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.
Brenda O’Neill –
Fantastic Walk. Learned loads. Luisa is a great guide. Thanks a million
Adrian Yeoman –
Absolutely fascinating walk if you like a bit of Soho medical history, from a retired surgeon and health journalist Luisa is extremely passionate and knowledgeable knowledgeable. Even provided links for further reading.
Charles –
My wife and I showed up for this walk without having made a reservation in advance. When Luisa told us that there were 33 people who had already signed up we very nearly decided to skip the tour and do something else for the afternoon. That would have been a big mistake. The walk was terrific. The subject matter was interesting in and of itself but it was Luisa who made the walk special. She was knowledgeable. She was interesting. She was funny. If you just can’t get enough of gross topics like diseased prostitutes and bodily fluids look no further. This is the walk for you. It’s stuff you just don’t get on those squeaky clean, kid-friendly tours.
Marianne –
A friend and I fully enjoyed this most informative tour – kudos to Luisa! We both had lived many years in London and were now revisiting after many years of living abroad. We realised how little we had known about the streets we (thought we) had known. Luisa brought it all to life – it was terrific!
Julian Gladwell –
I attended this walk with 3 friends and really enjoyed it. I have lived in London all my life but found myself in interesting alleyways and side streets that I had never been to before!
There were some rather sexy bits and also some very informative medical history.
I was especially captivated by the story of the heroic pioneering scientist who tackled the epidemic of cholera. Highly recommended! Luisa has nice clear diction, even with large group and is always ready to answer any questions.
Abass Sanni –
I joined this walk last Sunday, it was a most informative and amazing experience! Our guide Luisa is very knowledgeable about the area and being a medical doctor she brings her expertise to bear in explaining a great deal of the medical history of the area – The Plague, the workhouse, the cholera outbreak, the contributions of John Snow, and of course the social history of Soho. This walk comes highly recommended!
Cindy –
I did this walk on October 19th and had a thoroughly good time! Although the rain did not desist for nearly all of the 2 hours, Luisa did an excellent job of keeping us entertained and her enthusiasm did not wane. As the title tells us, it is quite a gory tale at times and took us back , metaphorically, to the pox and pestilence filled streets of London. Her storyteling is great, and she reels us in for the next gem around the corner. We wandered down some lanes near Tottenham Court road but a million miles away from the shopping crowds and learnt a lot. Quick disclaimer; I have led a very similar walk locally to me and found the overlapping links fascinating. Get on your walking shoes and join this walk, you will love it [probably best to eat first, especially before you reach the John Snow pump tale…… thank you!
Deborah Denny –
We’re Californians, and we take London Walks every time we come over here (which is often). These walks never disappoint! We were excited to see a NEW walk – Death Debauchery and Doctors – so off we went. Fascinating! Luisa, as a medical professional herself, brought Soho , with its seedy side, to life in terms of illness. Bacteria, lack of sanitation, sex , etc, wreaked havoc on the lives of the people who lived there. Luisa is an engaging guide – knowledgeable, warm, funny, compassionate. HIghly recommend this tour!!
Heidi Wagner –
I heard about this new walk on the London Walks podcast (which is a “must-do” in itself) and it was given a high bar to meet. I decided to give it a try to see if it lived up to the hype and boy, does it! Louisa was a great guide; perfect mix of knowledge and humor! Jam packed with information at every corner! Very easy walk for everyone, more like a stroll with a very interesting encyclopedia. If you’ve flown in on an overnight flight and can’t check in until the afternoon, take this tour! Stretch your legs and fill your head! Luisa sent some links after the walk so we could revisit some of the spots- very helpful! Highly recommended!
Ruth MacFarlane –
Luisa is a wonderful guide! As a former practicing surgeon she is perfectly equipped to present medical history , interwoven with social and cultural history of Soho. And the highlight for me was to see the replica water pump where John Snow and the clergyman mapped the “hotspot” of a Victorian cholera epidemic.
London Walks never disappoints. Thank you Luisa 😃