Fans meet art on the Greenwich Peninsula. This 6½-hour craft tour blends a guided walk of public sculptures and modern architecture with hands-on fan-making in a small workshop setting led by Victoria Ajoku. You’re not just seeing Greenwich—you’re using it as inspiration.

Two things I really like: first, the art-and-architecture walk across the Design District and the North Greenwich Peninsula, where you get pointed to the sculptures and public artworks you might otherwise overlook. Second, the workshop approach—tools and materials are provided, and you’ll learn the cultural side of fans before you make your own personal fan to take home.

One possible drawback: at $468.40 per person, it’s a premium day. If you’re expecting a casual, low-cost souvenir hunt, this may feel pricey—especially if you prefer museums over hands-on crafting and outdoor walking.

Key Highlights You Shouldn’t Miss

• Victoria Ajoku leads the craft: fan-making plus historical and cultural context, delivered in an art-therapy style.
• You make a true keepsake: a personal fan (and/or fashion accessory), with tools and materials provided.
• Public art walk with real direction: sculptures and artworks in the Design District plus architecture you’re guided to notice.
• A quick loop around the O2: a short walk along Millennium Way with the O2 Arena as an easy-to-spot anchor.
• Included lunch break: time to refuel at Costa Coffee before the hands-on session.
• Small groups: maximum 7 travelers, so you’re not lost in a crowd.

Greenwich Fan-Making: What This Tour Really Gives You

This tour is built around a simple idea: fans aren’t just accessories. They’re a cultural object, a design tool, and—when you make one yourself—a way to leave with something meaningful instead of another photo. On the Greenwich Peninsula, that idea clicks fast, because the area mixes modern design, public art, and big-scale architecture you can’t ignore.

You start in the Design District area, where the guide helps you look at what’s already there—sculptures, public artworks, and architectural lines that shape how the peninsula feels. Then you circle the O2 area on Millennium Way. It’s not a long trek, but it’s enough to give you a sense of place before you get creative.

The second half is the payoff. You move into the fan-making workshop at SE10 0EF, where the focus turns from looking to doing. With tools and materials supplied, you can concentrate on design choices and technique instead of worrying about what to bring.

Meet Victoria Ajoku and Learn the Fan-Making Mindset

A big reason this tour works is the guide-turned-teacher: Victoria Ajoku, founder of Fan The Glory With Tori. She’s described as a professional fan-maker and art therapist, and that shape matters. You don’t only get instructions; you also get context—why fans developed, how fan-making fits into culture, and what it means to keep the craft going.

One of the standout points is that the tour frames fan-making as critically endangered in the UK. That doesn’t make it heavy or preachy. Instead, it gives your finished fan extra weight. You’re not just making something pretty. You’re participating in a craft practice that needs people to keep it alive.

If you like learning while you work with your hands, this is the sweet spot. The workshop is long enough—about 3 hours—that you’re not rushing through. You’ll have time to design, build, and leave with a personal piece that feels like yours.

Stop 1 on the North Greenwich Peninsula: Design District Art Walk

The day kicks off at Peninsula Spire 10 Pier Walk (SE10 0ES), starting at 10:00 am. From there, you head into the Design District area for roughly 2 hours of guided art and architecture.

This part isn’t a “follow the leader” stroll. The guide shows inspiring sculptures and artworks in the Design District, and you also take in the architecture around the North Greenwich Peninsula. In practice, that means you’ll look at details with intention—shapes, textures, and public-art placement—so the walk becomes fuel for the workshop later.

What I like most about this stop is that it trains your eye. Many public artworks can be easy to miss when you’re just passing by. Here, you get prompted to slow down and notice. One review highlights that guests were encouraged to think of the Peninsula as a kind of canvas. That mindset shift is exactly what you want before you start designing.

Possible downside: because this is an outdoor walk with a craft destination at the end, you’ll get more value from it if you enjoy walking and you’re comfortable with a moderate fitness level.

Stop 2: Millennium Way Circumnavigation by the O2 Arena

After the Design District segment, the itinerary includes a short 30-minute walk along Millennium Way around the O2 Arena. This is a good breather point in the day: enough movement to reset your legs and give you iconic views, without turning the tour into a long hike.

Think of this stop as orientation with a landmark. The O2 Arena is right there as a reference point, so you’re building a mental map of the area. And because the walk is brief, it doesn’t steal time from the main event—the fan-making workshop.

If you’re someone who wants a tour that includes iconic London scenery but still stays focused on your core activity, this stop hits the balance. You get the famous setting without losing the craft rhythm.

Stop 3 Lunch at Costa Coffee: A Real Break Before Crafting

Next comes lunch at Costa Coffee, included in the tour. You get about 1 hour here, which is a very practical amount of time. You’re not scrambling between locations, and you can eat without rushing.

