A series of guided walks around the City of Westminster takes place in August — all of them free.
As part of the borough's Inside Out festival, 25 different walks will be led by knowledgable City of Westminster guides between 3-29 August 2024, exploring everything from tyrants to Suffragettes. Each lasting 90 minutes, the tours take place in the daytime, evening, lunchtime, and weekend - meaning there's a slot for everyone. A few highlights:
- Paddington to Marylebone: a Transport History: Gen up on the history of the Regent’s Canal, one of London's busiest taxi ranks, London's first (horse drawn) bus terminus, the world's first underground railway, the Westway, and transport newcomer, the Elizabeth Line. (3 Aug)
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Influential Immigrants - Germans in London: Up until the 1890s, Germans were the largest foreign community in London — bringing with them music, art, philosophy, and more. This walk around Soho and Mayfair introduces you to the Germans who made London, and Britain, a more interesting place.
(6 Aug and 13 Aug)
- Screen Gems - Westminster's Cinema Heritage: Visit 'Flicker Alley', where many of the country's silent movie companies set up shop in the early 1900s, and discover how many of the area's grand picture houses fell from grace, winding up as X-rated cinemas. (11 Aug, 11am and 2pm)
- Tales from the Towpath: from Little Venice to Paddington Green: Discover how Little Venice got its name, and how this area of west London was transformed thanks to the coming of the Industrial Revolution. (17 Aug and 18 Aug)
- Scientists and Monsters: Some of the great scientists have not just helped shape history, but also inspired fictional monsters. Ada Lovelace and Charles Darwin make an appearance on this walk... as does a certain Count Dracula. (25 Aug)
City of Westminster walks, 3-29 August 2024, free, book ahead
