Soho Punk Tour: Experience the Birthplace of British Punk with Aidan McManus
5.0
196 Ratings
Greater London
Experience the birthplace of British punk on the Soho Punk Tour with guide Aidan McManus. Explore iconic clubs, historic sites, and meet seminal punk characters. Join now!
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Soho - See legendary sites where punk gestated and grew into the worldwide phenomenon it became
What's Included
  • In-depth tour commentary
What's Not Included
  • Bottled water
Additional Information

Punk in the UK originated in Kings Road Chelsea and matured in various clubs and pubs of Soho and nearby locations. During the mid-seventies, Soho had a distinct character. Join the tour guided by Aidan McManus and step into the vibrant past as he introduces you to the iconic punk players and locations.
The clubs like Marquee, Vortex, 100 Club, Roxy, Louise’s and Notre Dame Hall, gigs in strip clubs, influential market stands and pubs offer an intriguing journey. You’ll unravel where the first Sex Pistols gig took place, explore crash pads, discover lesbian club meet up spots, and heed tales of The Jam’s legal troubles - this tour incorporates it all!
The duration of the tour is around two hours. However, actual walking constitutes less than half of the time as we pause while I illustrate the stories tied to the above-mentioned locales. Regardless of the weather conditions, the tour commences uninterrupted. It’s not a strenuous walk, but a leisurely journey through a rich history.

Location
Oxford Street
Outside Exit 1, opposite The Flying Horse Pub
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(196 Ratings)
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Jeffrey_s
May 18, 2024
Genuine punk stories - Aidan was a great tour guide telling the real story of punk. Loved hearing about the real history, not the Hollywood story, but from someone who was there.
Review provided by Viator
Wanderer10577668413
May 14, 2024
Punk tour - We were guided around Soho for two and a half hours. It was nice that this was done by a Londoner who actually walked around there at the beginning of the punk era. So no nonsense stories. And told with a lot of humor. I wasn't bored for a moment.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fraur711
Apr 30, 2024
Soho PunkTour - Absolutely great and recommended! Aidan's story is extremely entertaining and informative. You get the story explained first hand, he was in Soho as a teenager back then :) Anyone interested in the history of punk has definitely come to the right place! Cheers from Hanover (Germany)!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michaelok6994gr
Apr 17, 2024
First Class Walking Tour - I had followed Flipside London Tours on Twitter for several years and finally got the chance to go on The Original Soho Punk Tour on Easter Sunday 2024. I hooked up with the tour outside Tottenham Court Road underground station along with another eight people. Aidan introduced himself and gave us a little background of the tour. He was very personable, knowledgeable, funny and irreverent and took us through various landmarks of the area - from Denmark Street, via Covent Garden & China Town to Oxford Street pointing out the original locations of many of punk’s original venues (The Roxy, both Marquee Clubs, The Vortex, The 100 Club and others besides). His stories were colourful, amusing and very interesting and he had a great collection of photographs to give us some idea of what these venues looked like in the late 70s. The tour lasted 2½ hours, which flew past, and is the perfect way to spend time in the area if you have even a fleeting interest in music. I can’t recommend Aidan/the tour highly enough and I look forward to returning to London to join one of his other tours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amy_m
Apr 16, 2024
A brilliant way to spend a few hours with a charismatic expert - Aiden was so knowledgable and so engaging. My dad and I had such a lovely day and learned so much. He really brought all the stops to life and made us laugh along the way. I'd recommend to any punk fun but also to any fan of music in general, or anyone wanting to see soho in a new way.
Review provided by Viator
Stephanie_k
Apr 13, 2024
Amazing Tour!! - Aidan was amazing! Such a great guy and super knowledgeable, telling amazing stories and adding lots of dimension to punk history. Highly recommend if you are at all interested in punk music or culture!
Review provided by Viator
Kalalalal
Apr 8, 2024
Great Punk Rock Tour! - This tour is a must do if you are interested in music history and historic "Punk" Soho. Host Aidan knows a lot about the punk movement in Soho, he was part of it and he tells all the stories and facts in a very funny and interesting way. He knows all the old spots. He showed us everything for almost 3 hours, we can recommend it 100%. Go there!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gary
Apr 5, 2024
Great tour for the true punk rocker or wannabe. - This was my favorite tour in London. Our guide, Aiden, was really knowledgeable, fun, and a great storyteller. He made the original punk rock days really come to life. If you were around when punk was born, or wish that you were, then you will love this tour. I can’t wait to try Aiden’s other tours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andy736
Apr 2, 2024
Great punk walking tour. - Did the Soho Punk tour with Aidan . Fantastic 2 and half hours going round the important sites of the UK,s punk beginnings . If you are clued up on the history you will see all the sites youve read about and maybe some yo didnt know about . This tour would be of interset not just to those of a punk slant but anybody with an interest in rock music in general . Aidan gave great first hand insight into many of the places visited and was good crack all the way round . Would highly recommend . We will defo do the Strummer Walk next time down in London 👍
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stevomm
Apr 2, 2024
Soho Punk Tour With Balls! - There's plenty of tours like this but you need someone who experienced and lived in the area of this tour. Add Aiden's enthusiam to the mix and that spells out to be a grand tour! 2.5 hours you say! It flew by, with his knowledge, unique delivery manner and endless banter, it was a pleasure to be immersed in this tour. Yes some is common knowledge but he adds the meat to the bones, as they say! Pucker!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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