Explore the eccentric and eclectic Borough of Camden by joining a walking tour. Below you will find a list of our current tours available. Some you can book in advance, others you can just turn up on the day. Variety is the spice of life — Camden offers this to no end!
“Camden Saturday” – Are you looking for something to do on a Saturday morning? Join us for a variety of scheduled walks – from well-known topics to the quirky and unusual. There is something for everyone.
2019
LONDON POSTAL MUSEUM WALKING TOURS
London Postmen – leaving King Edward Building on delivery. A group of postmen, carrying bags over their shoulders, leave King Edward Building to begin their deliveries.
Join an accredited guide for walking tours through 350 years of London Postal History. Tours take place in the City of London, Islington and Camden and trace the major developments in Post Office history – from transport innovations like the Mail Coach, the Railway, and the Mail Rail service; to key reformers such as John Palmer, Sir Rowland Hill, and Anthony Trollope. Discover why pillar boxes are coloured red, why the post is called the ‘post’ and the mail is called the ‘mail’, and why the floors of all telephone boxes slope.
All walking tours are led by trained and accredited guides for Camden, Clerkenwell and Islington, and the City of London.
There are three tours, each running once a month / 11.00am – 13.00pm £10.00 per person, £8.00 for concessions (60+), £6.00 for The Postal Museum Members, Free for accompanied children under age 12. No need to book — simply arrive at the meeting point a few minutes before 11am and pay your guide.
Tour 1: From Pillar to Post – 19 May, 22 June, 21 July, 24 August, 22 September, 26 October, 24 November
An extraordinary look at the history of the mail, in conjunction with the busy financial history of the City of London.
MEETING POINT: On the steps of the Royal Exchange at Bank Junction – near to Bank Underground Station
Tour 2: From Mail to Rail — 13 July, 14 September, 9 November
This walk looks at the major changes in the Post Office history – from transport innovations like the Mail Coach, the Railway, and the Mail Rail service; and key reformers such as John Palmer, Sir Rowland Hill, and Anthony Trollope.
MEETING POINT: Next to the Robert Stephenson statue in front of Euston Station
Tour 3: From Tudors to Telegraphy — 8 June, 10 August, 12 October, 14 December
Take a walk through 350 years of London postal history. Meet key reformers, discover why pillar boxes are red, why the post is called the post and the mail is called the mail… and why Charles Dickens had his own post box.
MEETING POINT: By Exit 1 of Chancery Lane Underground Station, on the North side of High Holborn
ST. PANCRAS IN LITERATURE, FILM AND DRAMA
Come with Alan to take a look at the lives of important figures from the worlds of literature, film, and theatre who have lived and worked in St. Pancras and Somers Town. Three of the many highlights are the former home of award-winning film director Mike Leigh, the gravestone of the forerunner of modern feminist writing, Mary Wollstonecraft, and the site of a radical theatre where the famous American singer/actor, Paul Robeson, once performed. The walk finishes close to a famous railway platform where you can board the Hogwarts Express.Tuesday 21 May: 11:00am Guided by Alan Fortune
FOLLOW THE FLEET! HAMPSTEAD HEATH TO KENTISH TOWN
Saturday 25 May: 11:00am Guided by Paul Guest
KENTISH TOWN A TO B (ASYLUM TO BREWERY)
“Camden Saturday”
Saturday 1 June: 11:00am Guided by Daniel Hausherr
FITZROVIA CHAPEL – MEDICAL FITZROVIA WALK
This walk starts outside Warren Street Underground Station. It explores the medical associations of the Fitzrovia area, including the first private hospital in London, a number of smaller hospitals that occupied grand houses in Fitzroy Square, the story of the birth of family planning, a major nurses’ home established by the famous Astor family, a Georgian workhouse known by Charles Dickens and ending with a short tour inside the beautiful Fitzrovia Chapel which was part of the famous Middlesex Hospital.Saturday 1 June: 15:00pm Guided by Richard Cohen
BLOOMSBURY BEGINNINGS
Bloomsbury is well known for its beautiful squares, its museums and its famous inhabitants. Throughout its history it has been a place of innovation and firsts; the first public art gallery, the first secular children’s charity, the first national museum in the world. It has been the home of innovators and pioneers whose work has changed the world we live in and the face of the area.This two hour circular walk, which begins and ends at Russell Square tube station, will introduce you to some of those people, some remarkable buildings and some innovations you might not have thought of but that you take for granted today. – and if you wonder how a burial ground counts as a beginning you’ll have to come on the walk and find out!
