oscar wilde tour london

• United Kingdom
• An Inside Look At Oscar...

An Inside Look at Oscar Wilde’s London

History Editor

Beloved for his satirical wit, Irish-born Oscar Wilde was a man of many talents and tastes. Culture Trip talks to one of the author’s many biographers, Dr Michèle Mendelssohn, about Wilde’s life and his favourite London haunts.

Oscar Wilde’s work suggests a life of whimsy and nonchalance, but the notorious aesthete spent much of his life curating this personal facade. In her 2018 biography of the playwright, Making Oscar Wilde , Dr Michèle Mendelssohn traces Wilde’s fame to an unlikely but formative US tour in 1882.

“He was sent to the US basically as a joke, and somehow he managed to leverage it and turn it into a career,” explained Mendelssohn in a talk about Wilde’s early career ahead of a screening of The Happy Prince (2018), which details the end of the writer’s life, at the 2019 London Book and Screen Week. In conversation with Culture Trip, Mendelssohn discusses the trajectory of Wilde’s career and explores some of the London haunts he frequented.

1. Piccadilly Circus

Historical Landmark

Before heading to the USA, Wilde came to London after graduating from Oxford University in the late 1870s. “He’s sort of a nobody, but is trying to become known, and soon achieves notoriety because of these caricatures in Punch magazine where he’s depicted walking through Piccadilly with a sunflower or lily in his hand,” explains Mendelssohn. The exaggerated depiction of Wilde was picked up by playwrights WS Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan and served as inspiration for Reginald Bunthorne, the protagonist of their farcical opera Patience – also billed as Bunthorne’s Bride . The opera, performed in New York in 1881, was a commentary on the ‘aesthetic movement’ of late 19th-century England and eventually led to an American fascination with Wilde and aesthetic culture. Today, Piccadilly Circus remains a centre of performance in London, drawing throngs of tourists to its shops, restaurants and theatres.

3. No 16 Tite Street

Upon his return to London and his marriage to Constance Lloyd in 1884, Wilde settled at No 16 Tite Street in Chelsea. Along with notable neighbours such as the painter James Whistler, Wilde brought fashionability to the Chelsea neighbourhood. “Chelsea becomes where Wilde and other artists make house and establish an aesthetic and social sphere. The neighbourhood is now well-to-do, but back then it was a little rough around the edges. If you look at the decor on those houses, there is a distinct late 19th-century feel to them, influenced by the artsy and bohemian vibe that Wilde and his cohort gave it, and it made Chelsea appealing. It’s the old story of gentrification, really: wherever artists go, the middle class follows,” explains Mendelssohn. No 16 Tite Street is now No 34 and is marked by a blue plaque commemorating Wilde’s time here.

4. Kettner’s

Boutique Hotel

Kettner’s was already an establishment by the time Wilde walked through its doors. Opened in 1867 by Auguste Kettner, chef to Napoleon III, the Soho eatery was London’s oldest French restaurant until it was closed in 2016. “As he becomes more established as a writer, Wilde develops his double life and starts frequenting bars like Kettner’s to hang out and meet boys,” explains Mendelssohn. And Wilde wasn’t the only person who found Kettner’s the perfect place to hide out: it’s rumoured that King Edward VII had a secret tunnel built under the restaurant so his mistress Lillie Langtry – a good friend of Wilde’s – could discretely enter for their clandestine liaisons. In 2018 Kettner’s reopened as Kettner’s Townhouse, where guests can stay in luxurious Art Deco-inspired suites or just pop in to enjoy a glass of bubbly at the Champagne Bar.

5. Hotel Café Royal

Bar, Cafe, British

6. The Royal Academy of Arts

Museum, School, Art Gallery

Though the Royal Academy didn’t necessarily feature prominently in Wilde’s everyday life, a painting by William Powell Frith titled A Private View at the Royal Academy, 1881 (1885) does offer insight into how Wilde’s reputation has changed over time. Frith included in his painting a number of figures prominent in London society, including naturalist Thomas Huxley, actor Sir Henry Irving and, of course, Oscar Wilde. “It’s a huge portrait that really announced, ‘This is an important painting of the great and the good in British society.’ Modern viewers would interpret Wilde’s inclusion as a sign of his inclusion to ‘the great and the good’, but at the time that really wasn’t the case,” explains Mendelssohn. Though Wilde is depicted surrounded by admirers, closer inspection of the foreground reveals a group of sombrely dressed men casting disapproving glares at the aesthete. Frith’s depiction of Wilde functioned as a commentary on the garish nature of aesthetic culture, and the way it drew attention away from the ‘real’ arts; note that the women around Wilde are the only people in the gallery who are not looking at the paintings.

7. Cadogan Hotel

Oscar Wilde spent much of his time at the Cadogan Hotel in the years leading up to his arrest in 1895. While scandal has immortalised his time there as the primary location of his affair with Lord Alfred Douglas, Wilde also liked its proximity to the apartments of socialite and actress Lillie Langtry. “Wilde’s reputation begins to grow in London because of his association with Lillie Langtry. Wilde kind of hitches his wagon to her stardom, and she appreciates the help and attention. He is able to give her some coaching about what to wear for social occasions and gives her lessons in Greek and Latin,” explains Mendelssohn. Their friendship was the inspiration behind the recent remodel of the Cadogan by luxury hotel group Belmond. Now it’s the Belmond Cadogan , and literary salons are held to honour Wilde’s career; guests are also given the chance to request their favourite book for the room, and the original staircase and mosaic floor at Langtry’s private entrance has been preserved as an entrance for hotel guests.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Places to Stay

A west end performer’s guide to london with sam harrison.

Food & Drink

The best international afternoon teas in london.

The Coolest Hotels in London

See & Do

The 41 best things to do in london.

Five London Hotels to Familiarise Yourself With

How the Metaverse can help you plan your next trip

Bars & Cafes

The best bars in london for stylish nights out.

Top European Cities for a Plant-Based Foodie Fix

Guides & Tips

Must-visit attractions in london.

A High-Rollers Guide to a London Staycation

Pillow Talk: Between the Sheets of the Beaumont, Mayfair

Culture trip spring sale, save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips limited spots..

• Post ID: 1001064158
• Sponsored? No
• View Payload

• Skip to navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to secondary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Memoirs Of A Metro Girl

A london culture and history blog.

• What’s On Guide
• Attractions
• Food and Drink
• About/Contact

Oscar Wilde’s London: Discover the playwright’s haunts

Posted by Metro Girl

Find out where the playwright lived, socialised and, sadly, suffered during his time in London.

Guide to Oscar Wilde’s London sites

• 44 Tite Street, Chelsea

After graduating from Oxford, Wilde moved in with his university friend and society painter Frank Miles (1852-1891). Wealthy Miles had commissioned architect Edward William Godwin to build him a house, complete with artist’s studio, in 1880. Wilde is listed on the 1881 census as a ‘boarder’ at what was then 1 Tite Street.

– 44 Tite Street, Chelsea, SW3 . Nearest station: Sloane Square .

• St James’s Church, Paddington

Wilde married Constance Lloyd in the Anglican church in May 1884. The Grade II * listed building was designed by Victorian architect George Edmund Street (1824-1881) and completed just two years before the Wildes’ wedding. A plaque to commemorate the Wildes’ ceremony was erected at the east end of the church in 2016.

– Sussex Gardens, Paddington, W2 3UD . Nearest station: Lancaster Gate or Paddington .

• 34 Tite Street, Chelsea

Wilde and his wife Constance lived together at 16 Tite Street (now 34) from 1884-1895. It was their family home to raise their two sons Cyril (1885-1915) and Vyvyan (1886-1967). Despite Wilde’s sexuality and his affairs, the boys had a good relationship with their father until his arrest. It was at this house that Wilde had a run-in with his lover’s father, the Marquess of Queensberry in June 1894 after he caught the men together at a restaurant. Queensberry threatened to “thrash” Wilde if he caught him with Bosie again. Following the writer’s conviction, Constance changed their sons last name to Holland and got her husband to relinquish his rights to the boys. Today, there is a blue plaque commemorating Wilde’s residence at the house.

– 34 Tite Street, Chelsea, SW3 . Nearest station: Sloane Square .

• St James Theatre (demolished)

Several of Wilde’s plays made their debut at the now-demolished St James’s Theatre in St James . Built in the late Georgian era, the theatre was managed by actor Sir George Alexander (1858-1918) when Wilde was writing plays. The two creatives started a professional partnership, with Lady Windermere’s Fan being presented at the theatre in 1892. In February 1895, the opening night of The Importance of Being Earnest was under threat of disruption by Queensberry, who planned to throw rotten vegetables on stage. However, Wilde received a tip off and had the theatre heavily guarded by police. Queensberry raged in the street outside for three hours, before finally going home. Despite the play’s initial success with critics and audiences, it was short-lived as Wilde was arrested the following April. As public outrage erupted at the Wilde scandal, Alexander tried to keep the run going by removing the playwright’s name from the bill, but to no avail. The production ended prematurely after just 83 performances. St James’s Theatre was eventually demolished in 1957 after 122 years.

– 23-24 King Street, St James, SW1Y 6QY . Nearest stations: Green Park or Piccadilly Circus .

• James J Fox, St. James

Wilde was an enthusiastic smoker, having acquired the habit while studying at Oxford. While cigars and pipes were popular at the time, he preferred cigarettes, once declaring: “A cigarette is the type of a perfect pleasure. It is exquisite and it leaves one unsatisfied.” The poet frequently bought his cigarettes from James J Fox, London’s oldest cigar merchant. Today, the shop has a smoking museum downstairs which includes Wilde’s ledger and a High Court letter showing an outstanding balance for the writer’s purchases made between September 1892 and June 1893.

– 19 St James’s Street, St. James’s, SW1A 1ES . Nearest station: Green Park .

• Truefitt & Hill

Wilde was generally clean-shaven and often visited this top Mayfair barber. Opening in 1805 and securing a royal warrant, it’s the oldest barbershop in the world.

– 71 St James’s St, St. James’s, SW1A 1PH . Nearest station: Green Park .

• Albemarle Club

The exclusive Albemarle Club in Mayfair was unusual during Wilde’s time because it was a members’ club open to both sexes. Oscar and his wife Constance were both regulars. This club provided a key role in Wilde’s eventual downfall. Scottish nobleman John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry (1844-1900), arrived at the club on 18 February 1895 demanding to see Wilde, who he (correctly) suspected of having a love affair with his son Lord Alfred Douglas (1870-1945). The porter blocked his entry, so Queensberry left a calling card with the message, “For Oscar Wilde, posing somdomite” (sic). Wilde didn’t receive the card until he turned up at the club two weeks later and was so offended by it, he decided to sue Queensberry for criminal libel. It was the libel trial which led to evidence being produced about Wilde’s sexuality, leading to his subsequent arrest and conviction for gross indecency.

– 13 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, W1S 4HJ . Nearest station:  Green Park or Piccadilly Circus .

• Kettner’s

Originally one of the first French restaurants in Soho , Kettner’s opened in 1867 and hosted Wilde, among many other prominent names, at its lounge and champagne bar. Today, Kettner’s is a private members’ club run by Soho House and comprises seven Georgian townhouses.

– 29 Romily Street, Soho, W1D 5HP . Nearest station: Leicester Square or Tottenham Court Road .

• Liberty London

As one of London’s most historic department stores, Liberty dates back to 1875 (although not the current mock Tudor building you see today). Ahead of his U.S. tour in 1882, Wilde bought a wardrobe full of clothes from Liberty as he presented himself to Americans as a well-dressed ‘dandy’. He gave the store the accolade: “Liberty is the chosen resort of the artistic shopper.”

– Regent Street and Great Marlborough Street, Soho, W1B 5AH . Nearest station: Oxford Circus .

The ill-fated affair between Wilde and Douglas started at a tea party at the Café Royal in summer 1891. The latter was a 22-year-old aspiring poet, while Wilde’s career was already established. By late 1892, Queensberry had begun to grow suspicious of his son’s closeness to the playwright. His fears were temporarily laid to rest after he was charmed by Wilde with cigars over a boozy lunch at the Café Royal. However, by early 1894, the Marquess was convinced Wilde was gay and threatened to disinherit Douglas if he continued his affair. At the same venue on 24 March 1895, Wilde had a fierce debate about his libel action against the Marquess during a meeting with Frank Harris and George Bernard Shaw, who advised him to drop it. Harris apparently warned Wilde: “They are going to prove sodomy against you,” and suggested he flee to the continent. Wilde was furious and was said to have raged: “It is at such moments as these that one sees who are one’s true friends.” The Café Royal is now a hotel, with its club now renamed the Oscar Wilde Lounge.

– Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, Soho, W1B 4DY . Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus or Oxford Circus.

The Old Bailey

The Old Bailey was the scene of both Wilde’s failed trial against the Marquess, and his own trial for gross indecency. The Marquess’s trial for criminal libel opened on 3 April 1895, with Queensberry having to demonstrate his accusation that Wilde was a “sondomite” was true to avoid conviction. He had hired lawyers to find evidence of the writer’s homosexuality. Queensberry never got to testify as the prosecution was withdrawn following Wilde’s appearance as a witness. A few weeks later, Wilde was back at the Old Bailey, but this time he was in the dock. He was released on bail on 7 May 1895, before returning for his criminal trial on 21 May 1895. Wilde was convicted of gross indecency a few days later and sentenced to two years hard labour.

– The Old Bailey, City of London, EC4M 7EH . Nearest station: City Thameslink or St Paul’s .

• Belmond Cadogan Hotel

Prior to his legal troubles, Wilde had often taken a room at the hotel on late nights out. After Wilde’s libel trial against Queensberry collapsed, he hid out at the Cadogan Hotel in Chelsea – a short distance from his marital home with Constance and their boys. Despite friends advising him to flee to France, he stayed in Chelsea, apparently drinking heavily as he awaited his fate. On 6 April 1895, Wilde was arrested in room 118 – now part of the Royal Suite. Poet laureate and heritage campaigner Sir John Betjeman (1906-1984) immortalised the arrest with his 1933 poem: ‘ The Arrest of Oscar Wilde at the Cadogan Hotel .’

– 75 Sloane Street, Chelsea, SW1X 9SG . Nearest station: Sloane Square or Knightsbridge.

• Bow Street Police Station and Magistrates Court (closed)

After Wilde was arrested in Chelsea, he was taken to Bow Street police station, where the charges were read against him and locked up in one of the cells overnight. The following day he was taken to Holloway Prison. Bow Street was one of the most famous magistrates courts in England, before closing in 2006 after 266 years. It was converted into the luxury Nomad London hotel, along with a police museum , opening in 2021.

– Bow Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 7AT . Nearest stations: Covent Garden or Holborn .

• Newgate Prison (demolished)

Wilde was briefly held as the notorious Newgate Prison (next door to the Old Bailey) following his conviction for processing, before being sent to Pentonville Prison. Newgate Prison was demolished in 1902 following a 700 year history.

– Corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey Street, City of London, EC4M 7EH . Nearest station: City Thameslink or St Paul’s .

• Pentonville Prison

Wilde’s sentence for ‘hard labour’ began at Pentonville Prison in May 1895. His punishment was picking oakum (separating rope fibres) and walking on a treadmill. His only permitted reading was The Bible and John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. After a few months, he was transferred south to Wandsworth.

– Caledonian Road, Islington, N7 8TT . Nearest station: Caledonian Road .

The Courthouse Hotel in Soho

• Marlborough Street Magistrates Court

When Wilde first sued Queensberry for libel, the initial proceedings took place at the former Marlborough Street Magistrates Court . The Albemarle Club’s porter Sidney Wright and Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Thomas Greet both gave evidence on 2 March 1895, while Wilde and Queensberry made their depositions. The current building, which has been converted into the luxury Courthouse Hotel, was erected in 1913 as a replacement for an older building where Wilde would have visited.

– 19-21 Great Marlborough Street, Soho, W1F 7HL . Nearest station: Oxford Circus .

• Wandsworth Prison

Once Wilde was transferred to Wandsworth Prison in late 1895, his health began to deteriorate. He collapsed from hunger and illness, and ruptured his right ear drum in the fall, prompting a two-month stay in the infirmary. He was transferred to Reading Gaol to serve out the remainder of his sentence later that year.

A rainbow plaque at Clapham Junction station

– Heathfield Road, Wandsworth, SW18 3HU . Nearest station: Wandsworth Common or Earlsfield .

• Clapham Junction station

Wilde was transferred from Wandsworth Prison to Reading Gaol via train from Clapham Junction on 20 November 1895. In addition to his suffering health and incarceration, the playwright was subjected to vile homophobic abuse and was spat on by fellow passengers at the station. Dressed in prison clothes, Wilde spent half an hour standing on the platform, “handcuffed for the world to look at”, he later wrote, describing the “jeering mob” laughing at him. A rainbow plaque was unveiled to commemorate this sad event on platform 10 in 2019.

– Clapham Junction station, St John’s Hill, Battersea, SW11 2QP . Nearest station: Clapham Junction (obviously!).

• 44 Tite Street
• St James’s Church Paddington
• Site of St James’s Theatre
• James J Fox
• Kettner’s Townhouse
• Café Royal Hotel
• Bow Street Magistrates Court
• Site of Newgate Prison
• Courthouse Hotel

Related articles

Charles Dickens’ London: Retrace the author’s steps at these historic locations

A guide to Jane Austen’s London | A walk around ‘town’

‘We are all in the gutter…’ Oscar Wilde memorial near the Strand

For more of Metro Girl’s history posts, click here.

Follow Metro Girl on Instagram for more photos of hidden London.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Share this:

About Metro Girl

Posted on 11 Feb 2021, in History , London and tagged literature , Victorian , walking . Bookmark the permalink . 4 Comments .

Trackbacks 1

Thank you for this interesting post. It still shocks me to the core that Wilde was imprisoned for the “crime” of being gay.

His imprisonment did lead to his fine poem “The Ballad of Reading Gaol”, and a poem by A E Housman about Wilde, https://www.thereader.org.uk/featured-poem-the-colour-of-his-hair-by-a-e-housman/ .

Pingback: Cellar Door review: Cocktails, cabaret and popcorn in converted Victorian conveniences! | Memoirs Of A Metro Girl

Memoirs of a Metro Girl is a blog for residents and visitors to London, featuring what’s on guides, reviews, events, history and the odd travel piece.

Latest Posts

• Lift 109 Battersea Power Station review
• Guide to what’s on in London in April 2024
• Elysian Arcs at the Leadenhall Building: Rainbows of colour brighten up the wintry City
• Guide to what’s on in London in March 2024 and Easter
• Stockbrokers, trade and socialising | The story of London’s old coffee houses

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address:

• Search for:

Follow Memoirs Of A Metro Girl on Facebook

Most read today

Follow Metro Girl on Twitter

Most photographs and text on this page are © Memoirs Of A Metro Girl , unless otherwise stated.

DO NOT COPY WITHOUT SEEKING PERMISSION FIRST.

• A London Inheritance
• Days Out Guide (Discounts galore!)
• Diary of a Londoness
• Inspiring City
• It's Your London
• LDN Graffiti
• London Pop-Ups
• Look Up London
• Time Out London
• TKTS half-price theatre tickets

Recommended reading

A WordPress.com Website .

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar
• Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best of London for free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy London without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Attractions
• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

Walking on the Wilde side: 12 London places connected with Oscar Wilde

A portrait of Oscar Wilde is one of the star attractions of a new exhibition, Queer British Art 1861-1967 , which opened at the Tate Britain this week. It’s the first time the painting has been shown in the UK, so to honour the man who could ‘resist everything except temptation,’ here are 12 London spots associated with Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde.

34 Tite Street, Chelsea

Wilde lived here with his wife Constance and their two sons, and it’s where he penned ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ and ‘An Ideal Husband’. Ironically, the judge who sentenced the dramatist for gross indecency lived at number 58.

• Scarlett Roitman

Liberty , Soho

‘Liberty is the chosen resort of the artistic shopper,’ Wilde once said of his favourite department store. The ultimate dandy was such a fan that he promoted it on his 18-month tour of America. 

Courthouse Hotel , Soho

Opposite Liberty is the Courthouse Hotel, which is where the Marlborough Street Magistrates Court once stood. Wilde took the Marquess of Queensbury to court here, a case which would ultimately lead to the writer’s imprisonment. The original judge’s bench, witness stand and dock are still standing in the hotel restaurant, Silk.

Langham Hotel , Marylebone

Wilde was wild about food: his favourite hangouts included Kettners (re-opening as a Soho House in 2018), the Café Royal, the Savoy and the Langham. Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle dined at the latter with a publisher, a meeting that led to the publication of ‘The Sign of Four’ and ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’.

