Top United Kingdom Arts & Design - page 21

Uppermill’s serene valleys hide centuries of ghost stories, unexplained sightings, and chilling local legends. This atmospheric walking tour takes you from the Gothic Civic Hall to canal paths, riversides, and the abandoned Micklehurst railway line, where tales of wandering spirits still linger. Along the way, meet the woman in black, the ghostly policeman at the duck pond, and the mysterious boy in blue. The route ends back at the Civic Hall, where modern encounters hint the supernatural still stirs in Uppermill. **On this 60-minute tour, you’ll also:** • Visit Saddleworth Museum and hear the story of the haunted Victorian cot • Learn about poet Ammon Wrigley • Stand on the haunted Micklehurst line • Hear Rita’s tragic tale at the viaduct • Discover strange events linked to the library’s forbidden book • Pass the former mortuary tied to the Moors Murders • Explore local superstition around witches’ stones • Learn how grief can leave lasting imprints on a place

Explore Liverpool’s musical heritage on this 90-minute Self-Guided walking tour from the Pier Head statues to the legendary Cavern Club. You’ll discover how the River Mersey’s global trade and American "Cunard Yanks" introduced the rock and roll records that shaped the Merseybeat sound. Key Highlights: • Visit the NEMS store site where Brian Epstein discovered the band. • See the White Star pub where the lads collected their performance pay. • Stop at The Grapes, their favorite pre-show drinking spot. • Explore Eric’s, the legendary club that launched 1970s Liverpool icons. • Marvel at the Bluecoat, the city's oldest building and site of Yoko Ono's early performances.

Oxford is a city where real and fictional worlds collide in Philip Pullman’s beloved fantasy series. On this self-guided audio tour, you'll explore the real Oxford locations that inspired Jordan College, discover filming spots from The Golden Compass and BBC’s His Dark Materials adaptation, and step into scenes straight from the pages of Pullman’s novels. From ancient college quadrangles to atmospheric lanes, you’ll experience Oxford through the eyes of Lyra Belacqua and her daemon Pan. The tour starts at Exeter College on Broad Street, the real-world inspiration for Lyra’s Jordan College. You’ll pass through the Covered Market where Roger would buy vegetables for Jordan College kitchens. You’ll also visit the magnificent Bodleian Library where the alethiometer is kept in Lyra’s world, and pass under the photogenic Hertford Bridge where Lyra and Roger were filmed fleeing from Gyptian children. You’ll see where many scenes from the adaptations were filmed.

This walking tour explores Birmingham’s musical heritage, tracing how heavy metal and diverse genres emerged from its industrial heart. Starting at Ozzy the Bull, you’ll journey through sixty years of rock history. Key Highlights: Visit The Crown, where Black Sabbath debuted, and sites hosting icons like Nirvana and The Clash. Discover how local artists birthed grindcore and global anthems while navigating political lawsuits and societal discontent. Browse tenured record stores and see the Black Sabbath Bench. Uncover the Brummie roots of Fleetwood Mac and how factory life shaped the "metal" sound.

This self-guided audio tour through Westminster is hosted by the legendary Stephen Fry and was developed with the QI Elves, the research team behind the hit BBC show QI. This immersive walking tour uncovers the bizarre facts and hidden secrets behind London's most famous landmarks. Over the next hour, Stephen’s narration guides you through the quirky history hiding in plain sight. Starting at Westminster Pier, your audio guide leads you toward Trafalgar Square. Pass the Houses of Parliament to hear about odd traditions like free snortable tobacco for MPs. Along the way, you'll learn how Westminster Abbey staff jealously used a flawed waxwork of Lord Nelson to lure tourists from St. Paul's, and discover the architectural secrets of Downing Street, the Cenotaph, and the iconic K2 telephone boxes. Finish at Cleopatra’s Needle after exploring Nelson's Column. Download to your smartphone and explore at your own pace!

