DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT
Una McTernan went on the walk on March 9, 2025. Here’s her review (please be sure to note the penultimate sentence): “We had a wonderful time on this walk with Luisa. We thought we knew Soho but we learned so much in side streets and previously unnoticed historic buildings. This is a walk for locals or visitors: there is something for everyone and especially if you are interested in the history of medicine, social history, and juicy tales of “ladies of the night.” All in historical context from a former doctor and current journalist/writer. We have done regular London walks for many years and this is the best one yet. Do not miss it!”
BILL OF FARE TO THE FEAST
Meet madams of bawdy houses, body snatchers and benevolent doctors in a two-hour walk through the alleyways and past the elegant townhouses of the square mile that is Soho. Find out how Soho got its name, how death, debauchery and do-good doctors all rubbed along together in Soho in the 1700s and 1800s and how some of Soho’s residents had an impact far wider than these colourful streets.
Discover what links “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” with one of the best-preserved workhouses in Soho, hear how executed murderers advanced medical knowledge and how a brave doctor turned detective to discover how 500 people died of Cholera within a few streets in two weeks in 1854. Clue: it was linked to a popular water pump.
We cover just over a mile of Soho, from the Georgian lodgings of a Devotee of Venus to a picnic spot beneath which lies a secret, to the first anatomy school in London and the sites of the first speciality hospitals in London that cared for women and those with the ‘foul’ disease.
There will be some sexual content (historical and tasteful) and some gore. It will be funny and moving – sometimes at the same time.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
Ready? Strapped in? Here goes. Life force. Particle-Accelerator. Dynamo. Operatic. One woman procession. Surgeon. Author. Distinguished journalist (columnist, Editor, A-List freelancer). “Thinking person’s media personality” (radio and television pundit). All-rounder. Medical doctor and artsy (English Literature First). Londoner. Professionally qualified guide. Friendly. Fun. Charismatic. Effervescent. Make buzz distilled.
Kristen –
Who knew there was so much more to know about Soho! Well, our fantastic tour guide Luisa, of course, and what an eye-opening bit of history we learned. Our favorite line: “A moment with (a devotee of) Venus, a lifetime with Mercury.” Fascinating history from someone with a medical background and sense of humor. Highly recommend!
Andrew Oliver –
Luisa is a very knowledgeable guide who keeps you interested all the way round, always welcoming questions and adding some humour along the way. It is on the flat and not too much walking. Well worth finding out more about this fascinating area of London.
Suzana –
It was an excellent tour and highly recommendable. Luisa has a great capability in picturing lively the historic facts with humor and right balance of respect and sensitivity. She made it a very personal tour giving a lot of facts to follow up and dig deeper into. I will remember very well and looking forward to other walking tours provided by Luisa.
Eliza (age 12) –
Luisa was very knowledgeable and kind. She managed to answer all my burning questions and took time after the tour to tell me more about another person in history.
Zizi Sulkin –
This was a fascinating walk led by a warm and witty guide, Luisa. We have gone on many London Walks and have never been disappointed. This walk was undoubtedly one of the best. Luisa was knowledgeable and so generous with her time, even stopping to chat and share more stories after the walk was over. Two hours very well spent.
Highly recommend.
Shane –
A truly wonderful walk, featuring intriguing themes in a fascinating area! And in dozens of London Walks, I’ve never experienced a better guide: Luisa is warm, witty, eloquent, and amazingly knowledgeable. A physician and health journalist, she’s crafted a walk that’s entertaining, enlightening, and totally engaging! (She also brings amplification, much appreciated in busy Soho.)
Rick Budge –
Fabulous walking tour with Luisa. lots of Great information and presented by someone who obviously has a deep interest in the people and cultural setting of London in the 1800s. We have been enjoying walking tours for the past decade all around the world and this is one of the very best. Highly recommended.
Catherine Bert –
This tour is an excellent addition to London Walks. My husband and I have taken a London Walks tour every time we come to London since 2000 and all have been informative, with high quality discussions and an excellent way to delve deep into the history of this lovely city. Luisa was a well informed and entertaining guide. She thoughtfully reviewed the history of the London medical community around SoHo and the social issues of different decades and how the medical professionals dealt with them at the time. It was so nice to hear of caring London physicians who took on the challenges of their day. Thank you Luisa!
Ann D’Arcy –
Luisa was an excellent guide providing a lot of social and medical history of Soho. Her delivery style was very engaging. I also found her tone very compassionate when she was recalling the experiences of the poor and marginalised in soho. One of the most interesting tours I have done with London walks. Look forward to doing another walk with Luisa in the future.
John Snelling –
This is a very interesting and very informative walk on a fascinating subject by a guide who really knows her stuff. She is very welcoming to questions and observations from those on the walk and this brought out some very worthwhile extra material on the walk.