Swinging 60s in London: Private Psychedelic Bus Tour

Step back in time and experience the Swinging 60s in London with our private psychedelic bus tour. Explore iconic locations, discover the birthplace of the mini-skirt, and visit music heritage sites. Live commentary and 60s music included!

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Sloane Square - Visit the hotel where The Beatles established their first London base in the early 1960s
  • King’s Road - The epicenter of Swinging London, known for its iconic music, fashion, and cultural landmarks
  • The Pheasantry - Eric Clapton’s former residence during his time with Cream
  • Old Church Street - Eric Clapton’s current London home and the site of a renowned recording studio used by Pink Floyd, Cat Stevens, The Who, and many other 60s icons
  • Cheyne Walk - Explore the residences of music legends in this exclusive area of London along the River Thames
  • Flood Street - Uncover the studio where The Beatles’ iconic ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ album cover was photographed in 1967
  • Edith Grove - The 1962 home of Jagger, Richards, and Jones, where the Rolling Stones got their name
  • Troubadour - Experience one of London’s most significant music venues, largely unchanged since the 1960s when Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and many other music legends performed and relaxed here
What's Included
  • Professional guide
  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
What's Not Included
  • Transportation to/from meeting point
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Tea and coffee
Additional Information

Embark on a nostalgic journey with our captivating ‘Magic Bus’ and traverse through the noteworthy spots of vintage London. Navigate the chic Kings Road, Chelsea, and explore spaces that shaped the era such as *Mary Quant’s ‘Bazaar’, the birthplace of mini-skirt, John Crittle’s ‘Dandie Fashions’ and ‘Granny Takes A Trip’, the city’s maiden psychedelic store. Catch a glimpse of the residences of 60s music legends – past and present. Stop by the iconic Troubadour - an unaltered musical citadel that hosted Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and many more. Also, there’s a halt at the renowned Royal Albert Hall for a deserving photo session.
• Live narrative by expert tour guides
• 60s music and authentic ‘jingles’ courtesy of the 60s pirates, RADIO CAROLINE

  • Minimum age is 9 years
  • Availability for tours cannot be checked without making a booking. Credit cards will only be charged upon confirmation of tour availability
Location
The Royal Court Theatre
Sloane Square
Outside Sloane Square tube station on the Circle (yellow) and District (green) lines
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(29 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Tomkx5392vg
Aug 12, 2024
American college class gets a "swinging" education - Paul Endacott offers an excellent tour of the sites associated with the major musical and fashion figures of the 1960s. We were an American college group participating in a 5-week study abroad course on the music of the British Invasion. As the instructor, I asked Paul to organize a 3-hour bespoke tour of iconic places in West London related to all things British Invasion. Paul did not disappoint. We met him at Sloane Square and climbed atop his 1960s vintage bus. He then cranked up the 60s tunes and we all joined in. As our driver weaved through London’s traffic, Paul narrated the tour, pointing out dozens of venues that anyone with even a mild interest in 1960s pop culture must see, such as the Royal Court Hotel, fashion boutiques along King’s Road, 102 Edith Grove, the Crawdaddy Club, Twickenham Film Studios, Eel Pie Island, and the Richmond Athletic Grounds. All the while, he regaled us with stories and anecdotes that expertly connected us to the sites we were passing. Occasionally, we got off the bus for a closer look, such as at Chiswick House (watch the “Paperback Writer” promo video), the Station Hotel, and Twickenham Studios. Just as exciting were those places of a purely historical nature that embody the character of Richmond, such as the Richmond Bridge, the remains of Richmond Palace, and the pub featured in “Ted Lasso.” Paul knew it all and presented it in an entertaining and engaging way that made the three hours seem like a few minutes. The students loved it and said this is definitely one activity that every future class should experience. Bravo Paul!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
564jaimeh
Aug 4, 2024
A swinging great time! - We did the private bespoke tour with an emphasis on The Rolling Stones and had a blast. I bought the tour to take my parents (in their 70s) who were big fans of rock music from the 1960’s. We were all super impressed with Paul and his knowledge and the sites he put together. Olympic studios was our favorite! Highly recommend if you want a unique London experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emilior768
Jul 24, 2024
Amazing experience for families - I had a lovely tour experience guided by Paul. The van is very comfortable to fit 7 and the locations on the tour are unique and very pretty. It is a good experience where you can get to know very nice parts of London while listening to music and great stories about the 60s, not only about The Beatles but also about what happened in London in those days.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
John151261
Dec 12, 2023
Highly recommended music experience - This was a most enjoyable, fascinating, educational tour. Our tour guide was both informative and educational. I learned a lot, I didn't know, about bands and musicians I've always liked, and about the music scene that took place in London, when I was too young to appreciate it. We will be going again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nctimbers
Aug 6, 2023
A great bus tour celebrating the music and history of The Kinks - Enjoyed a fun Kinks-themes tour around East Finchley & Muswell Hill area today. A great crowd of people on the bus, and Paul's usual excellent commentary and choice of 60s music to keep us informed and entertained.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Thegoodlt
Jun 6, 2023
The Kinks Journey - We did the private Kinks Journey tour and enjoyed every minute. Unique destinations included a tranquil neighborhood park where the Davies brothers used to have "kickabouts", The Clissold Arms pub across the road from their childhood home, and the Archway Tavern featured on the cover of their 1971 "Muswell Hillbillies" album. Paul has an extensive knowledge of rock 'n' roll history, and we loved going down the ubiquitous rabbit holes that interconnect musical artists and groups.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elliecx446qd
May 22, 2023
Great Tour! - I booked this tour as a gift for my parents and grandparents through a third-party site, and we loved it! Paul was very friendly, knowledgeable and engaging. All three generations would really recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
700selmae
May 1, 2023
Fantastic tour ! - The tour was amazing and we enjoyed the entire experience : Paul was kind, funny and very knowledgeable, we learnt a lot about the music and fashion in the 60s
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michaelbb9340im
Apr 11, 2023
Not your cookie cutter rock tour of London. - Excellent in debth peak into the Scene that was London in the 60's. I enjoyed learning more about not only the music, but also the fashion of the 60s.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stuarthk2500sc
Feb 13, 2023
Excellent Tour ! Bring back to life the 60's - Family with different generations in London for the weekend and looking for something different to do - decided to take the oldest person on a 60's tour - and the others can see what their Grandad got up to in the 60's ;-) From the first contact Paul was very accommodating and explained all the options - the planning and communication was excellent. For the tour - we took 4 hours and that was needed to see all the places and sights in one go from central London to Richmond. A few places I had seen before as a passer by - but never realised the history and what lay behind the gates and doors of the houses we passed - old stomping grounds, homes and venues frequented by the famous names of the 60's and felt like we were following them through time as we moved through the tour. Paul was an excellent host and guide - his knowledge was exceptional and pre planning perfect to transport us from the hustle of modern day London to a time when Dad was stomping around in his prime. If you are looking for something a little different - a more modern history experience that you can connect to modern day - great references and a knowledgeable guide then go for it
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 6 guests
1
Traveler
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today