Private London in a day:
The Tower, the Abbey, and a Thames cruise
Destination
London, UK
Duration
8 hours
Tour size
Max 6
Language
English
Overview
A Blue Badge guide who's yours alone, a route through London's most storied landmarks, and every skip-the-line ticket handled. This private tour of London takes in Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and a Thames river cruise.
- •Walk straight into Westminster Abbey, where every British monarch since 1066 has been crowned
- •Step inside the Tower of London, where Anne Boleyn was imprisoned and the Crown Jewels have been guarded since 1661
- •Sail the Thames past Big Ben and under Tower Bridge and discover the centuries of stories the riverbank holds
- •Watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace while your guide explains a ritual that dates back to 1660
- •Stand face-to-face with the Crown Jewels, briefed by your guide on every diamond and coronation piece before you walk in
What's included
- Skip-the-line ticket for Westminster Abbey
- Skip-the-line ticket for Tower of London
- Thames river cruise
- Private Blue Badge guide
You will visit
- Westminster Abbey
- Tower of London & Crown Jewels
- Tower Bridge (exterior)
- Buckingham Palace (exterior)
- St James Palace (exterior)
- Trafalgar Square
- Houses of Parliament (exterior)
- River Thames
- Big Ben (exterior)
- London Eye (exterior)
- St Paul's Cathedral (exterior)
- The Shard (exterior)
- The Gherkin (exterior)
Get a taste of Private London in a day
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What to expect
Westminster Abbey, where monarchs are made
Your guide meets you at Parliament Square, and together you'll walk straight into Westminster Abbey before the crowds build. This is where every coronation since William the Conqueror has taken place, where seventeen monarchs are buried, and where Charles Dickens and Isaac Newton rest among the poets and scientists who shaped Britain. Your guide will steer you through the Gothic nave and Poets' Corner, pausing at the Coronation Chair that has held the weight of nearly a thousand years of ceremony.
Buckingham Palace, where the guard still changes for the King
From Westminster Abbey, you'll cross St James's Park to the front of Buckingham Palace. On ceremony days, you'll watch the Changing of the Guard, a military ritual that dates back to 1660, while your guide explains the significance of each formation and movement. On non-ceremony days, you'll see the Changing of the King's Life Guard at Horse Guards Parade instead. Either way, there is no shortage of royal intrigue between the palace gates and the park, and your guide knows every chapter. The Changing of the Guard follows a palace-set schedule and can be canceled at short notice. Your guide will confirm the day's ceremony in advance and adjust the route accordingly.
"Everyone sees the Tower and thinks it's a castle. I get to show them it's actually a thousand-year-old crime scene."
Dominica,
WalksDevour guide
"The river cruise is when the whole day clicks. You look back and realize you've walked through everything you're floating past."
Andrew,
WalksDevour guide
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Frequently asked questions
Our guides love answering your questions. Here are some things they'd like you to know before you arrive.
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