The Tour
In 1909 British espionage entered a new era with the creation of the Secret Service Bureau. The world of secrets and spies now had a face, even if it was a secret one. But the Bureau divided quickly into two sections, each under a remarkable leader.
Mansfield Smith-Cumming
Krystyna Skarbek
Captain Vernon Kell (known as ‘K’) shaped one branch to meet the challenge of espionage threatening this country’s interests. It does so still as the Security Service, known more familiarly as MI5.
Commander Mansfield Smith-Cumming (‘C’) had a more difficult task. He had to create a network of spies to probe the secrets of other nations, while defending its own secret existence. Nowadays we know this body as the Secret Intelligence Service, or MI6.
This tour penetrates the world of secrets and spies. We’ll experience covert currents of activity and learn of patriots and traitors.
This is a world of MI5 and MI6, of Special Branch and the Special Operations Executive.
If you like this …
Secret Writing celebrates fictional representations of the world of intelligence – details HERE
You can find my other Westminster tours HERE
Details – Secrets and Spies
Please go to Whats On? to see whether this tour is currently on offer, and for booking details
REMEMBER that these details are NOT for the virtual version of this tour!
Meet: In front of The Morpeth Arms, 58 Millbank, SW1P 4RW – the nearest stations are Pimlico (Victoria Line) or Vauxhall (Victoria Line and Main Line)
Duration: Two hours (approximately)
Finish: St James’s Park Underground Station
If you have any questions about this walk, please contact me
Pictures sourced from Wikimedia Commons
