This tour visits sites around Soho that shaped and formed David Bowie in the 1960s/70s and enabled him to become the superstar he was, including the location of Album covers and recording studios.
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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. Without a decade of gestation/failure in the area would he have been the same artist?
What will we cover?
As above.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Identify key sites of interest associated with David Bowie.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
You should be able to participate in a guided tour. An interest in and a willingness to engage with the topic are the only requirements.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
One-off guided tour. No work outside of the class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
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 city’s early punk scene and later its soul, 2-Tone and rave cultures. His first tour guiding experience came in San Francisco, where he created walks exploring the city’s bohemian subculture, literature and music. Returning to London, he went on to research and build critically acclaimed walking tours on subjects as diverse as gangland Soho, David Bowie’s early years, and the social history of West London. He served as a consultant to Westminster Council for its 2025 Joe Strummer memorial event, and he has been a featured commentator in BBC and Sky Arts documentaries and on Radio London’s Robert Elms Show. He is the host of Flipside London Radio, a fortnightly Portobello Radio programme focusing on books, music, history and youth culture. https://www.flipsidelondontours.com/
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/david-bowie-s-soho3003790David Bowie’s Sohohttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/https://www.citylit.ac.uk/static/version1768481914/frontend/WilliamsCommerce/citylit/en_GB/Magento_Catalog/images/product/placeholder/image.jpg2929GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/London history & walks/Courses/vm/Courses to do around London/Courses/vm/Courses to do with friends22851177117811841678164712285117711781653<p>This tour visits sites around Soho that shaped and formed David Bowie in the 1960s/70s and enabled him to become the superstar he was, including the location of Album covers and recording studios.</p>003003775David Bowie’s Soho2929https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/no_selectionInStockDaytimeSatOff SiteAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekend2026-03-28T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allMar 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLW2922929David Bowie’s Soho231929Aidan McManusdavid-bowie-s-soho/hlw292-2526<p>This tour visits sites around Soho that shaped and formed David Bowie in the 1960s/70s and enabled him to become the superstar he was, including the location of Album covers and recording studios.</p>0000-Available|2026-03-28 00:00:00<p>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. Without a decade of gestation/failure in the area would he have been the same artist?</p><p>This tour visits sites around Soho that shaped and formed David Bowie in the 1960s/70s and enabled him to become the superstar he was, including the location of Album covers and recording studios.</p><p>As above. </p><p> </p><p>Identify key sites of interest associated with David Bowie. </p><p>You should be able to participate in a guided tour. An interest in and a willingness to engage with the topic are the only requirements. </p><p>One-off guided tour. No work outside of the class. </p><p>Please wear suitable clothing and footwear. </p><p>Please see the London Walks area of our website. </p>HistoryLondon history & walksvirtual232919HLW292NONESat28/03/2611:00 - 13:0011:0013:001 session1One-off onlyWeekendOSOff SiteAidan McManusBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-03-28T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeMar 2026Culture, history & humanities2929David Bowie’s Sohodavid-bowie-s-soho/hlw292-2526<p>This tour visits sites around Soho that shaped and formed David Bowie in the 1960s/70s and enabled him to become the superstar he was, including the location of Album covers and recording studios.</p>0000-Available|2026-03-28 00:00:00<p>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. Without a decade of gestation/failure in the area would he have been the same artist?</p><p>This tour visits sites around Soho that shaped and formed David Bowie in the 1960s/70s and enabled him to become the superstar he was, including the location of Album covers and recording studios.</p><p>As above. </p><p> </p><p>Identify key sites of interest associated with David Bowie. </p><p>You should be able to participate in a guided tour. An interest in and a willingness to engage with the topic are the only requirements. </p><p>One-off guided tour. No work outside of the class. </p><p>Please wear suitable clothing and footwear. </p><p>Please see the London Walks area of our website. </p>HistoryLondon history & walksconfigurable
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