Walk the riverside with Florbela, a passionate guide of Portuguese-Spanish heritage, on a women-led journey uncovering the hidden Iberian influences woven into London’s past. This 3-hour storytelling walk traces the footsteps of pioneering queens, merchants, migrants, and spiritual leaders, women who shaped and were shaped by London’s long-standing ties with Spain and Portugal. From tea rituals and royal marriages to maritime trade and shared faith, you’ll explore landmarks like historic shipyards, ancient churches, and former customs docks, each stop revealing stories of resilience, exchange, and cross-cultural sisterhood.

Tour Highlights

• Walk with the Water: Trace the Thames with Florbela, whose migration journey from Portugal to London flows like the rivers that shaped both her life and this city.

• Stories at the Docks: Discover the site where London’s riverside bustled with ships, spices, and voices from across the globe, fuelled by centuries of commerce between Britain and Iberia.

• Crypts, Crosses & Sailors’ Prayers: Step into the city’s oldest church, once a refuge for Iberian sailors and descend into a hidden crypt filled with Iberian symbols of faith, protection, and migration.

• Queens and Tea: Discover how Spanish and Portuguese queens changed London forever, from tea rituals, royal rebellions and even street names.

• Raise a Glass by the River: Taste port or sherry at a historic riverside pub while hearing the fascinating story of the world’s oldest alliance: England and Portugal.

Detailed Itinerary:

Walk through centuries of history on this cultural riverside journey through London, told through the eyes of an Iberian guide Join Florbela an Iberian guide whose own migration story mirrors the city’s relationship with water, trade, and transformation.

From royal alliances to herbal tea traditions, maritime legends to resilient women, this walking tour blends London’s iconic riverside landmarks with the rich legacies of Spain and Portugal. Discover how the Thames became a gateway to the world and how stories of discovery, identity, and cultural exchange continue to ripple through its waters today.

We begin at the historic Custom House, once the heart of London’s trade and immigration. Here, we explore how the river shaped the city’s rise—and how travelers, merchants, and even pirates arrived from distant lands with goods, stories, and dreams. Your guide shares her personal connection to water, rooted in her Iberian upbringing and her journey to London.

Next Step inside London’s oldest church, dating back to 675 AD. This sacred space served as a spiritual home for Spanish and Portuguese sailors. Discover miniature ships, relics, and a special chapel that remembers those lost at sea.

With stunning views of the Thames and the Tower of London, we pause for a tea break. Here, we uncover how a Portuguese princess introduced tea to the English court. Learn about the herbal traditions passed down through generations of Iberian women.

Our next stop is St Katharine Docks, which was once a hive of sailors, smugglers, and dock workers. Hear how Port wine and Sherry became London’s liquid treasures, and how life aboard Iberian ships was both tough and freeing. We also explore today’s boat-living culture and its surprising celebrity fans.

Our final stop celebrates the world’s oldest alliance, between England and Portugal. We will sample wines like Sherry and Port and learn how tapas began as a simple way to protect wine. Discover how Iberian food and drink traditions crossed the sea and found a new home in London.