WALKING TOURS
WALKING TOURS ARE BACK! LET'S GO!
From unforgettable sights to undiscovered corners, there is so much to see and explore. We offer our walks at a time to suit you. They cost £15 per person with a £60 minimum. Why not get together with a group of friends - it's a great way to spend time together. If you don't see what you want, please get in touch. We can design it for you.
BEWITCHING BLOOMSBURY
£15 per person; £60 minimum
How did Bloomsbury grow from being “wood for 100 pigs” to the academic and cultural quarter that it is today? As we meander through the side streets of this architecturally diverse neighbourhood, we will meet the characters who make this area’s history so entertaining. From wealthy aristocrats to the bohemian Bloomsbury Group; and Dickens, Hogarth and a few monarchs in between. Garden squares, one of London’s finest features, are abundant here and we’ll look at how they developed. Tales of abandoned children and missed publishing opportunities – there is something for everyone!
THE HEART OF GOVERNMENT WITH ROWAN
£15 per person; £60 minimum
We all know Westminster as the home of Parliament, and Whitehall as the seat of government, but there is more to the area than grand buildings. Join Rowan on this walking tour through the Heart of Government and see where Henry VIII once walked, Edward III's treasure house, the house with no front door, the aristocratic mansion now used by civil servants, and the house where Churchill dined the night before he was appointed Prime Minister.
THE SPRAY CAN
WITH EMILY DELL
£15 per person; £60 minimum
Are you ready to enter the colourful world of Shoreditch, East London? then join me on a walking tour to discover an area that speaks with a spray can.
This tour will look at the ever changing face of Shoreditch through the painted walls, sculptures and eye opening street art. We will look at the different techniques and ever changing styles in Londons street art scene, whilst taking in the humorous, the political and heartfelt works of art. We will see work by famous artists such as : Stik, Mr Cenz, Jim Vision, Banksy and more. So prepare to fill your photo gallery with monsters, beautiful women, broccoli and more.
The tour lasts for 2 hours and I can highly recommend you putting some time aside to explore the multiple food options the area has to offer.
CHELSEA'S LITERARY LANDMARKS
WITH EMILY LAURENCE BAKER
£15 per person; £60 minimum
During a three-mile walk in Chelsea, we’ll track the neighbourhood’s many phases of development, including medieval port; manufacturing and design centre; Bohemian artists’ colony; and swinging ‘60s headquarters. Along the way, we’ll hear quotes from and about famous writers who have lived here – from the 1500s to the present.
Come and see where Jane Austen enjoyed a musical soiree. Listen to the heart-breaking story of Oscar Wilde’s arrest and see where he penned some of his best-known works. Stand in awe by the glorious mansions of Cheyne Walk to hear a poem that George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) wrote from her sitting room. Further along this glamorous road, learn why Ian Fleming suffered ridicule over his manuscript for Casino Royale. (Who had the last laugh there?)
CANALSIDE WALK WITH ROWAN
£15 per person; £60 minimum
The canal is the ultimate back street. Join Rowan as we walk the Grand Union Canal from the Meanwhile Garden to Little Venice, see the boats and buildings, old and new, which we pass, and learn the stories of the people who lived and worked in them.
NEW TOUR! SOUTHWARK STORIES
WITH EMILY LAURENCE BAKER
£15 per person; £60 minimum
Once home to brothels, theatres and bear-baiting arenas, Southwark has an exhilarating past. Step back in time to when the south side of the River Thames was a place where people - even royalty - ventured for a bit of bawdy fun.
The riverside is still where people seek entertainment although nowadays it's a lot more mainstream. We'll see how this area has become a sought-after residential enclave in recent years. But you need to explore the back steets by following in the footsteps of Shakespeare, Dickens and impoverished Victorians in order to appreciate the development of this richly-layered neighbourhood. We'll also stop by Borough Market - it's been central to this area since the 12th century.
MAYFAIR WITH ROWAN FREELAND
£15 per person; £60 minimum
We will walk through the heart of Mayfair, the most expensive square on the English Monopoly Board and still one of London’s most expensive districts. We will celebrate an area of strong connections with the United States, Churchill’s first apartment, the remains of an aristocratic garden, and will finish by walking along (or rather above) the River Tyburn.
Along the way, Rowan will show you some great twentieth century architecture, some of London’s oldest trees, an allegedly haunted house, the most inaccessible painting by Banksy, London’s famous guerrilla artist, and will end with London’s oldest trade mark.
MAYFLOWER PILGRIMS IN LONDON
WITH EMILY LAURENCE BAKER
£15 per person; £60 minimum
As a descendent of four passengers on the Mayflower, I am especially excited to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the ship’s sailing. Join me for a walking tour along the River Thames in Rotherhithe that explains the background of the ship’s passengers, presenting them as incredibly brave pioneers and possibly shattering myths that many Americans have been taught in school. We’ll get some Instagram-worthy views of the City of London and explore a delightful riverside area often overlooked by visitors to London. We will conclude with a drink or lunch at the Mayflower Pub (not included in price).
LEGAL LONDON
WITH ROWAN FREELAND
£15 per person; £60 minimum
The Inns of Court are tranquil oases tucked beside the River Thames between the City of London and the City of Westminster. They lie at the very heart of the English Legal System, but few Londoners other than lawyers ever visit and even most lawyers do not know their history. They contain some of London’s most beautiful late seventeenth and eighteenth century vernacular architecture, one of London’s oldest churches, and are full of stories. Get away from the crowds and explore this beautiful corner of historic London!
CITY CHURCHES
WITH ROWAN FREELAND
£15 per person; £60 minimum
The City of London is only a square mile, but it has over 33 churches – down from over 110 in 1665! This walk will take us in a sweep round some of my favourites, including medieval churches which escaped the Great Fire of London, and more than one masterpiece by Sir Christopher Wren, the architect who led the rebuilding of London after the Fire. They are all hidden gems – surprisingly few people visit them! We’ll look at the architecture (how do you stop a dome from falling down?) and learn about the people who built them and the people who worshipped in them.
ROUTE OF MONARCHY - NEW TOUR!
£15 per person; £60 minimum
Every day we walk past buildings, statues and churches that reference the English monarchy but how much do you really know about them and about monarchy in general? This three-mile walk from Westminster to Kensington traces the evolution of the constitutional monarchy, how the royal parks developed and tells tales of places we often take for granted, including the Jewel Tower, Westminster Hall, Westminster Abbey and the parks themselves.