Step into the world of Syrian heritage without leaving London on this intimate cultural walking tour led by Nadia, a London-based Palestinian guide with deep personal ties to Damascus. Through architecture, food, and family stories, you’ll explore how memory, migration, and everyday rituals keep Syrian culture alive — from hand-painted tiles and sacred tea traditions to flatbread baked fresh and a centuries-old ice cream enjoyed just as it was generations ago.

Tour Highlights

• Experience Syrian culture in London through food, tradition, and lived stories shared by your guide, Nadia.

• Visit the breathtaking Arab Hall at Leighton House, with insider context inspired by Damascene design and history.

• Share generous Syrian food and drinks, enjoyed together as part of everyday hospitality and cultural ritual.

• Hear personal stories of home, heritage, and belonging, shaped by Nadia’s family roots and connection to Damascus.

• Enjoy a welcoming small-group experience, designed for curious, culturally minded travellers who value depth and connection.

Detailed Itinerary:

Your journey begins at Leighton House, where you step into the breathtaking Arab Hall, a space inspired by the interiors of 19th-century Damascus. Surrounded by intricate Islamic architecture, hand-painted tiles, and the gentle sound of a central courtyard fountain, Nadia introduces the stories behind the space: artists, travellers, empires, and the fascination with the Middle East that shaped this extraordinary room. Alongside the history, she weaves in her own family story, memories of her grandmother and life in Damascus, grounding the setting in lived experience rather than distant past.

Leaving the visual richness behind, you pause for a moment of calm with a cup of maramia (sage) tea. More than just a drink, this tea carries layers of meaning across the Levant, tied to healing, protection, and everyday life. As you sip, Nadia shares the legends and beliefs associated with it, revealing how something so simple can hold centuries of faith, folklore, and care.

The walk continues to a local bakery, where the smell of warm bread fills the air. Here, you watch manoushe being prepared, a traditional Levantine flatbread baked fresh and topped with za’atar or cheese. As you enjoy it straight from the oven, Nadia talks about growing up with manoushe as a childhood breakfast in Damascus and explains how this humble dish has sustained families across Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine for over a thousand years.

The experience concludes at a lively café, where you witness the making of booza, a stretchy Arabic ice cream dating back to the 15th century. As you enjoy this final sweet treat, Nadia shares stories connected to Saidnaya Monastery and her family’s memories of 1950s Damascus, a world of incense-filled shrines, sweeping terraces, and moments of glamour and devotion. It’s here, between dessert and storytelling, that past and present gently meet, bringing the experience to a warm and reflective close.