Good Omens Tours of London

14/06/2024

Ok, so this is not good news. TL;DR, I need help fundraising for a new wheelchair. Please share even if you can't donate.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/replace-starbug

So they say if you look after it and service it regularly (which I do, and the service agents always compliment me on how well looked after StarBug is), that a powerchair should last up to 5 years. Well StarBug has lasted over 6 years now, and given me SO much freedom (it's called a "Freedomchair A08L" and the name is extremely apt.)

But sadly, it's now exceeded that lifespan, and has an irrepairable crack in the frame, and trust me, I have spent the past month trying every avenue possible to get it sorted one way or another, but the service agents are adamant that it's a write-off. I also know, due to its age, that the insurers, if they pay out, won't give me anywhere near enough to cover a replacement, and the replacement MUST be new (full explanation in fundraiser link if you need to know specifics of why).

I have found a local welding specialist who is going to take a look and see if they can try a temporary patch repair to tide me over until I can fundraise for the replacement, and I'm hoping that it works, but even if they can fix it, it's not a permanent repair and StarBug DOES need replacing now.

The good news is, that while Starbug cost about £3,000 new, the *upgraded* version I need - the DE08L, is only £2,700. Also, my existing batteries will fit it, so I can expand my range without needing to pay another £300 per battery to do so. In addition, 99% of the parts from the A08L can be used as spares for the DE08L, so I can keep StarBug as a backup or spares frame for emergencies in the future if needed.

Please, if you can spare even £1 or $1, I'd be very grateful, but even if you can't, could you please share the fundraiser for me to help get the ball rolling?

Please don't suggest other wheelchairs, there's a reason why I need a new DE08L model and not an alternative or second hand. NHS and motability are not any help in this case. Full explanation is in the fundraiser page.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/replace-starbug

13/05/2024

One of the first buildings we go past on the tour is this: the British Library, which holds a copy of every book published in the UK. And yes you can visit and read any of them on site, but not take them away.

09/05/2024

New tour date if someone would like to join us - Tuesday the 21st of May, meeting at 11am outside Costa Coffee at Kings Cross St. Pancras station.

The route is wheelchair accessible (as I'm a wheelchair user), and there are a few accessible bathrooms along the way if needed. It takes in other places of interest along the way including some royal palaces as we go by, and deleted scene location.

There are two options for lunch/drinks/light refreshment included in the tour - the Enterprise pub where Crowley has his drunken breakdown, and the Criterion (aka "The Ritz", now "Masala Zone") - both do excellent food with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options available.

The tour finishes at the bandstand next to Battersea Power station, where there are a multitude of fantastic restaurants to choose from if you'd like to linger there at the end for dinner, or to explore the fashionable shopping centre, or perhaps take a trip in "Lift 109" which is a glass lift which pokes out of the top of one of the four iconic chimneys to give a fabulous 360 degree view out over London.

Afterwards, Battersea Power station TFL tube station on the Northern Line will connect you easily back to the rest of the network to carry on to wherever you need to go - and it is wheelchair accessible. TFL staff are very friendly and helpful.

Let me know if you'd like to come along by dropping me a DM so I know to expect you, that way if you're running a little behind we know to wait for you.

09/05/2024

(Clue to free Good Omens goodies at the end).

On Wednesday I did another Good Omens tour, starting the day with a DELICIOUS brioche (very Aziraphaley) from a patisserie in Kings Cross St. Pancras, where you could watch the chefs hand-rolling pastry and making scrumptious treats by hand. They had free BOOKMARKS with information about their pastries on as well - again very Aziraphale, so I took them home.

I was also happy to see that amongst the pride flags in Forbidden Planet, where we stop to check out merch from many different fandoms, they had a disability pride flag too!

We also paused near the Windmill Theatre to check out an interesting old pub which I keep passing by, but which has fascinating history and beautiful decoration.

OH, and at the start of the day we bumped into someone I gave a tour to the other week at the body swap bench, painting some beautiful art, so more good omens friends were made and socials swapped, which is always great.

Then at St. James's park bench - these were NOT there on Tuesday (the day before) when I was there - someone had put a load of Good Omens themed bracelets for fans to take away. My tour person took two, I didn't but left them for others, and put them back on the bench as many had fallen off. I also left a pack of my good omens stickers for someone to find.

bracelets included :
Crowley
Aziraphale
Harry the rabbit
quite definitely closed
tell me you said no
Big spooky fan me
tickety boo

Then at the bandstand, someone had found the stickers I left the day before, so I replaced them with a fresh packet, and added another to the other postcard - so check ALL the benches for goodies ;)

I'll be doing another tour on Tuesday the 21st so will renew them then as well. If you'd like to join in, let me know!

