Slow Horses Locations – TV Walking Tour in London

Jackson Lamb’s shabby world comes to life on this Slow Horses walking tour through the City of London. You’ll visit places linked to the show, learn how Mick Herron’s books connect with the screen version, and see the real streets behind Slough House.

I like the small group limit of 15, which gives the guide room to explain details without turning the walk into a moving crowd. I also like the mix of espionage trivia and London history, including a few real-world spy facts and Susannah’s well-known Jackson Lamb impression.

The main thing to consider is the distance. You’ll walk about three miles over two hours, with several stops but no admission attractions. The meeting point can also be a little tricky to locate, especially with Apple Maps, so arrive early and check the address carefully.

Key points to know before you book

• Starts at Bunhill Fields: Begin beside William Blake’s grave, one of the tour’s most atmospheric meeting spots.
• Covers the Barbican and Aldersgate: See the modern concrete setting used for much of the show’s fictional world.
• Explains the real Slough House inspiration: Learn about the actual building behind the series’ unwanted MI5 office.
• Includes book and television details: Susannah connects the filming locations with Mick Herron’s original novels.
• Ends at Leadenhall Market: Finish near food, historic architecture, and easy onward transport.
• Walks roughly three miles: Wear comfortable shoes and plan for London weather.

Why this Slow Horses walk works for fans

This is not simply a hunt for recognizable doorways. The best part is the way the tour places the series inside a real section of London. You get the fictional world of Jackson Lamb and his team, but you also get streets, buildings, markets, and public spaces with lives of their own.

The show uses London in a clever way. The City can look polished and powerful in one frame, then cold, worn, and slightly secretive in the next. The walk helps you see how those contrasts support the story.

You’ll also hear about the book series that inspired the television show. That matters if you have read Mick Herron, since the guide can point out differences between the written and filmed versions. If you know only the Apple TV series, the book context still adds useful background without requiring homework before the tour.

Susannah is the guide named most often in the tour information, though her name is also written as Suzanne in one place. She brings strong enthusiasm for the subject and keeps up with the series. Expect more than filming facts: the tour also covers real espionage, London history, and the odd bit of performance, including a Jackson Lamb impression.

Meeting at Blake’s grave in Bunhill Fields

The tour begins at Greggs, at U1, 91 City Road, London EC1Y 1BD. From there, the group heads to Bunhill Fields and William Blake’s grave.

This gives the walk a better opening than a random pavement outside a station. Bunhill Fields is tied to the show’s fictional spy network, and Blake’s grave serves as one of the meeting places for Jackson Lamb’s team. It sets the right tone: literary, urban, and a little strange.

You do not need an admission ticket for the stop. Still, give yourself time to find the starting point. One person had trouble with extra numbers in the address not transferring well into Apple Maps. I would use the full street address, compare it with a standard map, and avoid arriving at the last minute.

The first section lasts about 30 minutes. That should give you enough time to get oriented, hear how the opening location fits the series, and begin moving toward the fictional Slough House. The stop is not just a photo opportunity. It links the show to London’s literary past and gives the guide a natural way to explain the books.

Walking toward fictional Slough House

From Bunhill Fields, the route heads toward the area used as Slough House. In the series, this is where MI5 sends agents whose careers have stalled or gone badly wrong. In real London, the surroundings are a mix of older streets, office buildings, major public spaces, and modern concrete design.

That contrast is part of the fun. The spies in Slow Horses are not working from a glamorous headquarters. Their world feels pushed to the side, even though it sits close to the center of British power and commerce. As you walk, the guide can show how the real setting supports that mood.

This is also where the tour broadens beyond television. You’ll hear about London landmarks and local history along the way, so the experience has value even when a particular doorway is not instantly familiar. I prefer this approach to a tour that stops every few minutes only to point at a wall.

The walk is conducted in English. Since the experience lasts around two hours, you should expect a steady urban walk rather than a long stop at every location. Comfortable shoes matter more than dressing up for the role.

The Barbican Highwalk and Aldersgate

The longest section is around the Barbican and Aldersgate, with about 45 minutes devoted to the area. This is one of the strongest parts of the route for people who enjoy architecture as much as television.

The Barbican’s raised walkways, heavy concrete forms, staircases, and unusual sightlines give the show a distinct visual character. It does not look like the postcard version of London. That makes it a useful setting for a story about people operating inside a large institution but feeling cut off from it.

You’ll explore the Barbican Highwalk and the nearby Aldersgate area while learning where scenes are set. A guide can help you notice how the camera uses height, angles, corridors, and open spaces. Without that context, the Barbican can simply feel like a maze. With it, the setting becomes part of the story.

I especially like that the tour does not treat the Barbican as background scenery only. You’ll hear about the area itself and its place in London. If you have never visited, this is a chance to see a major piece of postwar architecture while following a familiar fictional trail.

There is a practical downside. The Barbican area involves walking, changes in level, and a fair amount of pavement time. The tour information says most people can take part, but anyone with mobility concerns should consider the three-mile route and the nature of the Highwalk before booking.

Seeing the real inspiration for Slough House

At one point, the group stops outside the real-life inspiration for the fictional Slough House. The building is linked to the idea of a place where MI5 careers go to die, which is central to the show’s humor and tension.

