Cat Tails – A Feline Take on London History
Westminster Underground station, London (exit 4, opposite Big Ben)
Guided by Ann
Adult: £20 · Students & Seniors: £15 · Children: £5
Walk Times
| Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 August 2026 | Tour du Jour | 10.15 am | 12.15 pm | Summer | |
| 13 September 2026 | Tour du Jour | 10.15 am | 12.15 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
| 8 October 2026 | Tour du Jour | 10.15 am | 12.15 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
| 15 November 2026 | Special | 10.15 am | 12.15 pm | Winter | Reserve Online |
“The phrase ‘domestic cat’ is an oxymoron” George Will
“Dogs have owners, cats have staff”
Cats cats cats… have never had it so good since they ruled as gods in Ancient Egypt. Cat fans rave about their beauty, elegance, gymnastics and ability to scope out the warmest spot in house and garden. Non fans point out a cat’s independence, self-interest, and refusal to consider doing anything at all that it doesn’t feel like doing. All these qualities are of course part of its charm to fans.
Thanks to the internet you can waste hours in the day watching clips of cats arguing with the printer, leaping into the lampshade, riding on the vacuum cleaner, falling off things, terrorising dogs, etc. etc.
Cat Tails is the only cat walk in London, probably in the country, and possibly in the world. Come along to hear stories of London cats going back even before Henry V111- who did not have a cat as far as we know. Which famous Tudor courtier was always accompanied by at least one cat? Which London celebrity is said to have owned 60 cats? Which was the cat whose paws tingled as she helped research into electricity? And which cat dropped pigeons down the chimney for its owner’s dinner? (I can’t vouch for the 100% truth of that one.)
Here’s Ann’s delightful podcast introduction to the Cat Tails walk.
“Cats keeping dogs in their place” – Ann’s Flipside Purrfect Podcast about Cats
And This Makes Three, Giving Us a Clowder of Cat Podcasts
Ok, that’s got you in the mood, let’s paws for a word from Freud and then reprise the walk
“Time spent with cats is never wasted,” Sigmund Freud
Which national heroine had 60 cats? Who had his late cat’s paw mounted on a letter opener? Which cat ate Princess Margaret’s bouquet?
Enjoy these and other feline delicacies on a walk which combines places, people and the cats who lived there.
Including, of course, Larry of Downing St. and his predecessors.
Joni –
This walk is a mega treat for cat lovers! Ann has a superb and extensive knowledge of the famous and not so famous cats and their ‘owners’ which she is more than happy to share. Ann’s enthusiasm was infectious and we had a fabulous walk around Westminster and learnt so much with many stories and history linked to famous buildings and people. Thank you Ann.
John Baines –
What a wonderful way to spend a morning! If you like cats this walk will provide you with great cat stories linked to people and places from Westminster to Covent Garden via the Embankment and the Savoy Hotel. All beautifully told by Ann.
Geoff Hilling –
A wonderful walk! Ann was very informative and knowledgeable and a very good guide. We learnt so much about the history of cats in London and even saw inside one of the top hotels! En excellent and enjoyable walk that I would highly recommend
Colin Startup –
Ann is extremely knowledgeable about everything to do with cats. She has an infectious enthusiasm even when the weather is inclement. We learnt about cats named Attlee, Claude, Clem, Doorkins Magnificat (the best cat name ever!), Eliza, Gladstone, Hodge, Inigo, Jock, Jones, Larry, Mrs Higgins, several Peters, Prince, Wilberforce, and many others. This walk is purrfect for cat lovers!
Julie –
A great way to see & learn about parts of London I hadn’t visited before. All with fellow cat lovers.
Anne had wonderful cat stories to tell us.
Just a shame it was a wet morning so the cats were all indoors
Elaine M –
On 10th December 2025 a small group of us went on this Cat tour. Ann was very friendly, engaging & knowledgeable about the history of cats & their owners. We had facts, poems, drawings and photos. We even went inside the Savoy hotel to see the model of “Kaspar” the cat.
This tour is a must for all cat lovers !
Jack –
As a group of friends, we recently went on Ann’s excellent cat tour, which we all really enjoyed. The tour was extremely well prepared by Ann, with pictures, stories and with all of our questions answered. The stop at the Savoy was a particular and surprising highlight. Very unique and worthwhile – definitely recommend this to anybody who loves both cats and the history of London.
Davia & Jane –
“Mewsing” about in London with Ann while listening to fabulous tails of cats and kittens is not only time well spent, it could be well
argued that this should be part of the national curriculum! Ann is a gifted storyteller, weaving together history with place and cultural context.
This cat-history walk is fantastic! We found the individual cat stories fascinating and thoroughly researched. Each location on the walk enriched our appreciation for the very unique place cats have found (err, created) in English history, up to the very present day.
Even if you haven’t been adopted by any cats, even if you’re psychologically allergic to cats, this tour will still entertain and enlighten you. While felines do serve as the subtext of this tour, the sites visited and stories of the people and places alone make this tour superlative.
We cannot recommend this tour more highly. Truly, if six (or more) stars should adorn this tour!
Rachel –
I recently went on the Cat Tour of London walk with Ann, and it was such a brilliant experience from start to finish. I honestly learnt so much — far more than I expected — and it was clear very quickly that Ann’s knowledge is second to none. The depth of information she shared, from historical details to quirky cat-related stories, was fascinating and delivered in such an engaging way.
What really made the walk special, though, was Ann’s enthusiasm. Her passion for the subject is completely infectious and brought the history to life in a way that felt fun, relaxed, and memorable. You could tell she genuinely loves what she does, and that energy carried the whole group along.
I’d highly recommend this tour to anyone, whether you’re a cat lover, a history fan, or just looking for a unique way to explore London. Informative, inspiring, and thoroughly enjoyable.
Neil –
Super little walk with wonderful facts about our feline friends and the part they have played in the history of the UK and politics that surprised me. Well worth it. Ann was very informative.