This is the first in a three-part series on walking tours. 

It’s very easy to just skim the surface in a city as big and diverse as London, which can be frustrating for travellers looking to get a feel of how locals live or discover the city’s creative scene. Like many, I rely on research, niche travel guides and crowd-sourced recommendations to filter what to see, eat and do in a limited timeframe. For my last visit, however, I was introduced to SideStory – a company offering experiences led by handpicked insiders – that made my week-long stay much cooler.

Co-founded by former Wallpaper City Guide editor Rachael Moloney, the experiences SideStory offers go beyond the usual itinerary – there’s one dedicated to Brutalist architecture and another that takes you inside designers studios. TV chef Celia Brooks is the newest addition to the company’s panel of experts, joining this month and leading tours revealing London’s delicious Turkish food as well as the culinary delights of Marylebone Village. SideStory also breaks away from the usual walking tour format. Yes, there’s a guide leading you around London’s nooks and crannies, but this person is either an artist, designer, or industry insider who can regale you with off-the-cuff tidbits as well as colourful backstories.

My guide was Karim, a graffiti artist who took me around London’s East End one overcast afternoon. He started with a brief history of graffiti, then moved on to explain the difference between a tag and a throwup; the educational afternoon continued as he spoke about the processes of Banksy, ROA, Vhils plus other up-and-coming artists as we saw their work hidden behind buildings or gracing a non-descript street corner.

He talked about street art with so much fervour it was hard not to get into it. We spent three hours exploring the area perusing over 30 works, the most memorable one being Karim’s own. Given that most graffiti artists are notoriously secretive, I was very happy that he ended the tour on a piece he was working on. Naturally, I wasn’t allowed to document it, so you’ll just have to test your luck when you book SideStory.

SideStory didn’t reinvent the wheel, but the compelling concept, thought-out itineraries and the actual experience makes it something that would be a welcome addition to any city. Money may not be able to buy you happiness, but here, it surely grants you access to fascinating experiences.

Also discover a Tokyo itinerary to sate any history buff and watch out for our roundup of the best walking tour operators in Hong Kong.

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