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A Tale of Two Cities
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Overview
This is an informative and fun guided walk through the history of Soho, from its early days as fields to becoming one of London's most eclectic neighbourhoods.
Sunday mornings are the perfect time to explore Soho as it's a little calmer but no less atmospheric. City Of Westminster qualified tour guide Barbara Wright will show you how it all went down in recent centuries as well as some things worth checking out after your guided walk.
You will see how vibrant Soho has changed over the centuries. From being originally founded as Leicester Fields in 1670, it became one of London’s hotspots – a haunt for artists, authors and politicos who put the world to rights at the Turk’s Head Inn over many-a boozy tipple. Not just popular with London’s intelligentsia, the area was a magnet for immigrant communities like the French Huguenots and Chinese.
In the late 1800s new waves of immigrants followed; Italians, then Jewish, then Maltese and finally Chinese.
It was an inspiration for writers such as Robert Louis Stevenson (The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) and Charles Dickens (A Tale of Two Cities). Soho was also home to its famous immigrants such as musician and composer Mozart, socialite and womaniser Cassanoa and painter Canaletto.
Later Soho became known as a mecca for music-lovers due to clubs the The 2i’s, The Marquee Club and Ronnie Scott’s and recording studios Trident Studios which has recorded The Beatles, David Bowie and Bee Gees.
This London walk is not dog-friendly due to the possible remnants of Saturday night festivities
Meeting And Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Meeting point
Street:
City: London
Country: GB
Postal Code:
Province: Greater London
Health and safety policy
You are responsible for your own safety at all times. Please make sure your group wear suitable clothing and footwear for a tour in Soho.
Additional Info
Hello!
Thank you for booking your private Tale of Two Cities tour with London Guided Walks.
Barbara Wright, your guide will be waiting for you at Mary Poppins statue on the north west and will be holding a London Guided Walks sign and wearing an orange lanyard. Learn more about Barbara, please visit:.
To ensure you experience the full tour, we recommend arriving 10 minutes before the tour begins.
Please allow sufficient time for travel. We also suggest using Citymapper for accurate journey planning, as it provides live travel times to help ensure you reach the meeting point without delay. Their mobile app is available on both the Apple store and Google Play store.
Please remember that you are responsible for your own safety; therefore, we advise you to wear comfortable shoes and suitable clothing.
The nearest tube station is Leicester Square (Piccadilly Line). Please make sure you check your route and allow enough time to travel, especially on a Sunday.
Unfortunately this walk is not suitable for buggies or dogs.
If you have any concerns, please message us via WhatsApp at +44 (0)7563 116806.
[You might enjoy listening to our London History podcast:] (https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast)
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Kind regards,
Hazel - Founder of London Guided Walks
Cancellation Policy
Terms and Conditions
Booking and Confirmation
- Our online calendar reflects the most up-to-date availability for private tours.
- Please note that a booking is only confirmed once full payment has been received. Until then, your selected date and time remain open to other enquiries. To secure your preferred slot, we recommend completing payment promptly.
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A confirmation email will be sent once payment has been processed.
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An online booking fee applies in addition to the quoted rate. Quotes are valid for 14 days from the date of issue. VAT is not included, as we operate below the VAT registration threshold.
Tour Start Time and Duration
Tours begin at the scheduled start time, not upon your arrival. For example, a 1.00–2.30pm tour will last 1.5 hours only if it commences promptly at 1.00pm. Late arrivals will not extend the tour beyond the agreed finish time.
Guide Substitution
We make every effort to ensure that the advertised guide leads your tour. However, in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as illness, emergencies, or scheduling conflicts, London Guided Walks Ltd reserves the right to allocate an alternative qualified guide without prior notice. This does not constitute grounds for a refund or credit.
Cancellation Policy
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Your safety remains your responsibility at all times during the tour.
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Cancellations made 28 days or less before the scheduled tour date: 50% of the total fee will be charged.
- Cancellations made within 14 days of the scheduled tour date: 100% of the total fee will be charged.
- All cancellations must be submitted in writing to bookings@londonguidedwalks.co.uk
