A Village in Piccadilly
Piccadilly Circus underground station, London (exit 4, Eros exit – between the world-famous Eros statue and the Criterion Restaurant canopy)
Guided by Adam or Claire or Karen or Simon W.
Walk Times
| Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Weekly | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Winter Summer | Reserve Online |
N.B. this walk will not take place on the following dates:
25-12-2023 01-01-2024 08-01-2024 15-01-2024 22-01-2024 29-01-2024 05-02-2024 12-02-2024 19-02-2024 26-02-2024Short read: “like a silver thread in heavy clay”
Long read: The great West End walk. Beautiful places, beautiful things flow past like blossoms on slow water. Some village. Realm’s more like it. The realm of riches, rank and those who rule. In its irresistible goody bag: elegant arcades, secret doorways and peekaboo views; Gentlemen’s clubs; Burlington House and the Albany; London’s best shopping street; tea and royal chocolates; Nelson’s perfumier (more gratis sampling); the world’s smallest – and toniest – privately funded police force; mad, bad and dangerous to know Byron; Brummel to Brando; Jermyn to Marilyn; exclusive, eccentric, best-dressed, old money London; magnet for artists, writers, royals, scientists, dreamers and dandies; Darwin to James Bond; the Prince Regent to Prince Harry; venerable to voopular; the greatest act of literary vandalism ever. It’s Georgian. It’s Regency. It’s Victorian. It’s Edwardian. It’s Parisian. It’s parfait. It’s part Wonderland, part Arabian Nights. It’s stories that tilt the light and print the stones. Plaited together by gifted guides Karen, Adam, Simon W. and Richard Walker. Dream of a walk. Hmmmmm. Some dream. A dream that leaves you feeling completely, even exuberantly, in the pink! N.B. the walk ends at Green Park, a few seconds’ walk from Green Park Tube Station.
Meet your guide. Here’s Karen’s podcast about her Village in Piccadilly Tour.
A VILLAGE IN PICCADILLY – THE PRACTICALS
A Village in Piccadilly takes place at 2.30 pm every* Monday. The meeting point is Piccadilly Circus Tube. Meet just outside exit 4 – the Eros exit, near the Criterion Theatre. N.B. the walk ends at Green Park, a few seconds’ walk from Green Park Tube Station. *Except in January and February
LONDON WALKS VIDEO
Want a second bite at the cherry? Watch the other video.
LONDON WALKS REVIEWS
“The original and best – there are several companies offering walking tours of London but London Walks (London’s oldest) is easily the pick of the bunch” London, Cadogan Guide
“Without a doubt the best walking tour company currently operating in London” Stardust
“London’s best city tours” The Telegraph
“I would just like to pass onto the lovely people at London Walks, that the walk we did this afternoon (A Village in Piccadilly) with Adam, was the best walk we have done In five years of taking London Walks. His knowledge, wit and friendliness was wonderful. We enjoyed it immensely. Thank you Adam. Kind regards, Laurie J. (Australia)
LONDON WALKS REVIEWS DISTILLED
LONDON WALKS PRIVATE WALKS
If you can’t make the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, public Village in Piccadilly walk do think about booking it as a private tour. If you go private you can have A Village in Piccadilly – or any other London Walk – on a day and at a time that suits your convenience. We’ll tailor it to your requirements. Ring Fiona or Niamh or Peter on 020 7624 3978 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll set it up and make it happen for you. Perfect for a class, club or office outing.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LONDON WALKS
A private London Walk makes a very special, thoughtful, unusual gift. Be it a birthday or anniversary or Christmas present or whatever. Merchandise schmerchandise (gift wrapped or not) – but giving someone an experience, now that’s special. Memories make us rich.
MIND THE GAP
LONDON WALKS – STREETS AHEAD!
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
“If this were a golf tournament every name on the Leader Board would be a London Walks guide”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Bruce Hislop –
Another tour de force by Claire around the monied streets of the area. Well worth doing if only for the chocolate
Meera –
What a great tour of Piccadilly with Adam! I enjoyed my time and loved the chocolate samples! I’m booking a private perfume experience at Floris, thank you!
Jackie Chisholm –
Piccadilly with Adam – an informative, amusing and professional walking tour with Adam.
Chocolates included!! Thank you so much.
Lowell Robison –
Piccadilly with Adam-We did the Piccadilly Circus walk. It was a wonderful walk with lots of history, humor, and interesting sites.
Ruth Palfreyman –
Piccadilly with Adam . . . a perfect and thoroughly enjoyable way to discover that part of London!!
Humourous, professional, informative and great fun – thank you very much, Adam!!
Li & Child –
Great walk and a wonderful way to spend an afternoon! I thought I had Carol (but it looks that her name is not listed there, or perhaps I misremembered) as our guide and she was wonderful. I love the easy way she guides us to meander through history and present and I love the fact that she was able to get us to have the most amazing chocolate samples–you can even have two! And to perfume and cheese shop where the royals and other luminaries go. Love it and highly recommend!
Tim Gifford –
Another very interesting and informative walk with Claire. Her deep knowledge, a bright outlook and an eye for a humorous anecdote made this a fun walk for all the attendees. Sometimes, some walkers wander or get distracted, but not today! Perfume and chocolate ensured an attentive group! Highly recommended.
Suzanne H –
Thank you for the Village in Piccadilly walk with Adam … fascinating and really interesting.
Great guide – I will look out for other things he does.
Best wishes,
Suzanne
Mark –
A brilliant tour with a brilliant guide. You won’t find a better, more entertaining guide than Adam. He really knows his stuff and has a fantastic sense of humour (I can also recommend his rock and roll tour – he’s a good singer/guitar player too) Highly recommended.
Jane Steventon –
Most interesting and enjoyable tour from Alex, very entertaining.
Loved browsing the elegant arcades, the perfumery and the chocolatier for the royal family.Adam certainly knows his stuff, he was charismatic.Pointed out so many historical roads and explained their origins.
Would definitely recommend as the tour covers Piccadilly and Mayfair which include lots of scandalous people and dwellings.Beautiful church in the middle of the tour.
Christy –
Simon W is the most fantastic guide. The ‘Village in Piccadilly’ walk was jam packed full of history, interesting facts and even a chocolate! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend going on this tour – I learnt so much about a part of London I thought I already knew quite well.
Clare –
Lovely walk with Simon W! He was extremely knowledgable and friendly (even adapted the tour to the interests/backgrounds of the group), and it was fascinating learning about all of Piccadilly’s royal connections. Two hours wonderfully spent!
Gill Barnard –
Excellent walk around a part of London I knew little about. Extremely knowledgeable guide called Claire. Visits to the Queen’s perfumier and chocolate shop brought glamour in a part of London that oozes wealth. Would definitely book another walk with this company
Naomi –
it was a wonderful tour, nice explanation. thank you.