Private
2 hrs 30 mins
LivTours Private London Gin Tasting Experience experience is a delicious, fun, and luxurious way to uncover the incredible stories behind the iconic British drink. With your expert private guide leading you on your tour, experience the best local and hidden spots, and discover the legends of a drink that nearly brought down the city. Amble across the Covent Garden as you dive deeper into the stories of a tipple that has risen from rags to riches, earning its place as an international household favorite. Sampling 4 different gins, and various establishments, from historic pubs to eccentric gin emporiums, you will absorb not only how to make this iconic beverage but the amusing and often dark history behind what became known as the ‘Gin Craze’.
Though more importantly than all of the above your private guide and expert will leave you knowing exactly how to pair your gins with your mixers and garnishes, bound to impress any dinner guest! From its small-scale origins to becoming the favorite poisoning of the rich and the poor, Gin was historically a victim of its success. Found in wealthy gambling dens to the gutters of East London’s poor, bootlegged in the 18th century, and exported to the furthest reaches of the empire. it gained a reputation immortalized in art film and literature, and the world has been thirsty and intrigued ever since. Drink and learn how this historic drink is here to stay.
Exclusive private Tours and Experiences. Also offered in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swedish and Russian.
Our prices always include tickets and reservations fees (no waiting in lines!).
Our tour guides and staff are selected experts and speak perfect English.
Easy to book and prepay your tours with our secure payment system.
Eco-sustainable tourism, designed to respect and support local culture, art and traditions.
Kick off your LivTours Private London Gin Tasting Experience in the west end of London at Seven Dials. Your tour takes you through the beating heart of 18th-century bohemian London, a hive of tiny alleyways and grand shopping streets, its charm and magic have captivated writers, actors, and singers for centuries, though the elegant splendor lived side by side with the opium dens of China towns and the debauched theaters and gin parlors of old. Your guide will navigate through this beautiful and vibrant district taking you on a journey through 400 years of London’s history via its most celebrated drink, Gin. Starting at a local you will be following in the footsteps of regulars from the past from bare-knuckle boxers to Oscar Wild. It is a perfect little spot to get to know your local expert over a drink as they introduce the fascinating and hedonistic story of Gin.
From its origins as a Dutch medicine to the world-loved spirit we enjoy today, the story of Gin mirrors the life politics of the city’s history. As you sample this refreshing and botanical beverage your guide will share stories of the beloved spirit that gained the unfortunate name “mothers Ruin” and how the drink’s origins lie in a British rivalry with the French, how for the best part of the 18th century the children of London were drinking up to three pints of neat gin per week. Discover how London, a supposedly moralistic driven, and respectable city became famed for intoxication (a reputation that has proven hard for Londoners to shake off) where as soon as it was created more than 7,000 gin bars opened up in the city alone.
Venture into the netherworld of cabarets and top hats, with Gin tasting locations that could be film sets, from elaborately eccentric Gin Palaces to the local and rather hidden historic pubs. As you stop for tasting after tasting, follow your private guide as they masterfully navigate you through the streets of the dandy west end to continue learning about this history of the classic British staple. Learning not only about how the drink is made, the effect it had on London but also how its imperial exportation found it an unlikely pairing, tonic, though most importantly how best to drink a gin and tonic.
Due to venue imposed age restrictions, this tour is only available for those aged 21 years and older.
LivTours’ group size of max 6 participants is and always has been based on sustainable travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront of change and innovation in the industry. LivTours is committed to providing travelers with truly sustainable tours with the lowest possible environmental impact, all while supporting the local industries and people of each unique destination. To learn more about how you can actively support sustainable tourism and how LivTours is contributing, click here.
When you book a LivTours Private Tour or Experience, you are guaranteed a dedicated, expert guide that allows you the flexibility to start your tour at a time which is convenient for you, making planning easy. Our private tours ensure that you will get a tailored experience to meet all your needs so we go at your pace, perfect for families with younger children, elderly, or individuals with accessibility needs. Please be advised that all private tours begin at a base price starting at two people*. Prices are inclusive of entry tickets where applicable. *Some Ferrari private experiences are inclusive of one person only.
Make your experience even more unique by upgrading your LivTours experience. Please note: add-ons are non refundable.
By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here.
