Don’t miss this special event celebrating the three flagship synagogues in St John’s Wood while discovering the history and personalities who have shaped this quiet residential London quarter. Once the “wrong side of the park”, it became known for eminent Victorian artists and sculptors, where high walls could hide their secret liaisons, top class cricket, an iconic recording studio and as home to 1960s iconic pop-stars.

Your tour includes the story behind St John’s Wood Synagogue, and the opportunity to view the magnificent Hillman windows, plus exclusive visits to New London Synagogue, the ‘birthplace’ of Masorti Judaism, and The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, the oldest and largest of the Liberal Jewish communities, where Rabbi Jeremy Gordon and Rabbi Alexandra Wright will provide an overview to these historic places of worship.

Minimum donation: Members of LJS and NLS £12.50, non-members £17.50, to include refreshments.

Rachel Kolsky: Engaging, knowledgeable and well-researched Rachel Kolsky is a popular prize-winning London Blue Badge Tourist Guide.

Focussing on the ‘human stories behind the buildings’, Rachel’s talks are known to be fun, informative and entertaining filled with anecdotes past and present. From off-the-beaten track London and famous personalities to cinemas and shopping, memories of all aspects of London’s rich and varied social history come flooding back.

Before embarking on her career as Guide and Lecturer, Rachel, a qualified librarian, worked as an information professional in the financial services industry for over 25 years being recognised at industry level with the Information Professional of the Year award in 2006. Her professional organisation, SLA, awarded her the Membership Achievement Award in 2008.

When not working or guiding, she supports her local independent cinema, The Phoenix, East Finchley, where she was a Trustee for over 20 years. Rachel has published four books, Jewish London (2012), Whitechapel in 50 Buildings (2016), Secret Whitechapel (2017) and Women’s London (2018) and she is thrilled to have been a guest lecturer on cruises since 2009.

Rachel (with the tulip) leading a happy group.