This one gets a 21-gun salute
Yes, a 21-gun salute for this new walk.
1. Created and guided by Dr Luisa. Snap! That’s a lock for a brilliant walk.
2. Women ahead of their time who dared to think and live differently.
3. Women who changed history.
4. Society beauties.
5. Math protégés.
6. Double-crossing spies – their heroism was unparalleled.
7. Heiresses.
8. Politicians.
9. Ground-breaking writers.
10. “The most remarkable woman in the kingdom.”
11. The courtesan who wrote the first kiss-and-tel memoir.
12. The Lady of the Lamp.
13. The woman novelist who inspired Jane Austen.
14. The London of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.
15. The royal mistress everybody loved.
16. Henry VIII’s short-lived “morally corrupt and physically deformed” Queen.
17. Posh London to the Nth degree.
18. The grandest, most beautiful house in London.
19. London’s shopping Shangri-La.
20. London’s oldest palace – hoary with age, redolent with history.
21. A hidden, utterly charming 300-year-old market square, the haunt of “strumpets & lazy rascals.”
FIRST THE 21-GUN SALUTE, NOW THE PAGEANT
Meet the wild and wonderful women of Westminster who changed history – from society beauties to maths protégés to double-crossing spies who risked their lives for democracy to heiresses to politicians to ground-breaking writers.
ALL ABOUT THE WALK (here speaks Guide Luisa)
We’ll be meeting the wild and wonderful women who lived in some of the loveliest and wealthiest parts of London from the 1500s to the 20th century. Women who dared to think and live differently – women ahead of their time who were one part ordinary to two parts extraordinary.
Walking through glorious Piccadilly, St James’s Square and the Mall we’ll discover the woman who King Edward Vll said was the most remarkable woman in the kingdom – after his mother (who was Queen Victoria so the bar was high but then she, the woman Edward VII had in mind, did give billions of pounds to charity), the courtesan who wrote the first kiss-and-tell memoir (the Duke of Wellington said “publish and be damned”), the world’s best-selling crime writer who hid herself away to write in one of St James’s oldest hotels and the Lady of the Lamp who was a statistical genius as well as a pioneering nurse.
We meet the pioneering woman novelist whose writing inspired Jane Austen. And walk along the very streets frequented by Jane Austen’s characters in Sense and Sensibility. Streets Jane Austen knew from staying with her banker brother Henry. Streets great for shopping then and now.
We meet the most popular mistress of a King and remember the first wife of our current monarch. Her, that first wife’s family home, is a London “must see.” Many reckon it to be the most beautiful house in London. And nearby – an embarrassment of regal ex-wifely riches – a Henry VIII ex who barely saw the palace he built for her.
And what about the trailblazers, the women spies – part of the double-crossers – ordinary women whose heroism was beyond compare and whose work often led to the ultimate sacrifice. And for good measure, the genius who saw what the earliest computer could do. We celebrate them, too.
A few of these women are household names – others are less famous. But one and all are undeniably wild or wonderful and often both.
The area itself is a visual feast, a joy to sojourn through. We will see the oldest and often overlooked palace in London, a hidden, charming market square that hasn’t changed much since the 1700s when it was full of ‘strumpets and lazy rascals’ as well as some of Piccadilly’s most luxurious hotels.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
THE ESSENTIALS
Meeting point: Green Park Tube Station – North exit (on the corner of Piccadilly and Stratton Street)
The tour lasts for two hours.
The tour finishes near Green Park Tube station.
Scott and Liz –
My wife and I recently did the Wild & Wonderful Women of Westminster walking tour, hosted by Luisa — and it was truly exceptional. We’ve done most of the official London Walks over the years and they’re generally excellent, but this one — which at first glance seemed more niche — really stood out.
Luisa was brilliantly entertaining and incredibly well-informed. She brought to life not only major historical events but also introduced us to a few lesser-known heroines who, despite their historical and contemporary significance, have been largely overlooked – indeed, I’m embarrassed to admit I hadn’t heard of some of them before.
The tour was fun, engaging, and full of wonder. Thank you, Luisa, for adding such delight to our day!
Scott and Liz –
My wife and I recently did the Wild & Wonderful Women of Westminster walking tour, hosted by Luisa — and it was truly exceptional. We’ve done most of the official London Walks over the years and they’re generally excellent, but this one — which at first glance seemed more niche ) — really stood out.
Luisa was brilliantly entertaining and incredibly well-informed. She brought to life not only major historical events but also introduced us to a few lesser-known heroines who, despite their real historic significance, have been largely overlooked. I’m embarrassed to admit I hadn’t heard of some of them before!
The tour was fun, engaging, and full of wonder. Thank you, Luisa, for adding such delight to our day!
Jane Wilkins –
Do try this walk, so fascinating and informative. Luisa is very well researched and enthusiastic in portraying all the amazing characters she has chosen. Brilliant way to spend a couple of hours. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Steven C. Smith –
Wildly entertaining and constantly surprising, this new walk, guided by the brilliant Luisa, is a terrific addition to London Walks’ stellar options. There’s marvelous variety to the biographical tales that are shared, of pioneering doctors, nurses, hoteliers, cooks, authors, and yes, a courtesan or two. And the area explored – Mayfair and Piccadilly primarily – add their own lustre to the trip, with the visual delights of high-end stores and hotels. Don’t miss this one.
Virginia de Kretser –
Luisa really knows her subject and made the walk extremely interesting.
Amy Lambert –
This was an amazing tour. Luisa is very well informed and could respond even to unrelated questions about the history of this very interesting part of Soho. She even provided recommendations for books about the history she discussed (and local bars). My husband and I both enjoyed the walk immensely. Very, very interesting and worthwhile. She’s a super guide!
Gill –
Excellent and fascinating couple of hours . Luisa gave us an insight into many people we had never heard of . The shocking truth about how under represented women can be . Thank you
Wendy Hodgson –
A wonderful walk full of inspiring stories of women trailblazers. Just the right pace for an afternoon walk in our beautiful city . Luisa is an excellent guide who was very knowledgeable and interesting. Thank you Luisa
Cristina –
A very enjoyable walk, I have learnt so much in just two hours, I have been inspired to read new books, visit new historical houses and Royal Palaces, try new cocktails with a history in semi secret venues off the beaten path. Thank you Luisa for the follow up email with many interesting links!
Beverley McEvoy –
What a wonderful, informative tour of some notable women and hidden nooks of Mayfair!
Luisa is welcoming, knowledgeable and happy to answer questions. I highly recommend this tour