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Offered languages
- English
Step into the beating heart of London’s rock ’n’ roll history on this immersive walking tour through legendary Soho. From gritty backstreets to iconic recording sites, you’ll explore the places where music history was made.
Walk in the footsteps of The Beatles, David Bowie, and a host of other rock and pop icons who lived, worked, recorded, and partied in this electrifying neighbourhood. Discover the stories behind famous venues, studios, and hidden hangouts that helped shape British music and global pop culture.
Your guide, Jon Cox, is a born-and-bred Londoner who has spent a lifetime in and around Soho. Combined with his background as a qualified tour guide, London black cab driver and working musician, this creates a completely unique experience - part music history, part personal insight, and 100% authentic.
A fun, informative, and unforgettable 2-hour walking tour in the heart of London.
A must-do experience for music lovers visiting London.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
The meeting point is outside the main entrance to the Dominion Theatre at the junction of Tottenham Court Road & New Oxford Street.
The tour ends in Heddon Street, just off Regent Street
Itinerary
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1Dominion Theatre
Our tour starts here at The Dominion Theatre, a Grade II listed Art Deco venue opened in 1929, is a cornerstone of London's entertainment history. It hosted the first major UK rock and roll concert in 1957 (Bill Haley & The Comets), and later 1980s legends including David Bowie, Bon Jovi, and Duran Duran.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Denmark Street
Denmark Street, known as Britain's "Tin Pan Alley" in Soho, was the epicenter of the 1960s/70s British rock scene, housing music publishers, studios, and shops. Iconic artists including the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, The Kinks, and Elton John recorded or wrote hits there. The Sex Pistols lived and recorded in Denmark, cementing its punk legacy. Today the street is full of music & guitar shops and guests will have the chance to see this world famous music street and surrounding neighbourhood.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Soho
Tucked into the heart of London, this small but mighty neighbourhood is one of the most important birthplaces of British popular music. From smoky jazz clubs to the raw energy of 1950s rock ’n’ roll, Soho became the playground for artists who changed music forever. Long before it served classic cod and chips, Poppies Fish & Chips was the legendary 2i’s Coffee Bar, widely regarded as the birthplace of British rock ’n’ roll. This tiny basement venue launched the careers of homegrown stars and kick-started a musical revolution. Just around the corner, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club became one of the world’s most famous jazz clubs — and the place where Jimi Hendrix performed for the final time before his death in 1970.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Wardour Street
On our walk, we explore the Wardour Street area of Soho, once home to the legendary Marquee Club. Famous for its intimate, sweat-soaked atmosphere, the club hosted iconic residencies by The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. We’ll also pass a classic British pub with deep connections to Soho’s music scene, see the former Trident Studios - a vital creative recording studio for rock royalty, launching legendary artists like Elton John, Queen, and David Bowie, and recording iconic hits such as The Beatles' "Hey Jude". We will see a vinyl record shop known as the birthplace of The Rolling Stones — where rock ’n’ roll history truly began.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
Our walk continues to Argyll Street, a key location in the story of modern pop culture. This was the backdrop to The Beatles’ career-defining appearance on Sunday Night at the London Palladium on 13 October 1963. Hosted by Val Parnell, the broadcast was watched by over 15 million viewers and triggered scenes of mass hysteria across the country — a moment so powerful it gave birth to the term Beatlemania in the national press. We also stop by the commemorative plaque marking the former offices of NEMS, where Brian Epstein, the band’s visionary manager, worked tirelessly to guide The Beatles to global fame. Standing here, you’re right at the point where British music history changed forever.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6
Our tour end here at Heddon Street. Will see the commemorative plaque for David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. It honours the spot where photographer Brian Ward shot the iconic cover image and back cover of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders from Mars.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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