19th Century Londoners at Work and Play on the River Thames

A three-session daytime history course at the Guildford Institute exploring how 19th-century Londoners worked and relaxed on the River Thames.

Tutored by Jenny Frendo, this three-Tuesday course examines the Thames as a working and leisure river for Londoners in the 19th century. Topics include polluted water and its link to cholera epidemics, new docks changing how the river was used, and the competition for space among commercial traffic, rowers, regattas and pleasure seekers. Sessions run from 10am to 12pm, beginning on 26 January 2027.