The Urban Rambler

20/04/2026

Petticoat Lane, early-mid 20th century.

With restrictions on Jews trading within the City, this area just beyond its boundaries became a centre of Jewish life from the 17th through to the 20th century. By the late 1800s, it was the heart of London’s clothing trade.

On Sundays, the street filled with stalls — cloth, ready-made garments, boots, hats — and with them the traders and characters people remembered long after. Deals were struck quickly, loudly, and often.

Many migrants arrived here with very little, but built businesses that lasted. Some became names still known today, including and .

I explore this world on my Walk — from to the workshops, warehouses and lives behind it.

Running as part of on Sunday 7th June.

Tickets via link in bio 🔗

09/04/2026

You probably think of London as one of the fashion capitals of the world 👗 👠 🎽

But much of that story is tied to Jewish migrants — from East End tailoring workshops to some of the biggest names on the high street today.

This June, I’m running two special walks for Jewish Culture Month exploring Jewish fashion in London — from craft and migration to identity and modern brands.

📍 Sunday 7th June - EAST END
📍 Sunday 14th June - WEST END

Places are limited.

Join me — or tag someone who’d love this.

https://theurbanrambler.squarespace.com/bookings

04/03/2026

From walking tours and plaques, to exhibitions and drag, LGBT+ History Month has been a busy one… 🌈

It began with the launch of our Q***r Wandsworth exhibition at Battersea Arts Centre (which makes me laugh because every time I write Battersea my phone now autocorrects to Battersea’d - look it up!!! 🍆🦠).

The exhibition was also hosted at Wandsworth Town Library as part of the council’s London Borough of Culture celebrations. We created a. booklet and I developed an online map of over 50 places linked to the borough’s q***r history (Search Q***r Wandsworth Heritage Trail to explore it). I’ve been working on this project since July last year, so seeing it all come to fruition was amazing 🤩

After a bit of downtime, that was followed by a really well-attended walking tour of Q***r Soho - S*x, Scandal & Subculture on Valentine’s Day ❤️, suitably rounded off with some drag at the Admiral Duncan 👠✨

Last week I had the honour of giving a speech at the unveiling of a plaque to Hanna and Patrick Barrington - an extraordinary couple who, among other things, ran a friendly neighbourhood wine bar in Battersea 🍷 (which Hanna famously threw Sarah Ferguson out of!) and took in gay lodgers in their time of need. Look them up - they 💯 deserve to be remembered.

Then I led my Q***r Docklands walk - Secrets, Sailors and Survival ⚓️ - which I dedicated to the memory of Martyn Butler, co-founder of the Terence Higgins Trust, who lived in the area and very sadly passed away last week.

As we move into spring 🌷 I’ll be swotting up for an upcoming Q***r Tour of England with my friend Professor Andrew Lear in May, writing new q***r history walks for Battersea’d (see!) and Putney, and creating some outdoor interpretation for Pride Month in Wandsworth - before Ben and I embark on our new adventure in the West Indies 🏝️☀️



***rhistory ***rlondon

06/02/2026

I don’t run this walk often — and it’s happening next weekend, Saturday 14 February, 11am.

This isn’t a rainbow Soho walk.

It’s about s*x, secrecy, survival, raids, clubs, joy, backlash - and why Soho became q***r at all.

If you care about q***r history, London nightlife, or how fragile our spaces are, this is for you.

It also happens to fall on Valentine’s Day - but this is Soho’s version of love.

Limited places. One week to go.

Link in bio.

Please share if you know someone who should be there.

Image: Soho street scene, c.1950s. Wikimedia Commons.

23/01/2026

I’ve got two q***r walking tours coming up in February for LGBT+ History Month 🌈

Q***r Soho: S*x, Scandal & Subculture - Sat 14th Feb - an alternative way to spend Valentine's Day 😍

Q***r Docklands: Secrets, Sailors & Survival - Sat 28th Feb -

Dates and booking via the link in my bio...

***rhistory ***rlondon

13/01/2026

LGBTQ+ History Month is coming up— and I’ve got two guided walks running this February.

Join me to explore hidden q***r histories, extraordinary lives and the places where communities formed, survived and resisted.

🌈 Soho – S*x, Scandal & Subculture
Sat 14 Feb · 11am

🌈 Docklands – Secrets, Sailors & Survival
Sat 28 Feb · 11am

Both walks uncover stories that rarely make it into the history books, and are open to everyone — curious locals, history lovers, and anyone wanting to see London differently.

