It’s one of the great late-night pub conversations that rages long past the time we’ve been politely asked to leave by the weary staff: if you had a time machine, what era of pop and rock would you visit to witness musical history being born first-hand? Although we’re probably only months away from being able to don virtual reality headsets and watch an AI-generated recreation of the Beatles rewriting the rules of pop at the Cavern Club or Jimi Hendrix on the precipice of inventing rock music at the Café Wha?, it’s still a step removed from walking the same streets and breathing the same air as the musical giants of our youth. Which is why walking tours of famous rock landmarks, like the Bowie tour of Berlin that Jimmy and Sue embarked on recently, are becoming such a popular way to connect viscerally with the music that made our hearts sing beyond the crackle of vinyl and the long-faded posters on our collective walls. Here’s five of our favourites:
1. The Great British Rock and Roll Walking Tour – London, UK
Although London’s planning authorities saw fit to demolish large parts of storied and historical central London to make way for transport links to get you quicker to the stuff that’s no longer there (a whole other story that I could rant about for hours), there remains enough of the world-famous Denmark St to kickstart the opening chapters of a hundred bands’ biographies, including of course, everyone from the Rolling Stones to Pink Floyd to Led Zeppelin.
- What: A two-hour guided walking tour through central London covering rock landmarks connected to The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Bowie, Hendrix and Queen.
- Where: Departs from Tottenham Court Road Station (Exit 4), London
- Highlights: Denmark Street, Tin Pan Alley, former Trident Studios, Bowie’s Soho haunts plus a stop at a classic rock pub.
- Who it’s for: Gen X and Boomer fans of British rock history and classic albums.
- When: Offered daily with options for afternoon and early evening walks
- Price: From A$65 per person
- Booking: GetYourGuide – The Great British Rock and Roll Walking Tour
2. Rock Junket’s East Village and Greenwich Village Tours – New York City, USA
Just as much a creative laboratory and artistic powerhouse as central London, both the East Village and Greenwich Village couldn’t help but keep pumping out a genre-defying, authority-baiting slew of acts all with a certain New York swagger all their own, from Dylan to the Velvet Underground to Blondie and beyond. The surroundings may have changed drastically, but their shadows loom large over modern New York.
- What: NYC’s original rock-and-punk walking tours focused on Bob Dylan, The Ramones, Patti Smith, CBGBs, Lou Reed and more.
- Where: East Village and Greenwich Village, New York City
- Highlights: CBGB site, punk clubs, folk revival cafes, album cover locations and historic band apartments
- Who it’s for: Classic rock, punk and folk fans wanting to walk the backstreets of the 60s, 70s and early 80s.
- When: Weekly tours (check calendar for schedule); private bookings also available
- Price: From A$74 per person
- Booking: Rock Junket Official Site
3. Rock ‘n’ Roll Walking Tour of the Sunset Strip – Los Angeles, USA
Get your (surprisingly forgiving) spandex pants on, tease up your hair and head down the strip, because glam is back and it’s time to rawk! Head back to the 80s before Nirvana came along and ruined everything, to an era when the LA rock scene went a bit mad and the definition of a true ‘rock god’ was looking like a reject from the unscreened auditions of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
- What: A guided walking tour along LA’s famous Sunset Strip, home to the rise of glam, punk and classic American rock.
- Where: Begins near Whisky a Go Go, West Hollywood
- Highlights: Venues like Whisky a Go Go, The Roxy and Viper Room; stories of The Doors, Van Halen, Guns N’ Roses and more.
- Who it’s for: US rock, glam metal and hard rock fans especially those nostalgic for the 70s and 80s LA scene
- When: Fridays and Saturdays at 11 a.m.
- Price: A$59 per person
- Booking: Rock ‘n Walk Tours
4. The Sound of Düsseldorf – Düsseldorf, Germany
Springing from the protests of radicalised German art students in the late 60s, kosmische – inelegantly dubbed krautrock by British music journalists – saw a host of bands dabble in eclectic and eccentric forms of experimental rock to thumb their noses at their conservative forebears. But it was Kraftwerk, who eventually adopted an entirely electronic sound, that captured the imagination of millions of fans far beyond their native Düsseldorf. This tour is a must for fans of electronic music, Kraftwerk and the avant-garde, and dives deep into the city’s pivotal role in the technologically-forward sound that shaped modern music for ever.
- What: A guided music history tour through Düsseldorf exploring the electronic and avant-garde scene led by Kraftwerk, NEU! and DAF.
- Where: Düsseldorf city center (meeting point provided on booking)
- Highlights: Kling Klang Studio, Creamcheese club and locations tied to the 70s/80s Krautrock and electronic period
- Who it’s for: Fans of Krautrock, Kraftwerk and synth-based music history
- When: Weekends, advance booking required; custom group bookings available
- Price: A$31
- Booking: Visit Düsseldorf – The Sound of Düsseldorf
5. Felabration Festival – Lagos, Nigeria
OK, not quite a walking tour, but a destination holiday for any Afrobeat fan to celebrate the life and legacy of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti at his spiritual and musical headquarters in Lagos, with a giant, week-long festival. Believe me, there will be no shortage of walking!
- What: A week-long celebration of music, politics and culture honouring Fela Kuti through live Afrobeat performances, art exhibitions, panel discussions and street parades.
- Where: New Afrika Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
- Highlights: Performances by Femi and Seun Kuti, international guest acts, dance competitions, Afrobeat history panels and a powerful community atmosphere
- Who it’s for: Fans of Fela Kuti, Afrobeat devotees and anyone seeking an immersive cultural experience in the genre’s birthplace
- When: Held annually in mid-October, typically the week of Fela’s birthday (15 October)
- Price: Free general entry; VIP seating available for A$30–50 per night
- Booking: Felabration Official Site or Instagram @felabration
