In the Media

Since we started our first tours in Edinburgh in 2016, we have been featured in many media outlets, all over the world.

Are you a Journalist?

If you are a journalist, producer, member of the media or film crew, and would like to cover the work of our social enterprise and come on one of our tours in the UK, simply tell us about the coverage or project you’re working on, and how you would like to feature Invisible Cities.

  • For all media enquiries please contact Zakia or Catherine
  • We regularly arrange press tours, interviews and filming with our guides and founder Zakia
  • For all imagery please visit our Flickr
  • Please see our latest impact report here

As Seen In...

The bbc logo on a black background, empowering homeless city tours.
Huffpost United Kingdom is committed to empowering the unique city tours that raise awareness and support for the homeless community.
The empowering i news logo on a white background.
Empowering Elle magazine logo on a black background.
The guardian logo on a white background represents a unique and empowering symbol.
Bbc stories logo on a green background, empowering.
The national geographic logo on a white background.
Logo of Vanity Fair magazine displayed in bold, black uppercase letters on a white background, promoting empowering homeless city tours.

About Invisible Cities at a Glance

Mission & Key Messages

Invisible Cities is a social enterprise transforming tourism by empowering people who have experienced homelessness to become storytellers and walking tour guides in their own cities. Through guided experiences, we challenge stereotypes, foster deeper connections with our cities, and create meaningful opportunities for those who need them most.

We play a fundamental role in the visitor economy and our core mission is ‘doing tourism differently’.
We encourage people to really see a city – to talk to local people, learn about local history and hear people’s own stories – to ask questions, make new friends and go home with new knowledge to share with others.
We strive to create community wealth by giving people the chance to showcase their city and to encourage people to spend locally and leave a destination better than they found it.

We would love for you to come on a tour and hear from our guides – we have hundreds of 5 star reviews, because they are all remarkable people with the most interesting stories.

“it was not what I was expecting, but it had a profound impact on me”

“wow – where to start, it was extraordinary”

“Nic was a warm, charismatic and knowledgeable guide – we loved spending time with him”

“I would go as far as to say it was life changing”

“I’ve lived here for ever and there was so much I didn’t know”

Meet the Visionary & The Voices Behind it all

Meet Zakia Moulaoui Guery – the founder behind Invisible Cities. She didn’t just start a social enterprise; she built a platform for human potential. Her idea? Turn cities into classrooms and people affected by homelessness into powerful storytellers.

Zakia’s “Why”

After years working in homelessness advocacy, she saw untapped talent everywhere. Everyone has a story, expertise, and value—they just need the chance to share it.

The Guides

People like John in Edinburgh or Andy in Manchester, who’ve turned personal struggles into powerful tours. They’re not just sharing history—they’re rewriting their own narratives as well, by combining their own passions and interests with brand new public speaking, guiding and storytelling skills.

Black and white drawing of a person smiling, wearing a striped jacket and a knit hat with a pom-pom, facing forward against a plain background.
Michelle
Line drawing of a person with short hair, a beard, and sunglasses on their head, wearing a hoodie.
Angus
Black and white line drawing of a man, possibly named Gavin, with short hair and a slight smile, wearing a dark shirt with a crew neck.
Gavin
Black and white line drawing of James wearing glasses and a shirt with floral embroidery. James has short hair and is smiling slightly.
Silvana
Line drawing of a bearded man wearing glasses and a zip-up jacket. He has a serious expression, styled hair, and embodies the Monopoly tycoon aesthetic.
John W
Line drawing of a smiling woman named Larysa with glasses, wearing a layered necklace and a jacket adorned with a flower pin.
Larysa
A drawing of John, a man with a beard and headphones.
Johnny
A black and white drawing of a man with a beard.
Miles
Vicki
Vicki
Gemma
Gemma
Stephen
Stephen
Nic
Nic
Andy
Andy
Angie
Angie
Black and white line drawing of an older person with short hair, wearing a plain, long-sleeved shirt, looking forward with a neutral expression.
Brian
Gayle
Gayle
Meet your guide Sonny
Sonny

The Ripple Effect

150+ guides trained

10,000+ lives touched and ideas spread through tours

A community that sees homelessness through dignity, not pity

Invisible Cities & The Future of Travel

A recent Booking.com survey of 31,000 travellers found that 71% want to leave the places they visit better than when they arrived. But how do we do that?

The New York Times recently featured Invisible Cities alongside other incredible organisations, like RISE Travel Institute and Tourism Cares, in an article by Paige McClanahan about sustainable travel.

Zakia was named one of National Geographic’s Travellers of the Year 2024 for her work in sustainable tourism with social impact.

Challenging perceptions, sparking conversations about social issues, and redefining tourism is at the heart of what we do.

We encourage every traveller to rethink their impact—by actively engaging with local communities, choosing experiences that create social good, and making their journeys truly meaningful.

What:

Walking tours across the UK, led by people who have experienced homelessness. Their tours are profound, life-changing, and extraordinary—stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

How:

We provide training, support, and employment opportunities, helping people build confidence and gain skills to lead tours on history, social justice, and representation.

Why:

We are redefining tourism—creating real local impact, supporting marginalized communities, and giving visitors new perspectives that stay with them long after the tour ends.

Who:

Founded by Zakia Moulaoui Guery, Invisible Cities is a growing movement championing inclusive, sustainable travel through storytelling, culture, and community empowerment.

Milestone for 2025

Launching two brand new cities very soon!

Join the Movement

  • Book a tour in one of our 6 UK cities
  • Gift a tour / pay it forward for someone who can't afford it
  • Become a sponsor or partner
  • Support our community & training programs with time and knowledge
  • Spread the word – amplify our guides’ voices
  • Invite us to speak at events
  • Fundraise with or for us

Help us to do tourism differently, one story and one city at a time.

UNILAD Original Documentary

Goodness: Homeless Tour Guides

A man in a blue jacket walking down a street in edinburgh.

Read Stories From Our Guides

Get updates on special deals and exclusive offers and read stories from our guides.