Finding Fitzrovia: The Neighbourhood on the Fringe of Soho

(39 reviews)

London audio tour: Finding Fitzrovia: The Neighbourhood on the Fringe of Soho

This is a 1.6mi walking tour

It takes an average of 75 mins to complete.

London

The United Kingdom

$9.99

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About the Tour

Fitzrovia is probably not on many people’s lists of top locations in London to visit. In fact, most people have never heard of it. On this walking tour, I’ll tell you all about its strange history, why it was viewed with suspicion by the neighbouring districts to the south, and the fact that it had no official name until the 1970s.

On this walk, we’ll venture off London’s well-worn tourist trail and see some of the city’s lesser-known corners. I’ll introduce you to Stan ‘the Spiv’ Setty, who met his end after a few too many dodgy dealings, a lustful murderer, a cowboy builder, denizens of the Bohemian set, and a legendary Victorian writer. Along the way, I’ll tell you tales about:

The Beatles’ 1964 film ‘A Hard Days Night’ and where some of it was filmed
The area’s artistic community
The place that inspired the workhouse in Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist
The forgotten explorer, Captain Matthew Flinders, who led the first inshore circumnavigation of Australia
The former home of Francisco de Miranda, the Venezuelan military leader and revolutionary

This tour will give you a valuable introduction to this London neighbourhood’s rich history, whether you’re a curious local or a first-time visitor.

Allow approximately an hour for this walk if you plan on keeping strictly to the route. There are plenty of pubs, cafes, restaurants and food outlets if you feel the need to take some time out during the tour.

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 11

Fitzrovia Tavern: where novelist Patrick Hamilton frequented

Stop here please.

Both Augustus John and Dylan Thomas spent quite a lot of time inside the doors of the Fitzroy Tavern which is on your left. If you decide to pop in for some refreshment there are many photographs of the famous painters, artists, and poets who called it th... Stop here please.

Both Augustus John and Dylan Thomas spent quite a lot of time inside the doors of the Fitzroy Tavern which is on your left. If you decide to pop in for some refreshment there are many photographs of the famous painters, artists, and poets who called it their local.

Another regular and resident of what we can now call Fitzrovia was novelist Patrick Hamilton who immortalised the area in his 1929 novel 20,000 Streets Under the Sky. It’s definitely a worthwhile read and you can also see the 2005 BBC TV adaptation on Youtube. It definitely captures the feel of the area during the early 1900s.

Other denizens of the area were authors Julian McLaren Ross, whose books written during the 1930s are also worth a read, Bon Viveur Quentin Crisp, Occultist Aleister Crowley, and writers George Bernard Shaw and Edith Nesbitt also contributed to the colourful appearance of the area.

Less noted but no less colourful characters included Sister Ann, a well-known prostitute who plied her trade around these streets. She gets a mention in Julian McLaren Ross’ memoirs in which he writes: "Sister Ann was short and wholesome-looking and always wore russet-brown tweeds and a round russet-brown hat in shape like a schoolgirl’s. She used no make-up except for two round red spots on her round apple cheeks, for she was no common brass and her chosen clientele wanted nothing loud or flashy, consisting as it did of middle-aged or elderly businessmen from up North who liked the sort of girl that might have been a sister to them. She was shocked when I suggested this relationship was incestuous and said she was surprised to hear a man of my education using nasty dirty words like that to a woman, and she certainly never did anything of that sort, thank you, dear."

It’s not too far beyond the imagination to think of ladies of the night like Sister Ann plying their trade in places like the delightfully named Percy’s Passage. It's where we're going next.

You'll find it by standing with your back towards the pub, look across the road where you'll see the facade of the Charlotte Street Hotel, once the home of the Hearts of Oak Benefit Society. At the far left of the building, there is a very small opening and it's through here that we'll now proceed. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Fitzroy Square
BT Tower

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
Mortimer St, London W1T 3PW, UK
Total distance

3km
Final location
72 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DU, UK
Distance back to start location

452.67m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour begins at Goodge Street Underground Station which is about halfway up Tottenham Court Road. The station is on the Northern Line, so the easiest way to get there is to catch the tube and get off at Goodge Street, take the lift to the surface and then exit the building to be sure you're in the correct location.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Pollocks Toy Museum in Scala Street might be of interest. The area has many different types of food available through restaurants, Pubs and fast food outlets. The main areas for these are Charlotte Street and Goodge Street. The interior of the Fitzroy Tavern both in the basement and the upstairs rooms are worth visiting for the many photographs of the celebrities that once drank there.

Best time of day

From Dawn if you want the streets to yourself. By 8:30 there are many commuters about but it does quieten down around 10:00 am. In the evening is more atmospheric and the area will still be busy due to the number of bars and restaurants in the area.

Precautions

This is a busy residential area and there are always people on the streets during the day, it is a little quieter during the evenings but with Tottenham Court Road being a main route north it's never deserted. There are a number of one way streets on the tour, so please check in which direction the traffic is coming from before you cross the road.

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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.”