Living London wanderings offer you the opportunity to explore lesser-known parts of London. They bring London’s magical hidden gems to life through storytelling and anecdotes of people and place. Each walk lasts about 2.5 hours including stop-offs at various locations.
Book Lovers
Explore the city’s characterful literary gems
Explore London’s wondrous bookshops and characterful libraries on this unique wandering tour. Starting off at the beautiful Daunt Books in Marylebone, we’ll wander down to the London Library stopping off at a number of places including the oldest bookshop in the city and an iconic art bookshop. Along the way I’ll be sharing stories about hidden literary gems across the city and the fascinating people that frequent them. I’ll also talk about writers who’ve lived in and written about London from Virginia Woolf to Benjamin Zephanire.
Sunday 8th June, 11am - 1:30pm
Sunday 20th July, 11am - 1.30pm
Sunday 24th Aug, 11am - 1.30pm
Sunday 21st Sept, 11am - 1.30pm
Secret Canalside
Explore old and new canalside gems
Discover canalside gems on this magical wandering from Warwick Avenue to Portobello Road Market. Along the way we’ll visit London’s oldest gardening centre, pass through the whimsical Meanwhile Community Gardens and take in Erno Goldfinger’s iconic Trellick Tower as well as various other hidden spaces. Learn about the people and communities that make the spaces so special and connect each hidden space to a dozen others.
Saturday 7th June, 11am - 1:30pm
Saturday 19th July, 11am - 1:30pm
Saturday 23rd Aug, 11am - 1:30pm
Saturday 20th Sept, 11am - 1:30pm
Secret Dalston
Explore wondrous spaces and discover local stories
Dalston is a vibrant, characterful and fast-changing neighbourhood in East London, home to diverse communities and hidden gems. Come along to this extra special wandering tour - discover inspiring stories and explore wondrous spaces, old and new. This small-group tour takes in many special places including a secret garden, a beautiful mosque, a historical street market, an artist’s house and more. Learn ways to create connections and to find hidden gems in familiar and unfamiliar areas. A minimum of 4 bookings required for the tour to run. Maximum 6 spaces per tour.
Monday 23rd June, 2pm - 4:30pm
Monday 1st September, 2pm - 4:30pm
Monday 7th July, 2pm - 4:30pm
Monday 15th September, 2pm -4:30pm
Monday 21st July, 2pm - 4:30pm
Monday 22nd September, 2pm -4:30pm
Living London Private Tour Package Voucher
Looking for something new and inspiring to do in London? Why not book onto a private wandering and explore the city’s hidden gems, community spaces and secret stories. I offer private tour vouchers, for bespoke wandering tours of up to 2.5 hours, covering up to 6 adults. As part of the experience, each adult will receive a copy of my book ‘On Belonging’. See below for the areas in which I run wandering tours. Once you’ve booked a ticket, I’ll be in touch with to arrange your preferred date and itinerary!
Wandering Tour Gift Vouchers
Looking for a special gift for a special person? Wandering gift vouchers enable your loved one the opportunity to discover London’s hidden gems and stories and to create lasting memories of their own. Gift vouchers can be used against any Living London wandering tours and Airbnb Experiences (up to the value of the voucher). Following your purchase, a gift voucher will be sent to your email address together with instructions on how to redeem the voucher.
Living London Wanderings
Walworth
Explore a vibrant street market, a multi-cultural garden, and a hidden crypt
Book Lovers
Explore the city’s characterful literary gems
Kensington
Explore hidden mews, beautiful churches and characterful green spaces
Alperton
Explore a striking temple, canal side hidden gems and an iron age hill fort
Shoreditch
Explore community gardens, quirky shops and cafes, markets and a city farm
Camden
Explore a mosque, canal-side gems, enjoy views of London form a hill top and discover London’s most vibrant market
Tooting
Explore hidden markets, a cemetery, the grounds of a Victorian psychiatric hospital and a unique museum
Chelsea
Explore gardens, houses, a museum and the Royal Hospital Chelsea
Peckham
Explore interesting cafes, shops, a cemetery, Japanese garden and the South London gallery
Kings Cross
Explore secret gardens, churches, cafes and community projects and discover the unique history of the area
Southbank
Explore unknown cultural gems, a riverside beach and uncover street art
Secret Gardens
Explore the city’s beautiful hidden gardens
Richmond
Explore a secret garden centre, meadows, and gardens
Hoxton
Explore community gardens, quirky shops, markets, the hidden canal-side gems and colourful mosques and museums
Hounslow
Watch the planes take off from Heathrow, explore an expansive country park and visit an ancient church
River Wandle
Explore an animal farm, markets, the remains of an old chapter house and a National Trust park
Greenwich
Explore a city farm, traverse an underground tunnel, visit the beautiful naval colleges, characterful markets and a royal park
Finsbury Park
Explore wetlands, wander through the longest nature reserve in London, traverse woods and discover vibrant high streets
Streatham
Explore places of worship, art deco buildings, secret gardens, local community projects and quirky cafes
Erith
Explore otherworldly erith, the longest pier in the city, a Grade II listed church and a hidden cafe in a former library
Brixton
Explore community greenhouses, markets and the Black Cultural Archives
Greenwich Peninsula
Explore riverside sculptures, a nature reserve, quarries and the iconic flood barriers
Vauxhall
Explore hidden museums and galleries, a tropical community garden and an urban farm
Bethnal Green
Explore canal-side parks, churches, markets, temples, a museum of Childhood and a myriad of other hidden gems
Secret Lambeth
Explore street art, mosaic projects and discover lesser known galleries and museums
Southwark
Climb a hill, explore docklands, and a quirky nature reserve
Westbourne Park
Explore hidden canal-side gems including a community garden, graffiti yard and the Trellick Tower
Forest Hill
Explore the wondrous Horniman’s Museum, hidden nature reserves, quirky galleries and artist studios
Dalston
Explore beautiful spaces, gardens. houses and community projects and get to know this fast changing and eclectic area of Hackney
Tottenham
Explore Bruce Castle, Lordship Rec, Markfield Beam Engine and skate park and a host of other local wonders
“Saira is a brilliant guide and an excellent host. I’ve done many guided walks in London and hers was unique - she has boundless curiosity and was able to show me places that I’ve never heard of, let alone been to! Her love of London is also infectious and I left feeling inspired to venture out on my own wanderings more often. If you want to get to know the real London, from a Londoner, I’d highly recommend Saira’s walks.”
"Saira's walk through Dalston was absolutely great!! She knows her stuff and showed me lots of really fascinating and beautiful places you wouldn't see if you were just walking through Dalston on your own. Besides her knowledge, Saira is super friendly and funny – so I'll definitely come back for more tours!"
-Marion, Secret Dalston Wandering
"This tour is for anyone who wishes to explore non-touristy areas in London (particularly Hackney). My favourite activity was the picnic we had in the cemetery. Made some new friends and Saira (tour guide now turned friend) made sure everyone felt included and comfortable. She's knowledgable, charismatic and does her best to fit everyone's request( for e.g. slower walking pace esp for ppl with bad knees). Thank you Saira!"
-Syakila, Secret Dalston Wandering