King Street, St James

A plaque and bas-relief of Wilde is all that’s left of the St James’ Theatre, which premiered ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ and used to stand proudly on King Street. Thankfully, one of Wilde’s fave watering holes, the Golden Lion pub , is still alive and kicking. 

St James’s Church, Sussex Gardens, Paddington

On May 29, 1884, Wilde married Constance Lloyd in this Gothic revival church in Paddington. She wore a yellow dress and carried a bouquet of lilies while he wore a frock coat.

James J Fox , St. James

‘A cigarette is the perfect type of a perfect pleasure,’  Wilde wrote in ‘A Picture of Dorian Gray’.  James J Fox is London’s oldest cigar merchant and supplied Wilde with his cigarettes. There’s a smoking museum downstairs with a small treasure trove of Wilde paraphernalia.

Truefitt & Hill , Mayfair

This Mayfair barber is royally appointed and the oldest in the world. Wilde wasn’t the only one to enjoy a shave here: Churchill, Dickens and Byron were fans, and Truefitt has looked after the British Royal Family since George III was on the throne.

Half Moon Street, Piccadilly

Number 14 (now the Flemings Hotel ) was Wilde’s inspiration for Algernon Moncrieff’s bachelor pad in ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ and number 40 was the home of his first lover and best friend, journalist Robert Ross.

Hatchards , Piccadilly

Hatchards is the Queen’s official book supplier, and it’s served all manner of bookworms, including Wilde, since 1797.

Theatre Royal , Haymarket

‘An Ideal Husband’ premiered here the year that Wilde was arrested. It was a rip-roaring success, but with the ensuing scandal, Wilde’s name was removed from the play.

Poet’s Corner, Westminster

Wilde is buried in Paris’s Père Lachaise cemetery, but London has its own, albeit small, memorial in Poet’s Corner, Westminster Abbey.

Love London history? Check out:

• The top ten museums in London
• 20 alternative London attractions

Share the story

An email you’ll actually love

Popular on Time Out

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Claim your listing
• Time Out Offers FAQ
• Advertising
• Time Out Market

Time Out products

• Time Out Offers
• Time Out Worldwide

• Editor's Choice
• Latest comments
• Video tutorial
• New forum topics

Username or e-mail

Remember me

Forgot password? Register for free

The London of Oscar Wilde - A Guided Walk Around Mayfair

by KathleenDuffy

Take a guided walk around Mayfair and follow the brilliant Irish author, Oscar Wilde as he stops off at his club, visits his tobacconist and shops for green carnations.

Anyone with an interest in the life and work of Oscar Wilde will be enthralled by this guided walk around the St James/Mayfair area of London. This is the area Oscar loved and in whose clubs and hotels the whole scandalous affair with his lover, Lord Alfred Douglas (or 'Bosie' as he was called) was enacted.

And here too is the backdrop against which Bosie’s father, the Marquis of Queensbury, wrought his revenge on Oscar.

Every Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. Alan, the tour guide, will be waiting outside Green Park Tube Station (Piccadilly line) to help fans of Oscar trace the flamboyant genius’s footsteps from club to hotel, florist to tobacconist, theatre to public house - to name but a few of the great man’s haunts.

However, ‘tracing Oscar’s footsteps’ could be a misleading phrase because, according to Alan, he went everywhere by hansom cab, no matter how short the distance.

Alan is easily spotted. He is immaculately dressed sporting a smart trilby, cane and the infamous green carnation. Alan has been keeping Oscar’s flame alive with his guided walks for fifteen years and, as a man who owns most of the bills for items that Oscar purchased during his sojourn in London, there is no doubting his knowledge and enthusiasm.

The London of Oscar Wilde

Including the marquis of queensbury.

The walk is far from taxing and doesn’t cover a great deal of ground, yet each stopping off point is embellished by Alan's huge fund of knowledge, insight and wit. The London of today seems to melt away as Oscar's story unfolds.

 Suddenly the traffic appears to fade, the gas lamps splutter, and Oscar and an attractive young man stand on the pavement. Oscar, cigarette in elegant hand hails a hansom cab. Horse’s hooves clatter over the cobbles. Oscar guides the young man into the hansom and they drive a short distance to Oscar’s club. As they alight, from the window of his hotel the Marquis of Queensbury looks down, splutters with rage and begins to write a libellous note on his calling card.

It is the beginning of Oscar’s downfall.

Stephen Fry Stars in Film About Oscar Wilde

Powerful and moving performance, where did oscar wilde buy his green carnations, and what about his cigarettes.

At one point in the walk Alan takes us to the Royal Arcade  where Oscar bought his green carnations.

Then it's on to the wonderful cigar merchant outlet, Fox of St James, where the one-hundred-a-day author ordered his tailor-made cigarettes.

Downstairs is a little museum which pays homage to the cult of the cigar, with cabinets devoted to, amongst others, Winston Churchill who, when asked which person he would like to have been in another life, replied, “Oscar Wilde”. There is also a cabinet filled with Oscar Wilde photos and memorabilia.

Alan takes the opportunity to tell us not only many of Oscar’s witticisms but a good number of Churchill’s too.

This museum visit is not included every week but if visitors are fortunate enough to cross the threshold of this unique old shop it will be a memorable treat.

