Private Tour

The Bowie's Soho Walking Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

2 hours

Mobile ticket

From late 1950's visits with his older brother until he moved to New York in 1974 David Bowie was a face on the make in Soho's music scene and the roots of everything he became can be traced back to his time here. He was in R&B bands like The King Bees, The Manish Boys, Davy Jones and The Lower Third, The Buzz, The Riot Squad. He went solo and recorded an Anthony Newleyesque album in 1967 then met Lindsay Kemp in Soho and entered his mime phase and formed a folk trio, Feathers. His next band, Hype, included Tony Visconti and Mick Ronson. He had his first hit with "Space Oddity" and then formed The Spiders From Mars. All his classic early 70s stuff was recorded in Trident Studios in Soho and without a decade of gestation/failure in the area would he have been the same artist?

This tour visits the sites that shaped and formed Bowie in the 1960s/70s and enabled him to become a superstar

Aidan McManus is an award-winning tour guide, historian, broadcaster, and curator of film events.

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

Cancellation Policy

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

What‘s Included

Key locations that shaped David Bowie as an artist

Private transportation

What To Expect

Soho

David Bowie spent ten years in Soho before he became famous, we visit key sites in his development

2 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Options

The Bowie's Soho Walking Tour

Reviews

5.00

20 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

David Bowie and so much more
bill b,
Sep 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
It was very personal-Aiden was so knowledgeable about nof instead Bowie, bur several ba da from the 60s and 70s
London finest historian.
maccello,
Aug 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Aidens Gangland London is a fantastic and fascinating insight into the gangsters that frequented London and Soho from 1920s onwards. His knowledge of events is simply mind-blowing and he is withoit doubt one of the finest London historians. It was a two hour tour but I could have continued all day. Just brilliant.
London's best tour guide
henrysP6538MM,
Sep 29, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Aiden is still London's best tour guide. Fifth one I've done with him, four in Soho, and he's still full of new info, knowledge and anecdotes. Unbeatable.
Bowie's Soho Walking Tour
johnrA3563WI,
Jul 29, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I'm a big Bowie fan but there was so much I didn't know about his early career in Soho. Aidan was very informative and clearly knew his stuff very well! It was great to see the studio where Space Oddity was recorded.
Doesn't get any better than this!
nicolegP9207GA,
Jun 19, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I'm 53 and LOVE punk. My sister is 63 and doesn't know a darn thing about punk. Scratch that. She DIDN'T know anything, but now knows a lot! We were both hanging on every word, story, anecdote, and wisecrack of Aiden McManus. He shares his unbelievably in-depth knowledge of British punk with acerbic humor (very apropos), incredible detail, and loads of personality. I learned so much amazing history, and needless to say, it was exciting to be right in the spots where it was made. I can only hope that someone will videotape Aiden relaying his immense knowledge before it gets lost in the sands of time. He is not only mind-bogglingly smart on the subject, he's wildly entertaining. 100% worth it! Tip heavily!!
The storey, hangouts and some important photo shots before Bowie was famous
Safari09612750418,
Feb 27, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Very informative and Aidan is very engaging. Tour lasts for two hours and Aidan takes you to some really interesting venues supplemented with almost encyclopedic knowledge and wit!
You'd be a lad insane to miss this!
Pussycat67,
Feb 4, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great couple of hours spent with Aidan on the Bowie tour. If you like David Bowie, don't miss this tour, you will love Aidan's irreverent style, knowledge and humour. The tour takes you from Denmark Street through Soho and ends on the street where the picture of Ziggy Stardust album cover was taken. You get a great insight into the early creative mind of Bowie.
A fun and insightful tour
M26JJlaurav,
Dec 1, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A super fun tour! It was a chilly Saturday, but the fun facts and incredible attitude from the guide kept us warm! I have always enjoyed visiting places of the greats as it helps to put their lives in perspective and our tour guide really created a great insight of how 'it would have been'. Music is more than just sound, and the context really matters and this tour showed that about Bowie and his decades.
Excellent
seanfE6495QU,
Aug 31, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
After hearing Aiden on his Portobello Radio show, I decided to take some friends on the "Bowie's Soho" walk. It was a wise decision as we were all enthralled with Aidens knowledge and wit, what a character ! Already looking into planning another of the walks.
Bowie footsteps
Grainne G,
Jul 30, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fantastic couple of hours exploring Soho with Aidan, an encyclopaedia of all things Bowie. Following Bowie’s career from Denmark St to his Ziggy Stardust after party at the Cafe Royal you will hear great bunch of stories that gives you an insight into the area and the man. No better way to spend a Sat morning in London!