Tours & Activities in London
Would you like to see the city with a native English-speaking tour guide who has had the honor of being a full-time tour guide in multiple European cities since 2014? Then read on. 👇
Through years of experience, I have learned that these tours are most enjoyable for you if I hone it down to just the most exciting stops and the most interesting stories.
Alfred Hitchcock once said "the length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder," and I think that applies doubly so to a tour. You're on holiday, I appreciate that. You want to see the main sites, take the best photos, maybe laugh a little, and then head off on to the next adventure.
With that in mind, I keep the tour to an entertaining one hour and fifty minutes. During that time we will see the main sites, allowing you to take photos of:
- Buckingham Palace
- Houses of Parliament
- "Big Ben"
- Westminster Abbey
- Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column
- Horse Guards Parade
- Wellington Arch
- St Martin's In The Field
- National Gallery
- Apsley House
- RAF Bomber Command Memorial
- The Commonwealth Gates
- St James' Palace
- The Mall and Pall Mall
- Crimean War/Nightingale Memorial
- Waterloo Place
- 10 Downing Street
- Churchill War Rooms
- On Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday the 11am tour will see and hear the army band march by us for the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Unless it is cancelled due to rain.
More important than the sites themselves are the stories. Little insightful or interesting anecdotes; what the little horse steps are at Waterloo Place, why Constitution Hill is called that when we don't... um.. have one, tales from the Battle of Britain, the Gunpowder Plot, what the Queen did when she woke up to find a drunken man had climbed the walls of Buckingham Palace and broken into her bedroom at 7am, etc, etc.
Having done these tours for the better part of a decade, I can usually field any history question you may have about the nation or the city, and can also offer suggestions of the best places in the city for gin, pretentious coffee (my vice), or the most memorable dining experiences with something unique to them.
I hope to see you soon,
Theo
This one and a half hour tour will begin with a brief history of the area, from the time when highwaymen would stalk the Hampstead Road and move on to discuss how Camden became a boom town in the railway era. We will then talk about some famous faces who have called Camden home, including the likes of Charles Dickens and of course, Amy Winehouse. Camden has however also been witness to some rather turbulent times, such as in the 1920s when the Camden Town Gang fought rival gangs in the Camden pubs and Camden's very existence threatened by a planned road through its very heart. Camden nowadays is famous for its market, or rather markets which sell almost everything one could imagine, including excellent food from every corner of the globe. It is of course impossible to do a tour in Camden without talking about Camden's role in the music scene, from Rock and Roll to Britpop, Camden has it all. So come here with an open mind and an empty stomach and enjoy this incredible area with us!
The Changing Of The Guards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace is iconic and seeing it up close is a once in a lifetime experience for many.
So why spoil it by having to stand for hours in the unpredictable British weather, amongst thousands of others, constantly fighting for the “best spot” only to discover too late that your view is obstructed?
Take this FREE (pay what you feel) walking tour with an expert guide who will take you to the “secret spots” (often hidden in plain sight) for unprecedented views of the ceremony. Much,smaller crowds, fewer or no barriers/fences or other obstructions, and an explanation of what is actual going on, so you can understand more of the traditions and pomp of the event as it unfolds in front of you.
GUARANTEED! to be within 20ft (6 m) of the guards themselves, as they carry out this long standing tradition. Which traces its origins as far back as the late 17th century under the reign of William III and remains little changed since.
PLUS! this tour will also take you to the CHANGING OF THE HORSEGUARDS to see the mounted regiments of The Household Cavalry carry out their daily guard change and inspection. This is the best place in London to get that iconic photo with a guard in full regalia.
PLEASE NOTE: All or part of the ceremony may be cancelled, altered or otherwise changed by Buckingham Palace at any time, often at short notice and often without explanation especially in inclement weather. I will do my utmost to give all participants the best experience possible but due to logistics of the ceremony, the planned route may change, I will endeavour to keep the group informed of any changes if and when they occur.
