Dive into the music and mayhem of the 18th-century city on this walking tour through London's historic West End.
Discover the soundscape of 18th-century London, where music flourished at every level of society from street balladeers to the grandeur of the opera.
In a city transformed by trade, empire and a growing middle class, music underwent a popular explosion, spilling into homes, churches, taverns, theatres, coffee houses, clubs and charities such as The Foundling Hospital, where Handel’s Messiah was performed annually to audiences of over 1,000 people.
On this music-themed walking tour, you’ll journey from St James’s and Mayfair to Covent Garden, exploring the places where Londoners made, heard and celebrated music. Along the way, you’ll meet the remarkable musicians, singers and composers of the age – from the formerly enslaved composer Ignatius Sancho to the Italian castrato Senesino who was the rock star of his day.
Itinerary:
11am: Meet outside The Ritz, Piccadilly
1pm: End near Holborn Station
Get a National Art Pass and explore Foundling Museum
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National Art Pass offers available at Foundling Museum
Visitor information
Address
40 Brunswick Square, London, Greater London, WC1N 1AZ
020 7841 3600
Opening times
Tues-Sat 10am-5pm
Sun 11am-5pm
Closed Monday
