Landmarks & monuments Wheelchair accessible Outdoor activities Neighborhood tours Tours Guided tours Culture & history Hidden gems Sightseeing

Discover the history of King's Cross and St. Pancras on a walking tour with a local guide, Ben, who also has experience of homelessness. Explore the blurry line between public and private space.

Highlights

• Find out how King’s Cross and St. Pancras got their names
• Explore the blurry line between public and private space
• Walk from bustling transport hubs to the tranquil squares and backstreets
• Step into the alternative history of radical Clerkenwell
• Gain insight on homelessness from Ben who has experienced it himself

Description

Join Ben on a fascinating Unseen Tours walking tour of King's Cross and Clerkenwell. Discover the area's history and learn about how it transformed from a run-down neighbourhood to a modern hub of activity. Explore the area's hidden alleys and tranquil squares, and gain insight of homelessness with Ben's insight and knowledge. Unseen Tours is a not-for-profit social enterprise. Our mission is to support and empower vulnerable individuals with experience of homelessness, through providing the opportunity to become a tour guide which boosts their confidence and amplifies their voices. Our brilliant guides know the local streets intimately and will show you the real London through their stories and unmatched knowledge of the area’s history. Your ticket helps our guides to earn a living doing something that they love, with the majority of our sales going back directly to them. It also allows our guides to lead conversations that challenge perceptions about homelessness and generate social change. On this tour of King's Cross, you will embark on a journey off the beaten track and through the city’s layered history. This includes finding out how King's Cross and St. Pancras got their names; diving into the wild old days of highwaymen and bandits, elephants, and Celtic insurgents; and discovering paradoxes of a skyscraper that doesn't scrape the sky and a Catholic church that isn't Catholic. Along the way, you will get to know the big people and the little people, and look at how their paths have been crossing through the centuries. Hear from Ben himself: 'I am a Londoner, born on Hyde Park Corner on the self-same-day Yoko Ono and John Lennon launched loads of white balloons into the air, in order to give peace a chance. I grew up in Ealing, snapping off the leaves of the privet hedges and playing footy with friends on the green. Since then, life has taken me from Lancashire to Liverpool, from the big skies of Suffolk to the historical neighbourhoods of Paris and Rome. I have travelled by land from Liverpool to Kathmandu, Colombo and Kolkata. Now that I’m back home, I want to show people an alternative to picture-postcard London. I have a degree in English literature, and I speak fluent French and Italian. Portuguese - I can only sing; at the moment I have a deep abiding passion for Brazilian music. I have worked as a cook and actor, and recently got a Masters in Film Studies. I love good films, good food, hanging out with friends, walking on top of mountains or under trees.' Wheelchair and mobility scooter accessible upon request, and pet friendly. Any donations added at checkout will help us to deliver our mission in training more vulnerable individuals to become tour guides and challenge stigmas around homelessness. Thank you for your support!

Includes

Guided walking tour from King’s Cross to Clerkenwell Insights into the area’s history and transformation Exploration of public and private spaces An alternative history of radical Clerkenwell

Important Information

• Wear comfortable walking shoes Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately Bring water to stay hydrated Camera for photos is recommended

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund