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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 May 2026 | Special | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Summer | |
| 21 June 2026 | Special | 11 am | 1 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
| 18 July 2026 | Special | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Summer | 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) – just along 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.
Jane S –
Loved this tour! Dan has the journalist’s instinct for a good story, and he tells these fascinating tales very well indeed. We get the scoop on colourful characters from the Cambridge Five to the White Mouse (yes!), with plenty of stops around St James’s at the very places where so much was hidden in plain sight not very long ago (and perhaps still is). Packed with interesting details, and highly recommended.
Jeannie Gordon –
Very informative spymasters talk and walk on 31/8. Unfortunately too many people in the group to make the tour excellent.
Michele D. –
Dan was an excellent guide on this tour. He is a wonderful storyteller and he highlighted places that the casual person would just pass by without knowing the history. I really enjoyed the tour.
Miriam –
Really enjoyed Dan’s ‘spymasters’ tour around St James. Dan is incredibly knowledgeable and makes the tour great fun too. Highly recommend.
Brendan Quinn –
Love listening to Dan, a real expert in military history to the present date, I just wish he had more walks to go on, I’ve done two walks with Dan, I will soon have to become a pirate, the only walk I haven’t done yet with Dan. Now reading Dan’s book. Two and a half hours breezed past, his walk from St.James Park Station is amazing, so much I learnt.
Archana –
Fascinating tour!
Stuart –
A very funny, engaging and insightful stroll through the architecture (physical and personal) of London’s 20th century secrets including Blunt, Philby, Maclean, Burgess and that other fella, who together made the Cambridge Five.
The talk was brilliantly delivered by Dan Parry whose wit and quick sarcasm included a real time assassination attempt. No one in the neighbouring wedding party was actually shot but fireworks allowed Dan to present an undercover operation, and move us on, so we didn’t disturb either the evidence or the happy couple!
As mentioned, an interesting exercise and a wonderfully witty walk past some beautiful buildings in St James, Pall Mall and the city, with tales of espionage, intrigue and spies from one to ten, including Fleming’s 007! Thank you Dan.
Suzanne –
I organised to go on one of Dan’s Spies Walks for our Military History Group. We all had a fantastic, interesting time. Dan is a wonderful storyteller. A marvellous way to spend the afternoon.
Richard F –
Excellent tour. Dan is a great raconteur and the stories as well as being informative are very entertaining.
Genevieve Barrons –
This was a gift for my godson and it was a terrific experience. He’s 11 and stood at the front of every stop to listen to Dan’s stories. Highly recommend for teens and adults alike.