Alas many of the buildings associated with his time did not survive the Blitz and ravages of time.

In 2006 Ajay Goyal put together the ideas on what was to become a walking tour of London in Gandhi’s footsteps.  London Walks company enthusiastically adopted the idea and Sue Jackson conducted the first tour in 2007. Gandhi’s London tour is now a regular fixture of London walking tour programme and walks are conducted each month and often for private groups.

On regular and scheduled walk days 20 to 30 walkers usually join the tour guide on the journey. A number of private walks for German, French and American students have also been arranged. Hundreds of students and visitors to London have now taken a crash course in this unique bit of history from time when Mahatma Gandhi spent his formative years in London.

The walk has received tremendous interest from media and Mayor of London. But the biggest promoter of the walk is London Walks’ widely distributed catalogue which can be found in every hotel, book store and tourist spot in London.

Sue Jackson is still the main guide of the walk and we have heard many compliments to her knowledge of Gandhis’ life and London.

Here is a link for you.. 

Gandhi first came to London in 1888 to study law at the University College of London. Soon, he took to walking long distances in London first in search of vegetarian food and then habitually to think on his feet. His habit to walk long distances that he acquired during his London years became a part of his Satyagraha movement in South Africa and India. It then culminated into one of the greatest peaceful acts of defiance against the colonial rule when he marched 241 miles at 61 years of age to make salt from sea water. This walk captured the imagination of all Indians and indeed the world. In legendary Oscar winning film Gandhi by Richard Attenborough, Gandhi tells a reporter in jest ” I am Walker.”

Gandhi’s London Walk is a guided walking tour tracing his footsteps over a hundred years ago through central London and looking at historical buildings associated with him.

Gandhi visited London on five occasions. He spent the longest time in London as a student, lived at various locations across the length and breadth of the city, made lifelong friendships, travelled to suburbs and got to interact with many luminaries of the time.

His three visits as a civil rights leader in South Africa were brief but critical to his interaction with civil rights leaders, as well as colonial authorities. He made many public speeches and attended meetings across London. He started to acquire a strong following over the years in London and by the time he made his final visit to attend the round table conference on indepedent India, he was already a huge celebrity. Groups and individuals jostled to see him and be in his company. Gandhi chose to be with the poorest of the poor.

London of those years has changed beyond recognition. Many of the buildings have been demolished, others destroyed in the blitz and yet others have made way for grand new developments. Many more are in outlying areas, hardly known and mostly forgotten. Yet, numerous buildings that still stand are neither known in the context of their association with this great man nor for their significance to Indian colonial rule and independence.This walk shall place London and its many great landmarks in a whole new context and doubtless interest and fascinate millions.

A good part of Gandhi’s own time in London is well documented in his own diaries, letters and records of communication by others he met. Scholars have researched the subject in depth. At least two books have been written on the subject.

For extensive research and planning, funding was obtained from The Goyal Foundation to start Gandhi’s London walk as a regular tour.

The London Walks company and its highly qualified Blue Badge tour guides agreed to study the subject and turn this into a professional walking tour.

London is a walker’s delight. Hundreds of beautiful buildings with great historical importance and notoriety stand in this city. Accomplished guides regale tourists with historical accounts, stories and anecdotes about these buildings. Anyone familiar with Indian history shall begin to recognise the names, places and persons in the story and find that a part of London belongs to the proud past and history of not just Britons but Indians as well. There is a certain spiritual energy about those buildings with which names of many great leaders and martyrs are associated.

Gandhi’s London walk is a 2 to 3 Hour journey through heart of London. Outlying areas have not been included. Come prepared in comfortable walking shoes. To book this tour or join one, write

Q. Do I need a reservation for the walk?

A. On schedule walk days you do not need reservations. Just show up at the correct time at Temple Tube Station.

Q. If I am late or tube does not work?

A. The walk starts at precisely 2:30 PM so we suggest you come a little early. Many tube stations are closed on weekends so its best to check with TFL.gov.uk. If you miss the group at 2:30 PM, you can try and catch them until 2:40 PM at the far end of garden in front of the Temple Tube station. After that it is not possible to catch up.

Q. How much should I pay?

A. 7 Pounds ( No other currency is accepted).

Q. How do I know who is the tour guide?

A. If you are outside Temple station, you won’t miss her. Her name is Sue Jackson.

Q. If I am a student, do I have to pay?

A. Ask for a Student discount.

Q.If I am a senior. Do I have to pay?

A. No. If you are 65+, just tell the tour guide and the payment will be made for your walk by The Goyal Foundation.

Q. How much walking is involved.

A. Its a few miles of intensive walk with stops for narration.

Q. If I do not agree with the guide on some points of history, what should I do?

A. We have taken great pains to confirm the accuracy of statements made by the tour guides. But if you are certain that something is incorrect or amiss, please do not interrupt the tour. Please write to us with your comments at <gandhislondon_at_gmail_dot_com and we will make necessary amends.

Q. What if I want tour guide to tell some more history.

A. History and story of Mahatma Gandhi have been subject of many hundreds of books and countless articles. It is impossible to cover each and every detail, even of his student years in London during this 2 hr. walk. However if you are an expert and historian in Gandhi’s life, we would like to hear from you, receive your suggestions and try to improve the tour by email.

Q. Do you cancel the tour if rain is forecast?

A. No. Rain, wind, sunshine or snow, the walk is never canceled.

Q. If we want to arrange a private walk for 15 or more people, what should we do?

A. Please write to us and we shall try and arrange a private walk for you. Private walks are arranged for minimum of 20 persons. We have done many private walks for student groups from Germany, France and United States.

Q. I want to make a present or gift to someone and pay for their walk. How can I pay for someone else?

A. You can mail a cheque in advance to the tour guide. Please write to us and we shall give you the mailing address.

Q. Can I take pictures during the walk?

A. Yes.

Q. Can I film the walk?

A. No. Only with prior arrangement. Many locations do not permit filming and security officers may ask you to turn off the cameras or fine you.

Q. I want to make a donation to the walk..

A. You are welcome to commend the guide and show appreciation with a bonus payment or write a testimonial on our web site. We do not accept money as the research, student and senior payments and marketing are fully funded by The Goyal Foundation.

Q I have another question:

A. Please send your questions to  gandhislondon_at_gmail_dot_com

We believe it is available for some days but the link may expire after August 11th.

The conversation can be heard online at  ( If you find the link dead, please let us know)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/noscript.shtml?/radio/aod/london_aod.shtml?london/inspirit

The conversation starts at:  31 minutes into the show and then after a break picks up again40 minutes into the show.

which was broadcast at 94.9 on Sunday 29 July 2007

To listen you will need to have a programme called RealPlayer installed on your computer.  Download it for FREE from BBC  audio help page – http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/help/install/

The web site is www.brigitte.de

A number of British, Indian and International reporters attended the event.

Click here to see the story.

the-hindu-news-update-service.pdf