A bouquet of white roses hangs from the bronze wrist of Emmeline Pankhurst. But her rallying stance – hand outstretched towards Manchester’s former Free Trade Hall where she organised the first suffragette meetings that would change the course of British history – remains defiantly unchanged. Further bunches of white flowers, symbolising the purity of the women’s suffrage movement and its fight for female political equality, have been tucked at her feet, wilting gently in the spring sunlight that filters through the city’s skyscrapers. They are a reminder of the immense progress made in British women’s rights since Pankhurst’s early 20th-Century campaigns – and, perhaps, of how far there is left to go.
Manchester has long touted its association with the historic struggle for gender parity, yet the city’s civic championing of the women who helped shape its progress is muted at best. When Pankhurst’s bronze likeness (titled “Rise Up, Women”) was unveiled in 2018, it became the first statue of a woman to be erected in a public space in the city since a monument of Queen Victoria was installed in Piccadilly Gardens in 1905. Even now, it is one of only four city-centre statues of named women, compared to 18 of men.
But a counter-revolution is quietly brewing. I’m visiting the Pankhurst statue as part of a new self-guided walking route, the Feminist Tour of Manchester, which explores little-known stories of its impactful women and historically marginalised LGBTQ+ figures.
Though the suffragettes naturally feature, it emphasises those who never became household names: for example, Mary Fildes, a trailblazing 19th-Century birth control activist; and Enriqueta Rylands, who founded the Neo-Gothic masterpiece that is the John Rylands Library, becoming the first woman to receive honorary Freedom of the City of Manchester. There’s a thought-provoking stop at the Peterloo Massacre Memorial (commemorating those who lost their lives in a peaceful working-class protest for parliamentary representation and universal suffrage that turned violent); while the neon jumble of Chinatown’s alleyways provides the backdrop to the story of the author and campaigner Alicia Little, whose work highlighted – and eventually helped change – the poor status of women’s rights in British marital law.
“People have a feeling that there is feminist history in Manchester, but they can’t pinpoint what it is,” says Zakia Moulaoui Guery, founder of Invisible Cities, the social enterprise behind the tour, which launches this month. “It’s not too late to retrieve those stories or to have more of that representation.”
Manchester isn’t the only city where under-represented women are getting their moment in the spotlight. Across Europe, feminist walking tours that uncover “forgotten” stories that have often been preserved in letters and diaries or handed down through word of mouth are gaining popularity. Here are five more tours re-incorporating female legacies into the popular tourist narrative.
Reykjavík
Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, consistently ranks high in the World Economic Forum’s gender gap index, yet its urban landscape does not fully reflect these progressive ideals. As Tinna Eik Rakelardóttir, a resident, notes, “We don’t even have a statue of the first female democratically elected president in the world – there’s no statue of her anywhere in Reykjavík,” referring to Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, Iceland’s former president.
Inspired by a tour she took in Ljubljana, Eik Rakelardóttir launched the Reykjavík Feminist Walking Tour. This tour delves into 200 years of Iceland’s pursuit of gender equality, offering insights from her own experiences as a woman in modern Icelandic society. The tour begins in the Mæðragarður neighborhood and winds through the city’s well-manicured squares, concluding at the historic Kvennskólinn (Reykjavík Women’s Gymnasium). Participants learn about Finnbogadóttir, who was coincidentally Eik Rakelardóttir’s neighbor growing up, as well as lesser-known women and marginalized groups whose contributions to gender progress deserve greater visibility. Eik Rakelardóttir emphasizes, “We should understand their methods and let those stories motivate us.”
Prague
French gender and science researcher Averil Huck first observed a lack of female representation when she moved to Prague and participated in walking tours of the city. Notably, only a small percentage of Prague’s street names honoring individuals are dedicated to women. Inspired by this observation, Huck began her own research and launched Prague Feminist Tours.
Her flagship tour, “To the Roots of Czech Women’s Emancipation,” takes participants on a journey through Prague’s historic streets, visiting iconic sites like the Charles Bridge, National Theatre, and Old Town Square. The tour highlights the stories of women who fought for education, employment, and voting rights. Key figures include author Karolina Světlá, poet Eliška Krásnohorská, suffragist Františka Plamínková, and dissident Milada Horáková.
