Then and Now London Walks

WOMEN IN ART AT TATE BRITAIN Fundraiser for Amnesty International Saturday May 16

Richard1 — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:52:12 +0000

Join us at Tate Britain on May 16, 2026 at 11:00 AM . Tate Britain is a magnificent gallery housing the world’s greatest collection of art created by British artists. We will look at the changing representation of women in art over time and hear the stories of some of the women powerfully depicted in artwork. We will also focus on the paintings of female artists including great works from the c17th to the c21st from artists like Mary Beale, Nina Hamnett, Winifred Knight, Vanessa Bell, Dora Carrington and Gwen John. Please give generously to fund the vital work that Amnesty International does to support human rights and prisoners of conscience across the world. There is no upper limit to your contribution.

To join this tour and to support Amnesty International click here

Great feedback for From Prejudice to Pride walk

Richard1 — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:51:46 +0000

Yesterday’s sold-out LGBT+ History Walk: From Prejudice to Pride was a complete joy  30 people joined us to explore Bloomsbury & King’s Cross, uncovering the stories of those who dared to live, love and resist openly.

A special moment occurred on Marchmont Street outside the childhood home of Kenneth Williams  – where we bumped into another group marking the 100th anniversary of his birth (22 February 1926). A lovely reminder of how these stories continue to resonate.

Thank you to every one of you for joining us and raising £160 for Mosaic LGBT+ Young Persons’ Trust in the process. If you joined us, please leave feedback via our link in bio!

And a HUGE shoutout to Richard Cohen, our fantastic tour guide  – for bringing history to life with warmth, depth and passion.

FROM PREJUDICE TO PRIDE Sunday 22 February at 11:00

Richard1 — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:58:28 +0000

Celebrate LGBT+ History Month 2026 by walking the streets where history was made. Join this guided walk through Bloomsbury and King’s Cross and walk in the footsteps of the trailblazers who dared to live, love and resist openly.With longstanding local resident and Camden tour guide Richard Cohen, you’ll uncover Camden’s deep and rich heritage of sexual diversity.
Learn about the extraordinary range of people and places that are part of Camden’s LGBT+ heritage. Hear about the Molly Houses, the Victorian cross-dressers and the notorious and much policed watering holes of the Bohemian demimonde of the 1920s and 30s. Learn about the theatre which was the vanguard of lesbian and gay drama and pass London’s first LGBTQ+ bookshop.Meet the Bloomsbury Set who challenged Victorian codes of behaviour and Kenneth Williams the great genius of Polari. Hear the inspiring story of how the LGBT+ community rallied together to respond to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s.Witness the struggle against the hated Section 28 and the joyous celebrations of the first Same Sex weddings at Camden Town Hall.Don’t miss this inspiring walk, visiting the sites where history was made and honouring those who came before. All proceeds from donations will go to Mosaic LGBT+ Young Persons’ Trust – a Camden-based charity supporting, educating and inspiring LGBT+ young people aged 12–18 and 18–25. Click here to join the waitlist.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/walk-from-prejudice-to-pride-an-exploration-of-camdens-lgbt-heritage-tickets-1981429710603?aff=oddtdtcreator

NIGHTTIME RIVER WALK Thursday 26 February at 6.30

Richard1 — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:37:38 +0000

Join me for another fabulous riverside walk to take in the brilliant lighting on the bridges that cross the Thames in the heart of our wonderful city. They have all been lit up in glorious luminous colours under the Illuminated River Project. We meet at 6.30 pm at Blackfriars Station. Here is the link to sign up via Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/illuminated-river-shining-a-light-on-the-western-bridges-tickets-1657744671939?aff=oddtdtcreator

