Online Program

Adventures Online: London, the Story of a City

Program No. 24194RJ
Journey through 2,000 years of history as our experts lead you on a live, online exploration of London! From the Romans to modern day, learn how this city has changed through the ages.

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5 days
2
The Reformation, The Great Fire & Its Legacy
From the comfort of your own home.
3
The River Thames, The Docks, Victorian London
From the comfort of your own home.
5
Olympic Park, Immigration, Diversity & the Future
From the comfort of your own home.
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At a Glance

Welcome to London, one of the most fascinating cities in the world! With our experts, trace more than 2,000 years of history during this live, online adventure that introduces you to the cultures and events that have shaped the city. Through online field trips led by your instructor, explore London’s Roman, Saxon and Medieval remains, hear stories of King Henry VIII, learn about London’s Great Fire, trace the influence of Victorian culture and much more. Learn how the River Thames has shaped the industry of the city, and get a sense of modern London during an online field trip to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Throughout your online adventures, you’ll take in insightful lectures and Q&A sessions with your expert instructors and enjoy an opportunity to get to know your fellow Road Scholars.

What You'll Learn

  • Discover how the River Thames shaped London into the largest port in the world.
  • Join museum experts for a look into modern London’s cultural offerings and enjoy an online visit to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
  • Meet award-winning expert Ruth Polling, who will share stories of London’s 2,000-year-old history during online walks through some of the city’s most historic neighborhoods.

General Notes

You’ll enjoy 2-3 hours of daily instruction, discussion and/or field trips, which includes sufficient breaks throughout the program. This online program is through Zoom, an easy-to-use web video service that includes closed captioning. All you need is an Internet connection and your computer. We’ll provide a how-to guide to make sure you’ll have a hassle-free experience. This session is offered live only and will not be available on demand. Please review the daily itinerary for start and end times to ensure you won’t miss a minute of this live experience. All times are listed in the EASTERN time zone. If you live in a different time zone, please adjust your schedule accordingly.
Featured Expert
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Ruth Polling
Ruth graduated at the top of her class as the London Blue Badge Travel Educator of the Year and has been sharing her knowledge of England with curious travelers for three years. London born and bred, she is energetic and passionate about her city and country and sharing their stories. Ruth graduated from the London School of Economics with a degree in International History with an emphasis on Military History. She previously worked in London politics for eleven years including in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Ruth Polling
Ruth Polling View biography
Ruth graduated at the top of her class as the London Blue Badge Travel Educator of the Year and has been sharing her knowledge of England with curious travelers for three years. London born and bred, she is energetic and passionate about her city and country and sharing their stories. Ruth graduated from the London School of Economics with a degree in International History with an emphasis on Military History. She previously worked in London politics for eleven years including in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
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Antony Robbins View biography
Antony Robbins — writer, broadcaster, lecturer — was Director of Communications at the Museum of London as it opened the Galleries of Modern London exhibition. He was in charge of audience development, communications strategy, and the museum’s digital presence for eight years. He spent most of his early career leading PR teams in the world of international relief and development including the Overseas Development Institute, the UK government’s Department for International Development, and CARE International. Antony is a born and bred Londoner.
Profile Image of Anna Warrillow
Anna Warrillow View biography
Anna Warrillow has worked at a number of museums and private art collections, both in the UK and the US, including the National Gallery and six years as a Curator of Sculpture of the Victoria and Albert Museum. She currently works as a freelance art historian and lecturer including at Richmond University, the American International University in London.
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5 days
4 nights
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DAY
1
Orientation & Introductions, Overview, Early London
From the comfort of your own home.

Activity note: All times noted are Eastern Time. Today’s session will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m.

Afternoon: 1:00 p.m. Welcome. With our Instructor Ruth Polling, we will review the program schedule and answer any questions you have. We’ll also have a brief review of Zoom protocols. 1:15 p.m. Lecture (60 minutes). Ruth Polling will chart the development of London from a port on the fringes of the Roman Empire, through its rapid 19th century expansion to today’s cultural and financial center. Ruth will navigate the geography of the city to set the scene for our story. 2:15 p.m. Break (15 minutes). 2:30 p.m. Introductions (30 minutes). We will greet one another and hear what brings each of us “virtually” to London. 3:00 p.m. Virtual field trip (45 minutes). With Ruth Polling, we’ll take a virtual walk through London’s Roman, Saxon, and medieval remains. On the surface, the City of London is a 21st century financial center. We will encounter the 2,000 years of history hidden among the modern skyscrapers. Among the highlights, we will learn the story of the Roman Temple of Mithras, lost for 1,600 years before its rediscovery on a bombsite in 1954; the Saxon church of All Hallows; and the most powerful symbol of medieval kingship, the Tower of London. 3:45 p.m. Wrap-up (15 minutes). We will have an opportunity to ask any remaining questions and plan for tomorrow. 4:00 p.m. Today’s online session will end.

DAY
2
The Reformation, The Great Fire & Its Legacy
From the comfort of your own home.

Activity note: All times noted are Eastern Time. Today’s session will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m.

