Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn up for a walk without booking first?
We do not recommend doing this. Individual guides might be able to take additional people providing the walk is not full, but will always charge the full price for people who don’t book in advance. If you don’t book in advance you will also not get any notification of changed locations.
What happens if I don’t turn up on time?
Before the walk the guide will send you an email that will give the meeting place and the place of the first stop. Guides often introduce the walks, and then usually move off to the next stop. If you arrive within ten minutes of the start time you should find the group at the first stop.
What happens if I fail to turn up? Will I get a refund?
I’m afraid not. We will turn up to do the walk (unless the weather conditions are really extreme) and our guides do not make refunds unless the problem is ours (so in the very unlikely situation where a guide failed to turn up we would refund the ticket money).
Will the walk be ever cancelled?
This is very unlikely. The main cause for cancellation would be extreme weather conditions or some large scale transportation failure. If we ever do have to cancel a walk the guide will attempt to use your email address and SMS (if we have your phone details) to let you know that the walk has been cancelled. If you are aware of possible difficulties then we suggest that you contact the guide to check that walk is going ahead.
How long do walks last?
We run different types of walk, and the expected duration is shown on the Eventbrite booking ticket form. You can also download the walk into a diary if you use Outlook or Gmail (or many other diary systems). Most walks tend to be under two hours – although we do intend to run a few longer walks that will include pub or cafe breaks.
How many people are on a group?
Each walk varies, and so we have a different number of places available for each walk. Most walks have places for up to 15 people. It is possible that a walk might only attract a single booking. If this happens the guide will contact you, and see if you would like to reschedule, or if you wish to continue and take the walk with the guide. Smaller groups often allow the walk to explore aspects that individuals are really interested in more depth.
Why should I book with Footprints of London?
All our guides are qualified (this means that they have studied for an accredited course, and taken and passed written and practical examinations) and experienced. They are also members of a recognised guiding association, so they adhere to the standards of that guided association. The walks we do tend to be researched by the guide (quite a few of the more popular rota walks run by other guiding companies are taken by guides who have not developed the walk). This means that many of our walks tend to be exploring new areas or topics that are rarely covered by others.
How do I recognise the Guide?
When you arrive at the starting place, the Guide will be holding or wearing a Footprints of London logo.
Who is responsible for the safety of walkers?
The guide will give appropriate safety briefings at the start of the walk, but it is important to realise that each walker remains responsible for their own safety.