ECA Black History Month Tours – City walk: Tuesday 14 October, 2025, 2pm

We are celebrating Black History through film, discussion and walking. ECA has teamed up with Avril’s Walks & Talks to bring Black History alive by organising 3 Black History Tours across London. There are only 20 spaces available for each walk. So, get your tickets early.

Tuesday 14^th October from 2pm: City Walk

The Bank of England was originally founded to supply money to King William III (aka William of Orange) to fight in wars. But the bank was heavily involved in slavery from day one. When it was set up in 1694 it underpinned the whole system of commercial credit, and its wealthy City members – from the Governor down – were often men whose fortunes had been made wholly or partly in the enslavement and kidnapping era.

Meanwhile in Ethiopia, coffee was being invented and proceeded to conquer the world. See one of the first coffee houses in the City and find out its story. See a statue you’ve never seen before that represents the enslavement era but which most people don’t know about (or have passed but never noticed!). Hear stories of ships, sailors, priests, and plantations to name but a few.

Come for a walk with Avril Nanton, your professionally qualified guide, to see some of the sights and hear stories about people you’ve never heard of before.

This tour includes information on:

• John Newton – slaver and abolitionist
• Coffee and its beginnings
• The church that conducts Christian services in Swahili
• Statues and Monuments in the City

Meeting point: Outside the Royal Exchange (exit 3 Bank Station Central Line). Go to Liverpool Street, take Central Line, go one stop to Bank Station, ask staff for Exit 3. Please note there about 15 steps to exit the station.

Click here to buy your tickets now!