UCL Walking Tour
Explore the rich and radical history of UCL, one of the world’s leading universities in the heart of London, on this free tour every Friday.
Please be aware
Tours are currently paused.
Founded in 1826, UCL has been at the forefront of radical and disruptive thinking for nearly 200 years.
Join us as we explore UCL’s campus and delve deeper into the researchers, students and stories that have helped shape the UCL of today.
Over the summer, tours run on a Friday, but not every week. Please check the Eventbrite for available dates. The tour will start at 12:30pm and last roughly an hour.
UCL Walking Tours are not campus tours designed for prospective students. If you are a prospective student, looking to study at UCL, please book onto a tour via the UCL Campus Tours website.
Prospective students
UCL Walking Tours are not campus tours designed for prospective students. If you are a prospective student, looking to study at UCL, please book onto a tour on the Campus Tours website.
Visit UCL Campus ToursPhoto gallery
© UCL
© UCL
© UCL
© UCL
© UCL
© UCL
About the Tour
Timings - The tour takes place on Fridays, starting at 12:30 pm. Please check Eventbrite for available dates. We advise all visitors to arrive 10 minutes prior to the start.
The tour lasts one hour and covers roughly one mile in distance.
Accessibility - We want to make sure everyone can enjoy the tour. Please let us know when you book if you have any additional access needs. The tour is wheelchair-accessible and sign language interpreters are available upon request. However, we are not able to provide wheelchairs.
Departure point - The tour will depart from North Lodge (pictured above), which is situated at the entrance to the UCL Main Quad on Gower Street. It is the building to the left as you come through the main gates. Please look out for our student ambassadors who will be in purple and are on hand to walk you through UCL’s history.
Enquiries - If you have any questions, please check our Frequently Asked Questions.
Frequently asked questions
The tour is free of charge.
The tour is one hour in total.
Please book your place on the UCL Walking Tour booking page at www.ucl.ac.uk/about/ucl-walking-tour.
The tours run on Fridays only.
Yes, you are welcome to bring children on the tour.
The tour will still go ahead in the rain so please do come prepared for all weathers. In the case of extreme weather conditions we would cancel the tour.
If you are unable to attend the tour please let us know as soon as possible beforehand. Please note that UCL reserves the right to amend or cancel the tour in the case of unforeseen circumstances.
Yes, you are very welcome to amend the date of your booking and you can do this via Eventbrite.
UCL Walking Tours are not designed for prospective students. If you are a prospective student, looking to study at UCL in future, please attend one of our UCL Open Days where you will be able to view student accommodation, have department tours, academic sessions and more. For general campus tours designed for prospective students, please book via the UCL Campus Tours website.
Yes, if you've been on the tour, we very much welcome your feedback. Access the feedback form.
Already taken the tour?
Find out more about the exhibitions and events open to the public. Please provide feedback on the tour, help us make UCL Walking Tour even better!
Visit After the tourListen to the podcast
Delve deeper into three of the tours stops, the Wilkins Building, the Petrie Museum and the Student Centre, and find out about the role that these places have for those who use them every day.
View the transcriptNo other tour takes in sights such as the Wilkins building and preserved Auto-icon of philosopher Jeremy Bentham alongside fascinating stories about Nobel laureates, the founders of modern Japan and a jar of preserved moles. We are proud that all our tours will be delivered by our amazing students who will bring alive tales of UCL’s history alongside their own perspective of life at the university today.
UCL is the cradle of radical and innovative thinking and has produced brilliant academics, medics, artists and scientists over its near 200 year history. Taking a tour of this historic campus opens the door to a fascinating world of academic endeavour. From Nobel Laureates to Egyptologists, from nation building visionaries to world class fine artists and even rock gods, UCL has an incredible story to tell.
