Long read: Inside Story Was going to say Karen and Adam have emptied the pockets of several stunning London interiors and laid the contents out before us. Empty schmempty. It’s better than that. They take us into those pockets. Some of them places** you wouldn’t be able to get into if you weren’t on this walk. Special places, privileged places. Here’s Poet Laureate John Betjeman on one: “unique and irreplaceable and part of literary and theatrical London. It’s historic – quite different from a museum because it’s living and in use, not an exhibit.” And its setting, its street? “It’s unmitigated London – human in scale, irregular in height and width, the kind of street that’s fast disappearing.” So: Downton Abbey film location, lost rivers, faded menus, whipping post, ballet students, private dining rooms, portable flogging and beheading kit, Pearly king, silver-domed trollies, night watchman’s tardis, famous actress’ ashes in a tea caddy, horseshoes, personal letters and gifts, Grand Cigar Divan, cabinet particulaire where the prince and the actress dined (and, you can be sure, canoodled) privately, etc. here we come! Great walk. Guided by Karen (winner of the Guide of the Year Award***) or Adam. Want a preview of the walk – and the guiding? Watch the video.
*”privileged access” – not using the term lightly. One of the knock-offs tried to horn into one of these interiors (“London Walks comes in here, are you saying we can’t” “Yes, that’s what we’re saying. Now there’s the door – get out of here and don’t come back.”) **On three floors, all of which we visit! ***The Guide of the Year Award was just Karen limbering up. She hit her stride in the Travel & Leisure article that dubbed her “the world’s greatest guide”
INSIDE COVENT GARDEN – THE PRACTICALS
Inside Story – Covent Garden Interiors takes place every* Thursday at 10.15 am. Meet Karen or Jan orAdam, or Simon or Clairejust outside the exit of Covent Garden Tube. N.B. the walk ends in Trafalgar Square, seconds away from Charing Cross Station and only a couple of minutes away from Leicester Square Tube.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
Don’t just take it from us…
LONDON WALKS PRIVATE WALKS
If you can’t make one of the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, Inside Story – Covent Garden it can always be booked as a private tour. If you go private you can have the Inside Story – Covent Garden walk – or any other London Walk – on a day and at a time that suits your convenience. We’ll tailor it to your requirements. Ring Fiona 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.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LONDON WALKS
A private London Walk makes a fab gift – be it a birthday or anniversary or Christmas present or whatever. Merchandise schmerchandise (gift wrapped or not) – but giving someone an experience, now that’s special. Memories make us rich.
This is a gem of a tour. Karen is a superb guide – no wonder she received Travel and Leisure magazine’s best guide award. She is engaging, inspiring, personal and passionate. Two hours in Covent Garden with Karen and you learn the stories of all the artists here, and the special places, including a private tour of Rules restaurant, the oldest restaurant in London founded in 1798. My husband and I loved the restaurant so much that we dined there that day and thus spent the whole day in Covent Garden after Karen’s fabulous tour. (Other highlights, and there were so many more – the Aritst’s Church (real name St Paul’s Church) where there are memorials to countless known actors and artists; beautiful and iconic Covent Garden Market; the lovely Catholic Church that honors the patron saint of the artists/theater – every corner of Covent Garden is now yours because of this tour. You’ll love it – enjoy!!
Rated 5 out of 5
Jayne Saunders –
Adam was an excellent guide around the Covent Garden tour last month. There was an incredible amount of information and knowledge that he shared. He’s definitely a tough act to follow. Thank you for such an enjoyable tour.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sue Griffin –
We have done numerous walks over the years. And a number with Adam – he is great, knowledgeable and humorous. We loved our Covent Garden walk with Adam. We finished with a greater understanding of Covent Garden, the changes it has been through & some of the special places. Access to Rules restaurant was a highlight.
Rated 5 out of 5
Gabriele Tischler –
Great walk with Adam on 23rd Jan. Brilliant guide! Very insightful and engaging!
Rated 5 out of 5
Shelagh Zachariades –
I went on this walk (Inside Covent Garden) with Karen last Thursday 19th December 2024. I was so impressed from every point of view. We were taken to so many places and I ended up with lots of ideas of things to do over the next few months in London. All the walks are so good but this may be the very best!!
