Visit the best macarons shops and concessions this side of Paris!
‘I love macarons, the calories really don’t count when you’re on a walking tour!’ – Words of wisdom from Angie Silverspoon.
Some of the delicious macarons you will be sampling along the way. (Credit: Jaime Tung.)
Have you always wanted to learn more about the history behind the (not so) humble macaron? Does the sight of a Ladurée gift box make your heart skip a beat? Always wanted to know where to find the best confectionery shops in London? If you’ve caught yourself nodding along to these questions, then Macarons & Mews, my tasty macarons tasting tour set in Knightsbridge and Belgravia might just be the right thing for you!
Alongside visiting the best purveyors of macarons and having tastings (included in the tour price), we will be exploring the hidden mews and secret passages of Belgravia and Knightsbridge. Hot on the traces of a lost river, we will unravel tales about a haunted pub as well as those associated with the devastating blaze of the Pantechnicon. Harrods and Harvey Nichols, the world famous department stores of Knightsbridge will make cameo appearances too!
Originally conceived as a leaving-do for the Lady Loves Cake, the inspiration for this walk has come from the movie ‘Marie Antoinette’, Sofia Coppola’s ‘modern’ biopic about the last and ill-fated Queen of France. A veritable feast for the eyes, the film has often been credited for popularising the now ubiquitous macarons across the globe. Let them eat cake, indeed, and the video clip below sets the tone for this tour.
Following in the footsteps of my ‘Piccadilly and Petit Fours‘ and ‘Matcha Green Tea‘ walks, this food tasting tour adopts a similar concept: exploring the hidden corners of an iconic London area while visiting the location’s sweet(est) hotspots.
All photos used on this page, except otherwise stated, were taken by Travelling Dave.
Reviews
For a little taster (or morsel) of the tour, let the following quotations entice you to join the walk some time soon. (Click on the titles of the features to be taken to the whole article.)
Try Pierre Hermé’s signature ‘Ispahan’ flavour on the walk. Credit: Emma Creese.
‘The walk is colourful, Yannick animated and SO well researched (I swear that man knows everything), the food amazing and the history fascinating. If you’re looking to learn some history and indulge at the same time, then this walk is for you.’ – @ladylovescakes
‘Yannick has researched every aspect of the tour, from the mews you wander between, to significant buildings you’ll pass and all about the macaroon. I have definitely learnt a lot. Did you know there’s a hidden river beneath Belgravia for example?’ – @sarahcooke
‘Yannick, Luxembourg native and passionate London guide is so thoroughly entertaining and knowledgeable that hours pass by without a second thought. Snaking our way through beautiful cobblestone streets, whilst being treated to his incredible area knowledge was delightful, as ever.’ – @londonkiwiemma
‘I will tell you that we explored the hidden mews and secret passageways of Knightsbridge and Belgravia and that if you love history, macarons and exploring hidden places then this is the walk for you.’ – @mandyist
‘It really is incredible the things that you find out when you become a tourist in your own city and I have to give a huge thank you to our guide. Yannick really helped me open my eyes to the little details and spots of beauty around Belgravia; it was a marvellous day and one I’d really recommend, especially if you have a sweet tooth.’ – @SilverSpoonLDN
‘If you’re in London and want an excuse to eat French pastries and walk around some hidden parts of the area, check out this tour. Yannick is a great guide. Very entertaining and informative. […] Walks like these just make me fall in love with London even more!’ – @MathAlexS
‘Last Saturday, I enjoyed a guided walk around Belgravia and Knightsbridge on the ‘Macarons and Mews’ tour. The guided tour is conducted by Yannick Pucci, who is knowledgeable about London history and architecture. […] I think I can vouch for everyone when I say that we had a lot of fun and laughter, and we learned a lot too.’ – @jenikya
‘Our lovely and insightful tour guide, Yannick, took us around Belgravia and Knightsbridge. He was great, he knew when to be patient and when we wanted to move on so the pacing of macaron, factoids and mews was perfect for our group.’ – @TravelsByVP
‘For me this foodie walking tour is the best; if you’re gluten free you know how difficult it is to find a walking tour that caters for our dietary requirement however the Macarons & Mews Walking Tour is a gluten free dream. Yes finally a gluten free foodie walking tour; our prayers have been answered!’ – @80pairsofshoes
‘The final part of the Macarons & Mews walking tour was a gorgeous mews right by Knightsbridge, again you wouldn’t just stumble on this mews, you have to go looking for it. […] I had such a lovely afternoon with fellow bloggers and the very knowledgable Yannick. If you love sweet treats and hidden London gems book yourself on this delightful tour.’ – @Sara_BigWorld
‘Even after living in London for nearly 5 years, and spending a lot of time in the central city, Yannick showed off wonderful places I’d never come across before. Quiet escapes from the busy streets and those mad sights you only see in London and are never the same twice.’ – @KSegedin
‘Our guide Yannick was a wealth of knowledge about the history and architecture of the buildings we passed and led us into some of the neighborhood’s quiet, tucked away cobblestoned streets lined with colorful, charming rows of mews houses. […] Thanks again to Yannick for a fun and educational afternoon outing!’ – @Danielle
Tour Details
Yum! Credit: Amanda Dales.
This tour is aimed at seasoned Londoners as well as tourists who are looking for their sugar rush to come with a historical slant. A perfect gift for anyone with a sweet tooth, this walk can also be booked as a private tour for birthdays, weddings or any other special occasions.
The meeting point for this tour is by the Lanesborough Hotel (see the map below), just outside Hyde Park Corner Tube Station (Piccadilly Line). If you are coming by public transport, use Exit 4 for the most convenient route to the hotel. The walk finishes near South Kensington Tube Station (Circle Line, District Line and Piccadilly Line). While the length of the tour is advertised as 2.5 hours, please note slight delays might occur as we will be visiting shops during regular working hours.
Including 5 macarons tastings, the tour costs £20 per person and tickets are available for purchase on Eventbrite. All pricings for private group tours are available upon request.
Contact
If you have any further questions about the tours or if you would like to organise a private walk, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me either via my Contact Page or email me directly at: yannick.pucci@gmail.com. I will reply to you as quickly as possible.
You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram where I’m always up for a chat too.
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