Saturday 8 June: 11:00am Guided by Jo Wilkinson
MEET THE GUIDES
This FREE walk is aimed at anyone who is interested in learning about becoming a qualified Camden Tour Guide offering an opportunity to meet qualified Camden Guides, go with them on a tour around the Kings Cross area and have a chance to talk to them about the course and what it’s like to be a tour guide in Camden today.The next course starts in September 2019 and this is an opportunity to come and find out more. If you are unable to come on this date but are interested in the course then please email course@camdenguides.com
Tuesday 4 June: 6:00pm Guided by CTGA
FITZROVIA CHAPEL – BOHEMIAN WALK OF FITZROVIA
Starting at Goodge Street Underground Station, we explore the lives of actors, musicians, artists and literary figures who made their home in the pubs and cafes of Fitzrovia. Come and meet the people like George Orwell, Dylan Thomas and Augustus John who shaped the Bohemian nature of this fascinating area. Finally, we end our walk with a short tour inside the beautiful Fitzrovia Chapel, once part of the famous Middlesex Hospital, which continues to support artists and musicians by hosting exhibitions and concerts.Friday 28 June: 14:00pm Guided by David Brown
FITZROVIA CHAPEL – MEDICAL FITZROVIA WALK
This walk starts outside Warren Street Underground Station. It explores the medical associations of the Fitzrovia area, including the first private hospital in London, a number of smaller hospitals that occupied grand houses in Fitzroy Square, the story of the birth of family planning, a major nurses’ home established by the famous Astor family, a Georgian workhouse known by Charles Dickens and ending with a short tour inside the beautiful Fitzrovia Chapel which was part of the famous Middlesex Hospital.Saturday 20 July: 12:00pm Guided by Peter Cowin
BLOOMSBURY BEGINNINGS
This FREE walk is aimed at anyone who is interested in learning about becoming a qualified Camden Tour Guide offering an opportunity to meet qualified Camden Guides, go with them on a tour around the Kings Cross area and have a chance to talk to them about the course and what it’s like to be a tour guide in Camden today.
The next course starts in September 2019 and this is an opportunity to come and find out more. If you are unable to come on this date but are interested in the course then please email course@camdenguides.com
Wednesday 24 July: 6:00pm Guided by CTGA
FITZROVIA CHAPEL – BOHEMIAN WALK OF FITZROVIA
Starting at Goodge Street Underground Station, we explore the lives of actors, musicians, artists and literary figures who made their home in the pubs and cafes of Fitzrovia. Come and meet the people like George Orwell, Dylan Thomas and Augustus John who shaped the Bohemian nature of this fascinating area. Finally, we end our walk with a short tour inside the beautiful Fitzrovia Chapel, once part of the famous Middlesex Hospital, which continues to support artists and musicians by hosting exhibitions and concerts.Sunday 25 August: 12:30pm Guided by Tony Hale
FITZROVIA CHAPEL – MEDICAL FITZROVIA WALK
This walk starts outside Warren Street Underground Station. It explores the medical associations of the Fitzrovia area, including the first private hospital in London, a number of smaller hospitals that occupied grand houses in Fitzroy Square, the story of the birth of family planning, a major nurses’ home established by the famous Astor family, a Georgian workhouse known by Charles Dickens and ending with a short tour inside the beautiful Fitzrovia Chapel which was part of the famous Middlesex Hospital.Saturday 21 September: 14:00pm Guided by Tony Hale
FITZROVIA CHAPEL – BOHEMIAN WALK OF FITZROVIA
Starting at Goodge Street Underground Station, we explore the lives of actors, musicians, artists and literary figures who made their home in the pubs and cafes of Fitzrovia. Come and meet the people like George Orwell, Dylan Thomas and Augustus John who shaped the Bohemian nature of this fascinating area. Finally, we end our walk with a short tour inside the beautiful Fitzrovia Chapel, once part of the famous Middlesex Hospital, which continues to support artists and musicians by hosting exhibitions and concerts.Saturday 26 October: 11:30am Guided by Elaine Wein
Booking your place on a walk: *Click on the title of the walk to go to the booking link. If there is no booking link, and instructions are to “turn up & pay”, please follow instructions for that walk.
