The Great Exhibition Experience Walk

Join Iya London for a guided walk exploring the many perspectives surrounding the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Often remembered as a triumph of Victorian innovation and design, the Great Exhibition was also shaped by the power and reach of expanding western empires. More than six million people visited the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park to see thousands of objects gathered from across Britain, its empire and other countries. Many displays reflected systems of imperial extraction of resources and unequal exchange.

Along the route, you’ll also consider how different people’s labour, resources and cultures were represented in the exhibition and how protesters used the exhibition as a platform to protest against slavery in the United States. Through discussion, participants will be encouraged to question whose stories were celebrated in 1851 — and whose were excluded or distorted.

This walk invites participants to look beyond the familiar story of progress and spectacle. Together, we’ll explore how visitors experienced the Exhibition differently depending on their social position within Victorian society.

Visitor information

Tours will depart from the Great Exhibition Road Festival Tours tent, on the north end of Exhibition Road.

This is a drop-in event that is best suited for adults. 

Find out more about the Great Exhibition

To attend the Festival, please make sure to register for free. Registering is the only way to receive the latest Festival updates, a first look at the programme, and opportunities to book free tickets for popular events.

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