DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT
Una McTernan went on the walk on March 9, 2025. Here’s her review (please be sure to note the penultimate sentence): “We had a wonderful time on this walk with Luisa. We thought we knew Soho but we learned so much in side streets and previously unnoticed historic buildings. This is a walk for locals or visitors: there is something for everyone and especially if you are interested in the history of medicine, social history, and juicy tales of “ladies of the night.” All in historical context from a former doctor and current journalist/writer. We have done regular London walks for many years and this is the best one yet. Do not miss it!”
BILL OF FARE TO THE FEAST
Meet madams of bawdy houses, body snatchers and benevolent doctors in a two-hour walk through the alleyways and past the elegant townhouses of the square mile that is Soho. Find out how Soho got its name, how death, debauchery and do-good doctors all rubbed along together in Soho in the 1700s and 1800s and how some of Soho’s residents had an impact far wider than these colourful streets.
Discover what links “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” with one of the best-preserved workhouses in Soho, hear how executed murderers advanced medical knowledge and how a brave doctor turned detective to discover how 500 people died of Cholera within a few streets in two weeks in 1854. Clue: it was linked to a popular water pump.
We cover just over a mile of Soho, from the Georgian lodgings of a Devotee of Venus to a picnic spot beneath which lies a secret, to the first anatomy school in London and the sites of the first speciality hospitals in London that cared for women and those with the ‘foul’ disease.
There will be some sexual content (historical and tasteful) and some gore. It will be funny and moving – sometimes at the same time.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
Ready? Strapped in? Here goes. Life force. Particle-Accelerator. Dynamo. Operatic. One woman procession. Surgeon. Author. Distinguished journalist (columnist, Editor, A-List freelancer). “Thinking person’s media personality” (radio and television pundit). All-rounder. Medical doctor and artsy (English Literature First). Londoner. Professionally qualified guide. Friendly. Fun. Charismatic. Effervescent. Make buzz distilled.
Mary Norton –
Luisa such a charismatic lady and so knowledgeable about the history of Soho which made the tour so interesting! Looking forward to another tour run by her!
Cora –
Luisa was a great guide! Full of fun stories and facts. The whole tour was engaging and interesting. We highly recommend it!
Leigh kyle –
My first walking tour and I thoroughly enjoyed it, luisa is very knowledgeable and engaging, highly recommended
Lynda Carter –
A group of 6 of us decided to do this tour on Sunday , our first ever London walking tour , and we are so glad we did . Luisa is such a warm , knowledgeable guide . We have all visited Soho many times but this tour opened our eyes to things we had never noticed and Luisas tales of those who’ve lived there brought the past to life . I would highly recommend this tour .
Janet Carruthers –
Luisa’s “Death, Doctors and Debauchery” walk around Soho is just great. Don’t think about it, just sign up and enjoy two hours of thrilling history. I’m a Londoner who thought she knew Soho, but I learned so much. Whether you are a local or a visitor this walk is well worth doing. Like the best story tellers Luisa has made me thirsty to find out more about the tales she told …. And in fact she gives you plenty of ideas how to do that if you want to (I have downloaded Mary Seacole’s autobiography on my Kindle for example!).
Elizabeth Warren –
Really interesting walk , particularly the medical history bit of it . Great to have the John Snow pub lounge to use half way around . Luisa was a very friendly, humorous and informative guide
Ellie –
Really fascinating guided tour. Luisa was very informative and engaging and a fantastic storyteller. Would absolutely recommend this tour for those after something a little different. Came away wanting to find out more about the history of the area.
Ann robinson –
A first class, highly enjoyable walk round fascinating Soho. Luisa was a funny, informative and very engaging guide. The walk itself is a wonderful interweaving of stories set against the alleys, streets and squares of this labyrinthine area of central London. I’d recommend this tour to anyone.
Sam Jacobs –
This was a fascinating walk. Despite the fact I’ve walked round Soho for a long time I saw things I hadn’t seen before. Luisa is a natural and tells informative and amusing stories. What a great afternoon and fantastic guide.
Joanna Bristow-Watkins –
My husband and I attended this walk yesterday because we thought it sounded intriguing and it fitted in with our timings of needing to be in the West End for a Show starting at 5.30pm
Furthermore, we love London Walks and recently invested in a loyalty card (as we have in previous years but now they are valid for longer) and we find it a great way to make an extended day out of a trip to London.
The walk was fascinating, entertaining, thoroughly researched and well delivered. My husband had worked for 7 years in a building which was an up-market Georgian brothel and had no idea (or so he says, lol)!