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Free tour

Free Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll Tour of Soho

Duration: 2h
Languages: English
Quality Verified Registered on January 17, 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.

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  • No minimum number of attendees
    No minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free
  • Accepts electronic payment
    This tour allows payment by electronic means or credit card

Tour description

Dickens described it as the place of “smoke and song”, little has changed. We call it London's home of Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll. Soho is where you go for a good night out. It's where you go to let your hair down and be a little bit naughty. 

In its long and varied history, Soho has seen it all; secret meetings of the Communist Party (under Karl Marx himself), virtuoso performance by an 8 year old Mozart, the home of the world's most famous lover, Casanova, a cholera outbreak that threatened to end life in London, and of course, it's had more than its fair share of alcohol induced scandal.

See where the Beatles played their first and last gig in London, and where Beatlemania was born. Join us as we visit some of the top music venues from the 1960s that helped to launch the careers of The Who, The Rolling Stones, and many more. We will saunter into what is left of the old red light district and take a stroll down the one and only Carnaby Street, the hub of swinging 60's fashion and the birthplace of the miniskirt. 

This tiny district has left an indelible mark on pop culture and has risen from being a seedy dangerous realm thirty years ago to becoming one of the most famous and fashionable parts of the capital today.

Tour Highlights include:

  • The London Palladium
  • Leicester Square
  • Carnaby Street
  • Liberty​​
  • The Beatles
  • Jimi Hendrix's last gig
  • The Cholera Outbreak
  • The Old Red Light District


Please note, groups larger than 6 and any educational groups will need to get in touch to arrange a private tour, as they will not be able to join the public tour

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Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?

  • Meeting point:
    Golden Square, London, UK
    Golden Square, London, UK
    View on map

    Golden Square, W1R 3AD. The guide will be holding a red umbrella.

  • 1
    Outside visit
    Golden Square
  • 2
    Outside visit
    Bag O'Nails
  • 3
    Outside visit
    Carnaby Street
  • 4
    Outside visit
    Liberty London
  • 5
    Outside visit
    The London Palladium
  • 6
    Outside visit
    Trident Studios

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Does not accept large group reservations.
Pets
Suitable for carrying pets.

What should you know?

Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Electronic or credit card payment is accepted.
When do you want to go?
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