Los Angeles Conservancy Walking Tours

The Los Angeles Conservancy is a non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving the historic architecture of Los Angeles County, and its walking tours are one of the best ways to discover the stories behind Downtown's buildings. Tours are led by trained volunteer docents and focus on the architecture, history and preservation of the places you visit.

Four tours run every Saturday morning. Historic Downtown: Old Buildings, New Stories starts at 9.45am; Curtains Up on Broadway: LA's Historic Theatre District at 10am; Art Deco LA: Zigzags, Spires, and Stories at 10.15am; and Union Station: America's Last Great Train Station at 11am. Monthly tours add more variety, including Angelino Heights, a neighbourhood of Victorian houses, on the first Saturday, Downtown's modern skyline on the second Saturday and the Biltmore Hotel on the last Saturday.

Be prepared to be on your feet for about two hours; most tours cover one to two miles. Meeting points, parking and transit details are sent by email after you book. Some tours require advance registration, while others accept walk-ups on the day, so check the important information on each tour's page. Sales are final, but you can change your reservation date if you contact the Conservancy at least 48 hours before the tour.

The tours suit architecture enthusiasts, history lovers and curious visitors who want to see more than the outsides of buildings, since some tours include interiors such as theatre lobbies and grand hotel spaces when access allows. Conservancy members and young people under 18 pay a reduced rate, and members can book several places at the member rate.

Downtown's Historic Core is easy to reach on the Metro, with Pershing Square and 7th Street/Metro Center stations close to many starting points, and Union Station served by the A, B and D Lines. Combining a morning tour with lunch at Grand Central Market or Philippe's makes for a full day. Because the tours are led by volunteers with deep knowledge of the buildings, they often include anecdotes that are hard to find elsewhere, and docents are happy to take questions as you walk.

The Conservancy also runs special events and tours elsewhere in the county, plus student walking tour field trips. Questions can be sent by email to [email protected] or by phone to the office.