Free tour

Free LGBTQ+ History Tour

4.83

Excellent(23)

London

Duration: 2 hours

Languages: English

Guru: London with a Local Tours

PRO

Verified quality

Registered on 17 January 2023

London with a Local was created in 2018 out of a desire to bring something different to those visiting (or living in) this wonderful, hectic, ever-changing City. We wanted to provide the best quality tours at a price that works for everyone. London is expensive – believe us, we know. Our aim was to provide at least one part of your time here where you feel like you are truly getting your money's worth. London With A Local is made up of a mix of born and bred Londoners, who can give you a picture of how it feels to grow up in the midst of the chaos, and those who decided to become Londoners after visiting as a tourist and falling in love. They combine a knowledge of the secrets that have been passed down through generations, with the hunger and excitement that comes with embracing a new place as your home. Our tours, of course, visit the iconic architectural structures that London the most recognisable city on Earth, but also allow a peak behind the curtain, away from the glitz and glamour of the West End, to give you the opportunity to see the “real” London, far from the tourist trap souvenir shops, to where the true treats and treasures, so often hidden away from tourists, reside. In short, we want everyone who gets the opportunity to join us on a tour, to feel like they are getting to know the essence of this great city. As well as experience in guiding and a knowledge of the history and politics of Britain, our expert guides all come from a performance background. We are actors. We are musicians. We are comedians. We are dancers and directors. Above all, we are storytellers and our aim is not just to reel off a load of dates that will be forgotten in a split second, but to paint you a picture of the people and events that built the foundations that we tread upon.

Free reservation and cancellation

Pay-what-you-want tour, no set price, reservation and cancellation are free

Tour description

London has always been a city of diversity, resistance, and reinvention, and its LGBTQ+ history is far older, richer, and more complex than many people realise. Join our LGBTQ+ History Walking Tour of London, a free, expert-led experience that explores queer lives, identities, and communities across more than two thousand years of the city’s past.

Starting outside the Clermont Hotel, Charing Cross (near Trafalgar Square), this walking tour journeys through central London and into Soho, uncovering stories that have too often been hidden, erased, or misunderstood. From ancient history to modern activism, we trace how LGBTQ+ people have lived, loved, survived, and fought for visibility in the capital.

You’ll learn about sexual fluidity in Roman London, when same-sex relationships were understood very differently from today, before exploring the devastating impact of the Buggery Act, which criminalised homosexuality for centuries. We’ll uncover the secret world of Molly Houses, underground spaces where queer men could meet, socialise, and express themselves despite the risk of arrest or worse.

The tour also explores famous figures such as Oscar Wilde, whose persecution exposed the cruelty of Victorian attitudes, as well as the changing face of London’s queer community through the 20th century. You’ll hear about the history of Pride, from protest and policing to celebration and visibility, and how Soho became the heart of London’s LGBTQ+ nightlife and activism.

More recent history is not forgotten. We discuss the AIDS crisis, Soho’s vital sexual health clinics, and the importance of care, solidarity, and remembrance. The tour also addresses the tragic bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub, a pivotal moment in modern LGBTQ+ history that reshaped the community and the city.

Along the way, we celebrate joy, resilience, and creativity, including the evolution of London’s drag scene, queer performance, and chosen family.

This 2-hour LGBTQ+ walking tour finishes in Soho Square, at the centre of one of the world’s most famous queer neighbourhoods. It’s ideal for LGBTQ+ visitors, allies, history lovers, locals, and travellers seeking meaningful, inclusive things to do in London.

Join us, walk with pride, and discover London’s queer history where it really happened. Book now, spaces are limited.

Please note: groups larger than six people and educational groups must arrange a private tour in advance.

Highlights

What will we see on this tour?

Meeting point:

40 Strand, London WC2N 5PH, UK

We begin outside the Clermont Hotel, next to Charing Cross Station, just near the underground station. The station is on the Bakerloo and Northern line, and around a 5 minute walk from Leicester Square and Embankment Station.Look for the guide holding a red umbrella

Outside visit

Heaven

Outside visit

Trafalgar Square

Outside visit

The Admiral Duncan

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours don't have a fixed price. At the end, each person contributes to the guide the amount they consider fair based on their satisfaction. As a guideline, Guruwalk recommends between €15 and $50 per participant.