Fairer than Florence: A Stroll Through Thomas Cubitt’s Pimlico

(29 reviews)

London audio tour: Fairer than Florence: A Stroll Through Thomas Cubitt’s Pimlico

This is a 1.5mi walking tour

It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.

London

The United Kingdom

$9.99

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About the Tour

Trace Pimlico’s history, from little more than an agricultural swathe beyond the fringes of Westminster, to the centre of London’s political activity in the 1900s. On this walking tour, you’ll hear all about Thomas Cubitt, the “master builder” who transformed Pimlico into the neighbourhood of beautiful garden squares that you see today. We’ll explore the grid of handsome white stucco terraces that he developed and, along the way, I’ll tell you stories about some of the area’s intriguing residents. Pimlico was once synonymous with the aspirational middle classes, attracting artists, thinkers, scientists, politicians – and even secret agents – to this part of the city.

For all its beauty and order, Pimlico is no stranger to death, chaos and destruction. Its relatively modern history is made all the more interesting because the people and events that took place here are still within living memory.

Tour Producer

Steve Matthews

20 tours

I’ve been guiding in London since 2010, and in that time I’ve led thousands of people through the backstreets, river paths, and half‑forgotten corners that rarely make it into the guidebooks. My work is rooted in years of on‑the‑ground experience, a lot of digging through old maps and archives, and a genuine fascination with how London’s past still shapes the city we walk through today.

What began as a hobby has grown into a long‑standing practice of researching local history — from lost streets and vanished industries to the characters who left their mark on the place. I keep my tours updated with new findings, fresh angles, and the odd surprising detail that brings a street or story to life.

I specialise in the parts of London people often overlook, helping visitors and locals alike see the echoes and footprints hidden in plain sight. My aim is simple: to share the stories I’ve gathered over the years with accuracy, enthusiasm, and a real affection for this endlessly surprising city. Whether you’re joining me for the first time or returning for another walk, you can expect a well‑researched, engaging, and reliable tour shaped by more than a decade of experience.

Preview Location

Location 2

Churchill

Pimlico over the years has been the spot for politicians to live in due to its proximity to parliament. One such resident was Winston Churchill, who established his family home at number 33, a smart terraced house in Eccleston Square built in 1835 by Thomas Cubitt.

Churchi... Read More

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Major Landmarks

Plaque: Sir Winston Churchill
St.George's Square
Thomas Cubitt Statue
St Gabriel's
Pimlico
Pimlico Gardens
Eccleston Square
Pimlico Library
Pimlico Academy

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
St George's Dr, Pimlico, London SW1V 1PH, UK
Total distance

2km
Final location
2 Bessborough St, Pimlico, London SW1V, UK
Distance back to start location

894.97m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour starts on St George's Drive directly opposite Eccleston Square Gardens.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

As a residential area, there are not many shops and restaurants until near the end of the tour. If you want to eat before commencing the tour I can recommend Il Posto an Italian restaurant located at 316a Vauxhall Bridge Rd, SW1V 1AA very near to Victoria Station. There is a nice Spanish restaurant called Goya which is on the route at 34 Lupus St, Pimlico, SW1V 3EB. There are several coffee shops on Moreton Street.

Best time of day

From dawn to dusk

Precautions

This is a residential area and there are usually people on the streets, but with like any major city look out for traffic when crossing roads.

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“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”