See London Through the Eyes of the Homeless

A new photo exhibition titled Street Level has opened in east London, celebrating 15 years of the social enterprise Unseen Tours. This event aims to shed light on the experiences of individuals who have faced homelessness, by showcasing their stories through photography by Jennie Blythe.

Unseen Tours empowers people affected by homelessness to become city tour guides, offering Londoners a chance to see the capital through a different lens. The free exhibition, located at the art'otel in Hoxton, welcomed visitors from Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29. Jasmine Awad, CEO of Unseen Tours, emphasized the humbling and powerful opportunity these tours provide for engagement with and understanding of homelessness.

Since its inception in 2010, Unseen Tours has trained 30 guides and hosted thousands of guests. Guides now lead tours in areas such as King's Cross, Brixton, Canary Wharf, and Westminster, shaping their narratives and earning a share of ticket sales. This initiative seeks to challenge societal perceptions by centering the voices of those with lived experience of homelessness.

The exhibition is a collaboration with Tripadvisor's social impact team, recognizing the positive impact and five-star reviews generated by the tours. The initiative underscores the vulnerability of many in society, with over 200,000 Londoners estimated to be homeless, including more than 100,000 children, as of December 2025.