The History of the East India Company - Westminster Walking Tour

Embark on the second chapter of our East India Company Walk, where we delve into the company's transformation from merchant traders to a territorial powerhouse that reshaped Britain’s global influence.

What You'll Experience:

* The Path to Territorial Dominance – Trace how the company transitioned from trading posts to military conquest, acquiring vast regions and unprecedented wealth that flowed back to Britain.
* The American Connection – Discover the company's influence on events leading to American independence, from tea monopolies to the Boston Tea Party and colonial resistance movements.
* Opium Trade and Political Scandal – Learn about the company's controversial involvement in the opium business and how these practices created political tensions in Westminster.
* Power Players and Controversies – Meet Robert Clive, whose military campaigns in Bengal made him one of Britain's wealthiest men, and Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General whose administration sparked years of parliamentary investigation and public scandal.
* Imperial Legacy – Examine how the company's administrative methods and economic policies established patterns of governance that influenced political and social structures across the British Empire and beyond.

Walk through Westminster's streets to understand how a trading company became an empire-builder, leaving lasting impacts on global politics, economic and society that resonate to this day.

Timings & Tours

Thursday 18 September:

Start at 11am

Location & directions

We meet at Robert Clive Statue, Westminster, Greater London, SW1A 2AH

Contact on day:

Yvette

Telephone number:

+442036037729

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

This is a ticketed event - valid tickets must be presented for entry. Only confirmed ticket holders will be permitted to join the tour. Please ensure you have your ticket confirmation (digital or printed) ready at the meeting point. Walk-ins and non-ticket holders cannot be accommodated due to group size limitations and booking requirements.

Booking contact name:

Yvette

Booking telephone number:

+442036037729

Booking email:

[email protected]

Booking website:

https://www.hiddentudorstours.co.uk/special-london-walks-and-events

Booking opens:

18 Aug 2025 12:00 AM

Booking closes:

13 Sep 2025 12:00 AM

Accessibility details

This walk is not level access and involves navigating stairs.

Additional information

N/A

Max no of people per tour:

12

Est. tour duration:

1 hour(s) 45 minute(s)

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