JEWISH London

East End Tours: Old Jewish Quarter Tour

and 3 other Tours

Laurence Summers

and 2 other Guides

Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences

and 4 other Hotels

Virtual Tours in the Diaspora

Monty's Deli

and 4 other Restaurants

קבלו השראה! Get Inspired!

Holocaust Memorial

Virtual Tours

Jewish Story Videos

Instagram: Restaurants

Shabbat Around The World

Urban Trails

Tours In Israel

Jewish Heritage Tours

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אתרים מומלצים Sites to see

Sites

The Jewish Museum of London

The Jewish Museum London showcases the social and cultural heritage of the Jewish people. Exhibits explore British Jewish History, religious ceremonial artifacts, art galleries, and beyond. The Holocaust Gallery somberly recalls the tragic events of the Second World War. Much of the collection comes from British born Leon Greenman who lived with his family in the Netherlands at the time. Unable to attain asylum in the UK, his wife Else and son Barney died in Auschwitz-Birkenau. Leon’s archive of photographs keeps their memory alive at the Jewish Museum. Professor Cecil Roth, Alfred Rubens, and Wilfred Samuel founded The Jewish Museum of London in 1932. The museum’s original location in Woburn House in Bloomsbury later moved in 1994 to an early Victorian-style building in London’s hip Camden Town. The predominantly Jewish East End of London housed the London Museum of Jewish Life starting in 1983. Finally, through fundraising efforts, the two museums merged and opened The Jewish Museum London in 2010 in a former piano factory in Camden Town.

Sites

New West End Synagogue

Constructed in 1879 in St. Petersburgh Place, London, the New West End Synagogue represents one of the city’s oldest and most beautiful Jewish temples. It accommodates up to 800 people and Historic England used to describe the edifice as "the architectural high-water mark of Anglo-Jewish architecture". Indeed, this awe-inspiring, Grade One Listed Building, impresses its visitors instantaneously when they approach a hallway of towering arches supported by golden columns. Circular marble steps then lead to the Torahs’ ark, which sits on a raised platform. Looking above, a circular, ornamented window, lets light in from the heavens. The New West End Synagogue is the perfect “Hidden Gem” to visit while in London as it caters to a all ages and tastes with a expansive range of activities open to the public. The New West End Synagogue is a work of art thanks to designers George Ashdown Audsley and William James Audsley. In creating the building, the architects drew from their experience in designing Protestant Churches, while incorporating elements of High Victorian Gothic Revival, and integrating Egyptian, Greek, Saracenic, and Hindu architectural styles. Leopold de Rothschild laid the synagogue’s foundation stone on June 7, 1877. Today, the British Orthodox synagogue welcomes visitors and continues to run regular services.

Sites

Western Marble Arch

Centrally located on Great Pulteney Street in Westminster, the historical Western Marble Arch (WMA) Synagogue has offered London Jews a house of worship since 1761. The WMA Synagogue sits outside of the city of London, just a short distance from Oxford Street and Hyde Park, in Westminster. Due to its location, tourists often overlook this historical hidden gem. The synagogue represents one of the leading Orthodox Jewish temples hosting religious services, community service efforts, holiday events, bar and bat mitzvahs, and weddings. Originally named The Western Synagogue, the temple stands out as one of the first Ashkenazi synagogues in all of England. The pioneering congregation also became the first to lead sermons in English. Prior to the Second World War, London Jews could pray at the city’s Great Synagogue. However, German air strikes destroyed the building during WWII. In 1957, the Jewish community built the March Arch Synagogue as its replacement. The two great synagogues of central London, the Western Synagogue and the Marble Arch Synagogue, decided to merge in 1991 to unify the community. Today, congregates affectionately refer to the Western Marble Arch Synagogue as “Marble Arch”

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Tours of London

East End Tours: Old Jewish Quarter Tour

This tour is held every Monday and Thursday at 1pm and will take you through the East End of London, focusing on the old Jewish quarter. You will start in the heart of the East End at Aldgate Station where you will see where the Jewish area began. You'll be taken through the back alleys of the Spitalfields and Whitechapel where you will see the old shops, synagogues, and soup kitchens that were once used by a thriving Jewish community. On the tour, you will visit London’s oldest synagogue, see London’s finest 18th century houses, and explore the busy streets lined with boutique shops. Though most Jews between 1881 and 1914 fled for the United States, around 150,000 settled in London's East End. You will see the old store fronts that were once run by local Jewish community members and learn where the Jews worked, how they maintained their cultural traditions from Eastern Europe, and what it was like for them to live in London.

