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Gangster Tour of London’s East End Led by Actor Vas Blackwood
About This Tour
Learn about the godfathers of British crime on a 2-hour walking tour of London’s East End, led by ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ actor Vas Blackwood! Vas is instantly recognizable as on-screen gangster Rory Breaker, having a wealth of knowledge about the villains (both on-screen and real) involved in London’s murky underworld. Hear tales of the notorious Kray twins while visiting sites around Whitechapel and the East End that are linked to them, and see iconic film locations from ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.’
What's Included
✓ Included
- Professional guide
✗ Not Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
Itinerary
1
Meet your guide – Vas Blackwood (famous for playing Rory Breaker in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels as well as Only Fools and Horses in which he played the robber Lennox 'Shadow' Gilbey) - in Whitechapel, the gritty heart of London’s East End. Then set off on your 2-hour walking tour of the area, visiting film and TV program locations as well as real-life places associated with London’s criminal underworld.
Famously the stomping ground of the Kray twins (Ronnie and Reggie) who terrorized the East End during the 1950s and 60s, the area is rich with sites linked to them. Pay a visit to Repton Boys’ Club, where the twins learned to box, and see the Blind Beggar pub, where Ronnie killed an arch rival – one of the ruthless acts that propelled him from mere gangster into an East End celebrity icon (albeit a feared one).
Famously the stomping ground of the Kray twins (Ronnie and Reggie) who terrorized the East End during the 1950s and 60s, the area is rich with sites linked to them. Pay a visit to Repton Boys’ Club, where the twins learned to box, and see the Blind Beggar pub, where Ronnie killed an arch rival – one of the ruthless acts that propelled him from mere gangster into an East End celebrity icon (albeit a feared one).
2
Having rubbed shoulders with many of London’s ex-gangsters to prepare for his role in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Vas Blackwood has countless tales to tell, and you’ll hear the best as you walk from site to site. Learn about ‘The Guv’nor,’ Lenny McLean, a gangster-turned-good guy who started his criminal resume as a bareknuckle fighter before going on to act in popular UK TV programs, like Eastenders and The Bill.
You'll also hear tales of Barbara Windsor – a much-loved London actress who married one of the Krays' feared associates Ronnie Knight -- as well as discovering the dastardly doings of Brown Bread Fred, a chap nicknamed after the cockney rhyming slang in which ‘brown bread’ means 'dead' in reference to the murders he committed. See the pub used as Samoan Jo’s in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, as well as Hatchet Harry’s office, where ‘Porn King’ Harry Lonsdale worked in the film.
You'll also hear tales of Barbara Windsor – a much-loved London actress who married one of the Krays' feared associates Ronnie Knight -- as well as discovering the dastardly doings of Brown Bread Fred, a chap nicknamed after the cockney rhyming slang in which ‘brown bread’ means 'dead' in reference to the murders he committed. See the pub used as Samoan Jo’s in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, as well as Hatchet Harry’s office, where ‘Porn King’ Harry Lonsdale worked in the film.
Good to Know
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness