Unlocked: Spitalfields Walking tour

One-day course

+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Sold out

This walk will explore Spitalfields, one of London’s most famous quarters. A place of settlement of migrants and site of production of the world-famous silks, seen in the V&A’s textile collections, Spitalfields has been definied by the cultures of Huguenots, Jewish, Irish and Bangladeshi communities over four centuries…

V&A Academy Unlocked days invite you behind the scenes, bringing you face-to-face with the V&A's extraordinary collections.


  • This Unlocked day invites you to explore off-site and to discover the hidden stories and known landmarks around Spitlafields in London's East End

  • Get up close to London’s history 1666 to 1851 on this continuous walking tour led by V&A Academy course director Mike Berlin

  • You will receive a handout of the itinerary of this walking tour and suggestions where to explore Spitalfields Silks examples at the V&A South Kensington or find examples in the V&A's Explore the Collection online

This Unlocked Study Day is designed to complement the course ‘A History of London: 1666 – 1851’ led by Mike Berlin but you do not need to be enrolled on any online course to join an 'Unlocked' event.

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course photo
Portrait of V&A Academy Course Director Mike Berlin

V&A Academy Course Director
Mike Berlin

Mike Berlin is a Lecturer at Birkbeck College, University of London. He is a specialist in the social history of early modern London and has published extensively on the history of London’s guilds. Before joining Birkbeck, he was a research officer at the Centre for Metropolitan History, Institute of Historical Research.

I loved it all! An excellent walk with so much interesting information, hearing about the people that lived in the area and what their work and lives involved. Previous Unlocked Walking tour attendee

Course overview

To see the full programme for this study day, click 'download programme' below.

This re-scheduled Unlocked walking tour is linked to Mike Berlin's 12-week spring term art history course 'A History of London: 1666 - 1851'. This Summer term Mike Berlin covers the next chapter of the London story. If you wish to join the 12-weeks online course, London: A Proud City 1851-2000, please get in touch via courses@vam.ac.uk to enjoy the Wednesday live session until 5 July and watch lecture recordings on demand, available at the end of each day, until 27 September 2023.

Please sign up to our dedicated V&A Academy newsletter to be first to hear about our new Summer term Unlocked study days, courses, workshops and events.

Should you have any questions about this V&A Academy Unlocked event, please email courses@vam.ac.uk

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V&A Academy. A learning environment you can trust.

V&A Academy online courses let you tune in to expert lectures live, or catch up on demand; our in-person Unlocked Study Days invite you to delve deeper into course themes, explore the collection and let you design your own hybrid learning experience.

Enrol now

One-day course: Unlocked: Spitalfields Walking tour

26 May 2023

£60.00

Sold out

Need help enrolling? Talk to the admissions team:

+44 (0)20 7942 2000

Open 10.00 - 13.00, Monday to Sunday (closed 24-26 December)

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