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London in a Day: Tower, Westminster & River Cruise Walking Tour
4.9
329 Ratings
Greater London
Experience the best of London in just one day with this action-packed walking tour. Visit iconic landmarks like the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, and take a scenic river cruise along the Thames. Let a knowledgeable guide handle all the logistics for a hassle-free experience.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Parliament Square - Your morning starts at Parliament Square near Westminster Abbey. Catch a glimpse of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, and meet some of the fascinating figures whose statues surround the square as you make your way to the church.
- Westminster Abbey - Enter the Abbey at opening time to go directly to the Coronation Chair before crowds begin to surround it. Learn about the history of the building—England’s most important church—and visit the final resting places of a few of the countless monarchs and luminaries buried inside, from kings and queens to great writers and scientists.
- Buckingham Palace - It’s a short dash from the Abbey to Buckingham Palace, where you’ll catch the Changing of the Guard if it’s taking place on the day of your tour. As the crowds gather in front of the palace, your guide will take you to a great alternative viewpoint to witness this historic ceremony.
- Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall - You’ll also swing by the Horse Guards Parade—home to the lesser-known but arguably more impressive King’s Life Guard—on your way to Trafalgar Square.
- Trafalgar Square - You’ll break for lunch at London’s busiest square. Before you part ways for the break, your guide will share more about what makes this the beating heart of London and point out a few of its most significant spots—including a tiny patch of American soil!
- Thames River - Reconvening with your group after lunch, you’ll board a Thames sightseeing cruise complete with lively and entertaining commentary from the crew. It’s a fun and relaxing way to journey to your last stop of the day.
- Tower of London - Your final stop is one that’s sure to be a highlight: the Tower of London. With pre-reserved tickets, you’ll get inside quickly to enjoy a tour of its fascinating (and sometimes gruesome) history. Your full-day London tour comes to an end at the Jewel House inside the Tower. While your guide can’t accompany you inside to see the Crown Jewels, they’ll give you a primer on the top pieces to look out for and their significance so you can check them out on your own.
What's Included
- Local English-speaking guide
- Headset for clear tour guidance
- Guided walking tour by an expert
- Priority access to Westminster Abbey
- Scenic Thames River Cruise
- Priority entry to the Tower of London
What's Not Included
- Food & Beverages
- Gratuities
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
Additional Information
Embark on a comprehensive walking tour of one of the globe’s most intriguing and vibrant cities - London. This exhaustive day-long exploration of London will take you from Westminster Abbey, through the Tower of London, and to the River Thames, demonstrating that a constrained schedule doesn’t necessarily translate to a restricted understanding of the British capital. Delve into London’s major sights all in one eventful day, while the details are taken care of, in the accompaniment of an informed Blue Badge guide.
- Our group tour utilizes multiple areas that are not wheelchair accessible/mobility friendly.
- The Changing of the Guard ceremony is dependent on good weather and does not take place everyday. Should the ceremony take place during your tour, we will view it. On alternative days, we will view the Queen’s Life Guard Change/Horse Guards Parade. Guard Change will not happen on Tuesdays
- Walks comply with all local government regulations. You may need to wear a mask or provide proof of vaccination to enter certain venues. Please refer to London government guidelines for the most up to date information
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- Please note that for security reasons bag searches will take place at Westminster Abbey and at the Tower of London.
Location
Sir Winston Churchill Statue
Parliament Square
This tour meets at the "Winston Churchill" statue, Parliament Square, Westminster, London, SW1P 3JX. The Winston Churchill statue is the largest and is located on the north east corner of the square closest to Big Ben. The name 'CHURCHILL' is written on the stone base of the statue.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(329 Ratings)
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Catherine_a
May 29, 2024
Amazing tour of London - Elizabeth is the most amazing tour guide I have ever met!!! Book this tour immediately if you are interested in exploring London with a 10 star guide (not joking!) You will be provided with such a wonderful experience from beginning to end. This tour company know all the tricks of the trade and are not only organised and friendly but have a wealth of experience to provide you with a busy, fun filled experience. The tour alters ever so slightly every day to ensure you are provided with the best experience (eg They will shuffle things around to ensure you aren’t just standing around waiting for an entry to something. Very clever I think!) Our guide, Elizabeth, had such incredible knowledge of London and I am still in absolute awe of her talent!!! Thank you Elizabeth for such a wonderful tour 🙌👏🏼
PS This tour concludes at the Tower of London around 5pm so to make your day even more perfect, perhaps consider booking for a visit or even a dinner at the Sky Garden and you can enjoy watching the sun go down with a totally amazing view of London from 35 floors up!
Review provided by Viator
Nancy_m
May 29, 2024
Great tour - Kim was a great tour guide and improvised the tour a few times to take advantage of opportunities, especially the soldier and horses parading.
Review provided by Viator
Karen_p
May 28, 2024
Lots of info lots of walking - Saw all the famous landmarks with a most knowledgeable guide. Pace wasn't too fast and our guides commentary made easier to walk the 16,000 steps or 6.2 miles.
Review provided by Viator
Fpbaco
May 28, 2024
Very Good tour - Liz got us expertly though Westminster. The Tower of London was very crowded but she managed to take us through the most important parts.
Review provided by Viator
Anila_j
May 28, 2024
London Day Tour and Thames Cruise - Our guide Jane was outstanding ….. very knowledgeable and friendly. She gave us an extensive history of each place the we visited on the full day tour and Cruise on the River Thames. Jane was easily accessible to answer questions from the group. One of the best of the numerous Viator tours we have booked around the world over many years. A true pleasure to have someone like Jane to lead our tour of London.
Review provided by Viator
Serena_c
May 28, 2024
Great Way to Experience London - Excellent experience! Charlotte was a very knowledgeable tour guide. We had an incredible time experiencing Westminster Abbey, the changing of the guard, a somewhat rainy ride on the Thames, and touring the Tower of London. The single earbud headsets make it easy to hear the guide while also interacting with others. Definitely recommend this tour. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for walking!
Review provided by Viator
206hillaryh
May 26, 2024
London walking tour in a day - Julia was our tour guide and she was very knowledgeable and kept us on our toes while pointing out historical or cool things to see throughout our tour! There was so much to pack into this tour and Julia made sure that we got the most out of every minute!! She was personable and fun while still giving educational facts of London’s history!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Twollett
May 26, 2024
Wonderful tour or Westminster Abbey and Tower of London - Patricia was an excellent tour guide and so knowledgeable on the Abbey and Tower of London. It was great to see so many of the iconic sites and I learned so much on this tour. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janet_d
May 26, 2024
Great tour - Enjoyed visiting the Winchester Abbey and hearing all of the rich history of the abbey. Kym was very knowledgeable I learned a lot about Londons history.
Review provided by Viator
Melody_c
May 26, 2024
Wow London - Kim our guide was excellent. Very informative. Covered many sites. No better way to take in London is f your time is limited
Review provided by Viator