Films Based on Oscar Wilde's Novels

Oscar wilde and the st james’ theatre, king street.

One sad part of the Oscar Wilde trail takes the visitor to the site of St James' Theatre , King Street, which was demolished in 1957, despite a massive, nationwide campaign which was led by Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh and many supporters.

It was at St James' Theatre in 1892 that Oscar Wilde had his first success with Lady Windermere's Fan . In 1895 the premiere of The Importance of Being Earnest took place here. All that remains is a plaque and a carved mural. Now, where once a thriving Victorian theatre stood there is a nondescript office block.

Oscar Wilde Tour Ends Just Off Piccadilly

The Oscar Wilde walking tour comes to an end in an elegant mews just off Piccadilly.  This is The Albany (or just plain 'Albany'),  a beautiful Georgian building which Oscar Wilde refers to in The Importance of Being Earnest .  In this play, Wilde refers to Jack Worthington's residence as being in 'the Albany'.

Slowly the roar of traffic and the sounds of the city fade up.

It was wonderful meeting Oscar, laughing with him, feeling outraged and sad with him, frustrated at his obstinacy and charmed by his wit and flamboyance.

Alan made it all come alive by talking for nearly two hours about a subject he clearly loves. Oscar would have approved.

After all, in the words of the great man himself: 

“ The only thing worse in the world than being talked about is not being talked about.”

Find out more about the London of Oscar Wilde guided walks  here .

Items Relating to Oscar Wilde

From ebay.com.

Hello Maritravel - thank you so much! I'm really pleased that you find it interesting! :)

A bit late coming to this one Kathleen, but I always enjoy dipping into your work, especially the articles on London sites and sights. I'm just working my way through the others at the moment but let this note suffice to say thanks for all of them.

You might also like

London’s St Patrick’s Day Parade is a massive party which embraces all sectio...

A tour of the Theatre Royal Haymarket, just a short walk from London’s Piccad...

KathleenDuffy

Join the St Patrick’s Day Parade in London - Enjoy ‘the Craic’ - Sunday 16th March, 2014

A Guided Tour of The Theatre Royal Haymarket, London

• Destinations
• Hotels & Homestays
• Food & Drink
• People & Culture
• Mindful Travel
• Readers' Travel Awards
• Escape to Rajasthan
• READERS TRAVEL AWARDS
• #LOVEGREATBRITAIN
• TAJ SAFARIS
• BOUTIQUE HOTELS
• CNT TOP RESTAURANT AWARDS
• DESTINATION WEDDING GUIDE
• DON’T TRAVEL WITHOUT IT
• #UNDISCOVERAUSTRALIA
• ESSENTIALLY RAJASTHAN

Oscar Wilde’s London

By Nicole Dastur

Zipping through Mayfair towards Piccadilly  Circus , I pass by the famous Ritz Hotel, London’s top nightclubs Mahiki and Mayfair Club and a chain of bars, restaurants and shops. The street is lined with beautiful Victorian buildings, which I have always admired for their architectural grandeur. But little did I know that it was in these very buildings that one of London’s most popular playwrights—Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde, known to us simply as Oscar Wilde—lived a life steeped in equal measures of pleasure, controversy and disdain.

The London of Oscar Wilde, an intriguing walk conducted by London Walks, was as exciting as it was informative. Not only did Alan, the passionate and extremely knowledgeable guide, entertain with his Wilde-like wit, but he also opened up a whole new Victorian world in the heart of modern-day  London .

While Wilde lived at 16 Tite Street in Chelsea (now 34 Tite Street, commemorated with a blue plaque), most of his social gatherings and play rehearsals took place in the upmarket Mayfair and St James area. He moved in fashionable, wealthy and intellectual social circles, lunching at the famed Café Royal and dining at the Savoy. So it was apt that the walk took us to the sites of some of his most frequented haunts such as the Berkeley Hotel on Berkeley Street (now comprising offices) and the Albemarle Club on Albemarle Street (later relocated to Dover Street), where the playwright spent several carefree nights with his lovers Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosie), Robert Ross and other men after wining and dining them.

The Albemarle, however, is notorious for being the place where the genius received the infamous calling card from the Marquess of Queensberry (Bosie’s father who disapproved of their relationship), which led to his subsequent criminal prosecution. The structure still remains, only instead of the likes of Wilde and his intellectual friends walking through its doors, Princes William and Harry frequent the nightclub Mahiki that is now in its place.  

Next, we walked across to Mayfair’s Royal Arcade housing some of London’s most expensive stores. The corner shop that now reads Paul Smith used to be ‘Goodyear the Florist’, where Wilde purchased the characteristic green carnations that he regularly pinned onto his suits. (Some believe it was a secret symbol for gay men to identify one another in those times, a trend the playwright is believed to have brought to London from  Paris ).

On St James Street, we stopped at the site of Wilde’s favourite tailor (now, a Barclays bank) and his trusted physician across the street. Alan shared another little insight into the man – he apparently disliked his teeth so much that he made it a habit to talk with his elbow resting on the table and his hand covering his mouth!

