Knight’s London Walking Tours
Join Alison for walks revealing hidden tales and vibrant history.
Overview of Tours
Southbank Secrets
Explore the South Bank from The Shard to Tate Modern, hearing about the history along the way.
Swinging Soho
Wander around Soho finding out more about its past and how it became an icon of the Swinging 60s.
A Wander down Whitehall
Understand more about Whitehall and about the time when the UK was at Civil War.
From Workhouses to Bodysnatchers
Find out about the social history of London from the early workhouses and bodysnatchers, through to a major political scandal!
About Alison
Alison Knight is a qualified London Heritage Guide with a passion for London’s history. She brings London’s past to life through engaging, humorous and informative guided tours.
Alison’s tours focus on the rich stories in London and the hidden gems, helping visitors and locals connect more deeply with the events that have shaped the capital. Combining historical knowledge with storytelling, Alison creates experiences that are enjoyable, educational, and memorable.
The tours in more detail…
Sex in the City Tour
Welcome to Sex and the City, an immersive walking tour that delves into the scandalous history of Covent Garden between the Stuart and Edwardian eras. This tour explores a time when the area served as London’s notorious red-light district, focusing on the lives of those forced into illicit trades or marginalized by the stringent moral laws of the day.
Covent Garden’s history is a story of transformation. Originally a walled garden for the Abbot of Westminster in the 1200s, it was later developed by Inigo Jones into an elegant Italianate square for wealthy tenants. However, by the late 17th century, the area had fallen into disrepute, becoming a hub for theatres, coffee houses, and brothels. By the 18th century, it was the most infamous red-light district in London, where an estimated one-fifth of women in the city were employed in sex work out of economic necessity. As the city grew, the illicit nightlife shifted toward Soho, and Covent Garden evolved into the fashionable theatre and retail district we recognize today.
This walk will share the stories of those who lived, worked and played in the area and will also look at a few Royal scandals along the way.
Logistics and Accessibility
- Meeting Point: Outside Covent Garden Underground Station.
- Ending Point: The Nell Gwynne Tavern on Bull Inn Court, just off the Strand.
- Number of Stops: 11.
- Duration: Approximately 90 minutes.
- Terrain: The walk is just over 2km (1.5 miles) and is mainly flat. However, it navigates some of London’s busiest areas, including cobbled roads and narrow lanes.
- Suitability: This tour is intended for audiences over 16 years old due to the adult nature of the historical scandals and alternative lifestyles discussed. While flat, the cobbles and crowds may make it challenging for wheelchair users or those with significant mobility issues.
- Cost – £20
- Maximum number of people – 15
Southbank Secrets
This guided walk through Bankside offers a journey through one of London’s most historically rich areas, moving from the medical and commercial hubs of Southwark to the cultural landmarks of the riverside.
This area of London traces its history from a medieval religious and administrative centre to a vibrant hub for literature, trade, and modern art. Participants will see everything from the ruins of a 12th-century palace to a world-renowned modern art gallery housed in a former power station.
The tour starts at the Shard and along the way stops will include the Old Operating Theatre, hearing about some of the grim operations that have taken place there; an old coaching inn frequented by Charles Dickens; Borough Market and Southwark Cathedral; the “Clink” and Shakespeare’s Globe, finishing at Blackfriars after stopping to briefly visit Tate Modern.
Logistics and Accessibility
- Meeting Point: Shard exit of London Bridge station, specifically by the map of the Shard Quarter located at the bottom of the escalator.
- Ending Point: Blackfriars Railway Bridge: The final landmark on the riverside path.
- Number of Stops: 12
- Duration: Approximately 2 hours
- Terrain: The walk is just over 2.5 miles and is mainly flat. However, it navigates some of London’s busiest areas, including cobbled roads and narrow lanes.
- Suitability: While flat, the cobbles and crowds may make it challenging for wheelchair users or those with significant mobility issues.
- Cost – £20
- Maximum number of people – 15
Swinging Soho
Experience the vibrant and eclectic soul of Soho, a neighborhood defined by its history. This walk traverses the diverse layers of London’s heart, from the theatrical glamour of the London Palladium and the “swinging” fashion of Carnaby Street to the profound literary legacy of William Blake.
The tour uncovers Soho’s deep-rooted connection to science and medicine. Participants will explore the architectural evolution of the area—ranging from 18th-century townhouses to the brutalism of William Blake House—and visit landmarks like St. Anne’s Church, which stands as a symbol of community resilience after its destruction in the Blitz. From the musical history of Ronnie Scott’s and Mozart to the bustling streets of Chinatown and Theatreland, this tour captures the essence of a district that remains a center for artistic and social change.
Logistics and Accessibility
- Meeting Point: Argyll Street (near the London Palladium and Liberty’s)
- Ending Point: Leicester Square
- Number of Stops: 12
- Duration: Approximately 2 hours
- Terrain: The walk is just over 2.5 miles and is mainly flat. However, it navigates some of London’s busiest areas, including cobbled roads and narrow lanes.
- Suitability: While flat, the cobbles and crowds may make it challenging for wheelchair users or those with significant mobility issues. This walk is ideal for enthusiasts of London history, art, literature, and medical science.
