Classic London Tours
My tours cover a range of exciting and intriguing London sites!
We'll start with the royal residences! St James's Palace (built by Henry VIII for Anne Boleyn), Clarence House (the King's current home in London), and of course Buckingham Palace (the administrative centre of the Monarchy since the 1800s). Then on to the Palace of Westminster, since 1512 the seat of the two Houses of Parliament: the Lords and the Commons. We'll review (from the outside) this fascinating complex, along with Parliament Square, which frames the area and includes wonderful views of Big Ben!
The Tower of London is the most exciting castle complex in the world! The Tower’s history stretches back to the 11th century. It has been a palace, an execution site, a royal mint, and more! You’ll be able to see the incredible Crown Jewels collection is kept here, including the actual objects used during the crowning of the monarchs through the ages!! I’ll guide you to the sights of the Tower, and we’ll see all there is to see, including the Ravens, the legendary avian guardians that call it home. And also, the Yeoman Warders who have kept the Tower safe for over 500 years!
You can witness this stirring and fascinating pomp and ceremony as the Household Division Foot Guards (and guest regiments), and I'll show you the best angle to view the action! The Changing of the Guard is only scheduled for certain days of the week, and can be cancelled due to inclement weather. But with a fair wind I’ll be able to show you this parade to best effect, and we’ll also have time to see the royal residences and Parliament Square and Big Ben as well!
St Paul's Cathedral is the national cathedral of the United Kingdom, and an architectural masterpiece! It is where Londoners have gathered together to celebrate, commemorate and mourn since the 7th century AD! We'll step through the ages in this remarkable Christian institution, including the tombs of British war heroes, exquisite Victorian mosaics, modern art works, and enthralling chapels.
I love showing visitors Westminster Abbey… it is one of the most remarkable places of worship in the world. It has been central to London’s history for over 1,000 years. There are more than 3,600 burials and memorials inside, including no less than 16 kings and queens of England and Great Britain. You will also see jaw-dropping church architecture and religious decoration. It has been the site of royal weddings since the 1300s, including in 2011 Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Westminster Abbey is a truly special church, bringing together spirituality, beauty and British history all in one place… I hope I can share it with you.
The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design! Where else would you be able to find spectacular exhibits such as the Great Bed of Ware, a huge four-poster bed made as a tourist attraction in 1590, as well as an entire gallery devoted to the history of Fashion, and special works from the artist Jon Constable! The V&A was founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Even though the collection has 2.8 million items, I'll show you some of the museum's most intriguing and important exhibits!
Spitalfields is a lively neighborhood in East London, but it is also a living time capsule! We are able to visit the phases of London's history from the marching routes of Roman legions to last week's Street Art. We will see the remains of medieval monasteries, stroll past the actual houses built for French immigrant weavers in the 1700s, and gaze upon the sites made infamous by Jack the Ripper! And it’s not just history, we’ll see Spitalfields Market, one of the best foodie markets in the city!
Tales and ales! London's pubs have seen its dramas, comedies, its tragedies and adventures, throughout its long history. Bars or pubs are the gathering places not just of luminaries like William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens, but of the police hunting Jack the Ripper, and the firefighters labouring during the Blitz of the Second World War. Our tour will take in some of the best and most historic pubs of the city. If these bar stools could talk, the stories they would tell, and I'll be telling them to you!
We will step back in time to the London of William Shakespeare, the world's most famous playwright! We'll visit the site of the original Globe Theatre, where the Bard worked and performed many of his works. What was it like, you wonder? We'll step over to its authentic working recreation! And we'll walk along the bank of the River Thames, as Shakespeare did, and review London during the late 1500s/ 1600s. And when we're done, I'll drop you off at the best foodie market in the city, Borough Market!
