In Focus – Shaftesbury Avenue

Piccadilly Circus underground station, London (exit 4, Eros exit – between the world-famous Eros statue and the Criterion Restaurant canopy)

Guided by Simon W.

Streets Ahead! More trail blazing by the best urban walking tour guides on the planet. In Focus walks are an extremely detailed look – "what I love about London Walks is the degree of granularity you get" (as that American visitor memorably put it) – at the most famous streets and squares of London. And their tributaries. Today's In Focus walk explores Shaftesbury Avenue – the central thoroughfare of London's Theatreland. Supporting cast includes everything from a rainbow of restaurants to cinemas to fancy dress and science fiction stores. To say nothing of Anthony Ashley, George V. and Sir Joseph B. There's slum clearance and Luftwaffe clearance and consulting rooms and residential (what must it be like to live on London's Broadway?). Let alone what's in the pipeline: the Sondheim. Anything else? Yeah this one's got the perfect guide. When we asked him, Simon W's eyes went instantly from merely bright, intelligent and fun to shining with excitement –"all those great old theatres, what's not to like?" And in case you're wondering – you shouldn't be by now because he's quickly established himself as one of the brightest stars in the London Walks firmament – he's an actor and an award-winning Blue Badge Guide. The meeting time for today's (August 21) In Focus: Shaftesbury Avenue Walk is 10.15 am. 

It all comes down to the guiding – but don't just take it from us.