Unseen Tours
Unseen Tours
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About
Unseen Tours is a social enterprise that works with homeless and formerly homeless individuals, coaching them to lead walking tours in various areas around London. We have five tours: Brick Lane, Westminster, King's Cross, Soho, and London Bridge. You will learn about the history of the local area, as well as the guides own experiences of street live. The tours are in truly unique, engaging and fun. They are off the beaten track so you get to experience the London unseen by most who live and visit here!
London, England
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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5.0
1,022 reviews
Excellent
924
Very good
84
Average
5
Poor
4
Terrible
5
JLG
1 contribution
Feb 2020
This was a 2 hour tour of Shoreditch in London with a guide who was very familiar with the area and knowledgeable about its history and how it has changed over time. My favorite part was the street art, some graffiti some commissioned work. While I liked the off-beat graffiti art the best, my partner really liked seeing the Stik pieces and two Bansky pieces.
Henri was an entertaining guide. He knew the history and had lived through the recent history of Shoreditch so he gave a funny and in-depth description of the place and how/why it changed/developed as it did. We didn't ask much about his history but he presented pieces of his story as the tour progressed in a way that was relevant to the changes in Shoreditch over time.
Chances are, if you are looking for tours in London, you are going to spend some Monday on entertainment. So why not book a unique and interesting tour with a group that benefits people who need the work to help them move their life in a positive direction.
It is all outdoors and it does rain in London so wear comfortable walking shoes and depending on the weather a rain jacket and/or umbrella. Also, it can be a bit raw so wear warm clothes if needed. We went during a say with intermittent sunshine, on and off periods of rain a bit windy and cool and with the proper clothes we were dry, warm and enjoyed the tour.
Henri was an entertaining guide. He knew the history and had lived through the recent history of Shoreditch so he gave a funny and in-depth description of the place and how/why it changed/developed as it did. We didn't ask much about his history but he presented pieces of his story as the tour progressed in a way that was relevant to the changes in Shoreditch over time.
Chances are, if you are looking for tours in London, you are going to spend some Monday on entertainment. So why not book a unique and interesting tour with a group that benefits people who need the work to help them move their life in a positive direction.
It is all outdoors and it does rain in London so wear comfortable walking shoes and depending on the weather a rain jacket and/or umbrella. Also, it can be a bit raw so wear warm clothes if needed. We went during a say with intermittent sunshine, on and off periods of rain a bit windy and cool and with the proper clothes we were dry, warm and enjoyed the tour.
Written 2 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the lovely review! If you enjoyed the street art, you should definitely check out our Brick Lane walk with Pete - he has a wealth of knowledge, and knows Stik personally
Written 9 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Suyin H
13 contributions
Aug 2020
We really enjoyed our tour with David around the London Bridge, Borough and Southwark area. It was the first weekend of tours since returning from lockdown, and we were really impressed by the COVID-19 safety measures David took when guiding us on this enjoyable and informative walk. David shared so much about the local area, its hidden histories, and off-the-beaten track stories. We also really appreciated him sharing his personal story with us, and think Unseen's initiative is amazing. We'd definitely recommend this tour with David for learning more about the area with a depth that you wouldn't get on a usual tour, and look forward to booking our next Unseen tour soon!
Written 30 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the amazing and thorough review Suyin! We hope to see you soon on another one of our walks 😊
Written 7 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
EstL29
London, UK11 contributions
Mar 2020
Viv gave us a group tour (30 people, all from the same company) of Covent Garden. We were all fairly familiar with Covent Garden having worked in a local hotel, yet she managed to take us to places we'd never been, and share stories we didn't know. Her local knowledge, and historical knowledge is incredible, and her personality is just so lively, full of energy and a pleasure to be around. Her story of sleeping on the streets is both insightful and sad, but her upbeat personality prevents this taking over the tour, and instead she hits just the right balance between being funny, knowledgeable, honest and heartbreaking.
Written 11 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the lovely review! Now you know why we call her "Vivipedia" :)
Written 12 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
hedyjacobson
Jerusalem, Israel6 contributions
Jan 2020
Are you planning a visit to London? Then sign up for one of the walking tours given by previous homeless people, who do a great job sharing knowledge and insights around different areas in London . We chose to walk with Pete around Brick Lane. He shared both historical information concerning the area and unique stories about (sometimes) horrific events, and also about specific buildings.He made us aware of where we were stepping and what the walls can tell us, including street art. His inside knowledge about social issues were eye openers to us. We have heard from friends who took other tours with this organisation, how satisfied they were, so just choose one of the (presently) five guides, you will not regret it!
