SOHO – Explore the heart of London’s Entertainment District 

From ‘Tin Pan Alley,’ music publishers’ row, to the epicentre of the Swingin’ 60s Carnaby Street. Fashion and tunes. Here is a ‘French Quarter’ and ‘Little Italy’ of London; jazz nightclubs of the roaring 1920s; beatnik coffee houses, skiffle and jazz clubs of the 1950s; here are the ‘basement and attic’ venues for 60s folkies, R&B-ers and bluesmen who became ‘classic rock’ icons; 70s punks; where New Wave bands started out… This area has grown from plague pits to gin palaces to supper clubs to peep shows to posh boutiques. Heaps of musical heritage to uncover with your specialist rock tour guide. Even Londoners say, “I’ve walked by there so many times, but never knew…”

This 2 hour walk will take you on a musical adventure through London Rock Music history. What’s your genre?! Your talented London Rock Tour walking guide will tailor your tour to the ‘playlist’ of participants, a fun and knowledgeable musical journey of the capital’s Entertainment District, Soho.

Your playlist highlights can include:

EARLY YEARS — bebop, wartime, skiffle, jazz & blues roots…clubs, theatres, management offices, coffee houses…Flamingo, Cousins, Ronnie Scott’s, 2ii, Roundhouse Barrel & Blues…

CLASSIC ROCK & PROG — Paul McCartney’s offices; where the Stones and ‘Ziggy Stardust’ ‘were born;’ early gig sites for many in venues like The Marquee…Beatles, Stones, Elton John, Alexis Corner, The Kinks, Led Zep, Georgie Fame, The Who, Paul Simon, The Animals, Jimi Hendrix, YES, Pink Floyd, Bowie, Iron Maiden and many more; recording studio for Queen, Bowie, Beatles/Paul McCartney, Genesis, Black Sabbath, Kinks, Elton John and many more…

PUNK, NEW WAVE, 80s — Clubs like The Vortex, St Moritz, Le Kilt, Beat Route…The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Poly Styrene and X Ray Spex…Warren Zevon, Boy George & Culture Club, Tina Turner, George Michael & Wham!, Dire Straits, Duran Duran…Guns & Roses, Motley Crue; Goths & New Romantics…

TODAY’S POP LONDON – One of Taylor Swift’s End Game video locations; UK film premiere location for films of Beyonce, Taylor Swift & One Direction; a recording studio and hang outs for Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Rita Ora, Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga…

Why travel with a copycat, when you can go with the ORIGINAL London Rock Tour!

 

HIGHLIGHTS

Almost too many to mention! Early gig locations for Beatles, Stones, Bowie, YES, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Sex Pistols, T Rex, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Ed Sheeran and many, many others; Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust album cover location; ‘Tin Pan Alley;’ early jazz & blues clubs where ‘classic rock’ bands started out; where the Stones ‘were born’ and did early recordings; Oasis’ What’s the Story Morning Glory album cover location; Taylor Swift End Game video location; Trident Studios; Flamingo; Marquee; Ronnie Scott’s; glimpse of swingin’ Carnaby Street; where a young Paul Simon ‘busked’ for change; filming locations for the Amy film Back to Black; Paul McCartney’s London office; where The Who debuted Tommy; settings for songs Werewolves of London, Lola, My Sweet Lord, Wild West End and more; where Paul McCartney met Linda; where Rod Stewart met Ronnie Wood; where John McVie proposed to Christine; THE Soho coffee bar hang out…

London Soho Music Walk

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:00 start time

DURATION Approx. 2 hours (2.5 hours max)

MEETING POINT 

START: PICCADILLY CIRCUS — front of Hard Rock Café Piccadilly Circus, 225-229 Piccadilly Criterion, London W1J 9HR (next to Horses of Helios fountain)

Enjoy anecdotes, fun facts, local heritage – the knowledge and companionship of your London music tour guide

KNOW BEFORE BOOKING

A meandering 3 miles (approx.) walk with break options; we walk no matter the weather so please dress accordingly.

 

Email: [email protected]