Not far down the road was the James J Fox Cigar Merchant’s shop, established by Robert Lewis way back in 1787. Known to sell some of the world’s best cigars, it was from here that Wilde purchased his cigarettes—he smoked close to 100 cigarettes a day, stating with his trademark wit that “A man should always have an occupation of some kind. There are far too many idle men in London as it is.” However, his weren’t ordinary cigarettes—after all, how could a man as flamboyant as Wilde succumb to the ordinary? Made from special Turkish tobacco, these cigarettes had a pure gold leaf tip with his name embossed on them in red!

The shop itself is worth a visit. Its interiors are seeped in history, with a members’ smoking room downstairs that is now converted into a museum of sorts. It was in this very room that Wilde and his high-society friends used to gather in the evenings, to discuss the burning issues of the day or share their thoughts on more aesthetic subjects over champagne, wine and a smoke. Don’t miss the shelves dedicated to the playwright with a picture of him wearing his favourite coat (made of seal skin) purchased in Canada, a bottle of his favourite  wine and some of his other possessions. One can also see Winston Churchill’s chair and hat on display here, besides a vintage collection of cigars.

After that, we walked onto a building on King Street that was covered in scaffolding. Now just another modern structure, back in 1895 it was the grand St James’s Theatre where on February 14, 1895, Wilde successfully premiered The Importance of Being Earnest. Right beside the theatre used to stand his favourite restaurant Willis’s, which is also mentioned in his masterpiece. Our final halt was at the Hatchards bookshop down the road—still standing in the same location—another of his favourite hangouts.

If you’re an Oscar Wilde fan, then this walk is a must-do. Even if you’re not, do it for the simple pleasure of experiencing the bylanes and side streets of Central London, which you otherwise would not. And even though the lazier Wilde would hail a hansom cab to go from one street to the next (his biggest extravagance), the two-hour walk doesn't take you too far. For those who want some more of the playwright and his life, check into room 118 at the Cadogan Hotel on Sloane Street, where Wilde was arrested and taken to prison on 6 April 1895. 

The playwright has also been honoured at the Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey and a memorial with a bronze sculpture of his head and hand (yes, with a cigarette!) arising from a plinth—A Conversation with Oscar Wilde— lies behind St-Martin-in-the-Field near Trafalgar Square. It’s really not that difficult to get a feel of Wilde's Victorian London amidst the hustle-bustle of London 2012. Afterall, Wilde had a lifelong fascination with secrets, and isn’t London full of them?

The London of Oscar Wilde takes place every Saturday at 11am. For more information visit  www.londonwalks.com

If you'd like to share your thoughts on what you just read, join our  Facebook  community

ALSO SEE: London East End boutiques London's cycling revolution Need to know: East London T

Oscar Wilde Tour

Venue: Reading Museum

Book now for tours in spring-summer 2024.

Join our expert volunteer tour guides to discover the amazing life and talent of this beloved author and his links with Reading.

From Wilde’s origins in Ireland, to his successful career in London and from his extravagant life as part of Victorian rich and fashionable society to the devastating experience of imprisonment and exile. Enjoy a talk in the Museum giving you insight in the tragic and brilliant persona of Oscar Wilde and then follow the guide in a walk to discover places linked to the author's life in Reading.

Who: Adults

1 hour and 30 minutes, starting at 2pm. Meet at Reading Museum.

Interested in finding out more about Oscar Wilde? Reading Rep Theatre invites you to their revival of Micheál Mac Liammóir’s renowned play The Importance of Being Oscar. Running from 23 May - 8 June. 

Told in the shadows of Reading Gaol, this strictly limited run will immerse audiences in a compelling journey through the loves and losses, successes and struggles of this iconic man – from the eccentric socialite to the imprisoned outcast. A beautiful tribute, liberally laced with Wilde’s signature wit and wisdom and featuring excerpts of many of his best-loved works. This one man show promises to be a Wilde-ly entertaining night.  

Book tickets

Abbey quarter tours, reading abbey quarter tour.

Welcome Gallery Reading Museum

Talks + Tours

Reading Abbey Gateway Rooftop Tour

Reading Abbey Gateway

Stay Up to date

Stay up-to-date with the latest news and insights from Reading Museum by subscribing to our newsletter. 

Crafted by Un.titled

Notorious London: A City Tour

Oscar Wilde’s Decadent London

Information, accessibility.

Copyright © 2024 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

Internet Service Terms Apple TV & Privacy Cookie Policy Support

Online Tours/Guided Walks

Oscar wilde tour

Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, the early 1890s saw him become one of the most popular playwrights in Victorian London.  

He was flamboyant and sparklingly witty but fell out of favour after his scandalous love affair with Lord Alfred Douglas resulting in a trial and prison sentence.  

However his famous literary works live on and are regularly performed on the London stage.   On this walk we will explore where the great playwright lived, dined, drank, shopped and loved;  as well discover more about life in the Victorian era.

• Fleming’s Hotel (the inspirational  for Algernon Moncrief’s bachelor pad
• Trufitt & Hill where Oscar had his shaves
• The stores of St James where Oscar shopped
• Fortnum and Mason
• The Cafe Royal
• The theatres which premiered Oscar’s plays
• Oscar’s London memorial 

Where Oscar went to drink and debate with his friends.

Where Oscar took tea.

Where Oscar fell in love with Lord Alfred Douglas.

The tour will take approximately 2 hours.

The Meeting Point is outside Green Park Station (Buckingham Palace Exit).

The Finishing Point is Trafalgar Square.

Any Questions? Contact me.

