General Information, Terms & Conditions

It will be assumed that you have read and accepted these before making use of the tours or web site.

The information given here is subject to change.

Weather

I do not like to cancel walks.  Scheduled walks could be cancelled if the the forecast promises continuous or exceptionally heavy rain or frequent heavy showers or a hurricane.  Be prepared for a shower.  Winter walks could be affected by snow or ice. Always check Next Walk for last minute changes.  Light rain is NOT normally a reason to cancel a walk.

The weather forecasts in the UK have frequent recourse to the description "unsettled" which seems to mean some probability of showers, heavy or light, but can also include long periods when it is dry and sunny.  If these walks only took place on days "set fair" then I would forever be arranging postponements, mostly unnecessary - hence my weather policy.

Weather forecasts are usually provided by the media for 3 hour intervals over the coming 24 hours.  But you can do better and make your own short term prediction by looking at the weather radar for bands of rain sweeping in.

Accessibility

Routes and timings assume an average level of fitness and mobility.  While London and the surrounding area is being made more accessible for the less mobile these walks have not been fully checked for step-free access - and building work etc may sometimes hamper access which is normally easy.  People with particular needs are invited to get in touch well in advance of the walk.

Group Size

With the exception of private tours I aim to cater for a group of 8 to 25 people.  This means that a scheduled walk may be cancelled if I have had too few expressions of interest a few days before the date.

Children

Accompanied children are welcome (free of charge if carried, or in buggies, and very quiet - but see Accessibility above).  These walks are not designed to be child-centred, but may well appeal to children with an interest in such things as history, science, adventure stories or architecture.

Cost

Participants in scheduled walks will be invited to buy tickets using Eventbrite, and these are commensurate with the cost of other London walking tours.

Reasonable charges apply to bespoke tours, putting them on a level with other London cultural visits for families and small groups.  The general principle is that a certain charge is necessary to make the tour viable and cover any special preparation, but that the cost per person reduces the more participants there are.  Please contact me to discuss your requirements.

Cancellation

In the event that a walk is cancelled by the organiser then tickets bought will be refunded, or any gift voucher used will remain valid for booking another walk.  Tickets will not normally be refunded to latecomers, or in the event of disinclnation to take up a place already booked on the tour.

Tours may be cancelled if the number of bookings is very low 24-48 hours before the walk, or the weather forecast is exceptionally bad (see above).

Gift Vouchers

Gift vouchers in a printed card are available to purchase.  These enable you to give to friends and relatives the opportunity to take up places on Laurence’s Walks scheduled tours.  The name of the recipient(s) will be required to enable me to administer the scheme and will be added to my mailing list.  Gift vouchers could also be used as part payment towards a bespoke private tour (see note on costs above) and this would need to be agreed on a case by case basis.  The gift vouchers are not normally exchangeable or refundable and must be used before the expiry date, or within 3 years of the date of issue on the voucher.  In the event of my long term incapacity to deliver walks, the unused portion of the voucher may be refunded.  The voucher covers only the appropriate number of places on the tours, and does not cover items of expenditure normally excluded from the tour cost (see note below), nor clothing/souvenir purchases from my shop.

Gift vouchers take several days to prepare and deliver, and I may occasionally be away from my desk for a couple of weeks, so please please contact me with your gift voucher requirements well in advance.

Start Time & Punctuality

Read the joining instructions carefully with particular regard to the meeting point.  Some stations have several exits.

Please assume that the walk will depart promptly at the advertised start time and not wait for latecomers.  For the more far flung walks there may be train timetables to consider.  Another common constraint is cafe closing times.  There may be other factors which determine the start time.  Waiting for latecomers usually impacts the enjoyment of others.

Walk participants may be refused admission to the event, or left behind, if they do not arrive by the advertised start time.

The duration of the walk depends on many factors and it is not possible to guarantee an exact finishing time.

Risk Assessment & Safety

These walks are at your own risk and you need to take responsibility for your own safety.  The risks normally associated with walking in London and the surrounding area apply to these walks and include hazard from: traffic, cycles, street crime, terrorism, animals, birds, rodents, insects, aircraft, trains, falling trees and branches, slippery ground, gradients, steps, uneven ground, open water, waterborne diseases, infectious diseases, solar radiation, meteorite impact, wind, flood, falling objects, fires, escaping gas, electrical conductors, lightning, airborne particles, building materials and equipment, and construction work near public routes.  A few walks involve visiting public parks and may include other risks due to golf or cricket balls etc. or related to the wildlife found there.

Toilets

A walk of 2-3 hours may not involve a planned toilet stop.  Please make use of toilet facilities before the start.

Parking

I cannot give advice on parking.  Please check this in advance and keep in mind that very few of my walks finish where they started.  Consider using public transport but note that railway services can be interrupted or replaced by buses at weekends, extending journey times.

Web Links

This web site includes links to other web sites.  These may have their own terms and conditions and are used at your own risk.  If you find a broken link please let me know.

Expenditure Not Included in the Cost of the Walk

Food, drink, transport, fares, insurance, souvenirs, purchases of a personal nature.  These walks do not normally involve entrance to anywhere which charges admission.  If there are any exceptions these will be explained in the joining instructions.

Accuracy

No liability is accepted for the consequences of any inadvertent inaccuracy on my part.  Details of walking tours on this web site are only indicative of the length, subject matter and scope.  The exact content and length of the walk may vary as I attempt to improve them, take account of prevailing conditions or special events, and consider the wishes of the group.

I do strive to ensure that what is said on the walks is correct.  I have consulted over 330 books to date and numerous other papers, periodicals, podcasts and broadcasts.  I have had access on-line to the UK Dictionary of National Biography as well as the national biographical dictionaries of Canada, Australia and the Netherlands.

Right to Refuse

Laurence reserves the right to refuse people admission to walks if in his reasonable opinion admission might be a risk to the safety of the persons concerned and/or the audience, or it might affect the enjoyment of other members of the audience, or it might affect the running of the event.

Photography, Video, Filming and Sound Recording

Walk participants are welcome to take still photographs and brief videos and films for personal use only.

Walk participants consent to recording (as members of the audience) which Laurence may arrange for publicity purposes.

The copyright is assigned to Laurence for any recordings of events produced by Laurence or those assisting him.

Smoking

Walk participants are expected to obey the law and are asked not to affect the enjoyment of other participants by smoking inconsiderately.

Curtailment

A walk may be curtailed due to illness, emergency, bad weather or other circumstances outside the organiser's control.

Personal Data

This web site does not solicit personal data although external web sites, to which this web site contains links, may do so.  Consult the relevant terms and conditions displayed on those web sites.