The tour will also show you other famous London attractions and monuments such as:
- Trafalgar Square
- Nelsons Column
- The National Gallery
- Admiralty Arch
- St James Palace
- Buckingham Palace
- Clarence House
- Horseguards Parade
- The Banqueting House
- Downing Street
And more…
✍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The walking tour with our guide Richard was G R E A T! We got to see the changing of the guard with great views! He really knew where we needed to be without a crowd in the way. We got great pictures and videos because of him! “
“Richard is such a good guide! We saw all the interesstings thinks very close! Highy recommend to do a tour with him!” - Petra - Austria
“Could not have been any more pleased with the quality of this tour. We never could have produced the same experience had we chose to do this on our own. This was stress-free, extremely informative, and super enjoyable.” - Brennan & Amy - Nashville
“best choice ever! Richard is witty, so be prepared for a fun tour! Highly recommended!” Millie - Munich
These are just a couple of reviews from the thousands of happy visitors to London that I have had the pleasure of guiding over the past 20 years.
But don’t just take their word for it come and experience it yourselves.
📃THE BASICS📃- What you need to know! (And the boring legal bit)
📍The Tour Starts in Trafalger Sqaure (Nearest underground Charing Cross/Leicester Square) please meet at the TOP of the steps in the north east corner underneath the statue of George IV on horseback. Please note that there may be several tour groups here so make sure you find the right one. I will be wearing a flat grey cap and carrying a black backpack
📍The tour ends at Horseguards which is around 4 minute walk back to the start point, but also a similar distance from Parliament Square for Churchill War Rooms, Westminster Abbey, “Big Ben” The London Eye, The River Thames and Westminster Station
🧑🦽The route is flat on either paved roads with one set of steps, which may not be suitable for wheelchair users (currently unavoidable due to construction work on the step free route) Some sections on a gravel path/courtyard which may prove difficult for wheelchairs/buggy’s. The route is suitable for those with reduced mobility, however please be aware that at certain parts of the tour the group may need to move quickly to another location in order to secure a suitable vantage point for the next part of the ceremony. A comfortable pair of shoes or trainers is sufficient, no need for any specific footwear, although it is advised against wearing high heels.
🐕🦺The tour is suitable for dogs (although unadvisable due to large crowds and horses) but they MUST be kept on a lead at all times.
🥤🥪Please note that there are very limited Toilet facilities or refreshments on this tour (there are public toilets and several cafes at the start point) You may eat and drink on the tour (please no alcohol) but please be responsible and take any rubbish with you until you can find a bin. Smoking and vaping is forbidden on this tour for the comfort of all participants.
👉Please be aware that the ceremony is on selected days only and can be cancelled, amended or rearranged at short notice for any number of reasons, particularly inclement weather conditions. I will attempt to advise any participants of any changes as soon as I am aware of them.
👉Also please note that the tour will come across wild animals particularly wild birds and waterfowl, as well as horses and other animals. I ask all visitors to exercise caution when around these animals as they can bite, all participants are responsible for their own safety at all times. This also includes crossing any roads or cycle paths.
👉Please follow any instructions given to you by myself, police officers or any other person in an authoritative position whilst on the tour.
🎒Please take basic precautions with your personal belongings. All visitors are responsible for any personal possessions. Neither the guide or Guru Walks accept any liability for loss or damage to personal possessions or any personal injury or death whist taking part on the tour.
📩 If you have any questions please feel free to contact me via the tour guru website
I look forward to welcoming you
PLEASE NOTE : If a tour is marked as unavailable it normally means that there is no guard change scheduled for that day. You can check the latest schedule here…
https://changing-guard.com/dates-buckingham-palace.html
However due to personal circumstances there is no tour availability at weekends, There is normally a guard change on Sundays, If a tour is showing as unavailable please look at alternative dates if possible. If there is a guard change scheduled but no tour available on dates that are convenient for you please check other providers.
⌚Total tour time Approx 1 hour 40 minutes
Hello and welcome to London. I'm Jill inviting you to join me for a lovely stroll through St. James and Westminster. We'll encounter the history and highlights of the area, including part of the Changing of the Guard ceremony if you join me for my 11 o clock tour on Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Sunday. I have lived in London for twenty years and worked as a tour guide for five of those as well as working in many of the buildings we'll see along the way.
We'll meet at the Ferdinand Foch horse statue opposite the Shakespeare pub at Victoria Station.
During the tour, we'll pass the Royal Mews and Buckingham Palace, make our way down the Mall encountering other lovely habitats and hidey holes of the Royal Family and their ancestors.
Passing through St. James Park, we'll then make our way down historic Whitehall experiencing all things parliamentary, police-like, and political party-ish.
We'll finally arrive at the Houses of Parliament to say hello to Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. I love to make sure my walkers get the most out of their visit so please come with lots of questions so we can make your tour your own.
