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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 July 2026 | Tour du Jour | 10.15 am | 12.15 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
| 6 August 2026 | Tour du Jour | 10.15 am | 12.15 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
| 13 September 2026 | Tour du Jour | 10.15 am | 12.15 pm | Summer | 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.
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.
Ellie –
Great fun, interesting cat facts and a very friendly guide.
Katherine –
A really interesting and unusual walk. Ann is generous with her knowledge of cats and social history. We even got a quick glimpse inside a top hotel for an intriguing cat story. I definitely would recommend this walk.
Alexandra Holding –
I really enjoyed Ann’s Cat’s Tails walk. It explored the many well known people that owned cats both present, Larry of Downing street and Winston Churchills lifetime of owning cats. Some quirky stories about cats and their owners and a good helping of London’s history included. Definitely recommend this tour.
Jane S –
What a delight to join Ann and fellow feline fanciers on the London ‘Catwalk’! She offers a full cat-alogue of tales about the capital’s furry overlords down the centuries, accompanied by a series of aww-inducing drawings and photos. Great fun!
Sally Nyhan –
This was a fun tour and perfect for cat lovers. Ann was engaging and had lots of pictures and stories to tell. One highlight was the section on political cats. I learned a lot about the Westminster and Embankment areas, and even got to enter the Savoy lobby, which I certainly would not have done on my own.
Sue Squelch –
My friend and I really enjoyed this walk. We both love cats and it was so interesting hearing about the effect cats have on other well-known personalities. We both thought Ann was a first rate tour guide who was clearly passionate about her subject. Although my friend lives in London and I have visited lots of times, we discovered places we know nothing about. It was really interesting and all the anecdotes were very entertaining. Thank you Ann!!