This walking tour will take place in person.
Stand in the shadow of St Paul's Cathedral and bask in its reverence as you reflect on its history as the central cottaging station for gay men through the ages. Uncover centuries of persecution underneath the City and have a strut down the Sodomite's Walk.
Not the City you knew? Join Andrew and Dani on this excavation of the City of London's LGBT+ past – long since buried, but far from forgotten.
Who is this tour for?
Everyone interested in learning more about the LGBT+ history of London.
Will I need any equipment or materials?
You will need comfortable shoes suitable for taking part in a 2-hour walk (with several stops), and water for refreshment. You’re welcome to make notes and take photos if you’d like to, but we do ask that you avoid filming.
What can I expect?
- A walking tour taking in some key locations around the Old City.
- The tour guides will lead the session, with lots of opportunities for informal chat, questions, and discussion.
- The tour takes place mostly outdoors, with long periods of standing and walking. The entire tour is approximately 2 hours long.
Bursary places
We provide a number of funded bursaries to people who find it hard to pay the full or concessionary rates. Find out more information on how to apply.
Image: Collage of LAMAS collection image of St Paul's
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You will learn
- A potted history of anti-queer legislation
- Some personal stories of queer individuals from the OId City
- Alternative and hidden histories of notable individuals
- How some forgotten people changed the course of queer history in London.
Meet the Tour Guides
Andrew Lumsden
Andrew Lumsden was among the infuriated queens on the original London Pride march in 1972 and invented Gay News, our first national newspaper, which was taken to Court on a charge of blasphemy in 1977. Check him out on andrewlumsden.co.uk, where this year he's publishing The Homophobe, reconstructions of the life of Henry Labouchere, the MP whose legislation in 1885 caused the arrests of Oscar Wilde in 1895 and Alan Turing in 1952.
Dani Dinger
Dani Dinger has been mincing through time since Queer Tours of London started in 2016, and since then they have developed a healthy obsession with Jeremy Bentham and empty shopping bags. Dani is part of the Gay Liberation Front and works with the Bishopsgate Institute and London Metropolitan Archive, curating regular queer events. She also works in nightlife and is part of Team PrEPster.
Need to Know
50 Years of the Gay Liberation Front
In-person#FROMTHE ARCHIVES
