London tours
Don't just see London. Experience it.
London is a complex and complicated city with many layers of history not always readily apparent to the naked eye. This truly is one city where your experience will be greatly enriched by taking a few walking tours or other specialty tours. Honestly it's one of my top favorite things to do in London.
Top London tour companies
Top London tours
- Walks
- Sights
- History
- Literature
- Art & Architecture
- Food
- Pubs
- Film & TV
- Bike, etc.
London walking tours
- London: Portrait of a City
- Hidden London
- Welcome to London
- Full Day in London
- Charles Dickens: Storyteller of Victorian London
- Jack the Ripper Tour and London Ghost Walk
- Monarchy and Parliament: Westminster and the Struggle for Democracy
- Harry Potter Walking Tour of London including River Thames Boat Ride
- London Orientation: Kensington and Knightsbridge
- Literary London: The Garden Squares of Bloomsbury
- From Shakespeare to the Globe: The Evolution of Theatre in London
- London, City of Markets and Trade
- The Beatles London Walk
- Tides of Time - A Riverside Stroll
- Masterpieces of a Genius: The Churches of Sir Christopher Wren
- Introduction to London Architecture
- Music for Kings: Handel and the Baroque Court
- Notting Hill and Portobello Market
- Jewish London
- Runner's Tour of London
- Custom Walk (half day)
- Custom Walk (full day)
Tours of London sights, museums, & monuments
Musuems
- British Museum: A Guided Tour of the Museum and Collection
- British Museum for Families
- Private Tour: London Walking Tour of the British Museum and Soane Museum
- Truth and Illusion in the National Gallery
- The National Gallery for Families: A World of Stories
- Tate Modern tour
- Victoria and Albert Museum: Art and Design on a Grand Scale
- V&A: From Eighteenth-Century Splendour to His Majesty, McQueen: 250 years of British Fashion
- Private Tour: London Walking Tour of Apsley House and the Victoria and Albert Museum
- Tate Britain – A Picture of Britain
- Private Tour: Tate Britain and Tate Modern
- Sir John Soane's Museum: The Labyrinth
- The Blitz - London During the War (Musuem of London; St. Paul's)
Monuments & palaces
- Tower of London tour
- Private Tour: London Walking Tour of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge
- Viator VIP: Exclusive-Access Tour to The Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and The View from The Shard
- The Royal London Tour including Buckingham Palace
- Buckingham Palace and Afternoon Tea at Chez Gerard
- Royal London Tour with St. Pauls Cathedral and Buckingham Palace visit
- Hampton Court Palace: 200 Years of History, Architecture, and Design
- Kensington Palace tour
- Private Tour: Chauffeur-Driven English Castles Tour of London (Windsor, Wardour, and Highclere [aka "Downton Abbey"])
- Downton Abbey and Oxford Tour from London Including Highclere Castle
Churches
- Westminster Abbey, Britain Through the Ages
- St. Paul's: Masterpieces of a Genius: The Churches of Sir Christopher Wren
- St. Paul's Cathedral tour
- Royal London Tour with St. Pauls Cathedral and Buckingham Palace visit
- Viator VIP: Exclusive-Access Tour to The Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and The View from The Shard
- Private Tour: London Walking Tour of St Paul's Cathedral
- The Blitz - London During the War (Musuem of London; St. Paul's)
Other
Historical tours of London
- London: Portrait of a City
- Monarchy and Parliament: Westminster and the Struggle for Democracy
- Charles Dickens: Storyteller of Victorian London
- Hampton Court Palace: 200 Years of History, Architecture, and Design
- Hidden London
- From Shakespeare to the Globe: The Evolution of Theatre in London
- Jack the Ripper Tour and London Ghost Walk
- Westminster Abbey, Britain Through the Ages
- Tides of Time - A Riverside Stroll
- London, City of Markets and Trade
- Of Waterloo and Wellington
- The Blitz - London During the War
- Wartime London Tour: Westminster and the West End