Happy clients.

Gary is just the prototype of the ideal guide. He made us love and live the city also through the wonderful world of literature.   He is always ready to help you with whatever you need.

Luca Spallotta

Rome, Italy

As we wander through the atmospheric streets of Mayfair and St James’, Wilde is brought to life with sparkling quotes that remind us of the writer’s brilliant wit and wisdom. We hear the story of his extraordinary life and times, from his links to the Aesthetic Movement to his infatuation with Lord Alfred Douglas and the gay Victorian underworld that ultimately led to his sensational criminal trial, imprisonment and untimely death in Paris in November 1900.

SUE’S TIP:   We finish the tour outside the Café Royal on Piccadilly where they do a special Afternoon Tea that includes a glass of Veuve Cliquot champagne and live piano music, named ‘Best Traditional Afternoon Tea in the UK at the Afternoon Tea Awards 2017/18’.   (If you want to book yourself in for Afternoon Tea may I suggest you book for 4.30pm in case we are slightly delayed on the walk – price for Afternoon Tea with glass of champagne is £65)   https://www.hotelcaferoyal.com/afternoontea

Image credit: Oscar Wiilde photo (wiki commons images)

Need to know

Meeting point: At the Diana Fountain (goddess not princess!) in Green Park, Piccadilly (south side). Nearest tube station: Exit into Green Park from the tube station and the fountain is just there. Walk ends near: Outside the Café Royal on Regent Street, near Piccadilly Circus.

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies
• Website Statistics

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

Oscar Wilde In America

The Definitive Resource Of Oscar Wilde's Visits To America

John Cooper | Author

Oscar Wilde | Walking Tour

John Cooper | Interview

Sources/Credits

Oscar's Ship: SS Arizona

New York Customs

Ten Minutes With a Poet

Photographs

Introducing the Sarony Photographs

The Sarony Photographs

Sarony 3A :: Photograph of Oscar Wilde

Sarony 18 :: Photograph of Oscar Wilde 

The Last Four

With Short Hair 1883

Portrait of Sarony

Lecture Tour

The Lectures

Lecture Subjects

The Decorative Arts

The Full List

Previous Itineraries

Impressions

Vera Biblio

Strand Letters

Morris Errata

Oscar Wilde In New York :: The Walking Tour

—By Pre-arrangement Only—

Take a leafy stroll through Madison Square Park, Gramercy Park, and Greenwich Village to trace Oscar Wilde's debut in the social and literary world of New York City. Based on original and unique research into Wilde and his circle in the Gilded Age, see how Wilde was influenced by the aesthetic movement of the period, and how, in turn, he influenced the society of today. Conducted by John Cooper.

GROUP TOURS CONDUCTED FOR:  

• The Oscar Wilde Society (London, UK) 
• The Oscar Wilde Society of America 
• Irish Arts Centre, NY 
• Irish American Bar Association of New York
• The Municipal Arts Society (MAS), New York 
• The New York 19th Century Society 
• New York City Steampunks 
• Long Island University (Dept. of English) 
• The Bartitsu Club of NYC 
• 92nd Street Y 
• Tisch School of the Arts (NYU) 
• The Oscar Wilde Club (NY)
• Out Professionals
• The Oscar Wilde Meet-up Group (Philadelphia)
• Cast and crew members of The Judas Kiss , BAM
• The Victorian Society in America: 
• New England Chapter
• Northern NJ Chapter
• Philadelphia Chapter

INDIVIDUAL TOURS CONDUCTED FOR:

• David Friedman (US author)
• Tamaki Horie (Prof. Osaka Prefecture University, Japan)
• Arthur Marks (NYC Historian)
• Chris Spurr (BBC Radio 3)
• Walter W. Walker (Independent Scholar, Publisher)
• Jade Esteban Estrada (Entertainer)
• Hector Lionel (Entertainer)
• Shanga Parker (Actor, Educator)
• John O'Connor (Artistic Director, European Arts Co.)
• Matthew Wolf (Voice Actor)
• Erik Ryding (Musician, Historian)
• Tim Maxwell (Educator)
• Oscar Conlon-Morrey (Actor)

Oscar Wilde In America | © John Cooper, 2024

Modal Title

On the trail of oscar wilde.

Choose your language

• Bahasa Indonesia

Find your stay

• about Bulgari
• Ranfushi 2025
• Miami Beach 2026
• Los Angeles 2026
• Tokyo Restaurants

171 Knightsbridge, London SW7 1DW +44 (0)207 151 1010

Destination

Save the Children

Green Initiatives

Bulgari Suites

• Exclusive Offers

Sette restaurant

Nolita Social

The Bulgari Lounge

The Bulgari Spa

Workshop Gymnasium

BULGARI Gifts Online

Private Dining

The Private Cinema

Celebration

Il Cioccolato

Edward Sahakian Cigar Shop & Sampling Lounge

Helicopter tours

River Thames Cruise

Family experience

London Street Art Experience

Foodie Tour of London

London Rock ‘n’ Roll Tour

Dog Concierge

• Image Gallery

The BULGARI Gift Card

Reservation

Our other destinations

• Miami Beach
• Los Angeles

The interior of the Saint James Theater in an illustration by John Gregory Crace (1809 - 1889)

Other articles

Newsletter sign up.

* Required Fields