London, 1666: plague-ravaged, war-drained, and bone dry. Join historian Dan Snow on this self-guided walking tour to track the Great Fire from a baker's forgotten oven to the smouldering ruins of a transformed city. Starting on Pudding Lane, you'll walk south through the streets where catastrophe unfolded, discovering how four days of fire reshaped London forever. On this 75-minute tour, you'll: * Stand inside Leadenhall Market, built over the ruins of Roman London's basilica * Walk St Michael's Alley and understand how narrow medieval lanes acted as vertical chimneys * Visit the Guildhall, the only secular stone building in the City predating 1666 * Learn why King Charles II personally overrode his Lord Mayor to save London

Want a wallet-friendly way to boost your photography skills? Want to get to know the Soho area of London better? This digital audio tour has what you’re looking for. Let a professional photographer lead you around the area via a mobile app and teach you more behind-the-camera skills. With a one-time purchase, you get lifetime access to the tour so you can revisit it again and again.

Go beyond central London’s upmarket royal neighborhoods and see a different side of the city during an audio tour of Brick Lane, in the East End. If you enjoy the structure and information of guided tours but don’t like keeping up with a group, this self-guided tour is ideal. Set your own pace as you explore the markets and outdoor street art galleries in this vibrant, multicultural neighborhood.

Edinburgh’s New Town is straight out of a world history of architecture, with its classical beauty and Georgian past. If you’re interested in hearing more about it then this informative self-guided GPS walking tour is for you. In 90 minutes, you’ll learn how Edinburgh became the largest planned town development in the world – and a "model city" – and in what sense its design and layout made it architecturally ideal. Although its original Georgian fabric has suffered many alterations, you'll see several clear traces of the former neoclassical city and the often-overlooked details in the fanlights and elegant ironwork of the original New Town street lights. You'll see buildings by celebrated British architects like Robert Adam and old maps and drawings. Downloading the tour onto the VoiceMap app to enjoy the tour on location or virtually at home.

Even though it’s conveniently sandwiched between Victoria and Oxford Circus, many visitors skip the affluent neighborhood of Pimlico when visiting London for the first time. This self-guided Pimlico audio tour takes you off the beaten path and reveals a side of the capital that most people miss. As you explore, discover the rich heritage of historic buildings and leafy squares.

Explore London's first Roman settlement at your own pace with this affordable walking tour. • Meet a slightly crazy Elizabethan Doctor, the most feared man in Tudor England, and an unlucky delivery boy on this history-filled tour that takes you from Londinium to Edwardian London • Hear from producer Steve Matthews whose passion for London has led him to provide guided tours since 2010 • Do it all in an hour or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish • Get unlimited use before and after your booking date • Use the virtual tour option at home Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under “Before You Go”. Then simply install the VoiceMap app and enter your code. The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap start. VoiceMap has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

Are you looking for a way to see Conwy without joining a tour group? Explore at your own pace with this affordable walking tour. • See the town’s main and medieval sites including Conwy Castle, the town walls, Plas Mawr, and cobbled alleys and back streets • Hear from producer Amanda Whitehead, a tour guide with over 20 years experience and a passion for Conwy’s medieval town • Do it all in 40 minutes or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish • Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it • Use the virtual tour option at home Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under “Before You Go”. Then simply install the VoiceMap app and enter your code. The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap start. VoiceMap has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

Trace London's development through its landmarks from the 17th Century to today. Explore at your own pace with this affordable self-guided walking tour. • Learn about the contemporary architects whose unconventional work makes London's skyline so distinctive • Hear from producer, Dr. Alan Montgomery, one of Context Travel's local expert tour guides • Do it all in an hour or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish • Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it • Use the virtual tour option at home Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under “Before You Go”. Then simply install the VoiceMap app and enter your code. The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap start. VoiceMap has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

Explore London’s camp history on a private self-guided tour through Mayfair and Soho. Created by a leading LGBTQ+ historian, this GPS-enabled experience lets you discover sites from Beau Brummell’s home to David Bowie’s breakthrough and The Ritz. Enjoy offline access to audio and maps, and explore at your own pace without group constraints.