Rated 5 out of 5
Sarah –
This walk was fantastic! Claire was a great guide, really knowledgeable. She provided us with so many interesting facts and anecdotes. We were fortunate enough to be able to go inside venues such as Rules which was fascinating. I would highly recommend this tour!
Rated 5 out of 5
David Marsh –
Our twelfth walk and probably our best yet largely due to Adam ( and the crisp sunny weather) Adam displays an experience and knowledge of his brief from many years in the role of guide yet he delivers with a passion and vitality of someone new to the job. He is a credit to his industry.
Rated 5 out of 5
Alth and Steve Kennedy –
Loved it – thank you Adam. We try to fit in a London Walk whenever we visit . The places you go and the local knowledge are always interesting and superbly entertaining !
Rated 5 out of 5
Kathryn Cooper –
Excellent tour of Covent Garden this morning with Adam. Knowledgeable guide and very entertaining as well. Thoroughly recommend
Rated 5 out of 5
Adrian Turner –
The tour took place on the 16th November and was an excellent way of improving my knowledge of this areas history and development. Adam was both knowledgeable and amusing with his tour introducing us to numerous places of interest which are off the tourist trail. It is an excellent way to learn that Covent Garden is so much more than bars, restaurants and boutiques.
Vibeke Arentz –
This is a gem of a tour. Karen is a superb guide – no wonder she received Travel and Leisure magazine’s best guide award. She is engaging, inspiring, personal and passionate. Two hours in Covent Garden with Karen and you learn the stories of all the artists here, and the special places, including a private tour of Rules restaurant, the oldest restaurant in London founded in 1798. My husband and I loved the restaurant so much that we dined there that day and thus spent the whole day in Covent Garden after Karen’s fabulous tour. (Other highlights, and there were so many more – the Aritst’s Church (real name St Paul’s Church) where there are memorials to countless known actors and artists; beautiful and iconic Covent Garden Market; the lovely Catholic Church that honors the patron saint of the artists/theater – every corner of Covent Garden is now yours because of this tour. You’ll love it – enjoy!!
Jayne Saunders –
Adam was an excellent guide around the Covent Garden tour last month. There was an incredible amount of information and knowledge that he shared. He’s definitely a tough act to follow. Thank you for such an enjoyable tour.
Sue Griffin –
We have done numerous walks over the years. And a number with Adam – he is great, knowledgeable and humorous. We loved our Covent Garden walk with Adam. We finished with a greater understanding of Covent Garden, the changes it has been through & some of the special places. Access to Rules restaurant was a highlight.
Gabriele Tischler –
Great walk with Adam on 23rd Jan. Brilliant guide! Very insightful and engaging!
Shelagh Zachariades –
I went on this walk (Inside Covent Garden) with Karen last Thursday 19th December 2024. I was so impressed from every point of view. We were taken to so many places and I ended up with lots of ideas of things to do over the next few months in London. All the walks are so good but this may be the very best!!
Sarah –
This walk was fantastic! Claire was a great guide, really knowledgeable. She provided us with so many interesting facts and anecdotes. We were fortunate enough to be able to go inside venues such as Rules which was fascinating. I would highly recommend this tour!
David Marsh –
Our twelfth walk and probably our best yet largely due to Adam ( and the crisp sunny weather) Adam displays an experience and knowledge of his brief from many years in the role of guide yet he delivers with a passion and vitality of someone new to the job. He is a credit to his industry.
Alth and Steve Kennedy –
Loved it – thank you Adam. We try to fit in a London Walk whenever we visit . The places you go and the local knowledge are always interesting and superbly entertaining !
Kathryn Cooper –
Excellent tour of Covent Garden this morning with Adam. Knowledgeable guide and very entertaining as well. Thoroughly recommend
Adrian Turner –
The tour took place on the 16th November and was an excellent way of improving my knowledge of this areas history and development. Adam was both knowledgeable and amusing with his tour introducing us to numerous places of interest which are off the tourist trail. It is an excellent way to learn that Covent Garden is so much more than bars, restaurants and boutiques.