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London in a Day: Tower, Westminster & River Cruise Walking Tour

4.8

266 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 learn more

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

4.8

(266 Ratings)

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Ryan_t

Mar 31, 2024

Perfect tour for a day in London - This was a perfect tour for our trip! We didn’t have a lot of time in London, but we still wanted to see the sights. The tour was about 8 hours total. A lot of walking, but it didn’t feel like it. Salvatore was a guide, and he was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely recommend this tour if you want to see a lot in a day.

Review provided by Viator

Astrid_p

Mar 30, 2024

This was an amazing tour! - Paul was an amazing guide! He answered all our questions and made today an experience my family and I will never forget! Thank you!

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Michael_d

Mar 30, 2024

Great experience - Liz was very engaging and entertaining, great job! We will definitely recommend this tour to our friends.

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Rich_w

Mar 21, 2024

London in a Day - Julia was a knowledgeable and informative guide. The extensive knowledge she has made the experience memorable.

Review provided by Viator

Christy_k

Mar 13, 2024

Amazing tour - Charlotte was AMAZING!!! Blessed to have such an incredible woman impart her vast knowledge of English History throughout our tour. Highly recommend!!!

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Shannon_c

Mar 5, 2024

Definitely worth it but not on the first day of the trip - Mark was a great guide and very funny. It is a lot of walking; at least 16000 steps so be prepared. We were sort of rushed at the Tower which was a bummer but everything else was good. Just schedule it in the middle of your trip. We did it the first day and felt it the rest of the trip.

Review provided by Viator

Allana_b

Mar 2, 2024

Best Day in London! - We were so pleased with how interested our teen children were with Mark. He was so fun and full of insight. We all had such a fabulous day!!

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Barbaramullinemail

Feb 20, 2024

Love Julia from Walking Tours of London! - Walking Tours of London provided an amazing guide - Julia! We could not have had a better or more knowledgeable guide!

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Olga_f