This stop is likely to mean more to you if you have watched several episodes or read the books. You can connect the unglamorous real setting with the cramped, unwanted workplace occupied by Lamb and his team. The gap between fiction and reality is part of the appeal.

Do not expect to go inside. The attraction here is the explanation and the exterior context. The guide helps separate what is real from what the show invents, and that distinction keeps the experience grounded.

This is also a good point to appreciate the show’s use of ordinary places. Slow Horses does not need a castle or famous monument for every key scene. A plain office building can carry the story if the writing, actors, and camera work give it enough weight.

Bank Junction and the Royal Exchange

The route continues toward Bank Junction and the Royal Exchange Building. This section takes about 30 minutes and shifts the mood from the Barbican’s concrete modernism to one of London’s most recognizable financial districts.

Bank Junction is important to the show, with key scenes set in and around the area. You’ll see how the series places covert activity among grand facades, traffic routes, office workers, and public movement. The setting makes a useful point about espionage: dramatic events can happen in plain sight while the city carries on around them.

The Royal Exchange adds architectural contrast. Its grand exterior helps show the difference between the institution’s public image and the messy, private work of the Slow Horses. The route does not turn the building into a museum visit, but it uses the location to explain the show’s geography.

This part also has value for anyone who is not a devoted fan. Bank Junction and the Royal Exchange sit in a dense part of central London, so the guide’s comments can help you understand the area as you walk through it. You’ll get a quick lesson in the City’s past alongside the television connections.

Because the tour is on foot and the City can be busy, keep your attention on the group and the pavement. The experience does not include food or indoor admission, so plan to stop for a drink or snack before or after the walk.

Ending at Leadenhall Market

The tour finishes at Leadenhall Market on Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 1LT. The final stop lasts about 15 minutes and gives the walk a satisfying finish.

Leadenhall Market is another Slow Horses location, but it is also a useful place to end because you can continue your London day from there. The market has restaurants and food options, making it easy to grab a bite after two hours on foot. You are not left at an isolated meeting point with nothing nearby.

The market’s ornate setting provides a visual change from the Barbican and the office districts. It is a good final location for photographs and a chance to place one more show scene within the city.

The ending is not a formal meal or a guided food stop. You’ll need to choose and pay for anything you eat separately. Still, the location makes the tour easy to pair with lunch, an afternoon visit to nearby sights, or further exploration of the City.

What you get for $27.62

At $27.62 per person, this is priced like a focused walking tour rather than a large sightseeing excursion. That is fair value if you already enjoy Slow Horses and would otherwise spend time trying to identify filming locations on your own.

You are paying for a guide who can connect several layers:

• The locations used in the television show
• The fictional geography of Slough House
• The Mick Herron book series
• Facts about real espionage
• London history and architecture

There are no paid entries included, but none are needed for this route. The main product is interpretation. If you only want a list of addresses and quick photographs, the price may feel less attractive. If you want someone to explain why the locations matter, the cost is easier to justify.

The maximum group size of 15 is another part of the value. A small group makes it easier to hear the guide, ask questions, and keep a good pace through central London. It also avoids the impersonal feel of a large film tour.

The tour is often booked about 30 days ahead. That does not guarantee every date will sell out, but it is a useful sign to plan ahead if your London schedule is fixed.

Who should book this London TV tour

I would recommend it first to fans who have watched the series and want to see how the fictional world fits into the actual city. You’ll get the most from the walk if you recognize Jackson Lamb, River Cartwright, Slough House, and the show’s dry view of MI5.

Readers of the books should also find the extra context worthwhile. The guide discusses the source novels, so you can compare the written setting with the television version.

This can work for a general London visitor too, especially if you like architecture, urban history, or spy stories. The Barbican, Aldersgate, Bank Junction, the Royal Exchange, and Leadenhall Market give the route substance beyond the screen references.

I would be less keen to recommend it if you dislike walking or want to enter filming locations. The tour stays outdoors, takes about two hours, and covers roughly three miles. It is also conducted in English, so you should be comfortable following a spoken walking tour in that language.

Service animals are allowed, public transportation is nearby, and most people can participate. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. If you cancel later, the payment is not refunded, and changes made within that period are not accepted.

Should you book the Slow Horses Locations tour?

Book it if Slow Horses is one of the reasons you are visiting London, or if you want a small, focused walk through an unusual part of the City. The combination of filming locations, book details, real espionage, and London history gives the tour more substance than a simple photo hunt.

The strongest reasons to go are Susannah’s enthusiasm, the small group, and the chance to see the Barbican and the real Slough House inspiration in one route. The main cautions are the three-mile distance, the outdoor format, and the need to take care with the meeting address.

For fans, $27.62 is a sensible price for two hours of guided context. For casual viewers, the tour still offers an interesting city walk, but its value depends on how much you want the Slow Horses connection.

FAQ

Where does the Slow Horses walking tour start?

It starts at Greggs, U1, 91 City Road, London EC1Y 1BD, UK. You should check the full address carefully because extra address numbers may not display properly in Apple Maps.

Where does the tour end?

The walk ends at Leadenhall Market, Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 1LT. The market is a convenient place to find something to eat afterward.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

How much walking is involved?

The route covers about three miles. Comfortable walking shoes are a sensible choice.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

How large is the group?

The group has a maximum of 15 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.