Then and Now London Walks

ILLUMINATED RIVER SPECIAL EVENT Saturday 19 September at 8.00pm

Richard1 — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:41:25 +0000

As part of the Totally Thames Festival I am taking a special night-time walk to look at the beautifully lit bridges in the City of London from Blackfriars to Tower Bridge. The walk starts with a special installation of lighting art on the columns of the old Blackfriars Railway Bridge which celebrates the experience and creativity of deaf and disabled people and then takes in the magnificent bridges of the City. Find out more and book here.

Explore the Roman Walls of London with Open House Saturday 12 September 14:30

Richard1 — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 17:08:46 +0000

The original City beneath our feet

What have the Romans ever done for us Londoners? Plenty!

Come on this guided tour of the Roman walls of London. Discover a history that dates back nearly 2,000 years. Let me reveal the ancient city of Londinium that lies beneath your feet.

Learn why the Romans founded the City of Londinium, what they bought and what they liked to export. See some of the relics recovered from recent archaeological work on the walls. Take in a view of the original Roman walls that guarded the City 1,800 years ago.

Book through the Open House website here

GREAT FEEDBACK ON PIMLICO WALK

Richard1 — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:49:22 +0000

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.

BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL October 8 and 10 Bloomsbury Hotbed of Creativity

Richard1 — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:55:05 +0000

This 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

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