This tour is perfect for those with an interest in history, and mystery! I'll tell you about the history of the East End of London, as we walk through the gruesome and fascinating sites of the Jack the Ripper murders. Today the neighborhoods we’ll walk through are full of shops and great eateries, but we can still glimpse the corners and alleys that were important to those terrible days in 1888. At the end of your tour, we'll head to Ten Bells Pub, one of the Ripper's old haunts!
I can show you the famous and iconic sites that London is known for! If you want to see the top attractions, we can see any of the following…
Parliament Square & Big Ben – the UNESCO world heritage site, featuring the Houses of Parliament, the iconic Clock Tower and also...
Westminster Abbey – the nation’s church for coronations and memorials!
The Tower of London – the most remarkable castle complex in the world, home to the incredible, priceless Crown Jewels!
Royal Palaces including Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Kensington Palace!
The Changing of the Guard – the traditional display of military and musical pageantry!
London Highlights Tour
I can do a half-day or full-day tour based on your timeframe and priorities! I’ll put together a personal itinerary just for you, and we can see the sights at a pace that is good for you! Why not see a side of London that appeals to your own interests?
Design Your Own London Tour
London Food History Tour
Join me as we eat our way through London’s culinary history! You’ll have a tasty sampling of London’s best dishes, along with a side dish of interesting history and culture! We’ll explore neighborhoods rich in tradition, and learn why Londoners ate what they did and eat what they do!
Churchill War Rooms Tour
I will take you in Churchill’s footsteps through these historic rooms, and show you what life would have been like for those living and working underground. There's so much to discover at Churchill War Rooms. Usually we’ll need about two hours for a visit, so you have time to explore both the historic Cabinet War Rooms and the Churchill Museum. We will also be able to visit important Churchill and WWII spots in the immediate area!
London Shakespeare Tour
This half-day walking tour takes in the exciting sites and themes of William Shakespeare’s time in London! We will head to the alleys and streets that the Bard traveled and see the sights he would have been familiar with! We will even stop in at the city’s best Shakespeare- themed gift shop! Huzzah!
World War II Tour of London
Where can you see bomb damage from the Blitz? Where was Winston Churchill’s base of operations in the City throughout the war? We can tour the sites in London, and galleries/ museums that give you a first- hand experience of London’s experience during the war!
The Tower of London is the most fascinating and exciting castle complex in the world. Its history stretches back to the 11th century! It has been a palace, an execution site, the royal mint, and more! The incredible Crown Jewels collection are kept in the Tower, and you’ll be able to visit them! I’ll guide you to the sights of the Tower, and we’ll see all there is to see, including the Ravens, the legendary avian guardians that call it home. And also the Yeoman Warders who have kept the Tower safe for over 500 years! I can show you all that the Tower has to offer!
Tower of London Tour
I love showing visitors Westminster Abbey… it is one of the most remarkable places of worship in the world. It has been central to London’s history for over 1,000 years. There are more than 3,300 burials and memorials inside, including no less than 16 kings and queens of England and Great Britain. You will also see jaw-dropping church architecture and religious decoration. It has been the site of royal weddings since the 1300s, including in 2011 Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Westminster Abbey is a truly special church, bringing together spirituality, beauty and British history all in one place… I hope I can share it with you.
Westminster Abbey Tour
FAQs
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Just review the availability section of ‘Tour Availability’, it is up to date (within 24/ 48 hours). Please send me an email (Contact Me) to confirm the dates/times that you are looking for.
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All you have to do to book a tour is send me an email, with a rough description of the type of tour you want! I’ll confirm back to you the details, and your tour will be booked!
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I am experienced in working with different kinds of mobility issues; some parts of the city are challenging but generally speaking it won’t be an issue.
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A half day is around four/ four and a half hours. We can work in a lot in that amount of time!
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Cancellation fourteen days or less prior to the tour date, 50% of
the fee is incurred.
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Costs for tickets to sites/ entrance fees and travel costs internal to
the tour itself (for example, if it is necessary to take a brief bus or tube ride) are not covered by the
tour fee.