ILLUMINATED RIVER WALKS Thursday 6 November at 6.30

Richard1 — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:27:47 +0000

If you are looking for an exciting and inspiring way to spend a dark early November evening you could come on the Illuminated River walk with me. I am leading a group from Blackfriars station (north side) to Westminster on THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER at 6.30. This is a great chance to see the beautiful lighting on the Thames Bridges and take in magnificent views and architecture and soak up the lively atmosphere of the riverside by night. Sign up HERE through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/illuminated-river-shining-a-light-on-the-western-bridges-tickets-1657744671939?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

MY CHURCH STREET, MY WESTMINSTER

Richard1 — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:14:40 +0000

Are you looking for something positive to do on a Sunday morning? Why not come along on a walk to support the Lord Mayor of Westminster’s Appeal? I am leading the walk in which we will be exploring London’s most thriving street market at Church Street which runs between Lisson Grove and Edgware Road? The walk is at 11:00 on SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER. All proceeds will go towards the Lord Mayor’s Appeal which is the Avenues Youth Project. We will be hearing about some early social reformers, learning about the life and heritage of the market and exploring Paddington Green where the great Sarah Siddons lies at rest. The walk will give a true insight into the extraordinary heritage of this fascinating corner of London. Click HERE to join this walk. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-walk-with-the-lord-mayor-in-in-church-street-tickets-1683347019249

VOICES FOR HUMANITY Tour of Fitzrovia

Richard1 — Wed, 07 May 2025 13:12:59 +0000

I am offering a fundraising walking tour of Fitzrovia on Wednesday June 11 at 18:30 and Saturday June 14 at 14:00. All proceeds will go the International Rescue Committee which helps people affected by humanitarian crises around the world to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. The tour is part of the London Festival of Architecture whose theme this year is Voices so my tour is entitled VOICES FOR HUMANITY IN FITZROVIA. You will meet some of the extraordinary individuals who have lived in the area and raised their voices for freedom including Olaudah Equiano, Mary Prince, Sarah Parker Remond, Lady Ottoline Morrell, the colourful habitués of the Fitzroy Tavern and many more. You will also have the chance to look at beautiful buildings from the Eighteenth to the Twenty-first centuries. There is much to enjoy in Fitzrovia. All proceeds will go to the IRC. I suggest £15.00 as a generous payment but there are no upper limits to what you can give. PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY!!

Click here to join the walk

Costa Rica Land of Contrasts

Richard1 — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:29:34 +0000

I have recently been to Costa Rica for a fabulous holiday. Here is my account of the trip:-

https://richardcohentraveller.wordpress.com/2025/01/24/costa-rica-land-of-contrasts/

HUMAN RIGHTS HEROES AT THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

Richard1 — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:51:21 +0000

This is a fundraiser for Amnesty International. Sunday 23 February 2025 at 2.30

The National Portrait Gallery reopened last year after a four-year refit restoring it to its original architectural splendour. Its collection has been rehung and some wonderful new portraits added. We will look at the images of many famous individuals, many with local London connections, who have been champions of human rights over the centuries and have campaigned for political and social freedom. This event is a fundraiser for Amnesty International who support prisoners of conscience around the world and campaign for freedom of speech and democratic rights. We suggest a minimum contribution of £10 to come on the tour but there is no upper limit. Please contribute generously. Please use this link on Eventbrite to book your place.

LABOUR FUNDRAISER AT THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

Richard1 — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 16:44:02 +0000

A Visit to the National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery reopened last year after a four-year refit restoring its original architectural splendour. The collection has been beautifully rehung and some wonderful new portraits added. The tour will try to assess how the new gallery has redressed gender imbalance and stressed diversity through our history. We will look at the images of individuals, many with local London connections, who have challenged orthodox values and brought about social change and progress. We will hear the stories of several key leaders who have played a vital role in the story of the Labour Party.

This is a fundraiser for the Labour Party. All takings will go towards our campaigning expenses in this election year. Please contribute generously. There is no upper limit to contributions.

To join please use this link

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-labour-fundraiser-at-the-national-portrait-gallery-tickets-811267852987