Traditional English Food Tour

While the focus of this tour is on the flavors of traditional English cuisine, you will also learn about London's fascinating history and culture. You will visit famous attractions and sites, 1,000-year-old food markets, and hidden pubs and tea warehouses. At the end, after more than 10 authentic food tastings, you will sit down for cream tea and discuss the highlights of the tour while getting some great travel tips from your tour guide to ensure a successful visit in the English capital. You will leave not only with a full belly, but with more knowledge and a head full of stories that will help you understand London's traditions and culture.

Most cities around the world, including London, have felt the influence of Jewish culture. The history of Jews in London began in 1066 when William the Conqueror encouraged Jewish artisans and merchants to move from northern France to England. Since then, the London Jewish community has thrived in certain areas of the city and you will hear all about the ups and downs that occurred before and after Edward's expulsion of the Jews in 1290. On this Jewish London tour, you will learn about the Jewish history in London from the Middle Ages to the present, visiting several historical sites such as the Bevis Marks Synagogue, the Sandy Row Synagogue, and the Kinder Transport Memorial.

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מסעדות בסגנון יהודי JEWISH STYLE RESTAURANTS

Monty's Deli

Since Monty's Deli opened as a market stall in 2012, its owner, Mark, has been obsessed with creating the perfect pastrami and beef sandwiches. Monty's Deli is one of the only places in Britain to make their own salt beef and pastrami. The deli is proud to say that they produce everything by hand, from their bagels and rye bread, to their cured meat and mustard. Their award winning sandwiches are generously portioned, and at Monty's Deli you are sure to find amazing Jewish soul food made with nothing but love and a few secret family recipes.

Honey & Co.

Honey & Co. opened in 2012 as a tiny restaurant serving traditional Middle Eastern food. Here you will find cookies and cakes on the counter, jams to buy off the shelf, and tahini on everything. After moving to London from Northern Israel, and before opening Honey & Co., Sarti Packer trained in cooking school, worked at the Orrery in Marylebone, rolled pasta by the beach, ran an all day bistro, made truffles on the 8th floor of the OXO tower, headed the pastry section in Ottolenghi, and set up Nopi in Soho as the executive chef. Itamar Srulovich, Sarti's husband and business partner, is also from Israel. Itamar began his life in the kitchen at Orna & Ella in Tel Aviv. After he got married and moved to London, he cooked in the Oxo tower and headed the kitchen in Ottolenghi before setting up Honey & Co with his wife. Together, with the help of their incredible team, the couple run the cozy Middle Eastern restaurant where customers can enjoy fresh and flavorful Middle Eastern cuisine in the heart of London.

The Palomar

The Palomar is a Soho restaurant serving ethnic foods with inspirations from Jerusalem, but influenced by mixes of cultures from North Africa and Southern Spain. This unique influence, combined with the restaurant's contemporary approach, creates a dining experience unlike any other. The restaurant features a 16 seat kitchen bar with a view of the kitchen and marble floors that lead to an intimate back dining room. This space has dark oak panels lining the walls, a reclaimed parquet floor, banquette seating, and a skylight flowing with natural light.

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מדריכים בעיר CITY GUIDES

Laurence Summers

Laurence Summers was born and raised in London and is a qualified Blue Badge tour guide. While he can tell you the history of the top sights in London such as, the Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral, he also offers a few more specialized tours. Maybe you are interested in literature, football, art, music, or you wish to hear the tale of Jack the Ripper or of the Great Fire of London tragedy. There are also several other areas of further distances in the country that Laurence can take you to as well, either by car or train. You can explore the history of the Windsor Castle, the Hampton Court Palace, Stonehenge, or the Blenheim Palace. Wherever you want to explore, Laurence will be happy to accompany you and teach you everything he knows.

