Johannesburg Historical Walking Tour of Marshalltown

This is our most famous walking tour and the one we recommend as a first introduction to the city, since it provides the best insight to the history of the city and what makes the contemporary city.
Starting off with a storytelling on the opening history of the city, we walk and explore the ‘Wiser West’, the oldest district of Joburg inner-city. Marvel at the architecture and stories of Joburg during the gold rush, the plush Edwardian era (early 1900s) and all the way to the diverse and energetic current-day Joburg with coffee shops and eateries along Main Street. Admire the Shadow Boxer sculpture where Mandela & Tambo once had offices. Be astonished by the square where Gandhi once worked as a lawyer in the court. This tour tells the full story of Joburg – from pre-gold rush days to its ‘glory days’, spectacular urban decline and current-day city regeneration. You will leave astonished!

Meeting Point

2 Pritchard St

2 Pritchard St, Johannesburg, 2113, South Africa

Meet us in the foyer of the JSE Newtown building. Walk into the building past the little park from the corner of Pritchard & Diagonal Streets.

What to expect:

Duration: 4 hours

Marshalltown

Marshalltown, Johannesburg, South Africa

The 'older' part of the Johannesburg CBD and the origins of the city's mining and financial companies can be traced to this architecturally-rich part of the inner-city, known as Marshalltown.
Our Understanding Joburg walking tour is also known as the Astonishing Marshalltown tour and is the best introduction to the Johannesburg inner-city. The focus is on the mesmerising history of the city. The tour tells the story of Joburg’s gold-rush inception, boom days, eventual decline and current regeneration. Starting from Gandhi Square, the tour takes in the pedestrianised Main Street in the corporate mining district, including historic landmarks such as the Mapungubwe Rhino replica, Hollard Street, the Impala Stampede Sculpture and the Shadow Boxer Sculpture in front of Chancellor House, where Mandela & Tambo once had their law offices. It is a thorough historical tour, interspersed with public art and cool sidewalk cafes.

3 hours

Gandhi Square

New Street between Rissik Street and Eloff Street, Johannesburg

We visit the central square of Johannesburg and view the sculpture of Gandhi as a young lawyer. Yes. Gandhi worked here as a business lawyer when he was a young man!

15 minutes

What's included:

• In-person guide