Afternoon: 1:00 p.m. Virtual field trip (70 minutes). We will set out on a virtual field trip to understand the impact of the Reformation on London. King Henry VIII’s desire for a divorce plunged London into 30 years of turmoil: changing the religious, social, political, and economic life of the city forever. From violent religious debates outside St. Paul’s Cathedral, to Smithfield where Protestants were burnt at the stake for their faith, to a Tudor mansion in a former monastery, we will explore places at the very center of England’s religious transformation. 2:10 p.m. Lecture (20 minutes). The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed 52 major halls, 87 churches, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and 13,200 dwellings, leaving around 100,000 Londoners homeless. Ruth will trace the course of the four days in September that destroyed London. 2:30 p.m. Break (15 minutes). 2:45 p.m. Lecture (30 minutes). Antony Robbins — broadcaster, former Communications Director at the Museum of London, and our guest lecturer — will discuss the impact of the Great Fire of London. What lessons were learned? How did the capital rebuild? And why is this 17th century event so deeply burnished into the consciousness of Londoners to this very day? Antony will present his unique perspective on this tumultuous event that occurred during an already turbulent period in British history. 3:15 p.m. Interactive discussion with Q&A (30 minutes). Antony will engage in a discussion focusing on the long-term impact of the Great Fire, how it shaped the city, and its enduring folklore legacy. 3:45 p.m. Wrap-up (15 minutes). We will have an opportunity to ask any remaining questions and plan for tomorrow. 4:00 p.m. Today’s online session will end.

DAY
3
The River Thames, The Docks, Victorian London
From the comfort of your own home.

Activity note: All times noted are Eastern Time. Today’s session will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m.

Afternoon: 1:00 p.m. Lecture (30 minutes). London has always been a port city but in the 18th century, the volume of trade through the port exploded. Between 1700 and 1770, the commerce of the Port was nearly doubled and from 1770 to 1795, it doubled again. Ruth will explain how London became the center of world trade and the impact this had on the London and the rest of the world. 1:30 p.m. Virtual field trip on video (30 minutes). Our exploration will take us along the river at the heart of London’s story: the River Thames. We will set off from the borough of Westminster — the center of “royal” London and home of Westminster Abbey, and the Palace of Westminster where Parliament sits. Heading past the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, we will reach London’s docklands and learn the story of how the river made London the largest port in the world. 2:00 p.m. Break (15 minutes). 2:15 p.m. Lecture (60 minutes). Victorian London was the wealthiest city on earth, yet many of its people lived in terrible poverty. Ruth will examine the “other” London of the 19th century: one of misery, slums, and child labor. We will hear how the work of figures as diverse as Charles Dickens and Florence Nightingale shone a spotlight on these social problems and provided a catalyst for change. 3:15 p.m. Interactive discussion with Q&A (30 minutes). We will focus on London’s rapid 19th century growth and the impact on both rich and poor Londoners. 3:45 p.m. Wrap-up (15 minutes). We will have an opportunity to ask any remaining questions and plan for tomorrow. 4:00 p.m. Today’s online session will end.

DAY
4
Kensington, Victoria & Albert Museum, Blitz, 2012 Olympics
From the comfort of your own home.

Activity note: All times noted are Eastern Time. Today’s session will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m.

Afternoon: 1:00 p.m. Virtual field trip (45 minutes). As we “walk” through Kensington, we will discover how the wealth and confidence of London in the 19th century turned it into a major cultural capital. Making our way from Kensington Palace via the Royal Albert Hall, Imperial College, and the Natural History Museum, we will get an up-close look at the amazing institutions and beautiful buildings of Victorian London. 1:45 p.m. Lecture (30 minutes). With guest lecturer Anna Warrillow, former Curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, we will learn about the V&A. Anna will address the foundation of the Museum, what it tells us about Victorian attitudes to culture and education, and the artists who contributed to this magnificent building. 2:15 p.m. Interactive discussion with Q&A (30 minutes). Anna will stay with us for a discussion focusing on the Victorians and their contributions to making London a cultural and educational capital. 2:45 p.m. Break (15 minutes). 3:00 p.m. Virtual field trip (45 minutes). On this virtual “walk” we will explore the streets of Westminster to learn about London during the Second World War. We will go from the center of decision-making at the Churchill War Rooms to discover the role of the Royal family and the experiences of ordinary Londoners during the Blitz. We will see that reminders of World War II are still visible today. 3:45 p.m. Wrap-up (15 minutes). Ruth will introduce the 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony we will view independently this evening and explain the schedule for our final day. 4:00 p.m. Today’s online session will end.

Evening: The Complete London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony is available free for independent viewing this evening. Go to this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4As0e4de-rI

DAY
5
Olympic Park, Immigration, Diversity & the Future
From the comfort of your own home.

Activity note: All times noted are Eastern Time. Today’s session will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m.

Afternoon: 1:00 p.m. Interactive discussion with Q&A (30 minutes). We will focus on the 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony and the image of modern London it projected to the world. How accurate was it? What was included and what was missing from the story of London it presented? 1:30 p.m. Virtual field trip (60 minutes). We will head out to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford East London to see how the area has developed since 2012. The Olympic Games provided an opportunity to re-develop one of the poorest areas of London with new housing, transport, community, cultural, and sporting facilities all set within the beautifully landscaped Olympic Park. We’ll learn how the Victoria and Albert Museum, University College London, and Sadler’s Wells Theatre are opening up new sites in the Park to create London’s newest cultural district. 2:30 p.m. Break (15 minutes). 2:45 p.m. Lecture (45 minutes). Immigrants have been settling in London for centuries. Today, more than a third of Londoners were born outside the UK, making this one of the most ethnically diverse cities on earth. Ruth will examine the history of immigration and the contributions immigrants have made to London from French Huguenots in the 16th century to east London’s Bangladeshi community today. 3:30 p.m. Wrap-up (30 minutes). Ruth will conduct our final session as we enjoy the libations of our choice and say our farewells. 4:00 p.m. This concludes our program.






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