About the Trip

The Great Stink is the fascinating story of spending a penny, from Roman London to the arrival of the Victorian sewer system.

During the long hot summer of 1858 the River Thames had become little more than an open sewer. The smell became so overpowering that Parliament could no longer ignore London’s growing sanitation crisis.

The solution was one of the greatest civil engineering projects of the Victorian age, led by Sir Joseph Bazalgette.

This unusual and entertaining day combines a little sightseeing by coach, a short and easy walk through Westminster, a Thames cruise to Greenwich and a visit to the extraordinary Crossness Engines – the magnificent Victorian pumping station often described as the Cathedral of Sewage.

Group Booking Benefits

• You book your own coach and we organise the rest
• One free place with groups of 40+
• Top Blue Badge Tour Guide
• Very little walking
• Suitable for wheelchair and mobility scooter users

Day Schedule

What’s Included

Blue Badge Tour Guide

A knowledgeable London Blue Badge Guide accompanies your group throughout the day.

Morning Coffee

Coffee and biscuits are included when you meet your guide in Westminster.

Thames Cruise

Cruise from Westminster to Greenwich while following the story of London’s river and Bazalgette’s great engineering project.

Crossness Engines

Admission to the Cathedral of Sewage and the remarkable Crossness Engines is included.

Afternoon Tea

Tea or coffee and biscuits are included before you depart Crossness.

Please note: participants must bring a packed lunch to eat during the Thames cruise.

Trip Dates & Availability

Available from March until the end of October. Please contact us to check availability for your preferred date.