07/05/2024

A lovely tour today, and another one at 2pm tomorrow still to come (Wednesday 8th May).

So at the body swap bench we met some OTHER good omens fans as Crowley and Aziraphale, and helped take some photos (shared with permission - lovely meeting you!) I gave out some free stickers as usual.

We stopped by the Windmill Theatre (where Aziraphale was meant to be doing his magic on the West End stage), lunched at the Criterion/Masala Zone aka "The Ritz", it's changed a bit but still a beautiful place with gorgeous food.

My guests today just got matching Aziraphale and Crowley ice cream tattoos which were SO cute! (Shared with permission)

"Hell's" beer in St. James's Park.

We couldn't find the parrots today but did get sat upon by a multitude of friendly pigeons who we may or may not have been illicitly allowing a little bird seed, shh.

The A&C Bench has some adorable graffitti on it. No I was a good angel and did not add to it, just took pics.

Then at the bandstand, I knew from my friend Skelligiri that there was a photo of A&C hidden on one of the benches so went to find it. Turns out there were TWO not one!

I took photos, said hi to Skelli again (we meet up regularly anyway), added my own message, then left a free gift for the next Good Omens fan to take away, in the form of some of my stickers.

I'm going back tomorrow and will add another packet of stickers for the next Good Omens person to take home with them. And I'll do it every time I visit, so I'll let people know when I've been, so you know to look for them. They'll be in a little plastic ziploc bag to keep them dry, and hidden on the back of one of the benches.

04/05/2024

by way of update: the tour on TUESDAY the 7th is still starting at 11am as already planned.

The tour on WEDNESDAY the 8th is now starting just after 2pm, so if you would like to join in on that one please be aware of the change in start time!

If you do happen to arrive early, the British Library is a fascinating place to explore while you wait if you like

25/04/2024

Did a good omens tour today: we had lovely sunshine for most of it until the end. Here’s a photo I took of the tulips by Ghandi’s statue in Tavistock Square Gardens (aka the body swap park).

Also I just noticed today that the windmill theatre (where Aziraphale is to go on stage in season 2 for his magic show, which was filmed in Scotland), is actually on my tour route. I forgot to get a photo myself, so these are from Google street view. I’m adding it to the points of interest along the route!

24/04/2024

Reminder that on THURSDAY the 25th April at 11am, I’ll be doing a tour, so if you’re in London and would like to join in, we will meet outstde Costa coffee on the corner outside Kings Cross St Pancras station, I’m the one in the wheelchair (powerchair) and will be wearing one of my good omens t-shirts. Most likely “young man, your car is on fire and you’re still sitting in it”.

Photo credits: previous tour guest, Marie.

16/04/2024

This is an optional extra that people can do after the good omens part of the tour is over, as the bandstand leaves us right next to the iconic Battersea power station , which is now a beautiful shopping centre with loads of wonderful restaurants and this amazing 360° glass lift experience letting you see out over London. It’s cheaper and less crowded than the London Eye, and I recommend it! It’s also wheelchair accessible. Booking in advance is recommended but not essential as you can often turn up and get straight in anyway. A flex / open time ticket rather than timed slot ticket however is better if you’re planning on doing it after the tour, in case of unexpected delays.

16/04/2024

Some 2024 tour dates! I have some people who have booked to have the Good Omens tour of London in the coming months, so there are dates available for other people to join in as well if you'd like. Just let me know if you're interested in joining us.

Tours meet at Kings Cross St. Pancras entrance next to Costa Coffee (but not inside Costa, as my wheelchair can't get in there due to narrow door).

Tours meet at *11am* This gives us ample time to go to the bodyswap park, and then to stroll down to the Enterprise pub in time for it to open at 12.

The dates so far are:

- Thursday the 25th April
- Tuesday the 7th May
- Wednesday the 8th May
- SPECIAL tour on Wednesday the 24th of July for people attending The Ineffable Con 5 - so a few American friends will be visiting and I'm doing a big tour where you can meet some lovely American fans including some fandom artists you might know, for example if you'd like a certain comic book set at a bandstand signing then perhaps you might like to bring it along ;)

Of course these are not the ONLY times I do tours - these are jsut some already arranged that you can come along on. If you're visiting at another time and would like to visit some of the Season 1 fliming locations, get in touch and let me know, then we can arrange a time that's convenient. Weekdays are best, as more places are open for you to see then. Mondays in the summer are not as great as I'm usually recovering from weekend car shows on Mondays!

The route is wheelchair accessible, it's all pretty level without steep hills, and I know a few accessible toilets along the route.

Cost - Honestly I mostly do this because I like meeting other fans and showing them around my home area and squeeing over Good Omens things, so I only ask about £16 which covers my TFL train tickets for the day, plus taxi if you'd like to do the bandstand as well, which is worth it, and usually about another £16, so provided the group is fine with that, it's fine with me, anything over and above in the way of tips is just a bonus!