Journey into the heart of Manchester and get to know some of its distinct and dynamic neighbourhoods. On this GPS-guided walking tour, you’ll be left not only with a collection of interesting stories and a love for the city, but also a Manchester swagger in your step. The tour begins at Manchester Central Library, where you’ll see some striking architecture from the 1800s. From there, you'll see how England’s first industrial city has grown over the years and become a master of reinvention. As you weave your way through the city’s neighbourhoods, you’ll hear about a man who ended up inspiring a cocktail while inventing a drink to replace alcohol, and about the tragedy of computer scientist Alan Turing, who spent a few years in the city. You'll also see an artwork dedicated to a dream about pets, learn how pizza created some of the most desirable housing in the UK, and take in Newton’s Apple Tree, grown from the seeds of the very tree that birthed the theory of gravity.

The East End is home to some of London’s most vibrant and varied street art. During this private tour, your guide takes you to atmospheric London areas such as Brick Lane, Spitalfields, and Whitechapel. Admire famous artworks from the likes of Banksy, Ozmo, Thierry Noir, C215, and more. Along the way, stroll through the Old Spitalfields and Petticoat Lane markets, see the Grenfell Tower Memorial Wall, and visit the Nomadic Community Garden and Whitechapel Gallery.

Art lovers can be overwhelmed in London, with so many amazing galleries and museums to choose from. Simplify your artistic sightseeing during a private tour of three must-visit institutions: the Tate Modern, the National Gallery, and the National Portrait Gallery. Your guide customizes the tour to your interests and needs, showing you both famous and lesser-known artworks. Ask all the questions you want on this private tour.

London is a shopaholic’s dream, but between the markets, department stores, and the high street, it can be hard to know where to begin. Before whipping out the credit card, recruit a personal shopping guide to help you navigate. The itinerary is customizable but typically includes Covent Garden, SoHo, Carnaby Street, and other fashionable hotspots to suit your personal style, whether that’s boho or glam.

This private day trip from London combines Tudor intrigue with 20th-century legacy as you visit the childhood home of Anne Boleyn and the beloved residence of Winston Churchill. Hotel pickup and dropoff from a professional English-speaking driver / local guide 100% Customizable & Private Start with a visit to 1Hever Castle Hever Castle, a moated Tudor palace set in stunning gardens, where Anne Boleyn spent her early years. Stroll through 2Gardens at Hever Castle the castle gardens, featuring Italian fountains, roses, and lakeside paths. Then drive through 3Chartwell House scenic countryside to 4Countryside Scenic Drive Chartwell House, Winston Churchill’s long-time home filled with personal belongings, paintings, and wartime memorabilia (optional entry). Enjoy a lunch stop at a traditional country inn before returning to London, reflecting on the rich history and lush landscapes of Kent and Surrey.

Discover Belfast’s vibrant spirit on this private, customizable city tour combining history, culture, and modern charm. Start at Belfast City Hall and Donegall Square, then explore the Titanic Quarter and HMS Caroline, where ship-building heritage meets contemporary design. Continue to the creative Cathedral Quarter, alive with street art, cafes, and cobbled lanes. Enjoy scenic moments along the Waterfront Walk and Big Fish Mosaic, blending art and riverside tranquility. Optional stops include St George’s Market and Crumlin Road Gaol, or relax at the serene Botanic Gardens and Queen’s Quarter. Whether by day or illuminated night, this private Belfast ride offers a flexible, comfortable way to experience the city’s highlights and unique character.

Skip the crowds and explore the National Gallery at your own pace on this private half-day tour, with morning or afternoon start times to fit your schedule. Your guide creates a personalized itinerary, offering insider insights into masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian, and more, helping you fully appreciate the art without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

Gain a personalized overview of the National Portrait Gallery’s highlights and history on this private 3-hour tour, with morning or afternoon options to suit your schedule. Benefit from your guide’s expert knowledge as you follow a tailored itinerary, focused on the people and topics that interest you, from famous monarchs to modern culture.

Westminster’s landmarks are a must-see for all ages, but keeping the little ones entertained while sightseeing can be tricky. Embark on a kid-friendly private tour to make it a memorable trip for the whole family, with a specially tailored itinerary, skip-the-line admission to Westminster Abbey, and a Blue Badge guide offering immersive insight into the city’s history.

London's major art institutions—the National Gallery, the Tate, the Royal Academy, and others—sit across different neighbourhoods, and navigating between them takes both transport and someone who knows the collections. This tour pairs a London-raised artist as guide with black cab transport between the galleries and museums for a seamless day out.