The StrummerWalk
Description
What Trenchtown was to Bob Marley Ladbroke Grove was to Joe Strummer and The Clash. A walking tour taking in the key locations associated with Joe Strummer and The Clash's West London. Starting at Ladbroke Grove station we wind our way through W10, W11 and W9. We chart the development of Joe Strummer from Woody Mellor, hippie, squatter and pub rocker through to punk rock stardom with the Clash and spokesman for a generation. We check out pubs, recording studios, gig venues, former squats, homes and iconic photo/film locations all located in this legendary part of London. About your guide Aidan McManus is an award-winning tour guide, historian, broadcaster, and curator of music-related film events. West London-born of Irish heritage, he was a teenage participant in the punk scene and later its soul, 2-Tone and rave cultures.He is the host of Flipside London Radio, a fortnightly Portobello Radio programme focusing on books, music, history and youth culture.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will visit legendary sites connected with Joe Strummer/The Clash
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(183)
Aidan was a fantastic guide! He lived here and grew up in the neighborhood with the members of the clash. He’s a great story teller and reallly personable and engaging. Loved it!
Aidan knows a lot about music, the Clash and Joe Strummer life, apart from the local scene and history of those neighborhoods. He offers a complete story from an insider point of view. Absolutly recommended, a shame I couldn't take the other tours. Also, I would say it is the only tour that refers in depth to The Clash, so for band fans, don't miss it!
Aidan is an absolute joy as a mate and tour guide! He brought a true depth of music and pop history knowledge to his narration of Joe Strummer and the Clash’s beginnings, success and dissolution. His multi-media presentation and personal stories helped to make the over 2 hour tour feel both too brief and also complete. My only regret is my visit to London is over, and I will have to wait until I return for his other tours!
Taking the Strummer-Walk with Aidan was a lot of fun. Lots of interesting historic facts and anecdotes. The next time I'm in London, I'll definitely book one of the other tours Aidan has to offer.
Great tour. Hilarious guide who made it all come alive. A must for Clash fans. Thanks Aiden I really enjoyed the day and a couple of pints with you afterwards. Will look to book the Bowie later this year. Cheers
Very enjoyable walk round the Grove with Aidan supplying great little anecdotes at every corner. Very informative and interesting to learn the back history of Joe Strummer and to visit his old haunts
My wife and I had a wonderful experience with Aiden on his Soho Punk tour a few years ago and we were excited to be able to go on his Clash Ladbroke Grove tour on our recent trip to London. I was far from disappointed to say the least. Aiden turns modern day London into an open air museum as he seamlessly blends the stories of various subcultural histories with his own interesting and often hilarious personal anecdotes. If you are interested in the alternative histories of the city- from folk and psychedelia to Hammer horror films to Swinging London gangsterism to race riots and punk rock, etc., etc.- you owe it to yourself to book a tour or two with Aiden when in London. He is simply ace!
We went on the Soho Music and Historic Pubs Walking Tour and had a great time! Our tour guide, Henry, was very friendly and knowledgeable. We tried a half pint of beer at each pub and heard some interesting stories and cool facts.
My wife arranged for a tour with Aiden for my 50th birthday, as I’m a huge Clash fan, and I could not have hoped for for a better, funnier, more informative experience. Aiden brought me on a walking tour all around the areas around Ladbroke Grove, Maida Vale, The Westway, all the time telling stories and yarns that you wouldn’t get anywhere else, it was less of a tour more of a chat with a great bloke who knew the area like the back of his hand, knew all the characters , all the stories you wouldn’t hear from your everyday tour. Aiden loves his music, loves his city, his community and it shines through on this tour. For anyone interested in the Clash, Joe Strummer and any associated London music, Aiden is the perfect guide. Like I said, just like having a chat with an old friend
Time extremely well spent for clash fans and anyone that enjoys culture and history. Aidan's personal connection to the area animated the history of the band and this part of London in exciting and often hilarious ways