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the fantastic review! We hope to see you again soon on one of our other walks :)
Written 11 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julija T
Riga, Latvia197 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
If you want to do an alternative tour in London, make sure you do one of these ones! I chose Shoreditch tour with Henri and it blew my mind away. I love walking tours and do them all around the world, but it’s really rare to see such engaging, knowledgeable, fun and easy going guide as Henri! He has a great understanding of the history of the area and art movement, which emerged here. Despite rain and cold, we had the most pleasant two hours and time flew too fast! Henri is a great guy and he shared also stories about him and his experience as a homeless person and that changed my perspective of the subject quite a lot. I will definitely go on other tours with this company and strongly advise you to do the same! It’s not only participating in a good cause, supporting a social enterprise, but also getting high quality tour because believe me, these guides are brilliant. Thank you Henri for a wonderful time!
Written 17 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the review! We are so glad you appreciated your time with Henri
Written 21 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SBCC73
Paris, France7 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
Great time with Vivi, interesting and heartwarming. Telling us about her story while visiting London at the same time and showing us places and tricks no guides would have ever shown us was a great experience. We will definitely book another tour next time with the unseen tour.
Written 20 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jaskiran K
1 contribution
Sept 2021 • Friends
We had a lovley tour of Brick Lane with Pete. He shared lots of intimate details of the street art and the history of immigration into the area and stories of women's rights. Great take on walking tours, sharing stories of his own experiences and the social issues that effect the lives of people living in the area today.
Written 14 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrii Skryhunets
Lviv, Ukraine1 contribution
Oct 2020
Usually, I don't attend any tours. I really dislike all this “Look left, look right” stuff, walking with the group to see something I can see on my own. This isn't about this tour. To see places and to discover things that only those who lived there the whole life know. And of course to get a lot of fun. This is about this tour. You won't see big palaces and golden hills, but you will see something better than this. If you want a lazy bus tour it's not for you, but if you want to feel the real London, then you're in the right place.
Written 26 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Josh W
1 contribution
Jul 2022
I greatly enjoyed my tour with Pete through Brick Lane. He tells the story of Brick Lane in what are clearly his own words and his own thoughts. From the get go I could tell that the tour would not be your run-of-the-mill tour. Pete welcomed us warmly, reaching out inbetween breaks to learn more about us and further using that information to tailor the tour to us. Learned much about street art, history, and even food recommendations in the area. Definitely recommend.
Written 15 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan Bell
2 contributions
Sept 2021
We all really enjoyed our tour with Pete gaining a good mix of insights on street art, history and social issues in the area. I looked at other walking tours and am glad I chose this one as Pete was a lovely fellow, it was well balanced and excellent value. Would recommend as a great way to spend an afternoon in East London. Looking forward to joining the other unseen tours and supporting the cause now that we are living back in London. Susan, Alan, Lilly and Olivia xx
Written 5 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Team, i want to book your tour for tomorrow but am confused which one to book - shoreditch or bricklane? Can you please let me know
Written 19 June 2019
I've been on both Shoreditch and Brick Lane walks - both are excellent both have a lot of street art discussed and very interesting stories told by the wonderful guides. Read up on the descriptions on the website and see which you lean towards. You can't make a mistake they are both great - go for it!
Written 20 June 2019
Hi Annika! We're so happy you want to join one of our walks. All info is at on our website, including tour dates and time, content, and price (which is 12 £ only!). Please let me know if you need any more help.
Written 9 July 2018
Gosh erm algorythms or well what howso you already know me?! Slightly weirded (in a nice way!!).. Crisis homless ambassador and Cardboard Citizens (they've recommended I might apply)
...actor....interested in working with you... :) CountVon Griffin ho ho (Michael) I'll stick to the emails just sent today! byee...
Written 8 April 2017
se tem guias em portugues ou espanhol ???
Written 25 September 2015
Hi Kate, I am planning to go with my mum to the Covent Garden tour with unseen tour, but my mum as some problems with mobility (a "bad leg") will taht be a problem in your opinion. she does not speak good English either but I am planning to translate to her, will that work?
Written 26 March 2015
Unseen T
London, United Kingdom
Hi Elena
Thanks for getting in touch. The Covent Garden tour is a good option for someone with mobility issues, we have modified the route before to accommodate a wheelchair user. That said, there is a bit of walking, but the distance isn't very far, and the tour takes roughly a hour and a half and Viv stops a many points of interest along the way. The tour is in English but I'm sure you translating the bits your mum doesn't catch should work!
Please let me know if you require any further info.
Kind regards
Faye at Unseen Tours
Written 26 March 2015
Unseen T
London, United Kingdom
Hi there
Thanks for getting in touch. Unfortunately we don't have any Spanish speaking guides at present, but do check back soon as we're working with someone new who is from Spain.
Kind regards
Faye
Written 10 March 2015
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.