walk we would be very grateful if you could you complete a short survey, with questions about the walk. Thank you.
