by Contributing Author
London is an iconic global city and cultural capital that attracts millions of visitors every year. Once the heart of the heart of the world’s biggest empire, London still contains a wealth of historical and cultural treasures and is a place where ancient traditions like Trooping the Colour and the splendor of Royalty sit side by side with a modern high-tech society and the financial powerhouse of the City of London.
London also has a rich Jewish history that goes back at least a thousand years. In the Middle Ages, the Jewish experience in England wasn’t always a happy one, but from the 1600s Britain became one of the safer and more tolerant places for Jews to settle. Despite new challenges in the 21st century, Jewish London is fascinating, vibrant and full of surprises. If you want to plan the perfect tour of London and explore Jewish cultural diversity celebrations and amazing events like Chanukah in the Square, read on for the complete guide!
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London’s Jewish Cultural Calendar 2024: What’s On?
Despite demographic and cultural changes, there are still an estimated 300,000 Jews in the UK and the community is the 5th largest Jewish population outside Israel. Although most British Jews are of Ashkenazi origin (descended from refugees who fled Russian pogroms, and then the Nazis) there are some descendants of 17th century Spanish and Portuguese Jews, as well as recent Iraqi and Yemenite arrivals. There are interesting Sephardic cultural events in London.
One of our favorite events in London is the annual Jewish Book Week. It’s the city’s longest-running book festival and has been running since 1952, most recently at the prestigious King’s Place building. The Jewish Book Week is a wonderful opportunity to meet like-minded people at over 90 events and explore books, ideas and philosophy. The next Jewish Book Week will be hosted by the Jewish Literary Foundation in March 2025.
Chanukah 2024 coincides with Christmas and the New Year. This is good news for British Jews who can expect a holiday from work and a chance to spend the Festival of Lights at home with their families. Chanukah in the Square is a wonderful annual event that involves lighting a massive chanukkiah (menorah) at London’s famous Trafalgar Square. The menorah is usually positioned next to the fountains with the spectacular architecture of the National Gallery as a backdrop.
Celebrating Heritage: Must-Visit Jewish Cultural Spots in London
The starting point for anybody who wants to explore London’s Jewish heritage is usually the beautiful Bevis Marks Synagogue. The Orthodox synagogue is a religious and cultural oasis hidden away among the generic towers and office blocks of London’s financial district. It is also host to many Sephardic cultural events in London. Built in 1701 for the City’s Portuguese Jews, it is the only Synagogue to have offered uninterrupted services for over 320 years – even defying Hitler during the London Blitz – which it fortunately survived intact. The Bevis Marks was twice damaged by IRA bomb attacks on the City of London in the 1990s, but was superbly renovated.
The Ashkenazi Great Synagogue of London, built in 1809, was completely destroyed by German bombing in May 1941, but the New West End Synagogue survived and is famous for its stunning interior. It was built in 1879 for London’s Jewish social elite and is decorated in an extravagant Victorian oriental style. The New West End is conveniently located next to Hyde Park and is absolutely worth a visit.
London is home to some of the world’s best – and oldest – museums. A customized Jewish tour of the city can also feature the exhibitions of the Jewish Museum in Camden (which is currently operating as a museum without walls). A recommended exhibition explores the extraordinary life of Leon Greenman and is hosted by the National Holocaust Center and Museum.
The Ben Uri Gallery was established to celebrate Jewish cultural diversity and its latest innovation is a really interesting exhibition about refugee art dealers in 20th century London. This is a fascinating topic for art lovers, and for anybody who wants to know more about the compelling human stories of European Jews who fled to the UK. The Burgh Gallery in nearby Hampstead has some more treats for art lovers. This autumn’s exhibitions include the photography of Dorothy Bohm and the expressionist paintings of Marie-Louise von Motesiczky.
Beyond Events: Immersive Jewish Cultural Experiences in London
One of the best things about a tailored Jewish tour of London is the chance to meet the local Jewish communities. This can be done through organized meetings, but it’s also a lot of fun just to turn up at events and venues and get to know people. London Jews are generally quite friendly and talkative and it’s easy to strike up conversations.
JW3 (Jewish Community Centre London) is a great place to meet new people. The 35,000 square foot building has its own cinema, dance and art studios, a large auditorium, a bar and restaurant and a host of other facilities. Visitors can sign up for language courses, cookery classes and singing lessons – to name a few activities.
The Jewish community in London is one of the most active, energetic and educated communities in the diaspora and there is a lot going on. Tourists can easily tap into everything from the lecture circuit, Jewish singles events, walking tours of Jewish cemeteries and heritage sites, including a charitable walk called Jewish London – 1,000 Years of History.
Plan your Tailored Tour of Jewish London
A Note on Personal Safety in London
If you’re concerned about your safety while you’re in London, Gil Travel can offer up to the minute advice about conditions in the city. There has been an upsurge in anti-semitism and London also has typical big city crime rates, but the average tourist is safe. As long as you avoid the hateful pro-Palestinian demonstrations and use ordinary common-sense precautions, you should be able to enjoy your trip in complete safety. An experienced Jewish travel agency can arrange luxury hotel accommodations and private transport with vetted drivers. London’s licensed black cabs are also safe and efficient, and their drivers have an encyclopedic knowledge of the city’s streets.
Whether you’re planning to enjoy some UK style Rosh Hashanah celebrations, a wonderfully atmospheric Chanukah in the Square, or just want to browse and explore the Jewish heritage of one of the world’s great cities, you’ll have an amazing time.
While we strongly recommend creating a detailed itinerary, you should definitely leave some blank spaces and aim for flexibility too. London is a city for spontaneity, and you’ll be amazed at the sites, activities and people you discover and suddenly want to devote more time to. It’s a big advantage for US tourists that America and Britain are both English speaking countries. You’ll find it a lot easier to get to know people and to fit into whatever is going on – whether it’s a film evening, a guided walking tour or a few drinks in a London pub. Sounds exciting? Then consider planning a private tour to explore Jewish culture in London.
Author Bio
Iris Hami is CEO and President of Gil Travel Group. She has over 50 years of experience in the travel industry, and uses that knowledge to craft unique Jewish journeys around the world. Her company has won multiple awards, including one from State of Israel Bonds for Extraordinary Achievements Promoting the State of Israel.