In addition to this tour, Huck has developed more tours, including one held around Dušičky (All Souls’ Day). This tour takes place in Olšany Cemeteries, where participants pay tribute to significant female historical and cultural figures by lighting candles or leaving flowers at their graves. Huck prefers conducting this tour in the fall, as the cemetery’s natural beauty is enhanced by the season.
Huck’s tours aim to educate both tourists and locals about the often-overlooked contributions of Czech women to the country’s history and gender equality. Her work is part of a broader effort to increase gender diversity in how Prague’s history is remembered and celebrated.
London
Criminals like Jack the Ripper brought a dark notoriety to the streets of London’s East End in the 19th century, yet this vibrant neighborhood has also been home to numerous influential women. Notable figures include Mary Wollstonecraft, a writer and philosopher often regarded as Britain’s first feminist, and Anna Maria Garthwaite, a prominent textile designer. Women of London, a tour company founded by Becky Laxton-Bass, highlights both these figures and many others who lived in the dynamic neighborhood from the 1660s to the 1940s, examining their lives and the social challenges they faced.
“I think it’s an area of London that lots of people don’t really know, so it attracts both locals and tourists,” Laxton-Bass notes. The company also conducts walking tours in Westminster and Bloomsbury, uncovering women’s stories that traditional tours often overlook and weaving together a narrative that addresses both historical and contemporary feminist issues. “My hope,” Laxton-Bass shares, “is for people to recognize that women’s history is everywhere.”
Paris
In Paris, Julie Marangé initiated her first walking tour focusing on feminist street art after feeling disillusioned by the French response to the #MeToo movement. This led to the establishment of Feminists in the City, which now operates in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Marseille. The organization highlights women’s contributions to history and culture through walking tours, conferences, and masterclasses.
Popular Tours:
The Witch Hunt: Powerful Women of Paris explores the stories of women accused of witchcraft from the Middle Ages onward.
Another tour delves into female sexual liberation in the Pigalle neighborhood, examining the feminist roots of the can-can dance associated with the Moulin Rouge and the story of Cha-U-Kao, the venue’s first known female clown.
These tours are thoroughly researched by Marangé with the assistance of historian and women’s rights expert Claudine Monteil, a close friend of the iconic feminist Simone de Beauvoir. Marangé emphasizes, “We’re not rewriting history; we’re just telling a different story. It’s about providing a new viewpoint and making women visible in the broader story of humanity.”
Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s modern feminist history is deeply intertwined with the story of Anne Frank, the Jewish diarist who spent over two years in hiding during World War II. While Anne Frank’s House attracts over a million visitors annually, the city’s rich history is also filled with other influential female figures. Martine Bontjes’ Women of Amsterdam tour highlights these women, including Lijsbeth Vaas, an 18th-century undercover police officer. Bontjes, inspired by her grandmother’s journey to financial independence in post-WWII Amsterdam, launched the tour in 2022. It now runs weekly, connecting women through shared narratives and experiences.
Key Figures and Tours:
Anne Frank: Known for her diary documenting life in hiding during WWII, Anne Frank is a symbol of resilience and courage. Her story has become a cornerstone of Amsterdam’s historical narrative.
Martine Bontjes’ Women of Amsterdam Tour: This tour focuses on uncovering the often-overlooked stories of women who have shaped Amsterdam’s history. It includes figures like Lijsbeth Vaas and Aletta Jacobs, offering a fresh perspective on the city’s past.
Lijsbeth Vaas: An 18th-century undercover police officer, Vaas is one of the pioneering women featured on the tour, showcasing the diverse roles women have played in Amsterdam’s history.
Martine Bontjes’ Inspiration:
Bontjes’ work is inspired by her grandmother’s experiences in securing financial independence in post-WWII Amsterdam. This personal connection underscores the importance of sharing women’s stories, especially during times when many laws affecting women are under scrutiny. The tour serves as a platform for women to unite and share their narratives, highlighting the resilience and contributions of women throughout Amsterdam’s history.