- Wartime London Tour: The City and Imperial War Museum
- Trail of the Archbishop: Roman and Medieval Canterbury
- Gangster Walking Tour of London’s East End led by Stephen Marcus
- Jewish London
- Custom Walk (half day)
- Custom Walk (full day)
Literary tours of London
- Charles Dickens: Storyteller of Victorian London
- From Shakespeare to the Globe: The Evolution of Theatre in London
- Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour and Exhibition
- Literary London: The Garden Squares of Bloomsbury
- Harry Potter Walking Tour of London including River Thames Boat Ride
- Harry Potter Film Location Tour of London
- Private Tour: Harry Potter Black Taxi Tour of London
- Harry Potter London Bus Tour
- Sherlock Holmes Walking Tour of London
- Sherlock Holmes Film Location Tour in London
- Custom Walk (half day)
- Custom Walk (full day)
Art and architecture tours of London
- Truth and Illusion in the National Gallery
- A World of Stories, The National Gallery for Families
- Masterpieces of a Genius: The Churches of Sir Christopher Wren
- Victoria and Albert Museum: Art and Design on a Grand Scale
- Contemporary Artists' Studios of London
- Introduction to London Architecture
- Architecture Walking Tour of London
- London Street Art Walking Tour
- Graffiti Walking Tour of London
- Drawing London: A Hands-on Art Workshop
- Modern Houses for Modern Minds: 1930s Hampstead
- Custom Walk (half day)
- Custom Walk (full day)
Culinary and food market tours of London
- Gastronomic London
- London East End Food Tour
- London Market Walk
- London's Chocolate Walking Tour
- London Food Walking Tour: Brixton and Borough Markets
- Great Food Tour of London with 6 Tastings
- Classic London Walking Tour and Fish 'n Chips
- London Under Attack Walking Tour and Indian Curry
- Cupcake and Macaron Tour of London with 7 Tastings
- Custom Walk (half day)
- Custom Walk (full day)
Specialty meals in London
Tours of London pubs & other drinking establishments
Film, TV, and celebrity tours of London
Harry Potter
- Warner Bros. Studio: The Making of Harry Potter with Luxury Round-Trip Transport from London
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Including Private Extended Session in the Actual Great Hall from Harry Potter
- Harry Potter Film Location Tour of London
- Harry Potter Walking Tour of London including River Thames Boat Ride
- Private Tour: Harry Potter Black Taxi Tour of London
- London Film Location Walking Tour: Bridget Jones' Diary, Sherlock Holmes and Harry Potter
Downton Abbey
- ‘Downton Abbey’ TV Locations Tour of Oxfordshire from London
- Downton Abbey and Oxford Tour from London Including Highclere Castle
- 'Downton Abbey' TV Locations and Blenheim Palace Tour from London
- Private Tour: 'Downton Abbey’ Film Locations Tour by Private Chauffeur
- Small-Group 'Downton Abbey' and Highclere Castle Tour from Londo n
- Private Tour: Chauffeur-Driven English Castles Tour of London: Windsor, Wardour, and Highclere (aka "Downton Abbey")
Doctor Who
Sherlock, Bond, and others
London bike tours & other active tours
- London Royal Parks Bike Tour including Hyde Park
- Grand London Bike Tour
- London Evening Bike Tour
- London Super Saver: Royal London Bike Tour plus Evening Walking Tour with Fish and Chips Dinner
- Secret London Bike Tour
- The Central London Bicycle Tour
- Small-Group River Thames Bike Tour
- London Bike Tour: Maritime Greenwich and Olympic Park
- Small-Group Windsor Castle Bike Tour from London
- Hampton Court Palace Bike Tour from London
- Windsor Castle by Bike
- London Bike Tour - East, West or Central London
- 2012 London Olympics: Bike Tour of Olympic Park and East London
- Night Bicycle Tour of London
- River Thames Night Bike Tour
- Ultimate Sunday in London: River Thames Bike Tour, Camden Market Shopping, and Westminster Abbey Organ Recital
- Runner's Tour of London
Tips & Links
Planning your days in London: Spend at least a week in London, if you can manage it, though you can see many of the greatest hits in 3–4 days.
