IN SEARCH OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY Private Tour in the City of London by Lisa Honan

A two hour walking tour of the streets of the City of London (ie. the Square Mile) visiting the sites associated with the East India Company and hearing about its history. We will cover the period from 1600 to the present day. As a former Governor of a British Overseas Territory- St Helena - which was governed by the East India Company for 200 years, Lisa has a unique insight into the East India Company and indeed, Lisa lived in the mansion that was built for East India Company Governors on St Helena in 1792. You will visit the courtyard where the Company first began in the 17th century and journey through the Company history as we uncover different sites along the way. You will hear about how the East India Company changed what the world ate, drank, and wore through its by trade with India, Indonesia, China and more. You will also hear how it ruled over 300 million people in India and some of the battles it undertook with its army, as well as how it caused the Boston Tea party and sparked the desire for American independence. Over the years its employees were variously called merchants, adventurers, pirates, traders, imperialists. And at its peak it was the largest multinational corporation in the world. We will start at the Monument to the Great Fire of London and finish at The Royal Exchange where you will have a cup of English tea in Fortnum and Mason or a drink in the Libertine bar in the vaults of the Royal Exchange.