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Notorious London: A City Tour dips into various regions and eras of London's past to give you a multifaceted look at this remarkable metropolis. From the destruction of St. Paul's Cathedral and the dark history of the Tower of London to the chaos of World War II, and beyond, these stories bring London to life across the centuries and illuminate the darker corners of a complex city.

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Episodes

1. Oscar Wilde's Decadent London

34m

Begin your historical tour of London with a look at the city when it was home to Oscar Wilde at the close of the 19th century. Trace the details of Wilde's trial for indecency as you examine the way London society was structured and how immense wealth and privilege-for some-left its imprint on the city and its history.

2. St. Paul's Cathedral in Faith, Fire, and Sin

30m

St. Paul's Cathedral has overlooked London from a high point in the city for generations. Uncover the history of this church that has been so much more than a place of worship for the people of London, and has survived fire, plague, and the ravages of war. Here, you will look at several episodes from the cathedral's long and storied past.

3. Getting Blitzed at London's Café de Paris

31m

Go back in time to an evening in March of 1941, when the Café de Paris-a popular center of London nightlife in the 1930s and 40s-was destroyed in the Blitz. Uncover the history of the Café and see how its destruction reflects not only the horrors of wartime London, but the resiliency of the citizens who had to "keep calm and carry on" under the threat of war.

4. On Carnaby Street during the Swinging '60s

29m

Carnaby Street emerged during the expansion of London in the 17th century and would go on to become a symbol of social change in the 1960s. Look back on the history of this three-block stretch of city street and see why it became such a magnet for trendsetters and youth culture in post-war London, and examine why these changes were embraced by some and seen as a threat by others.

5. A History of Infamy in the Tower of London

32m

Dive into the long history of the Tower of London and its many roles: fortress; royal residence; mint; armory; military garrison; zoo; and, perhaps most notably, prison. From the days of William the Conqueror to the Victorian era and later, you will see how this structure has played a significant part in London's long and notorious history.

6. Underground Catholics of Protestant London

28m

Following the Protestant Reformation of her father Henry VIII's reign, Elizabeth I and her successor James I ruled over an England torn by religious controversy and their rules were characterized by multiple conspiracies. Relive the history of religious persecution in London, from the pro-Catholic Mary I to her Protestant successors.

7. Wicked Fun at the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens

29m

Especially popular with the aristocracy and the aspiring middle classes, the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens were 12 acres of woods and gravel walks on the South Bank of the Thames. Experience some of the scandalous stories of overindulgence, social interaction, sex, pleasure, and danger that abounded in and around this quintessentially 18th-century public place.

8. Taking the Dead Man's Path to Tyburn Tree

26m

Look back on the trial and execution of Jack Sheppard in 1724 and reflect on the ways Jack's story highlights the public display of state power and the nature of public life in 18th-century London. Somewhat of a folk hero, Jack Sheppard still met an ignominious end that sheds light on the drastic disparities between the haves and the have-nots of London's past.

9. The Great Stink of 1858

31m

How did a vital waterway like the Thames become so polluted that its rancid stench disrupted the everyday life of an entire city? Revisit the year 1858 and the "Great Stink" that helped Londoners conceptualize the dangers of pollution and prompted the implementation of lasting reforms that transformed the city's infrastructure for generations to come.

10. In the Footsteps of Jack the Ripper

29m

Whitechapel had a reputation as a notorious district riddled with crime and poverty in the 19th century. While this characterization is not entirely accurate, the grisly murders of Jack the Ripper-and the sensationalist news coverage of them-cemented its dangerous status. Learn the real history of this East London neighborhood as you follow the trail of this infamous serial killer.

Extended Details

SeriesNotorious London: A City Tour

Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

The Great CoursesDirector

The Great CoursesProducer

Paul DeslandesActor