From the late 17th Century when it burst into life , St James’s in London has been “the place to be” for Britain’s elite and those who aspire to join it.

But beneath the conservative appearance of this most stylish part of London, scandal has and intrigue have always been lurking.

Courtiers, courtesans, poets and politicians have been driven by ambition and lust to get ahead, exert power or climb the social ladder. In this walk we’ll meet those who succeeded as well as those who failed.

This walk will tell you their stories and give you the chance to explore one of the most beautiful parts of London.

Five star reviews of some of Michael’s walks:

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186338-d3742632-Reviews-Footprints_of_London-London_England.html

Enjoyable and knowledgeable

Michael was really excellent…knew lots of additional facts and information that really bright the tour to life! A really enjoyable way to learn more about London.

Written 2 September 2024

Saville Row walking tour

May 2024 • FamilyWe had a personalised tour with Michael Duncan around Saville row, it was amazing, reasonably priced and very enjoyable. Not many people do walking tours of this area but we were able to go into the shops and see so many interesting things, well worth it!

Great walk around Marylebone

Apr 2024 • Friends We had a great walk with Michael around Marylebone. He was instructive and interesting and we leanred about the area as well as giving us stories about some individual houses

.Architecture and stories of unusual characters

Apr 2024 • Friends Excellent talk from Michael learning about the ‘haves and have-nots of Marylebone’ which including some interesting characters I’ve never heard of before and lots of unusual stories. The architectural details were really good.

Michael led us through past images and stories of St James in 90 minutes that flew past. It left us all keen to explore more London’s colourful past.

Written 23 April 2024

Michael was a personable guide, very knowledgeable and well informed. He told us many interesting anecdotes which made the walk come alive. A thoroughly enjoyable walk which I would definitely recommend to others.

Written 26 November 2023

Had a great time on the James Bond and the Spies of Mayfair with Michael as our guide. The weather wasn’t great (classic london rain) but Michael did a great job keeping us engaged despite the weather. I’ve lived in london for 4 years and I learned a lot of things I didn’t know on this tour! Highly recommend this tour if you’re interested in learning some unique history!

Written 22 July 2023

I recently had the opportunity to take a walking tour of London with Michael, a friendly and knowledgeable guide who led us through the city’s most interesting sites related to Ian Fleming, James Bond, and real-life spies.

Michael was welcoming and engaging, and his passion for the subject matter was evident throughout the tour. The tour covered a variety of locations related to the history and culture of espionage in London, and Michael’s expertise on the topic was impressive. He was able to bring the stories to life in a way that made the experience both informative and entertaining.

Date of experience: March 2023

“A fascinating walk , led by a very well-informed and most engaging guide, Michael Duncan. If you love learning about scandals, sexual and financial, and see where they happened, this is absolutely the walk for you! Brilliant, shocking and entertaining stuff!”

“Michael Duncan’s knowledge and expertise made for a very enjoyable 90 minute walk. It was engaging and entertaining. Michael introduced us to the area’s hidden gems and whetted our appetite for finding out more.”

Date of experience June 2022

Michael is really charming and his tours are super interesting. Highly recommend his tours in Soho and St James’s

Date of experience: March 2022

PRE-BOOKINGS ONLY.

The walk starts at WATERSTONES on PICCADILLY. Please check travel arrangements on the day at Transport for London’s Journey Planner site.