Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
How did a rundown Irish part of North London become one of the world's premier music destinations? Starting with Irish Dancehalls and traditional Irish music pub sessions from the 1930s, in1963 there was a Jim Reeves riot!, by 1966 the hippies took over the Roundhouse and NW1's rise to Rock n Roll notoriety began. Psychedelia, Heavy Metal, Pub Rock, Punk, New Romantics, Goth, Indie and Britpop, they were all shaped here, by the 1990s it was one of the hippest places on the planet. We visit venues, recording studios, record shops, pubs, markets and rehearsal rooms and tell Camden's remarkable story
About the organiser:
Aidan McManus is an award-winning tour guide, historian, broadcaster, and curator of music-related film events. West London-born of Irish heritage, he was a teenage participant in the punk scene and later its soul, 2-Tone and rave cultures.He is the host of Flipside London Radio, a fortnightly Portobello Radio programme focusing on books, music, history and youth culture.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Camden Market
How did a rundown Irish part of North London become one of the world's premier music destinations? Starting with Irish Dancehalls and traditional Irish music pub sessions from the 1930s, in1963 there was a Jim Reeves riot!, by 1966 the hippies took over the Roundhouse and NW1's rise to Rock n Roll notoriety began. Psychedelia, Heavy Metal, Pub Rock, Punk, New Romantics, Goth, Indie and Britpop, they were all shaped here, by the 1990s it was one of the hippest places on the planet. We visit venues, recording studios, record shops, pubs, markets and rehearsal rooms and tell Camden's remarkable story
Camden Town
How did a rundown Irish part of North London become one of the world's premier music destinations? Starting with Irish Dancehalls and traditional Irish music pub sessions from the 1930s, in1963 there was a Jim Reeves riot!, by 1966 the hippies took over the Roundhouse and NW1's rise to Rock n Roll notoriety began. Psychedelia, Heavy Metal, Pub Rock, Punk, New Romantics, Goth, Indie and Britpop, they were all shaped here, by the 1990s it was one of the hippest places on the planet. We visit venues, recording studios, record shops, pubs, markets and rehearsal rooms and tell Camden's remarkable story
Options
Camden Calling
What‘s Included
Entrance fee
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
16 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Camden Musical History Myths and Legends.
40christophers,May 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A very illuminating tour of the Camden area and it's music history. Aiden has lived and breathed the musical past of Camden and has a great knowledge of who played where and when including all the bands he saw at the various venues.. He also debunked some of the myths that have grown up around the area. A most enjoyable tour which I highly recommend.
Great experience in Camden!
920rylandc,May 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Aidan was a fantastic guide who gave us some behind-the-scenes knowledge on Camden with a mix of textbook and personal history.
Immersive experience Camden
530joachimk,Apr 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our fourth time on a tour with Aidan. And again an unmatched experience. Great fun, interesting stories, 100% authentic, vivid, the important steps in Camdens history appear before your eyes and you get some hint about nonsense you get told on other tours. perfect tour for everyone in love with music and Camden or those who want to fall
Gents from Largs on a weekend sesh
ARB108,Mar 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Really good tour around Camden Aiden knows his stuff and is great craic. A must do tour if you are ever down that way
Another essential, engaging and entertaining stroll with the maestro of walking tours.
onepersoninaroom,Mar 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I've done every one of the Flipside Tours, after first happening upon them back in 2016; the Soho Punk Rock and Strummerwalk twice (yes they are *that great*, and just as enjoyable second time around). So when this one appeared, I jumped at it. Eddie M's review here paints the perfect and a very comprehensive picture (I recommend finding it), just as for two hours 30(+), the affable, walking Wikipedia, FlipsideLondon Tour guide Aidan McManus paints an expansive and very comprehensive picture of Camden's vivid and varied musical history. A wealth of things you won't know, joy upon finding yourself standing next to places that are footnotes on your favourite albums, priceless anecdotes (Aidan *was there*) and, as with every Flipside Tour, the feeling at the end that (a) you've just had the best experience you're going to have that day, and (b) you quite fancy doing that one again. Every FlipsideLondon Tour I've deemed *essential* to music fans (be they fans of specific bands or just music history in general), and even for those with only a 'passing interest' in music history, fun and fascinating tours that can't be beaten. Camden Calling is no exception. The best walking tours in London (and, based on admittedly limited experience, probably also on the planet). I'll be doing this one again too.
Awesome trip down memory lane!
Cruiser534006,Mar 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I love Aidan's tours. His knowledge, humour, friendliness & wicked accent make the tours so engaging. Can't wait to go on the next one!
Camden's nooks and crannies
P9606OErichardd,Mar 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our second tour with Aidan, both of which have been fantastic. Perfect length with the option to end at a decent pub to round off the walk nicely. Perfectly pitched to satisfy both the hardcore music fan and punter with casual interest (which is no mean feat). Heartily recommend. We are looking forward to doing the next one!
Camdens music history in a few hours fantastic
502debbieb64,Jan 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Aidan was friendly, knowledgeable, and a fantastic guide. He took my sister and me right back to the Camden of our youth with his stories and insights—funny, witty, and a wonderful way to spend a few hours down memory lane. Even if the area is new to you, you’ll learn so much. I’m really looking forward to exploring the links he shared for films, books, and more stories about the area.
Does this train stop at Mornington Crescent?
eddiemE2749JC,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were the only two hardy bucks who showed up for a Saturday morning tour in freezing cold temps that felt even worse with a wind-chill factor that was somewhere close to Arctic. Fair play to Aidan McManus, who went above and beyond by squiring us through Camden for two and three quarter hours. If you're into music and social history, this is a bang-up experience. I mean, who knew that back in the day Jim Reeves sparked a riot in what's now the Electric Ballroom because he refused to play? All the way from Chalk Farm Station down through Camden Market (it's changed a lot since our last visit in '88) to Mornington Crescent - I'm sorry I hadn't a clue where this was until we passed it on the bus - you'll hear about Madness, the Specials, the Selecter, the Clash, Subway Sect, the Pistols, Adam and the Ants, Haircut 100 (yes, really), Siouxie and the Banshees, the glorious Pogues, George Michael, the aforementioned Jim Reeves, Stepaside and the Radiators from Space (Aidan added these in for us Paddies, I think) and all those Britpop lads from the nineties. There's all sorts of great stuff about the Ladbroke Grove connections to the Roundhouse, the Irish dance hall scene and Irish trad music. It's an absolute blast from beginning to end. The three of us were absolutely frozen when we got to Mornington Crescent Station, but there was one absolute banger of a surprise when Aidan pointed out the blue plaque on the wall outside Koko (formerly the Camden Theatre) celebrating the recording of The Last Goon Show of All there in 1972. I was made up. This is a fabulous tour given by a diamond of a bloke. Hats off, Aidan, bloody brilliant.
Fun Camden Music Walk with Character!
StEtienneEssex,Dec 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If you have any interest in the London music scene from yesteryear then is a must do walk. Aidan is seriously knowledgeable and as he lived and breathed it as a local he brings real life personal experiences into mix. I’ve done most of Aidan’s walks now and I thoroughly recommend them.
Related Experiences
Operated by FlipsideLondon Tours