2026’s saunter sans purpose proved the most spectacular and well attended Grand Flan ever. We came, we flanned, we sauntered, and, unexpectedly, we conquered a tiny portion of England’s increasingly drab capital. Over one hundred and fifty immaculately dressed flâneurs and flâneuses assembled in the premises of Courtyard Wine Cellars, Covent Garden on Sunday 17th…
Full details of this year’s saunter sans purpose, determined by the same principles of flannerie as ever, but with a new starting point. All photos by Soulstealer Photography. The 2026 Grand Flaneur Walk takes place on Sunday 17th May. This will be the sixth incarnation of The Chap’s saunter sans purpose during the Summer (last year…
Over one hundred flaneurs and flaneuses gathered under inclement skies to take their first bold steps in Winter. Photos by Xavier Buendia Sunday 23rd November 2025 was a day when history was made. Hitherto, the participants in the Grand Flaneur Walk had only had the courage to set forth on the saunter sans purpose under…
The second saunter sans purpose of 2025 will see the dandies of London face more bracing weather conditions than usual. The Chap’s Grand Flaneur Walk has taken place every Summer since 2019, only interrupted by the global unpleasantness in 2020. Thus far, among five saunters sans purpose, only one has been marred by inclement weather,…
The flaneurs on this year’s saunter sans purpose braved unusually clement May weather to stake their claim on the streets of London. Photos by Soulstealer Photography The morning of Sunday 11th May 2025 was a day much like any other on Jermyn Street. A few tourists poked their heads into the windows of menswear stalwarts…
This year’s saunter sans purpose may start at the same place as before, yet it can never end up at the same place. This year’s Grand Flaneur Walk takes place on Sunday 11th May 2025, commencing beside the statue of Beau Brummell on Jermyn Street, London W1, at midday. This will be the fifth incarnation…
Over a hundred dapper chaps and chapettes sauntered sans purpose through London. On Sunday 5th May 2024, a crowd assembled at the junction of Piccadilly and Jermyn Street, London W1. Usually the only notable aspect of this corner is the life-size statue of the great dandy Beau Brummell, but on this day even the Beau…
2024’s saunter sans purpose also marks 25 years of The Chap Magazine. This year sees two very special milestones for The Chap Magazine. We mark our Silver Jubilee, having first published in 1999, and we shall sally forth on the fourth Grand Flaneur Walk on Sunday 5th May 2024. Assembling as usual at midday beside…
Another successful saunter sans purpose through the sunny streets of Old London Town. On Sunday 14th May, just one week after the coronation of Charles III, a very different kind of event, yet one steeped in as much ritual, tradition and protocol, took place. The Grand Flaneur Walk was not placing a crown of gold…
Ahead of the Third Grand Flaneur Walk on Sunday 14th May 2023, we recall 2022’s dandified stroll sans destination. This year, after two years of not being permitted to wander anywhere, with or without destination, a large number of flaneurs pressed their pantaloons, polished their canes and cultivated new buttonholes again, in preparation for the…
After a two-year hiatus, the most aimless walk of the century is back, with a party at the end of it. In July 2019, a large group of well-dressed dandies, flaneurs, boulevardiers and quaintrelles set forth from the statue of Beau Brummell on Jermyn Street, London, on a long walk with no destination whatsoever. This…
Sophie Gargett of The Dilettante explores the concept of the flâneur and asks what we can learn from it during the age of walking in lockdown “My former ennui had returned and I felt its weight even more heavily than I had before. I doubted whether further attempts at sociability would ever relieve me of…