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Homeless Tour Guides Offer New Peek at London

Volunteer group teams up with them to spread awareness

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 27, 2012 4:42 PM CST

(Newser) – Visitors to London can get an earthier view of the city courtesy of homeless tour guides. Der Spiegel tags along as one woman ticks off facts on familiar sites such as the London Bridge, along with tidbits not to be found on more official tours: "This is where I used to sleep sometimes," she says of a corner in the London Borough Market. "In the morning, the market traders would make me a cup of tea."

And those waves in the concrete nearby? "They put them up to stop us sleeping there," she explains. The project is the brainchild of a nonprofit group that works with the homeless called the Sock Mob.The idea is to spread awareness of London's homeless problem and to help people on the streets make a little money—they get to keep most of the $15 tour fee. The group won an award for sustainable tourism last year, notes the German newspaper.

The sun sets behind the London Skyline.
The sun sets behind the London Skyline.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Radzyn
Feb 15, 2012 11:30 AM CST
And on your left, Big Ben!  *looks up and is shanked* 
Scaramouche
Jan 27, 2012 6:51 PM CST
Ironically, when you're a tourist looking for weed in London, you ask the same people.
warped
Jan 27, 2012 5:44 PM CST
I love this.... They are doing something much better than just giving the homeless money.  They are giving them an opportunity.  That being said... when is the last time the homeless have gotten that kind of opportunity, to help out their city, their country, and others as well as themselves.  This should be done in every major city.
 

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