🎟 Tickets available now — link in bio.

If you’ve been meaning to come on a walk, this is a great time to join.


***rHistory

03/12/2025

🎄✨ Give the gift of hidden London this Christmas ✨🎄

Looking for a meaningful present for someone curious, adventurous, or impossible to buy for?

My Urban Rambler Christmas Gift Vouchers are now available — perfect for anyone who loves London’s history, lost rivers, hidden stories and atmospheric walks.

Choose from:

🎁 £20 Public Walk Voucher
🎁 £250 Private Walk Voucher (for up to 6 people)

Both vouchers are:

✔ beautifully designed
✔ valid for all of 2026
✔ easy to redeem
✔ ideal for explorers, London lovers, and the historically curious

Gift something they’ll remember — not something that ends up in the drawer.

👉 Link in bio to buy direct from my site
🎅 Last-minute friendly — vouchers delivered digitally!

21/11/2025

✨Christmas in London is magical - and this year, I’m offering festive walking tours and gift vouchers! ✨

If you’re looking for a meaningful, memorable gift (or just a lovely way to celebrate the season), my Christmas walking tours explore hidden corners, glittering streets and surprising stories across the city.

🎁 Gift Vouchers

Perfect for someone who loves London, history, or exploring new places.

Valid for 12 months • Instant digital delivery

🎄Festive Walking Tours

Private tours for families, friends or colleagues - fully tailored, beautifully researched, and full of seasonal sparkle.

Walks are available throughout December (and vouchers can be used any time over the next year).

Tap the link in my bio to learn more or book.

Let’s make this Christmas a little more magical ✨

16/07/2025

Some of the dreamy objects and interiors that can be seen at the V&A East Storehouse.

This is the bulk of the V&A collection that isn’t on display at any of their museums. There is another store in the country for things that are MASSIVE.

The V&A East - a new museum - is opening in Spring 2026, and its target audience will be 16-24 year olds from East London.

But this storehouse has to be seen to be believed. You could go multiple times and see something new each time. It’s free to all.

A brilliant example of making collections accessible.

14/07/2025

A few snaps from my walking tour on Saturday - “Tales from the Thames Path: Rotherhithe to Tower Bridge”.

1. The site of the first ever tunnel under a major river - the Thames Tunnel by Marc and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, dubbed the 8th wonder of the world!

2. Tower Bridge, the City, and the Downings Roads Moorings - 3 acres of houseboats including 7 garden barges!

3. The River Neckinger - one of the ‘lost rivers of London’ at its mouth where it meets the Thames. This is the only part of the river that flows above ground, and it’s not just a little trickle!

Check out my website for all available tours and talks - link in bio 🔗

10/07/2025

🚨📣 More Roman archaeology to be preserved and displayed in the City of London 🙌🏛️🏺🌇🤓

The Romans founded Londinium soon after they invaded in 43AD. By the time they left in 410AD it was the largest city in Britannia and covered the area of a square mile - what we know today as the City of London 🌃

Ancient references to Londinium are few and far between in the historical record. This means that to understand it we are in the exciting position where we have to rely solely on archaeology ⛏️

Due to the continued success of the City as a place where the world wants to trade, the land is being constantly regenerated 🏗️ 👷🚧 These new building need solid foundations and deep basements - and that’s where the Roman layer of the city lies - between 5 and 10 metres below the modern day street level.

The last decade has seen HUGE discoveries covering the entire timespan of the Roman occupation.

You’ll hear about the Romans in pretty much every walking tour of mine, especially those that take place in the City, but to hear about these discoveries and find out all there is to know about the city’s classical past, book my tour “Secrets of Londinium: Roman rule in London”

You can find all my walks and talks listed on my website: https://theurbanrambler.squarespace.com/walks

The development will include an exhibition showcasing the 2,000-year-old basilica.

03/07/2025

I was lucky enough to be at this historic plaque unveiling yesterday. The first ever blue plaque with the word ‘le****ns’ on it.

Having worked for English Heritage for over 10 years, I was constantly looking for ways to champion the telling of stories that have been hidden or forgotten, whether that be intentionally or un-intentionally.

Q***r histories have always been sidelined due to legal and social acceptance. It’s wonderful to see this work paying off in such a public way.

It was so special to be a part of this, and to speak to some of the le****ns for who this was a sacred safe space.

Here’s to many more blue plaques to q***r spaces 🏳️‍🌈🔵