Hidden London

(186 customer reviews )

Monument Underground station, London (Fish Street Hill exit)

Guided by Shaughan

Adult: £20 · Students & Seniors: £15 · Children: £5

Walk Times

Day Walk Type Start Time End Time
Monday Weekly 11 am 1 pm Winter Summer Reserve Online
Friday Weekly 11 am 1 pm Winter Summer Reserve Online

What are some highlights of the Hidden London Walking Tour?

Short read: pretty paths less travelled…

Hodge the Cat

Long read: Distillation of a brilliant, expert guide’s many years’ experience probing the hidden parts of London; the forgotten nooks of the world’s most elusive city. Exploring secret London – up creeping lanes, round out-of-the-way corners, past veiled islands of green – Shaughan’s at his inimitable best on this guided walking tour around the city of London. You’ll discover tales from London’s history that you’ve never heard before. And, if you ask nicely, Shaughan knows the best historic pubs in Central London as well as salacious tales about famous London residents from Charles Dickens to Jack the Ripper.

As the New York Times put it, this excellent tour is “a highly entertaining… blend of historical commentary and bizarre anecdote laced with mildly scurrilous gossip about past and present celebrities and defunct royals.” In such places and with such a guide, London’s past becomes our present.

St Magnus Martyr interior with the model of London Bridge

Our supremely knowledgeable guide, Shaughan has made two podcasts based on this great tour of some of London’s hidden gems. Listening to either or both of them will give you an exceptionally good idea of what’s on the menu – what you get on the walk – and how it’s served up, the guiding. Here’s the Hidden London –Podcast 1. And here’s Hidden London – Podcast 2.

We’re not talking conventional London sightseeing here. Don’t expect to see major sights like Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus or Westminster Abbey here. This is an insightful, off the beaten track tour of London’s past and present.

HIDDEN LONDON TOUR PRACTICALS

Hidden London takes place at 11 am every Monday morning and at 11 am every * Friday morning.

The meeting point for this secret London walking tour is just outside the Fish Street Hill exit of Monument Tube Station and that’s where Shaughan will be waiting for you. Monument underground station is of course named for The Monument to the Great Fire of London (see the photo immediately above). The Monument is just a few yards down the hill from the Fish Street Hill exit of Monument Tube Station. N.B., if you cannot see The Monument you have come out of the wrong exit of Monument Tube Station. Go back into the London Underground station and follow the signs to the Fish Street Hill exit.

How long does the Hidden London Walking Tour last?

It’s a two hour walking tour of London’s hidden tales. The walk ends in Fleet Street, a two-minute walk from Blackfriars Tube Station.    *Not Friday, December 25

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING

Don’t just take it from us…

LONDON WALKS REVIEWS

“If you want to know London better, if you want to learn some things about the world’s most cosmopolitan city that most people who spend their lives there never learn… I can think of no better investment than London Walks”  The New York Times

“London’s best city tours” The Telegraph

“Even jaded Londoners find these London Walks a source of astonishing gems of information about the city in which they live.” Daily Mail, Top London Treats

“I’d never visited London before, and Shaughan’s tour was a fantastic way to become familiar with the city and its tucked-away nooks and crannies. Plus, he’s a funny, charming, extremely knowledgeable tour guide. We visited pieces of London Bridge, the London Stone, Bracken House with its astronomical clock featuring Winston Churchill’s face…as well as taking a wander past St. Paul’s Cathedral, Samuel Johnson’s home (complete with cat sculpture), and other gems. The pub recommendations were also appreciated! Two thumbs up!!”  NewYorkBee8, TripAdvisor, October 2019

LONDON WALKS PRIVATE WALKS

“Can I book a private tour?” It’s a question we’re often asked. And, yes you certainly can.

If you can’t make one of the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, public Hidden London walks do think about booking one as a private tour. If you go private you can have Hidden London – or any other London Walk – on a day and at a time that suits your convenience. We’ll tailor it to your requirements. And – always with private London Walks and tours – we go to great lengths to make sure the guide-walker(s) “fit” is well-nigh perfect. Ring Fiona or Noel or Mary on 020 7624 3978 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll set it up and make it happen for you. A private London Walk – they’re good value for an individual or couple and sensational value for a group – makes an ideal group or educational or birthday party or office (team-building) or club outing. Book now

GIVE THE GIFT OF LONDON WALKS

A private London Walk makes a fab present – be it a birthday or anniversary or get-to-know-your-new neighbourhood gift or Christmas present or whatever. Merchandise schmerchandise (gift wrapped or not) – but giving someone an experience in the City of London, now that’s special.  Memories make us rich.

LONDON WALKS – STREETS AHEAD!

Don’t just take it from us.

MIND THE GAP

It’s not even close

186 reviews for Hidden London

  1. Dawn K

    On a beautiful day in London, Simon provided us with an in-depth look into the history of a small part of the city of London (from Monument to Blackfriars), from ancient settlers to Shakespearean London to the great fire to the Blitz and so forth. Super interesting. As always we always learn so much on a London Walk. Can’t recommend them enough whether you’re a first time visitor or this has been your home for years.

  2. Jim K

    Thoroughly enjoyed Simon’s oratory and history shared on this gem of a walk.

  3. Steve Hardy

    Simon was great! Will definitely book again!

  4. Tal Cohen

    Great experience!

  5. ELIZABETH FRANKEL

    Simon was superb—full of interesting information from the London Stone to Orwellian tidbits, and he’s a wonderful raconteur. Thank you!

  6. Sharon Laifer

    The latest tour with London Walks for us and brilliant as always. We are Londoners, and the first thing we think of when we have a free day is going on a London Walk. Even the three teenagers enthusiastically jump on the tube and off we go. It doesn’t matter who leads our tour (it was Simon today), we leave knowing our city that much better. Each and every guide is so knowledgable, so eloquent and so entertaining, that two hours fly by. No one complains they are hungry or tired. It is great value, old fashioned entertainment that never fails. Thank you!

  7. Leonard Lubarsky

    I recently had the pleasure of going on London Walk’s walk titled “Hidden London with Adam”, and I had a wonderful time thanks to the tour leader, Adam. He knows the history of the area extremely well and was able to make it accessible, informative and entertaining for the group I was part of. You can’t go wring with London Walks in general, and Adam as a tour leader, to be specific. Absolutely something one should not miss!

  8. Sandra Hüwels

    Fantastic Hidden London Tour with Adam on Good Friday.

  9. Laura Gallagher

    “On April 4th Simon led the Hidden London walking tour, it was a windy, rainy and chilly day.
    It would have been a miserable walk if it wasn’t for Simon’s excellent wit, knowledge and ability to engage everyone.
    Simon did an excellent job of explaining the rebuilding after the fire and many hidden features of the Roman ruled city, The Great Fire and the rebuilding of the city.
    I highly recommend this tour.”

    Thank you,

    Laura Gallagher

  10. Noam Sivan

    Very good tour, Simon at his best. Very recommended.

Add A Review

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *