Time Step Tours launches theatrical character guides in Covent Garden

A new company is bringing theatrical character tours to the streets of Covent Garden and the cast is delightfully camp

The London Character Guides Association launched last month in the Covent Garden Piazza with four characters inspired by London's theatrical and working-class heritage. Tours are now available to book.

Last month Covent Garden became the stage for something a little different. The London Character Guides Association, the newly formed body behind Time Step Tours, launched in the Piazza with a roaming photo call that turned the cobbled streets and arches into a live performance space. Four costumed character guides moved through the market, engaged with visitors and brought spontaneous storytelling moments to the public.

The characters themselves are worth noting. Liza Too-Little, a riff on Eliza Doolittle and self-described Queen of Covent Garden, is a flower seller and local icon whose name alone carries a knowing wink. Sandy Beaches is an unpredictable, witty eccentric who leads tours with theatrical flair. Nancy, a Victorian barmaid and Lady of the Night, brings atmospheric storytelling from the city's past. Kitty Slater, Pearly Royalty, celebrates working-class London culture with sparkle and camp authority. The lineup reads like a love letter to London's tradition of theatrical drag, character performance and music hall, whether or not that is the explicit intention.

Time Step Tours describes itself as blending theatre, storytelling, history and guided exploration into walking experiences unlike anything currently available in London. Tours are now open to the public and available to book at timesteptours.com.