I can also advise on wheelchair accessible transport routes using the TFL network to get you to the start point, and how best to get back where you need to be at the end of the day.

I suggest anyone visiting London downloads the free "TFL Go" app, which is the official app for navigating the public transport networks of underground trains, overground, busses, boats, and cable cars. You can toggle "step free mode" on and off to exclude non accessible stations. All TFL busses are wheelchair accessible in London. (But historic tour busses run by independent operators may not be)

09/04/2024

A friend sent me this after I pointed out one of these historic protected buildings on the Good Omens tour I do. Hidden down a side street in Soho you can spot an old Cabbie’s hut as well and I usually point it out as one of the interesting sights along the route.

Cabmen’s shelters offered cabbies in Victorian London a place to eat and rest at a time when they were banned from leaving their horse-drawn carriages

08/04/2024

GOOD OMENS FILMING LOCATIONS MASTERPOST! ❤ 🐍😊
the masterpost I've worked on for several weeks is here, WAHOO! :)))

https://f**kyeahgoodomens.tumblr.com/post/747209422926987264/good-omens-filming-locations-masterpost

04/03/2024

With thanks to my friend, Marie S, for use of the photos she took on the day.

30/01/2024

I was randomly shown this video as an ad over on youtube earlier today and immediately recognised the very first scene as the street in Edinburgh where Crowley parks his Bentley, along with a few other places which I visited while I was up there for the GO2 set tour. If you watch, you'll spy a couple of other GO2 filming locations in this video, and I don't doubt we'll see more of them in season 3.

Edinburgh offers a feast of winter delights, featuring iconic attractions set in stunning locations. Explore an eclectic range of independent retailers and p...

18/01/2024

Random trivia of the day - while not on the tour route, if you're visiting London and would like to see a real-life tardis, make sure you swing by Earl's Court station, where just outside the entrance you'll find a proper old Police Call Box!

And if you happen to be a football fan, Battersea Park, where the Bandstand is which was used in season 1 - was the location of the first ever Association football match in 1864.

18/01/2024

Hi, I'm Kirsty, I've been a Good Omens and Pratchett fan since 1990, and I live over near Heathrow airport on the West side of London. I'm an ambulatory wheelchair user, autistic (so I love info-dumping about Good Omens), an artist, and writer. I'm also the fandom's resident car and Bentley geek.

Since my first Good Omens Londoners meetup at the start of 2020, I've been showing people around the season 1 filming locations around London, and have worked out a nice little tour which is an easy afternoon's stroll, plus being wheelchair accessible. I've actually lost count now of the number of fellow fans I've shown around, and I still have more planned already for 2024!

Not just Good Omens locations though, as the route takes us past a few other places of interest, there's opportunity to see some other iconic London landmarks on the way.

As we also go right past Forbidden Planet, aka geek heaven, that makes a nice bonus stop on the route to browse the geeky collectables, memorabilia and bookshop downstairs (it has a wheelchair lift), where you will find an absolute haven of books, including many which are signed by the authors. Fantasy and sci-fi authors often stop by Forbidden Planet to sign a load of their books when visiting London.

Because I need things to be accessible for myself, it means if you are also a wheelchair user, I'm experienced in getting around and know where the accessible bathrooms are along the route, I can also advice on navigating the TFL (Transport For London) system to get you to the start point.

So if you or a friend are visiting London and would like to take an afternoon to visit some of the iconic filming locations, drop me a DM and let me know, and we can work out the best time to show you around!

You don't have to wait for a group or a set date - I'm fairly flexible, although during the summer, weekends don't tend to be as free due to other commitments, but by all means ask.

(For reference, Sundays will mean you have to miss out on The Enterprise pub and Sotheran's. Saturdays mean you will miss out on Sotheran's. Weekdays before midday, you will miss out on the Enterprise.)

18/01/2024

An album showing examples of some of the places you can see on the tour - the core tour is first, and then optional bonus locations are at the end.

The bonus parts are Battersea Power Station Lift 109 (as a scenic 360 degree view out over London, which is less well-known than the London Eye, so not as busy).

Then another 3 locations which require a taxi ride over are the Walkie-Talkie Tower aka Skygarden, which was Gabriel's and Saraqael's office (this requires pre-booking a timed, but free, ticket sometimes months in advance). Then Broadgate Tower (the heaven and hell escalators), and St. Dunstan-in-the-East church, which, while not a filming location per se, was the location Neil was referencing in the 1941 scenes, which were filmed in South Africa. It's only a 3 minute walk from Skygarden, so makes a nice optional visit.