Walking Tour - Strutting Down the Kings Road (9 October)

From high fashion to street style, the King’s Road played a key part in London’s design history. Come and find out more, with a particular focus on shoes and footwear.

Between the 1950s and the 1990s the King’s Road was a key part of London’s fashion scene. This walk tells the story of fashion through shoes and footwear, from the Chelsea boot to the punk stiletto and the glam rock platform sole. We’ll hear about some of the key designers such as Mary Quant, Manolo Blahnik and Vivienne Westwood. We’ll talk about their celebrity customers such as the Beatles and David Bowie, and the ways in which fashion overlapped with popular music. We’ll also think about how wider social changes and the introduction of new materials like plastics influenced shoe design.  

Alongside Saville Row and Carnaby Street, the King’s Road was a central part of 1960s Swinging London, and its influence continued long after that decade. This is a story of how one small area had a massive impact on fashion and footwear trends more widely. 

This walk complements the V&A Academy's London course series London: The Global City 1066 to 2020.

Please note that we cannot guarantee that this tour is fully accessible; there will be curbs, narrow and uneven pavements on this tour.

This course is suitable for participants aged 18 and over.