Alternative Greenwich guided walk
With its dramatic riverside setting, fabulous buildings and glorious park, Greenwich is a cracking destination for a day out. This alternative Greenwich guided walk takes it all in, but from a refreshingly different perspective to most tours which focus on kings, queens, architecture and astronomy.
Our search for the area’s chimneys and tunnels reveals extraordinary stories of power, pollution and danger. We start by speeding across the Thames by Clipper from Greenwich Pier to Masthouse Terrace Quay. From there it’s a 3 and a half mile ‘dot-to-dot’ walk as we link together the chimneys above our heads, sometimes tracing the routes of tunnels.
Note to budding steeplejacks and subterranean explorers: leave your harnesses, torches and hard hats at home! Apart from the descent into one tunnel, we’ll keep our feet firmly on ground level as we let our minds wander above and below.
Bloody brilliant!
I took the Chimneys & Tunnels tour on a *ridiculously* hot day – and given how much I loathe the heat, the fact I still had fantastic time says it all! It was absolutely superb, what a wonderful few hours. Rosie was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and I loved how her ‘script’ was so beautifully thought-out and organised. Nothing was random; she took us from place to place around Greenwich and everything was a must-see. It was like being in a documentary; we learned so much! But it was also great fun and she had a fantastic rapport with us all. I can’t recommend Dotmaker enough: my friends and I are definitely booking more!
Jayne, Strawberry Hill
What to expect
This two and a half hour guided walk gives an insight into the many layers of history that make up Greenwich. Tour goers will:
- • cross the Thames by Clipper boat and return beneath it through the Greenwich Foot Tunnel.
- • explore riverside Greenwich and the Isle of Dogs with its spectacular views of the Royal Naval College, and pass round Greenwich Park and the Queen’s House.
- • learn about the area’s industrial history, the world’s largest ship, the early railways, London’s smoky smelly past and its tubular infrastructure.
- • find out about hidden tunnels, unmarked chimneys, eighteenth century mass hysteria and other seldom-told stories.
- • hear how the powerful – from pier owners to the Astronomers Royal – have influenced the area’s development.
Private Groups
This tour is available throughout the year to student groups , corporates and private groups of friends and family.
If you are interested, we’d love to hear from you.
Scheduled Walks
Our scheduled walks programme ended in October 2024.