- Cost – £20
- Maximum number of people – 15
A Wander down Whitehall
This tour takes us into the heart of Whitehall, a “heady hub of power, politics, and royalty” that has served as the heart of British governance since the Middle Ages. Originally the site of the Tudor Palace of Whitehall, the area has witnessed some of the most pivotal moments in British history, including the execution of King Charles I in 1649 and the reading of the Bill of Rights to William and Mary in 1689, which marked the shift to a constitutional monarchy.
As you walk the “footprint” of the original palace, you will encounter monuments dedicated to naval heroes like Lord Nelson, explore the architectural transition from medieval styles to Neo-classical masterpieces like the Banqueting House, and see the symbols of modern military and political authority, from Downing Street to the Ministry of Defence. The history covered spans centuries, from the 13th-century Eleanor Crosses to the 21st-century Memorial to Women of World War Two, telling a “proud story” of national endurance and service.
Logistics and Accessibility
- Meeting Point: The statue of Charles I at the north end of Whitehall, near the Eleanor Cross plaque and Nelson’s Column.
- Ending Point: The Admiralty on Whitehall, following the final stop at Great Scotland Yard.
- Number of Stops: 12
- Duration: Approximately 2 hours
- Terrain: The walk takes place on paved city streets and sidewalks. It includes navigating busy road crossings in a “hectic” environment and walking through historic alleyways like Scotland Place. The route includes the Clive Steps and the embankment area, which was narrowed and transformed by the construction of the Thames Embankment. In total the walk is just under 2 miles long.
- Suitability: This tour is ideal for history enthusiasts, fans of royal pageantry, and those interested in political and military heritage. Participants are responsible for their own safety and must take particular care when crossing roads.
- Cost – £20
- Maximum number of people – 15
From Workhouses to Bodysnatchers
Embark on a captivating walking tour through Marylebone, a district that serves as a living museum of London’s social, architectural, and technological evolution. This tour takes you from the world’s first subterranean railway at Baker Street to the “birthplace of British cinema” on Regent Street.
Along the way, we peel back the layers of the “Metropolitan Improvements” envisioned by John Nash, who transformed a muddle of medieval alleys into a city of “cinematic grandeur”. You will discover the stark contrasts of the 18th and 19th centuries: the grim reality of the St. Marylebone Workhouse and the mass burial grounds of Paddington Street Gardens where bodysnatchers plied their “trade”, set against the pioneering social housing of Octavia Hill and the medical excellence of Harley Street. From the 1960s political firestorm of the Profumo Affair in Wimpole Mews to the “Total Work of Art” created by the Adam brothers on Portland Place, this walk reveals how Marylebone has consistently sat at the heart of the British story.
Logistics and Accessibility
- Meeting Point: Baker Street Underground Station (Marylebone Road exit).
- Ending Point: Regent Street Cinema, near Oxford Circus.
- Number of Stops: 12.
- Duration: Approximately 2 hours.
- Terrain: The tour takes place on paved, urban public footpaths and through public gardens. While Marylebone is generally flat, the route includes busy thoroughfares like Marylebone Road and quieter, private mews. Please note that Paddington Street Gardens is slightly elevated above the walkway due to its history as a mass burial site.
- Suitability: This tour is ideal for history enthusiasts, architecture students, and fans of London’s hidden social history. It covers diverse topics including transport, medical history, cinema, and social reform.
- Cost: £20.
- Maximum number of people: 15-20
Royal London
Welcome to St James’s, an exclusive area where aristocracy, monarchy, and fashion collide. This tour explores the “Court of Power,” centering on St James’s Palace, which has been the official seat of the British sovereign’s court for over 300 years. You will discover the architectural evolution of London, from the red-brick Tudor features of the palace to the John Nash’s creation of Carlton House Terrace.
Beyond royalty, the walk delves into the “Clubland” of Pall Mall, where elite gentlemen’s clubs like the Reform and Athenaeum shaped British politics and culture. We will see where Charles II housed his most famous mistress, Nell Gwynne, the orange seller of Drury Lane. We will also pass the historic shops of the area including the world’s oldest hat shop (which still has Lord Lucan’s hat measurements) and Britain’s most established wine merchant.
Logistics and Accessibility
- Meeting Point: The north end of Queen’s Walk, near the exit from Green Park Tube station.
- Ending Point: The Mall, specifically near the statues of George VI and Queen Elizabeth, adjacent to Marlborough House, Lancaster House, and Clarence House.
- Number of Stops: 12.
- Duration: Approximately 2 hours.
- Terrain: The route primarily follows paved urban pavements, historic alleyways (such as the one leading to Cleveland Row), and park walks. Note that the transition from Carlton House Terrace to The Mall involves the Duke of York’s Steps, which may present challenges for those with limited mobility.
- Suitability: This tour is ideal for history enthusiasts, architecture lovers, and those interested in the British monarchy and scientific heritage. Due to the inclusion of several stops involving detailed storytelling, it is best suited for adults and older children.history. It covers diverse topics including transport, medical history, cinema, and social reform.
- Cost: £20.
- Maximum number of people: 15-20
Testimonials
”Alison’s stories brought London’s history to life—every corner held a new surprise. Highly recommend!”
“Alison’s tour was engaging and informative. A fantastic experience.”
To see more reviews go to tripadvisor
