A successful ‘Marx in London’ tour was organised last Saturday by ULU Marxists as part of its activities in promoting the ideas of Marxism. About 20 students came on the tour to see the sights where Marx worked, lived and drank in London.

The White Hart pub, where Marx gave lectures.

Rob Sewell introduced the tour with an account of Marx’s life and times. The first stop was at the famous British Museum where Marx studied the workings of capitalism that were the basis of his book, Capital. Marx obtained a reading ticket in June 1850 when he moved to Dean Street. He worked in the old library until the new reading room was opened in 1857. By this time, Marx had accumulated some 800 pages of notes on political economy which were later published as the Grundresse.

Outside the White Hart pub

From there we went to Drury Lane to the White Hart pub where the Communist League had its headquarters. Marx gave lectures there in 1847, prior to his attendance at the second congress of the League. The Hall was rented by the German Workers Education Union, a legal front for the League, at an annual rent of £12.

Marx was right!

We walked along to Greek Street where the First International had its headquarters. Marx visited the meetings of the General Council of the International Workingmen’s Association at this venue on a weekly basis.

From there we went to Dean Street. When Marx came to London he lived at first in Chelsea, but was forced to move due to his inability to pay the rent. He moved to 64 Dean Street but was soon evicted and moved a few doors down at number 28. His family shared a two-room place. They lived in terrible poverty which resulted in the death of three of their children. It was only the generosity of Engels that kept them going.

On Dean Street

We visited Macclesfield Terrace where Engels lived, but the building itself has long been destroyed. It is only a short walk from there to the German Hotel, where the Marx family lived in April and May 1850, before moving to Dean Street. From there we went to Great Windmill Street, to a pub B at One (formerly the Red Lion). It was here that Marx and Engels attended the congress of the Communist League in November/December 1847. At this famous congress they were asked to draft the Communist Manifesto. We had a drink here to celebrate the event.

The German Hotel

All in all, it was a very interesting day and a look at Marx in London. The next tour arranged by the Marxist society is a Lenin tour which will take place on Saturday 8th November to commemorate the anniversary of the Russian Revolution.

Upcoming Events:

Sat, Nov 8th, @2:30pm - 05:00PM
ULU Marxist Society: Lenin in London