A Camp! tour of London with Paul Baker: Glitz and grunge from Mayfair to Soho

Since its very beginning, camp’s attitude and aesthetic has blazed trails across the world, but its real roots are right here in London, just waiting to be discovered – from Mayfair dandies to the trials of Oscar Wilde to Josephine Baker’s Soho dance in a skirt made from bananas.

Celebrate the release of Camp!, author and cult-favourite Paul Baker’s most colourful and ambitious book yet, on a walking tour that explores the city’s campest landmarks. Paul pulls back the curtain on a world of glitz and grunge, filled with pop culture and protest, while he guides you through Mayfair to St James’s and Soho. He will tell you about the fabulous, memorable people who lived or worked here, and their significance to the world of camp. He’ll also consider what makes camp so special, how attitudes towards it have changed over time, and how it continues to evolve, surprise and even upset people.

This London tour starts on Chesterfield Street outside the former residence of the original dandy, George Bryan “Beau” Brummell, who was a pioneer in men’s fashion during England’s Regency era. From there, you’ll strut across historic alleys and laneways towards the Ritz London and Piccadilly Circus, a popular meeting place and cruising ground for gay men for well over a century. You’ll take in The Jack of Clubs – now Madam JoJos – the burlesque club where David Bowie got his big break before the tour wraps up outside the Prince Edward Theatre, where American entertainer Josephine Baker had a month-long gig. Along the way, Paul whirls you through a world which is as ostentatious as it is poignant, with salacious and surprising stories hidden around every corner.

On this hour-long tour, you’ll:

• Visit some of Oscar Wilde's old haunts and residences
• Admire the glamour of the Ritz and hear about it's most flamboyant frequenters, including playwright Joe Orton, otherwise known as Edna Welthorpe
• Take in Tramp, a nightclub and popular locations for films
• Discover the Savoy Turkish Baths, an (in)famous secret hangout for queer people, artists, and bohemians since 1910
• Hear the incredible story of the Anteros statue in Piccadilly Circus
• See Windmill Soho Nightclub where the high kick girls kept a look out for bombs during World War II
• Relive Josephine Baker's most iconic moments at the Prince Edward Theatre
• Find out who was the campest spy of them all (Hint, it’s not James Bond or Austin Powers)

This riveting walk finishes up in Soho, where you'll have a chance to grab a drink and a deluxe book bundle from Foyles on Charing Cross Road. There’s more information in the 'Places to stop along the way' section!

Find out more at Camp!: The Story of the Attitude that Conquered the World by Paul Baker