Counterculture and civil protests collide on this 2.5 semi-private (12 Guest Maximum) guided walking tour of London’s iconic Soho neighborhood. Join up to 12 guests as your local guide leads you through the tangle of streets that light up at night in the city’s entertainment district. Learn about its rarely boring, sometimes seedy, but always surprising history.
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Semi-Private Walking Tour
✔ Tour Will Run, Rain Or Shine
✔ Duration 2.5 Hours
✔ Semi-Private" Means Group Size Is Never More Than 12 Guests Maximum
✔ Professional Tour Guide
✖ Tour price does NOT include hotel pickup or drop-off (we recommend UBER or Taxi)
✖ Tour price does NOT include gratuities (optional)
✖ Tour is NOT available for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair
Departure & Return
Departure:
,
Outside the Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly Circus, opposite the famous Piccadilly Circus screens.
Itinerary
1
Soho
From world-famous Piccadilly Circus to Chinatown, you’ll wander Soho’s tangle of streets beloved by tourists and locals alike. Music enthusiasts will revel in seeing where Jimi Hendrix first performed in town, where Beatlemania began, and where hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody” were recorded. You’ll wander the squares and routes that played parts in major cultural events. Learn about women’s suffrage movement at Golden Square and discover the earliest study of epidemiology along Broad Street. Ponder the works of philosopher Karl Marx on Greek Street before discussing when the LGBT community began calling Soho “home.” End your tour with some dumplings in Chinatown. By the end of the tour, you’ll understand why London is such an exciting and dynamic place beyond its wartime and royal history.
Duration: 2.5 hours
2
Piccadilly Circus
Starting your tour at Piccadilly Circus, arguably the most famous road intersection in the world, you will enjoy the unique architecture surrounded by the iconic advertisements. Built in 1819, it was constructed to connect Regent Street with Piccadilly.
Duration: 10 minutes
3
Shaftesbury Avenue
At Piccadilly Circus you will see what is known as the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, or the statue of Eros. It was built between 1892-1893 to commemorate the philanthropic work of Anthony Ashely Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, who was Victorian politician and philanthropist who replaced child-labour with school education.
Duration: 10 minutes
4
Golden Square
Next you will see Golden Square, a traditional historic square in the heart of Soho. Originally known as Goldring Square, the site is thought to have been laid out according to plans by Sir Christopher Wren, in the 1670s. It very quickly became the political and ambassadorial district of the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Duration: 10 minutes
5
Carnaby Street
You will then make your way to Carnaby Street, a renowned pedestrianised shopping street close to Oxford Street and Regent Street. Carnaby is the home to fashion and lifestyle retailers, bringing you over 100 international British heritage labels, independent boutiques and one-off concepts.
Duration: 10 minutes
6
London Palladium
Close by you will also see the London Palladium, a famous West End theatre built in 1910 to compete with the London Hippodrome and London Coliseum. The theatre retains many of its original features and has its own telephone system and a revolving stage.
Duration: 10 minutes
7
The Blue Posts
You will also visit what is known as the Blue Posts, a traditional English pub which has been revamped. It contains the same high ceilings and large windows it’s had for the last 275 years and is known for its lineup of independently brewed cask ales, craft beers and ciders.
Duration: 10 minutes
8
Berwick Street Market
Next you will visit Berwick Street Market, one of London’s oldest markets dating back to 1778. The historic market in the heart of Soho is known for its traditional fruit and vegetable stalls and its abundance of street food.
Duration: 10 minutes
9
Soho Square
Afterwards you will visit Soho Square, a popular garden square just behind Oxford Street. Dating back to around 1681, the square has a traditional layout with a central mock-Tudor building and was in its early years one of the most fashionable places to live in London.
Duration: 10 minutes
10
Chinatown
Your tour will end in London’s Chinese neighbourhood, known as Chinatown. The area started to form in the 1950s when a handful of Chinese restaurants opened and by the 1960s and 1970s, it had become a hub for Chinese culture. Today you can explore authentic restaurants shops and get a taste of Chinese culture in London.
Duration: 10 minutes
Additional info
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• It is imperative that you provide us with guests MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (including country code)
• Minimum numbers apply. This tour will not run without a minimum of 3 guests to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative date or full refund
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• A maximum of 12 people per tour allowed
• Notes: The tour route may be affected by national celebrations. When this occurs, we will provide guests with an alternative route still being able to see all the highlights on the tour. In these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts. No large bags or suitcases are allowed during this tour. We recommend comfortable shoes, a bottle of water, umbrella in case of rain and hat during summer. Due to increased security measures at many attractions some can’t be visited from the inside.