SIGHTS
Tourist info: Visitlondon.com, Londontown.com, Visitbritain.com
Sightseeing pass: London Pass (60+ sights; transit optional)
Tours & activities: Viator.com, ContextTravel.com, Londonwalks.com, City-Discovery.com
LODGING
Hotels: Booking.com, Venere.com, Priceline.com, HotelsCombined.com
B&Bs: Booking.com, Bedandbreakfast.com, Venere.com, Hostelworld.com, Airbnb.com, Hostelbookers.com, Hostelz.com
Apartments: Vrbo.com, Booking.com, Venere.com, Rentalo.com, Airbnb.com, Hostelworld.com, Hostelbookers.com, Interhomeusa.com, Homeaway.com
Hostels & campgrounds: Hostelworld.com, Gomio.com, Hostelbookers.com, Booking.com, HostelsClub.com, Hostelz.com
TRANSPORT
Airfares: Momondo.com, AutoEurope.com, Vayama.com, Cheapflights.com, DoHop.com, CheapTickets.com, CheapOAir.com, Orbitz.com, Expedia.com, Travelocity.com,
Priceline.com, Kayak.com, Hotwire.com
Airports: Heathrowairport.com, Gatwickairport.com, Stanstedairport.com, London-luton.co.uk, Londoncityairport.com
Trains: Nationalrail.co.uk, Thetrainline.com, Raileurope.com, Bahn.de, Seat61.com
Public transport: Tfl.gov.uk; London Pass (free public transit option; sightseeing); Transportdirect.info (compare bus, rail, driving options across the UK)
Car rentals: Autoeurope.com, RentalCars.com, Momondo.com, Orbitz.com, Expedia.com, Travelocity.com
The London Pass grants free entry to more than 60 sights across London, including such top attractions as St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, the Churchill War Rooms, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour, Hampton Court Palace, Windsor Castle, Kew Gardens, and London Transport Museum—as well as some nifty tours by bike, canal boat, and foot.
If you upgrade to the Travelcard option (an extra £9—or $16—per day) you also get unlimited rides on all public transportation (Underground/Tube, bus, and light rail).
Related Articles
- London sights (top | unique | free)
- London hotels
- London itineraries
- London restaurants
- London FAQ
- London for kids
- London homepage
- England homepage
- U.K. homepage
- More European destinations
This article was by Reid Bramblett and last updated in November 2013.
All information was accurate at the time.
Copyright © 1998–2013 by Reid Bramblett. Author: Reid Bramblett.
Tourist info: Visitlondon.com, Londontown.com, Visitbritain.com
Sightseeing pass: London Pass (60+ sights; transit optional)
Tours & activities: Viator.com, ContextTravel.com, Londonwalks.com, City-Discovery.com
LODGING
Hotels: Booking.com, Venere.com, Priceline.com, HotelsCombined.com
B&Bs: Booking.com, Bedandbreakfast.com, Venere.com, Hostelworld.com, Airbnb.com, Hostelbookers.com, Hostelz.com
Apartments: Vrbo.com, Booking.com, Venere.com, Rentalo.com, Airbnb.com, Hostelworld.com, Hostelbookers.com, Interhomeusa.com, Homeaway.com
Hostels & campgrounds: Hostelworld.com, Gomio.com, Hostelbookers.com, Booking.com, HostelsClub.com, Hostelz.com
TRANSPORT
Airfares: Momondo.com, AutoEurope.com, Vayama.com, Cheapflights.com, DoHop.com, CheapTickets.com, CheapOAir.com, Orbitz.com, Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, Priceline.com, Kayak.com, Hotwire.com
Airports: Heathrowairport.com, Gatwickairport.com, Stanstedairport.com, London-luton.co.uk, Londoncityairport.com
Trains: Nationalrail.co.uk, Thetrainline.com, Raileurope.com, Bahn.de, Seat61.com
Public transport: Tfl.gov.uk; London Pass (free public transit option; sightseeing); Transportdirect.info (compare bus, rail, driving options across the UK)
Car rentals: Autoeurope.com, RentalCars.com, Momondo.com, Orbitz.com, Expedia.com, Travelocity.com