London’s Spymasters
St James's Park Underground Station (Broadway/Petty France exit)
Guided by Dan Parry
Adult: £20 · Students & Seniors: £15 · Children: £5
Walk Times
| Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 June 2026 | Special | 11 am | 1 pm | Summer | |
| 18 July 2026 | Special | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Summer | |
| 29 August 2026 | Special | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
| 12 September 2026 | Special | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
| 24 October 2026 | Special | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
| 21 November 2026 | Special | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Winter | Reserve Online |
| 12 December 2026 | Special | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Winter | Reserve Online |
N.B. Location, location, location. The meeting point for London’s Spymasters is St. James’s Park Underground Station, (Broadway/Petty France exit) – opposite The Old Star pub (…down the road from that mother lode of history, the five-star Conrad Hotel – here’s Conrad Confidential, a tasty podcast about the Conrad – yet another reason for going on this walk).
There was a guy with a gun – aka get to know your guide
And this podcast makes three. It’s a sneak preview of this Walk. Picture Dan in Horse Guards Parade, spinning the yarn of Operation Mincemeat, weaving in the James Bond connection, and – for good measure – getting tantalisingly close to unmasking the real 007.
Step into the shadows of Westminster and discover covert locations where spies, assassins and duplicitous double agents plied their trade. Visiting the smartest corners of London, we peer into a murky world marked by treason and treachery, betrayal and murder.
From the wartime HQ of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) to the exceptionally discreet apartment of C, (‘M ‘in the Bond films), we walk in the footsteps of officers and agents who shaped history. Some of them managed Enigma – WWII’s greatest secret; others deviously created the biggest deception operation of the war.
AND WHILE WE’RE AT IT, MEET YOUR GUIDE
MORE ON THE WALK…
Some planned covert Cold War actions, a few gave away information on all of the above and one or two recently revealed GCHQ’s modern-day London secrets.
A murky world of treason, treachery, betrayal and murder. London’s hidden espionage landscape reimagined as a bold, deliberately stylised spy-thriller illustration.
Visiting shadowy locations that are rarely seen, we pass Ian Fleming’s wartime office, the glamorous house once used by SIS as a recruitment centre and the beautiful garden that witnessed an ugly assassination. Guided by Dan Parry
“For decades to come the spy world will continue to be the collective couch where the subconscious of each nation is confessed.” – John le Carre
Classified Security File, Secret Intelligence Service. Artificially-created spy-thriller illustration evoking the covert world of London’s intelligence services.
Roger Tapper –
Brilliant entertaining modern history lesson. A reminder of all the dastardly deeds that go on
without our knowledge.
Imelda –
Engrossed from start to finish and so thoroughly knowledgeable and enjoyable. Dan wove the stories together so that there was an almost seamless transition across stories and ages and names. The time flew by and it was a most enjoyable experience in the presence of someone who knows his subject well. Can’t wait to do it again sometime we enjoyed it so much.
John Ashmele –
Dan Parry’s talk on London Spies started in glorious sunshine at St. James Park station and finished at Green Park station two hours later. He led us past buildings that at one time housed the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a GCHQ out-station, and various other secret establishments. He led us past the former home of Captain Sir Mansfield George Smith-Cumming, who served as the first chief of the Secret Intelligence Service and was the original ‘C’. Dan introduced us to the authors Ian Fleming and John le Carré, who were also spies in their own right having received ‘a tap on the shoulder and a quiet word’. As well as the activities of the double-agents Kim Philby, Donald McClean and Guy Burgess, we were shown the various haunts of these spies including the hotels, gentlemen’s clubs and safe-houses. Dan talked engagingly and with humour: a walk that I would certainly recommend.
Will Y –
Dan Parry’s history walks are incredible – informative, entertaining and highly recommended! You’ll learn much from a London Walks jaunt with Dan – and how he retains his near encyclopaedic knowledge of facts and little known histories is beyond me – but that’s not to imply you’ll be receiving a dry history lecture. Dan’s playful and friendly delivery of fun, thrilling and shocking accounts of the city’s turbulent and at times downright quirky history are as lively and vibrant as the locations you’ll tread upon. At each stop through a trek around some of the most memorable London locations, stepping over bridges where aspiring spies met and in front of mansions where deals were done, Dan always brings these events to life. I couldn’t recommend this walk more.
Phil –
I’ve done quite a few London Walks now and this is one of the best. Really interesting delve into London’s spy past. Highly recommended.
Phillip –
There are walks and there are walks, today’s London Spymasters with Dan Parry is right up there with the nest. Knowledgable, entertaining and the information added at a pace for most to understand. London Walks have several spy walks and this was excellent. More pieces of information all fitting that puzzle of the secret services and the spies themselves. What happened to them and how the ‘old boy’s’ network played such a part in recruitment and ultimate betrayals. If you want to know more go and walk. I am following up with a Vesper Martini and Little White Mouse – if you do the walk you will find out more.
Robert Livingstone-Ward –
So I knew a little about spies – fact and fiction – but what I really wanted when I came to London from Brisbane as an Aussie tourist was to hear from someone who really knew about the spyworld. Someone with credentials. You know – like an author, doco-maker and BBC jounro. I could have walked past numerous non-descript buildings, but Dan stopped at same and explained that, behind the facade, was some deep dark secret. It was grea. For an ameteur like me, Dan mentioned varoius touchstones, but then embellished them with real characters. Fascinating. That aside – professionally run. Email communication. Contactless/card payment. Easy to locate ( for an incompetent sleuth like me). Loved it – thanks Dan!
Chris B –
Great walk! Dan’s energy, subject knowledge and first hand accounts of meeting some of the characters involved in these escapades really brought the walk to life. You can feel the history! Lovely part of London to explore as well.
Iris –
An amazing tour through the London neighbourhoods which are filled with WWII and Cold War spy stories. Mr Parry is a very pleasant guide with lots of detailed information on the stories we all want to learn about!
Catherine N. –
Would very much recommend this tour. Dan is an excellent storyteller and knows his stuff. He weaves through the decades and includes some lesser known facts. Two hours very well spent with a very engaging guide, with some jokes and witty asides.