The sites, sounds and hidden stories of London’s music scenes from the dawn of the rock’n’roll era through the punk explosion to today, explored via walking tours of four musically rich neighbourhoods. Tutor: professional guide and music enthusiast Aiden Mcmanus.
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From Tin Pan Alley to Britpop, rock’n roll to punk, reggae to grime, London’s music is famous worldwide. But what stories are overlooked in the greatest-hits version of the city’s musical history? What role did London’s diverse communities, countercultures and shifting social currents play in so many of its musical and youth subcultures? Over the past seven decades, how have musicians and their audiences from working-class, minority, LGBTQ+ and outsider communities collided with authority, commerce and gentrification? What traces remain of some of London’s most important sites of musical creativity? This four-walk course takes a closer look at these rich musical histories and their most fascinating creative forces.
Via guided walks in Soho, Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove, Camden and East London that will cover significant past and present sites of the city’s musical history, we will explore how musical movements such as rock’n roll, mod, psychedelia, metal, reggae, punk, Two-Tone, goth, New Romantics, rave culture, drum’n bass, indie, grime and queer and drag culture – and musicians as diverse as the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Amy Winehouse, Asian Dub Foundation and Wiley – both shaped and were shaped by the city’s youth cultures and communities, and the political, social and economic forces at play.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Understand the role played by London neighbourhoods in the rise of influential youth movements, scenes and sounds.
Learn the stories behind the work of both famous and lesser-known London artists, and the social and cultural movements that influenced them.
Understand the parts played by diverse groups, including people of colour and migrants, LGBTQ+ and working-class people in London’s musical history.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is suitable for complete beginners and those with a curiosity about the topic; a passion for popular music and an interest in London’s social history is an asset.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course will be taught via a series of guided walks with opportunities for discussion along the way; for each walk, reading lists, resources and avenues for further exploration and research will be shared with students.
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
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Tutor: professional guide and music enthusiast Aiden Mcmanus.</p><p> </p>003003769London Calling139139https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/no_selectionInStockDaytimeWedOff SiteAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekday2026-03-04T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allMar 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLW290139139London Calling11190139Aidan McManuslondon-calling/hlw290-2526<p>The sites, sounds and hidden stories of London’s music scenes from the dawn of the rock’n’roll era through the punk explosion to today, explored via walking tours of four musically rich neighbourhoods. Tutor: professional guide and music enthusiast Aiden Mcmanus.</p><p> </p>0000-Available|2026-03-04 00:00:00<p>From Tin Pan Alley to Britpop, rock’n roll to punk, reggae to grime, London’s music is famous worldwide. But what stories are overlooked in the greatest-hits version of the city’s musical history? What role did London’s diverse communities, countercultures and shifting social currents play in so many of its musical and youth subcultures? Over the past seven decades, how have musicians and their audiences from working-class, minority, LGBTQ+ and outsider communities collided with authority, commerce and gentrification? What traces remain of some of London’s most important sites of musical creativity? This four-walk course takes a closer look at these rich musical histories and their most fascinating creative forces.</p><p>Course image credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amy_Winehouse_Statue,_Camden_(14946739033).jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Neil Crump</a> / <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en#" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CC BY 2.0</a></p><p>The sites, sounds and hidden stories of London’s music scenes from the dawn of the rock’n’roll era through the punk explosion to today, explored via walking tours of four musically rich neighbourhoods. Tutor: professional guide and music enthusiast Aiden Mcmanus.</p><p> </p><p>Via guided walks in Soho, Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove, Camden and East London that will cover significant past and present sites of the city’s musical history, we will explore how musical movements such as rock’n roll, mod, psychedelia, metal, reggae, punk, Two-Tone, goth, New Romantics, rave culture, drum’n bass, indie, grime and queer and drag culture – and musicians as diverse as the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Amy Winehouse, Asian Dub Foundation and Wiley – both shaped and were shaped by the city’s youth cultures and communities, and the political, social and economic forces at play.</p><p>Understand the role played by London neighbourhoods in the rise of influential youth movements, scenes and sounds.</p><p>Learn the stories behind the work of both famous and lesser-known London artists, and the social and cultural movements that influenced them.</p><p>Understand the parts played by diverse groups, including people of colour and migrants, LGBTQ+ and working-class people in London’s musical history.</p><p>The course is suitable for complete beginners and those with a curiosity about the topic; a passion for popular music and an interest in London’s social history is an asset.</p><p>The course will be taught via a series of guided walks with opportunities for discussion along the way; for each walk, reading lists, resources and avenues for further exploration and research will be shared with students.</p><p>No. Pen and paper if you wish to take notes.</p>.HistoryLondon history & walksvirtual11113990HLW290NONEWed04/03/26 - 25/03/2611:00 - 13:0011:0013:004 sessions (over 4 weeks)41 to 4 weeksWeekdayOSOff SiteAidan McManusBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-03-04T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeMar 2026Culture, history & humanities139139London Callinglondon-calling/hlw290-2526<p>The sites, sounds and hidden stories of London’s music scenes from the dawn of the rock’n’roll era through the punk explosion to today, explored via walking tours of four musically rich neighbourhoods. Tutor: professional guide and music enthusiast Aiden Mcmanus.</p><p> </p>0000-Available|2026-03-04 00:00:00<p>From Tin Pan Alley to Britpop, rock’n roll to punk, reggae to grime, London’s music is famous worldwide. But what stories are overlooked in the greatest-hits version of the city’s musical history? What role did London’s diverse communities, countercultures and shifting social currents play in so many of its musical and youth subcultures? Over the past seven decades, how have musicians and their audiences from working-class, minority, LGBTQ+ and outsider communities collided with authority, commerce and gentrification? What traces remain of some of London’s most important sites of musical creativity? This four-walk course takes a closer look at these rich musical histories and their most fascinating creative forces.</p><p>Course image credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amy_Winehouse_Statue,_Camden_(14946739033).jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Neil Crump</a> / <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en#" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CC BY 2.0</a></p><p>The sites, sounds and hidden stories of London’s music scenes from the dawn of the rock’n’roll era through the punk explosion to today, explored via walking tours of four musically rich neighbourhoods. Tutor: professional guide and music enthusiast Aiden Mcmanus.</p><p> </p><p>Via guided walks in Soho, Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove, Camden and East London that will cover significant past and present sites of the city’s musical history, we will explore how musical movements such as rock’n roll, mod, psychedelia, metal, reggae, punk, Two-Tone, goth, New Romantics, rave culture, drum’n bass, indie, grime and queer and drag culture – and musicians as diverse as the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Amy Winehouse, Asian Dub Foundation and Wiley – both shaped and were shaped by the city’s youth cultures and communities, and the political, social and economic forces at play.</p><p>Understand the role played by London neighbourhoods in the rise of influential youth movements, scenes and sounds.</p><p>Learn the stories behind the work of both famous and lesser-known London artists, and the social and cultural movements that influenced them.</p><p>Understand the parts played by diverse groups, including people of colour and migrants, LGBTQ+ and working-class people in London’s musical history.</p><p>The course is suitable for complete beginners and those with a curiosity about the topic; a passion for popular music and an interest in London’s social history is an asset.</p><p>The course will be taught via a series of guided walks with opportunities for discussion along the way; for each walk, reading lists, resources and avenues for further exploration and research will be shared with students.</p><p>No. Pen and paper if you wish to take notes.</p>.HistoryLondon history & walksconfigurable
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