Soho 2 Hour Gangster Tour

A tour by someone who was here living or working in the area in 60's/70's during the mod and flower power generations, when Soho was buzzing with gangsters, bent policemen, fashion, clubs, nightspots and coffee bars!
I actually knew many of these people.and experienced many of these events, at the time! This means I can give plenty of in depth info about how exciting a place Soho was!

Meeting Point

ICE - International Currency Exchange

241 Oxford St, London W1D 2LT, UK

Outside the exit of Oxford Circus Tube Station Argyll St Exit, on the corner of Argyll St

What's included:

• Walking Tour of Soho with many shops restaurants and bars in area to visit after the tour!

What to expect:

Duration: 2 hours

The London Palladium

8 Argyll St, London W1F 7TF, UK

We stop outside this theatre famous in the 1960's/70's for Sunday Night at the London Palladium and we also look at the plaque to Brian Epstein the manager of the Beatles

8 minutes

Courthouse Hotel

19, 21 Great Marlborough St, London W1F 7HL, UK

We stop outside the stage door to the London Palladium to look at the many famous face who have appeared here. Then move along to the Courthouse Hotel which at one time was Great Marlborough St's Magistrates court where many famous face were tried for drug charges and other offences

5 minutes

Carnaby Street

Carnaby St, London W1F, UK

Entering Carnaby Street we stop to talk about the many gangsters who were in soho over the years right from the 1920's with people like Darby Sabini, Billy Kimber (Peaky Blinders) Billy Hill, Jack 'Spot' Comer, The Messina Bros etc

10 minutes

50 Carnaby St

50 Carnaby St, Carnaby, London W1F 9QA, UK

Many clubs have stood here over the years right from 1930's until 1970's

5 minutes

Spirit of Soho Mural

Broadwick St, Carnaby, London W1F 9PE, UK

this show the many famous and infamous people who have lived in Soho From Cassonova and Mozart to George Melly, Jeffery Bernard, Brendan Behan and Johnnie Dankworth.

5 minutes

John Snow

39 Broadwick St, Carnaby, London W1F 9QJ, UK

Here is a replica pump outside the pub named after John Snow recognized as the first British epidemiologist who solved the mystery of a cholera outbreak here in 1854 which had already killed 500 people

5 minutes

Walker's Court

Walker's Ct, London W1F, UK

Here stood Raymond's Revue Bar the first place in Soho where stripper could move once naked. Paul Raymond also was a published of men's magazines Men Only, Mayfair and escort and a property magnate worth £650 million

8 minutes

Wardour Street

Wardour St, London, UK

Here stood the Flamingo Club where a who's who of British and American Rock and pop stars flocked in 1960's-70's

8 minutes

From the Boulogne Restaurant, a hostess club at Wardour St end,to no 15, where the Kray twins open their El Morrocco club after their first central London club Esmeralder's barn in Kensington bak to 1920's and Kate Merricks (the Nightclub Queen) 43 Club at number 43 this street has been full of Clubs and gangsters over the years

10 minutes

The French House

49 Dean St, London W1D 5BG, UK

Opposite The French House we will further discuss the Kray Twins and their relationship with Lord Boothby

8 minutes

Green Plaque:n2i's Coffee Bar

59 Old Compton St, London W1D 6HR, UK

The birthplace of British Rock & Roll run by a wrestler Dr Death here many future stars were discovered from 1960 onwards Tommy Steel, Cliff Richards & the Shadows, Screaming Lord Sutch and many others, now a great Fish & Chip restaurant Poppies!

5 minutes

Frith Street

Frith St, London W1D, UK

Looking down we can see Ronnie Scotts cLub still here today although the great man and his wife Cleo Laine are sadly now gone.

2 minutes

Greek Street

Greek St, London W1D, UK

On the corner with Old Compton St we will discuss the Krays and the murder of Jack the Hat and the Mad Axman Frank Mitchell, Freddie Foreman, Ronnie Knight ( Barbara Windsor's 1st husband) and the murder of Alfredo Zomperelli

10 minutes

58 Greek St

58 Greek St, London W1D 3DY, UK

The last stop where we will discuss police corruption in 1960's-70's Bernie Silvers top dog here at the time, Frank Mifsud who ran most of the doorbell flats.Commander Drury of Scotland Yard his relationship with pron baron Jimmy Humpheries and his wife Rusty Gaynor. We will end the tour here it is a five minute walk from either Tottenham Court Rd Tube Station (Central/Northern/ Elizabeth lines) or Leicester Sq TubeStation (Piccadilly/ Northern lines)

10 minutes