Welcome to The Era Ruled Over by The Rockstars of Royalty - the Tudors! The Tudor era (1485-1603) was an amazing time both for Britain - and Rochester! - and their Kings and Queens have gone down in history as the undisputed Rockstars of Royalty! The way in which our world works today began in the Tudor era - we can trace the roots of almost ever facet of our lives today straight back to the 16th century - except for Pantaloons (we don't wear Pantaloons today... well.. maybe!) Rochester was expanding rapidly in Tudor England - some key events during the 16th century took place here due to its significant place in the hierarchy of the country. As a result, we have some of the finest Tudor buildings anywhere in the country - and some fascinating stories about them. In those buildings some remarkable things happened, and many local people were at the centre of them. A Tudor King met one of his wives here for the first time, a Tudor Queen thanked a local VIP for allowing her to stay at his home.... with a Latin insult!, one of the most important Bishops of Rochester stood up to a Tudor King about his plans to divorce his wife - and paid the price with his head! But some of those events were so awful to imagine that the people involved might have wished they'd stayed at home! Another Bishop of Rochester holds a terrible place in the history of state executions because he stood up to a Tudor Queen, and a poor cook at a house in Rochester was the subject of, arguably, the most barbaric execution in English history! And you thought Rochester was a nice place??? Well, the buildings they left us are nice...! A refreshment break will be taken approximately half way around the route.

Who better to guide you around the 'ancient, drowsy city' beloved by England's greatest novelist than one of his most significant characters! Mr Jaggers (aka local professional guide Shane Waterman), the pragmatic lawyer with a kind heart from GREAT EXPECTATIONS, knows more about Rochester and its links with Dickens than almost anyone - and on this tour he'll share the stories associated with many of the real buildings and people on which so many of Dickens' novels, short stories and magazine articles were based. From a post box to one of the most recognisable buildings in Rochester, there's a Dickens link everywhere - often hidden in plain sight. The tour assumes NO previous knowledge of the man or his 300 known works - and is suitable for all ages. However, everyone joining the tour needs sufficient stamina to take in all the information contained within a two hour guided tour. Suitable footwear essential!! Please note we cannot allow dogs to be brought on the tour in case of allergies among other guests.

Rochester has one of the most charming, heritage filled High Streets in the whole of England. But, peel back the facades just a little bit and some remarkable secrets are revealed... A building holding a place of national significance - which hardly anyone knows about!, another which filled in a missing link in Charles Dickens' life - 141 years after he died, the archaeological gem hidden in a museum cellar, the true story of how one building developed - and a pub with a landlord who was a threat to national security! Local historian and professional guide, Shane Waterman, will lead you down Rochester High Street on a pleasant evening telling you the ten most fascinating stories behind what appear to be innocent facades. Be prepared for some surprises along the way... and some stories you can dazzle your friends with afterwards! Suitable for all ages, however children do need to have developed stamina in attention for a two hour tour with a large amount of information to absorb. Tour route is suitable for all levels of mobility including scooter and wheelchair users. Pets cannot be brought on this tour.

Lights! Camera! Rochester!: Introducing the Rochester Film & Tv Locations Tour Rochester has been a mini-Mecca for film & TV producers for decades! Some very well known movies and TV series have been made here and some very well known actors have made our quirky corner of Kent their home too. The filmed works of Shakespeare and Charles Dickens, numerous Police and detective dramas and even a very recent comedy series have used Rochester as a backdrop, including one which regularly attracted 15 million viewers each week, for six years! We've even played Whitstable and Windsor in recent years... But, where are the locations used..? And, more importantly, which are the movies and TV series in which they feature? And why does Rochester lay claim to being one of the BIGGEST film sets in the World..? Join local professional guide Shane Waterman as he takes you on a stroll around the key locations used by some of the most famous directors in the world and theyre all in ... Rochester! This tour takes around 2-2.5 hours and covers approx one mile of walking with stops along the way.