One detail I appreciate: guests are told they can choose from food varieties available at the venue. So rather than being locked into a single meal, you can pick something that works for your energy levels before the workshop.

This timing is smart because the next part is hands-on making. Craft sessions can be oddly tiring—fine motor work, decision-making, and concentration all add up. A proper pause with a sit-down meal keeps you from arriving to the workshop already drained.

Stop 4 at SE10 0EF: Your Personal Fan Workshop

This is where the tour turns into a hands-on experience with real payoff. At SE10 0EF, your professional fan-maker and art therapist guide provides historical and cultural context about fans and fan-making before you start building your own.

The key practical points are simple:

• Tools and materials are provided
• You make your personal fan
• The finished item can be a work of art and/or a fashion accessory
• The workshop runs for about 3 hours

That “before you start” education piece is what makes the craft feel more than a class demo. You’re given a foundation, then you’re encouraged to apply it in your design. One review captures the excitement of learning and then creating a bespoke souvenir based on inspiration from the peninsula.

Also, the tour is capped at a maximum of 7 travelers, which matters in a workshop. You’re not fighting for attention. You can ask questions and adjust details while the teacher is still right there.

The Value Question: Why This Costs $468.40 (and When It Makes Sense)

Let’s talk money plainly. At $468.40 per person for a 6½-hour tour, this isn’t a budget activity. But you also aren’t just paying for a guided walk. You’re paying for instruction, planning, materials, and a dedicated craft session.

Here’s how the value holds up:

• The walk components have admission tickets listed as free for the art walk stops, so you’re not paying extra entry fees along the way.
• The workshop segment includes tools and materials, which can be a major hidden cost in DIY-style craft experiences.
• You’re paying for a high-touch format with a small group (maximum 7), and for a specific craft practice tied to cultural preservation.

When does it make sense? If you want a take-home item you genuinely helped create, and you enjoy connecting art and hands-on making, you’ll likely feel the worth. If your ideal day in London is mostly museums, cafés, and minimal activity, you might find the price harder to justify.

I’d also consider how much you care about souvenirs. A mass-produced souvenir is easy to buy anywhere. A fan that reflects the peninsula’s art and your choices—plus a story about the craft’s cultural role—tends to feel more personal and memorable.

Who This Tour Is Perfect For

This experience fits best if you like one or more of these:

• Crafting that leads to a finished product you can use
• A guided art walk that helps you actually see what you’re looking at
• Learning cultural context while you work with your hands
• Small groups and hands-on instruction rather than large bus tours

It’s especially appealing for creative types—design-minded travelers, people who enjoy visual arts, and anyone who wants a break from the usual sightseeing loop.

It also works well as a “London story” day. You get landmark scenery near the O2 and a modern art feel on the peninsula, but the centerpiece is still the craft. That blend is what makes it feel distinctive.

Practical Tips So You Enjoy Every Part

You’ll do a walk-and-work day, so plan like it’s a daytime outing:

• Wear comfortable shoes for the peninsula walking segments.
• If you’re sensitive to fine-detail work, give yourself time to settle at the start—your hands will be doing something new.
• Bring a mindset that’s okay with experimenting. Even if you’re not sure what your final fan should look like, the workshop format is built around guided making.

The tour also notes moderate physical fitness is recommended, which I’d take seriously since you’ll be moving between stops and spending time walking outdoors before the workshop.

Finally, the tour operates in English, and you’ll receive confirmation at booking time. There’s also a mobile ticket, which keeps day-of logistics simpler.

Should You Book This Greenwich Fan-Making Craft Tour?

If you want something more than a photo stop—if you want to leave with a fan you designed and built—then yes, I’d book it. The combination of an art-focused walk with a long, small-group workshop led by Victoria Ajoku is the kind of experience that feels personal without being complicated.

However, if you’re mostly chasing famous sights and you don’t care about hands-on crafting, you may not feel the value fast enough for the price. In that case, you might prefer a standard sightseeing day and buy a fan as a casual souvenir.

My practical take: book it if crafting sounds fun, you like art direction, and you’re curious about cultural context. Skip it if you want low-cost and purely sightseeing.

FAQ

FAQ

How long is the Greenwich Fan-Making Craft Tour?

The tour lasts about 6 hours 30 minutes.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 10:00 am.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $468.40 per person.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Where do I meet the tour?

You meet at Peninsula Spire 10 Pier Walk, London SE10 0ES, UK.

Where does the tour end?

The tour completes at the workshop in London SE10 0EF.

What happens during the fan-making workshop?

You’ll receive historical and cultural context about fans and fan-making, and you’ll make your own personal fan (and/or a fashion accessory). Tools and materials are provided.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included at Costa Coffee, with about 1 hour provided.

How big is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 7 travelers per group, and a minimum of 2 people is required per booking.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time. Free cancellation is available, and cancellations within 24 hours of the start time aren’t refunded.

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