About this experience
With me you will visit the places where Vladimir Ilyich Lenin lived, worked, and rested, where he first met Trotsky and had a pint or two in a pub. Along the way, you will try to solve the mysteries of history, hear stories about spies and life in emigration, imbibe the spirit of the rebels, and learn why London can confidently be called the cradle of the Russian revolution.
What to Expect
Visiting Revolutionary Sites
Lenin visited London more than once, but his first arrival here was especially important. At that moment, he met his main like-minded people, which determined the fate of the then Russian Empire. You will see the historical building where the editorial office of the newspaper 'Iskra' was located, which today houses the largest archive of Marxist literature in the world. We will pass by the houses where Lenin stayed with his wife Nadezhda Krupskaya, and the houses where revolutionary congresses were held. I will show you the place of Lenin's first meeting with Leon Trotsky and, according to one version, with Joseph Stalin. Following this semi-legendary fact, I will tell the story of the mysterious disappearance of a large bust of Ilyich, which can now be seen in the local local lore museum.
Atmosphere of the Clerkenwell District
Yet on this walk you will not only delve into the biography of Lenin and entries from Krupskaya's diaries, but also walk along the quiet streets of one of the central districts of London near King's Cross station. And there is much to see here! An eclectic combination of Georgian architecture and post-war new buildings of different years, intricate courtyards and passages. You will see Clerkenwell through Lenin's eyes and through the prism of a temporal difference of more than 100 years. From detailed notes of Lenin's wife, you will learn what life was like for the couple in emigration, what they thought about the local weather, and whether they liked British cuisine. And at the end of the tour, you will visit a traditional English pub where the interior has remained exactly as it was in Lenin's time: with a fireplace and the frozen clock hand of ancient clocks.
On the tour, I bring a tablet to show you old and modern photos and read out excerpts from Krupskaya's diaries and newspaper articles.
Organizational Details
We won't be able to see the Ilyich bust in the local lore museum on Sundays.
