“Sexual intercourse began
In nineteen sixty-three…
Between the end of the “Chatterley” ban
And the Beatles first LP.”
Phillip Larkin, Annus Mirabilis 1967 (pub. 1974)
This tour contains frequent and explicit references to recreational drug use and sex. There are also descriptions of scenes of a violent nature.
Swinging London
London’s achievements in music and fashion during the 1960s reverberated around the world…
This walking tour pays tribute to – and then goes beyond – the world of The Beatles and Mary Quant.
In a walk through three neighbourhoods, zooming-in on the period 1962 to 1968, travelling from from the coldest winter on record (this wouldn’t be England if we didn’t talk about the weather!) to the shimmering Summer of Love. As the walk unfolds, we’ll we’ll see the old boundaries of the class system being blurred like never before.
Cast Of Characters
East End gangsters are rubbing shoulders (and more) with peers of the realm; in Soho they’re sloshing Coca Cola into perfectly good Scotch; they’re dropping their T’s at the BBC and pillars of the establishment are dropping their drawers in shabby Marylebone mews flats.
Meanwhile, pop singers are invited to Buckingham Palace to meet The Queen.
Boys’ hair is long, girls’ skirts are short and to be “Far Out” is to be “In”.
The old emblems of Empire and conquest can be acquired and worn for a couple of bob* in new-fangled “boutiques”. And presiding over it all a portly little socialist from the provincial North.
Somewhere over the wonderful Day-Glo rainbow of Swinging London, we’ll find both the most mythologised, and the most misunderstood period of the century. And we will ask… was it all the work of “Third-rate minds in a third-rate decade”? Or was it truly One Brief Shining Moment?
(*Translation: Bob was the old slang word for a shilling which is about 5p in modern money.)
We will visit…
Marylebone… to see the little back street where 13 years of Conservative government came crashing down amid a scandal of sex and spying; we’ll also get a view of a modern architectural and communications wonder rising to dwarf St Paul’s on the London skyline, like a vast, grey middle finger “saluting” the old order; and we’ll watch as pirates board the BBC.
Mayfair… where the class system is challenged as girls from Neasden and boys from Dartford cosy up with old Etonians and where protestors rampaged in the streets of sleepy London Town.
Soho… where the Mod gods came out to play and were laid low, along with the mighty, by the swingeing sword of justice.
Politics, Drugs & Showbiz
We’ll span the political spectrum from the Labour government’s decriminalisation of homosexuality, legalisation of abortion and abolition of hanging to Enoch Powell’s infamous Rivers Of Blood speech. As Harold and Ted look on we’ll meet everyone from Mick and Keith to Ron and Reg.
Drugs, the law, fashion, media, politics, race, architecture, class, society, showbiz, protest, music and sex…
If you can remember the 60s… you weren’t there.
If you can’t remember the 60s… join this NEW walking tour.
Happy walkers in a most unusual (but theme-specific) bar with guide Adam after the tour!
And here’s another reason [David speaking here] you should go on it:
Yuval Emek –
What a great walk, we absolutely loved it!
Adam was terrific, so knowledgeable and entertaining. Highly recommended if you are looking for something beyond the trivial “London’s highlights” walk.
Victoria Redshaw –
An exceptional insight into London in the Swinging 60s thanks to Adam. Taking us through Marylebone and Mayfair, we visited places only ever heard about and the era was brought to life. If you do one walk, this is it!
Catrin –
Fantastic walking tour about Marylebone and Mayfair talking about the swinging 60s. Adam is very entertaining and friendly, and I have already recommended the walk to friends. Thanks!
Suzanne McCracken –
Great walking tour – very interesting and informative. Have taken several walking tours with Adam, and as always, he was a wonderful guide.
Miguel –
The “London In The Swingin’ 60s” walk combines fashion, scandal, music, politics, lifestyle, and pop culture. There was so much to cover, and Adam keeps it lively with insightful commentary on the lives and times of the famous and infamous. Groovy!
Nancy Moore –
The Swinging 60’s tour was entertaining, enlightening and educational. Adam was amazing. I can see why he ‘teaches tour guides’. A wonderful role model. Thank you!
Jo Lloyd –
What a fantastic walk with Adam. He brought the swinging sixties of London alive with such great storytelling peppered with music of the day. I was buzzing afterwards. We did most of the walk in the pouring rain and it’s testament to Adam’s skill as a guide that it made not a jot of difference.
Jouko Riihonen –
Higly entertaining and fun. Great day out.
