Join us on a guided walking tour to explore the streets of Covent Garden and undercover the history of policing on Bow Street.
Reform, Rebel, RIOT! – Civil Disobedience in Covent Garden
Bow Street has seen all sorts of protestors pass through its cells and courts, from xenophobic footmen of the 18th century descending on the magistrate’s house en masse, discontented theatre-goers drowning out performances every night for weeks and window-smashing suffragettes demanding votes for women.
But when does a protestor become a rioter? When does a crowd become a mob? And how does law enforcement know where to draw the line?
Follow in the footsteps of these historical events, as we explore the causes of the disaffected, how law enforcement reacted and ask, crucially, did they make any difference?
Duration: approximately 90 minutes.
Dates: Friday 24th November
Times: 11.00
Price: £15 / £14 Concession / £12 Friends of Bow Street Police Museum/ 2-4-1 Art Fund entry
Conditions of entry: you must be 18 years or over to attend this tour. If you would like to book a ticket for anyone aged 16 – 17 years, you must contact the Museum in advance [email protected]. This ticket does not include entry to Bow Street Police Museum. If you would like to visit the Museum after your tour, tour guests receive 50% off Admission tickets on the day.
Private Tours: Reform, Rebel, RIOT! is also available to book as a private tour. To make an enquiry please email the team [email protected]
Please Note
- This tour is an outside walking tour.
- Light rain or a moderate breeze will not cancel the tour.
- There will be no access to public toilets once the tour begins.
- There is no seating available along the tour route.
- The tour follows a set route around the Covent Garden area along public pavements, via road crossings and through some pedestrianised spaces.
- We aim to avoid steps and large curbs, however due to the ever-changing nature of London’s streets we cannot guarantee that the route will always remain entirely step-free.
Accessibility
The team at Bow Street Police Museum are committed to making this event as accessible as possible. Transcripts of the tour are available for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing, and all of our guides know basic BSL (British Sign Language) greetings. For those with mobility needs, the guide can adapt the tour route if notified in advance. If you have any other additional needs, please contact the Museum directly to ensure we can accommodate you on your tour.
Of Mollies and Men – A Queer History of Bow Street and Beyond
From the Molly Houses of the 18th century, to the arrest and trial of Oscar Wilde, to the laws protecting LGBTQ+ people today, explore the rich history of Covent Garden with this Bow Street Police Museum Walking Tour. Discover how law and order governed the lives of queer identifying people throughout history and hear the stories of the people who dared to be themselves.
Duration: Approximately 90 minutes.
Dates: Check back soon for dates in 2024!
Times: 11.30
Price: £15 / £14 Concession / £12 Friends of Bow Street Police Museum/ 2-4-1 Art Fund entry
Conditions of entry: you must be 18 years or over to attend this tour. If you would like to book a ticket for anyone aged 16 – 17 years, you must contact the Museum in advance [email protected]. This ticket does not include entry to Bow Street Police Museum. If you would like to visit the Museum after your tour, tour guests receive 50% off Admission tickets on the day.
Private Tours: Of Mollies and Men is also available to book as a private tour. To make an enquiry please email the team [email protected]
Please Note
- This tour is an outside walking tour.
- Light rain or a moderate breeze will not cancel the tour.
- There will be no access to public toilets once the tour begins.
- There is no seating available along the tour route.
- The tour follows a set route around the Covent Garden area along public pavements, via road crossings and through some pedestrianised spaces.
- We aim to avoid steps and large curbs, however due to the ever-changing nature of London’s streets we cannot guarantee that the route will always remain entirely step-free.
Accessibility
The team at Bow Street Police Museum are committed to making this event as accessible as possible. Transcripts of the tour are available for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing, and all of our guides know basic BSL (British Sign Language) greetings. For those with mobility needs, the guide can adapt the tour route if notified in advance. If you have any other additional needs, please contact the Museum directly to ensure we can accommodate you on your tour.
Stages and Cells of Covent Garden
In collaboration with The Royal Opera House
Join our walking tour through the historic streets of Covent Garden and uncover the stories of crime and theatre that made the area what it is today.
In the 17th century, Bow Street was a quiet, residential area for the well-to-do. However, the arrival of the theatres ushered in a new era of bustling crowds, pickpockets, highwaymen, murderers, sex workers, gin palaces and unbridled decadence, leading to the necessity of London’s first police force – the notorious Bow Street Runners.
Some of the stories you’ll discover on this tour include the tale of the infamous Charles Macklin, who used his acting skills to literally get away with murder, and the bizarre instance when Bow Street Police Officers tried to blend in with the chorus on the Royal Opera House stage to foil a diamond heist.
Hear these stories and more on this co-production tour between Bow Street Police Museum and the Royal Opera House.
Please note: This tour does not enter the Royal Opera House or the Bow Street Police Museum. The tour takes place outside in Covent Garden in all weathers. The meeting point for this tour is outside the Bow Street entrance of the Royal Opera House.
Your ticket also includes a 50% discount on future Admission to Bow Street Police Museum and 10% off in the Royal Opera House Cafe.
Duration: Approximately 60 minutes.
Dates:
5th, 12th, 19th, 26th November
3rd, 10th, 14th, 21st December
7th, 11th, 14th, 18th, 25th, 28th January
Times: Vary, please follow link to Royal Opera House website for more details.
Price: £20 / £16.75 Concession
Please note this tour does not enter the Royal Opera House or the Bow Street Police Museum. If you would like to visit the Museum after your tour, tour guests receive 50% off Admission tickets on the day. The tour takes place outside in Covent Garden in all weathers. For more information, and terms and conditions of entry please visit the Royal Opera House website