Rachel Kolsky

Engaging, knowledgeable and entertaining Rachel Kolsky (www.golondontours.com) is a popular prize-winning London Blue Badge Tourist Guide. Focussing on the 'human stories behind the buildings' Rachel's tours are fun an informative, filled with anecdotes past and present. From off-the-beaten-track London and famous personalities to cinemas and shopping, memories of all aspects of London's rich and varied social history come flooding back. Before embarking on her career as Guide and Lecturer Rachel, a qualified librarian, worked as an information professional in the financial services industry for over 25 years being recognized at the industry level with the Information Professional of the Year award in 2006. Her professional organization, SLA, awarded her the Membership Achievement Award in 2008. When not working or guiding she supports her local independent cinema, The Phoenix, East Finchley, where she was a Trustee for over 20 years. Rachel has published four books, Jewish London (2012), Whitechapel in 50 Buildings (2016), Secret Whitechapel (2017) and Women’s London (2018) and she is thrilled to have been a guest lecturer on cruises since 2009.

Stephen Burstin

Before working as a tour guide, Stephen worked as a journalist with multiple national newspapers. Stephen worked for three years as an independent guide in Rome where he lead tours in the Jewish Ghetto, the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, and the Ostia Antica. He was born in the East End of London, and at eight years old began researching his Jewish roots in London. This early interest in his Jewish roots has led Stephen to where he is today, as he continues to conduct several Jewish-themed tours in London. Leading tours is not just his livelihood, but also his passion. Stephen leads tours for families exploring Jewish London, schools whose students are learning about different cultures and religions, and even social clubs who might want to take an educational outing to the Old Jewish Quarter. For the fifth year in a row, Stephen was awarded a Certificate of Excellence and TripAdvisor has welcomed him and his tours into their own Trip Advisor Hall of Fame. Stephen also won the title, Cultural Tour Guide of the Year, by the Luxury Travel Guides in 2017. He is excited to share his knowledge and enthusiasm about the fascinating history and rich Jewish heritage of London during his explorations with you.

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קראו עוד בלוגים וספרים אלקטרוניים READ MORE BLOGS AND EBOOKS

Emily Eisenberg May 14, 2023

London 2-day itinerary highlighting Jewish sites and restaurants

Behold the grand tour of Jewish London in a 2-day sample itinerary, neatly bundled up for you both on Tripographer and in the blog below. On the free Tripographer app, you can tailor the itinerary to your choice. Fancy swapping an extra museum visit for one less bagel stop? It is easy to adjust on the app.

World Jewish Travel Official July 28, 2022

Diamonds Are Made Under Pressure: The Story of Jewish London

London and Jews: A History Intertwined London town is famous for its stunning architecture, diverse food culture, and a highly praised theater scene. In addition to all of these attractive features London hosts the largest Jewish community in the country. Since the 11th century Jews have called this metropolis home. Despite a few ups and downs the community has managed to become one of the most prosperous and respected in the world.

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Hotels in London

Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences

Taj 51 Buckingham Gate is a unique 5 star luxury hotel in that offers a wider choice of suites than almost any other hotel in London. You can choose a suite between one and six bedrooms, each with a spacious living area and a fully equipped kitchen. The hotel is located close to Buckingham Palace and is just a short walk from St. James' Park, Mayfair, and Westminster. The hotel's hard work has not gone unnoticed as they have achieved a Gold Certified Status through EarthCheck, the world's leading environmental management and professional services group. At Taj 51 Buckingham Gate, the hotel staff are dedicated to protecting the environment by using sustainable methods and eco-friendly practices.

The Soho

The Soho Hotel is located on a quiet street in the center of London's entertainment neighborhood, just a minute walk from the Leafy Soho Square. It has 96 individually designed rooms and suites and is surrounded by vibrant restaurants, bars, cafes, theaters, and exciting nightlife. From The Soho it is also easy to reach many of London's top attractions including the London Aquarium, London Zoo, Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, London Eye, and Science Museum. Inside the hotel you'll find the Refuel Bar & Restaurant that serves modern cuisine with fresh and seasonal produce.