Unseen Tours was born in 2010 from the inspiring work of The Sock Mob, a volunteer network that engages with men and women living on the streets of London.
They use the ice-breaking power of a pair of warm socks to engage rough sleepers and other vulnerable groups. In this way, interactions are created between people from different walks of life, who might never otherwise connect on any meaningful level.
Unseen Tours takes this model a step forward, by supporting vulnerably housed individuals to develop, curate, and lead guided walks to different neighbourhoods of London.
Since the summer of 2010, we have worked with more than 24 guides and offered walks in eight different areas of the city. Each year, we run more than 450 walks, and welcome 6500+ guests.
Our brilliant guides, being formerly homeless, know the streets intimately and will show you the real London through their stories and unmatched knowledge of the area’s history.
Your ticket helps our guides to earn a living doing something that they love. It also gives them the opportunity to lead conversations that challenge perceptions about homelessness and generate social change.