Cary Harris –
What a great tour! Adam is very knowledgeable, fun and full of anecdotes about 60’s London, architecture, history and the culture of the times. The music soundtrack was a great bonus! A very stimulating 2hours that that whizzed by. Highly recommend! Thanks Adam
Jill Cousins –
Adam was a delightful and informative host! My husband and I actually did back to back tours with him in June 2023, joining him for his tour of Kensington just one hour after the two-hour London In The Swinging 60s Tour. We were never bored! We were only in London for three days, and those two tours gave us a great variety and glimpse of the city and its history. The tour is affordable, easy to walk and easy to book, and I highly recommend it, as well as any of Adam’s tours!
Kate –
Adam is not only informative, he’s charismatic and enthusiastic as well. The pictures and actual places, along with a fabulous soundtrack made this tour so worthwhile. Thoroughly recommended and wish i had time to do more tours with him.
Kate –
Enthusiastic, charismatic and informative. Adam not only provided pictures to go along with the walk, he provided a soundtrack too. Absolutely brilliant. Top Marks.
Wish i could do another of his walks.
Janet Adam –
Highly recommended. Adam is a fantastic guide and I thought the email sent before the walk with photos of all the characters from the 60’s that we were going to find out so much about was a great idea. Thankyou Adam for taking us to the places we would never have found in London without this great guided walk.
Mandy Robotham –
Fabulous tour with Adam, who is hugely knowledgeable and a superb raconteur. I’m a Londoner born and bred but I learned so much about my own home city. Highly recommended.
Viv Hunsworth –
We thoroughly enjoyed the swinging sixties walking tour with Adam last week. Adam is great, he is very knowledgeable,informative, friendly & helpful & his little anecdotes made the walk very interesting.He gave us plenty of opportunity to ask questions & was very considerate on a hot day ensuring we walked in the shade whenever possible. Thanks Adam
Danny Taylor –
Adam never fails! We’ve done a few walks with him and other London Walks guides and they’ve all been informative and entertaining. The swinging 60s walk could easily have gone for another hour, as we didn’t go through Carnaby Street or Soho. (Essentially THE swinging 60s) The walk, through the mewses of the West End were fascinating and Adam, as always told the stories beautifully.
Dale Hayden –
Did our second walk this week with Adam. We are spoiled. Adam sets the bar high for London Walks and doesn’t disappoint. We have done dozens of London Walks and often build our trips around them. Adam was the highlight of this trip. Already planning on returning in two months to find another tour lead by Adam. The walk cover more than expected about the Swinging Sixties. Do this walk and you will not be disappointed.
Linda P –
Informative and fun, especially as we had worked in the area and had known some of the characters that were mentioned. Adam’s knowledge and descriptions, plus the addition of music, brought the whole walk to life. Definitely to be recommended
Øystein Bråthen –
A very interesting and funny walk about music, people and culture in the 60’s. Adam is a really good guide and storyteller.
Sylvia Wier –
Swinging ‘60s was the third tour I have taken over the years that was led by Adam. His tours are an absolute delight. He is informative and funny and he is good about interacting with his group. You can’t go wrong on one of his tours.
Darren Ruston –
A really insightful look into some of the murkier waters of the Swinging 60’s and full of fascinating facts about some of the lesser known movers and shakers, including “Groovy Bob” who sounds like he could have a walk to himself! Adam’s knowledge of his subject combined with his colourful, flamboyant and vivid descriptions of the period make this walk a must, particularly if you have an interest in the culture, people and architecture of the 60’s. Thanks, Adam.
Darren Ruston –
A really insightful look into some of the murkier waters of the Swinging 60’s and full of fascinating facts about some of the lesser known movers and shakers, including “Groovy Bob” who sounds like he could have a walk to himself! Adam’s knowledge of his subject combined with his colourful, flamboyant and vivid descriptions of the period make this walk a must, particularly if you have an interest in the culture, people and architecture of the 60’s. Thanks, Adam.
Stuart Thomson –
A fabulous mix of music, film, culture, counter culture and architecture which all bring the swinging sixties to life. Adam’s stories, wonderfully told, make the whole walk a total joy.
Malcolm Fraser –
So good to be immersed in a time when London was such a ferment of radical creativity. Fun and knowledge-packed.
Helen Lucas –
A really wonderful walking tour of a scandal laden period, absolutely loved seeing all the spots where the famous events happened and Adam our guide added extra detail which prompted lots of interesting discussion with our group. Highly recommend this tour.