Then and Now London Walks http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com Walk London’s rich history with Richard Cohen Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:49:22 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.38 GREAT FEEDBACK ON PIMLICO WALK http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/08/14/great-feedback-on-pimlico-walk/ http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/08/14/great-feedback-on-pimlico-walk/#comments Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:49:22 +0000 http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/?p=1339 Great feedback from a recent Inside Out Westminster walk around Pimlico on Sunday 2 August:- 

The walk was excellent.  Richard’s very experienced and detailed and clear in explaining the history of Pimlico.  The walk was one of the best I have ever joined. 

 A fantastic walk – absolutely excellent. The guide was tremendously knowledgeable across a wide range of spheres, and crucially, knew how to select and direct us to things to make it all fascinating. One’s attention does not flag when information is so well organised, selected and presented – that is not easy (not least in hot weather!) Brilliant! I now have a much better idea of Pimlico, in all its diversity. 

Greenwood_1827_croppedBelgrave6E5C1839-B23E-46E3-9DA5-533D765C5B99_n Pimlico

 

 

]]> http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/08/14/great-feedback-on-pimlico-walk/feed/ 0 BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL October 8 and 10 Bloomsbury Hotbed of Creativity http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/08/14/bloomsbury-festival-october-8-and-10-bloomsbury-hotbed-of-creativity/ http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/08/14/bloomsbury-festival-october-8-and-10-bloomsbury-hotbed-of-creativity/#comments Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:55:05 +0000 http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/?p=1328 20221125_110823This year the Bloomsbury Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary.  The 2026 theme is Creativity and my contribution this year is a walk on Thursday October 8 and Saturday October 10.  The walk is called Bloomsbury: Hotbed of Creativity and you can find out all about it and book here

https://bloomsburyfestival.org.uk/whats-on/bloomsbury-hotbed-of-creativity

20221125_110721

1200px-Bloomsbury,_London_(aerial)

]]> http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/08/14/bloomsbury-festival-october-8-and-10-bloomsbury-hotbed-of-creativity/feed/ 0 WOMEN IN ART AT TATE BRITAIN Fundraiser for Amnesty International Saturday May 16 http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/03/26/women-in-art-at-tate-britain-fundraiser-for-amnesty-international-saturday-may-16/ http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/03/26/women-in-art-at-tate-britain-fundraiser-for-amnesty-international-saturday-may-16/#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:52:12 +0000 http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/?p=1318 T07502_9 No Woman No CryJoin 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

Tate_Britain_(5822081512)_(2) Amnesty

T00069_10 The Cholmondeley Ladies

]]> http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/03/26/women-in-art-at-tate-britain-fundraiser-for-amnesty-international-saturday-may-16/feed/ 0 Great feedback for From Prejudice to Pride walk http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/02/23/great-feedback-for-from-prejudice-to-pride-walk/ http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/02/23/great-feedback-for-from-prejudice-to-pride-walk/#comments Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:51:46 +0000 http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/?p=1313 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.

Bramber Gardens KX Feb 22 2026

]]> http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/02/23/great-feedback-for-from-prejudice-to-pride-walk/feed/ 0 FROM PREJUDICE TO PRIDE Sunday 22 February at 11:00 http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/02/19/from-prejudice-to-pride-sunday-22-february-at-1100/ http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/02/19/from-prejudice-to-pride-sunday-22-february-at-1100/#comments Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:58:28 +0000 http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/?p=1309 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

Pits-and-Perverts-posterimages29542491417_2b2296c50a_bLGBT_Rainbow_FlagKennethwilliams

]]> http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/02/19/from-prejudice-to-pride-sunday-22-february-at-1100/feed/ 0 NIGHTTIME RIVER WALK Thursday 26 February at 6.30 http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/02/19/nighttime-river-walk-thursday-26-february-at-6-30/ http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/02/19/nighttime-river-walk-thursday-26-february-at-6-30/#comments Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:37:38 +0000 http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/?p=1304 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

481705536_2319896698396666_3481009382845927734_nwaterloo-bridge-20200225-031_AFTER_480_Illuminated-River_Phase2_Lambeth-Bridge_04b

2_AFTER_CROPPED_480_Illuminated-River_Phase2_Waterloo-Bridge_09a

]]> http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2026/02/19/nighttime-river-walk-thursday-26-february-at-6-30/feed/ 0 ILLUMINATED RIVER WALKS Thursday 6 November at 6.30 http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2025/10/22/illuminated-river-walks-thursday-6-november-at-6-30/ http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2025/10/22/illuminated-river-walks-thursday-6-november-at-6-30/#comments Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:27:47 +0000 http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/?p=1267 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

https___cdn.evbuc.com_images_1112174283_226462581541_1_original Illuminated Bridges

2_AFTER_CROPPED_480_Illuminated-River_Phase2_Waterloo-Bridge_09a

 

]]> http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2025/10/22/illuminated-river-walks-thursday-6-november-at-6-30/feed/ 0 MY CHURCH STREET, MY WESTMINSTER http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2025/10/21/my-church-street-my-westminster/ http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2025/10/21/my-church-street-my-westminster/#comments Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:14:40 +0000 http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/?p=1255 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

Church-street-marketLord Mayor PDrestored_sarah_siddons_full_without_plinth_-_profile

 

]]> http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2025/10/21/my-church-street-my-westminster/feed/ 0 VOICES FOR HUMANITY Tour of Fitzrovia http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2025/05/07/voices-for-humanity-tour-of-fitzrovia/ http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2025/05/07/voices-for-humanity-tour-of-fitzrovia/#comments Wed, 07 May 2025 13:12:59 +0000 http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/?p=1248 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

Charlotte_Place_from_Goodge_Street International_Rescue_Committee_Logo.svg

 

 

 

 

 

]]> http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2025/05/07/voices-for-humanity-tour-of-fitzrovia/feed/ 0 Costa Rica Land of Contrasts http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2025/02/13/costa-rica-land-of-contrasts/ http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2025/02/13/costa-rica-land-of-contrasts/#comments Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:29:34 +0000 http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/?p=1245 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/

 

Coat_of_arms_of_Costa_Rica.svg

]]> http://thenandnowlondonwalks.com/2025/02/13/costa-rica-land-of-contrasts/feed/ 0