London Guided Walking Tours: Choose your borough!
There is so much to learn about London that we discover something new every single time we visit, despite living there for six years! With so much ground to cover and even more to know, one of the best ways to dive into history is to pick a borough (or three) and book London guided walking tours.
Activity Overview
Why We Think They’re Great:
Walking tours are an excellent opportunity to check off bucket list items, familiarize yourself with an area, and deepen your knowledge with stories that may not have made it into the history books.
We love it when a tour guide points out something seemingly banal, like a cracked stone, and tells us the most unexpectedly fascinating story of its creation.
We often take a walking tour near the beginning of our trip to check off some major sites and take note of what we want to return to. Sometimes we decide that we don’t need to return to one place, but we absolutely must add another.
Since these tours cover a lot, you don’t have time to enter any of the sites. If you’re set on getting admission to any of the sites, be sure to book it separately. These tours will provide an excellent overview of each, with context that will enrich your visit when you return.
London Guided Walking Tours: Details and How to Book
Old City of London
Explore the square mile that makes up the true City of London. Once a walled Roman settlement called Londinium, it’s steeped in over 2,000 years of history. See the old walls, learn about the Great Fire of 1666, and discover the progression from Romans to royalty. Some sites you’ll visit on this tour include St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, London Bridge, a Roman Amphitheater, and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.
- Semi-private tours run at 10 AM daily
- Private tours run at 10 AM and 1:30 PM daily
History of London: City Center Westminster
Dive into London’s political and royal history going back hundreds of years. This is a great opportunity to check off some of your bucket list items like Big Ben, Parliament, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace.
- Both private and semi-private run at 10 AM Daily
East End Street Art
Previously the hunting ground of Jack the Ripper, this area is now trendy, artistic, and known for its food (and of course its sordid past). This tour focuses on the creative side of the area, showcasing some of the works created by world-renowned street artists. Other highlights include Spitalfields Market, Whitechapel, Brick Lane, and Shoreditch.
- Semi-private tours run at 2 PM daily
- Private tours run at 10 AM and 2 PM daily
More in the area:
If you’re more interested in the true crime history, check out this Jack the Ripper night walking tour, or opt for a set of wheels with this Jack the Ripper Black Cab tour.
If you’re more interested in the cuisine, check out the food tour for the area.
London Soho District
Soho is known for fashion, entertainment, and queer culture. Music lovers, theatre kids, and history buffs interested in resistance movements will love this tour. Some notable stops include Piccadilly Circus, Carnaby Street, The Broad Street Pump, Old Compton Street, and Chinatown.
- Semi-private tours run at 1:30 PM daily
- Private tours run at 10 AM and 1:30 PM daily
Changing of the Guard
The Changing of the Guard is a spectacle that many visitors want to see on their trip, but booking a tour gives you so much more than that. Sure, it’s fun to watch, but it’s more interesting to experience while absorbing context, history, and lesser-known facts as the events unfold. Sites include Trafalgar Square, the Horse Guards Palace, the Duke of York Steps, and St. James’ Palace.
- Both private and semi-private tours depart at 9:30 AM on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Things to Note:
- Pickup is not available for these tours. Check out our Guide to London’s Tube for simple and efficient transportation around the city.
- These tours operate rain or shine, and London does get quite a lot of rain, so prepare accordingly!
- By the nature of the tours, they do not include entry to any of the major sites, just a walk by. These tours are great for getting an overview of an area and returning for the specific sites that you would like admission to.
- Guests requiring mobility aids or wheelchairs should book a private tour.
- All tours have a 24-hour cancellation policy. Read any exceptions before booking.
Other tours we think you’ll like:
