/
United Kingdom
/
England
/
Greater London
/
London
/
Tours & Activities
/
London In a Day: Tower of London, Westminster Abbey & Changing of the Guard
1 day
Instant confirmation
About this activity
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Tower of London, Tower Hill, London EC3N 4AB England
Your last stop, the Tower of London, is also the most impressive. With pre-reserved tickets at the quietest time of day, you won’t have to battle crowds to enjoy nearly 1,000 years of bloody royal feuds, improbable jailbreaks, jewel heists, menacing ravens, and even a ghost or two. Your guide, who has an expert grasp of British history, will regale you with the often hair-raising stories of this royal stronghold, jail, zoo, and sometimes execution block, including the mystery of two lost royal boys that still raises the hairs of everyone who hears it.
Duration: 1 hour
Pass By: Buckingham Palace, Spur Road, London SW1A 1AA England
Leaving the spiritual heart of England, you’ll avoid the large crowds gathered in front of Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of the Guard and head to Wellington Barracks instead. This is where most of the ceremony actually takes place, including the band’s performance and the highly-formal uniform checks. It’s even more surprising then that so few visitors come here to watch the Changing of the Guard, meaning you can get right within arm’s reach of the guards as they pass.
Stop At: Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UP England
After a break for lunch (your guide will recommend a range of great places to eat) you’ll reconvene for a short walk down to the Thames for a scenic river cruise that will take you past a number of London landmarks like the Shard, the Gherkin, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye and more. Disembark at the foot of Tower Bridge and cross the iconic attraction as you learn its unexpected history.
Duration: 20 minutes
Pass By: Tate Modern, 53 Bankside, London SE1 9TG England
Tate Modern
Pass By: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT England
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
Pass By: St. James's Park, Horse Guards Road The Storeyard, London SW1A 2BJ England
Now it’s time for little surprise. On the other side of the St. James’s Park you’ll step into the Horse Guards Parade to witness a much less famous, but perhaps even more impressive ceremony: The changing of of the Queen’s Life Guard, an elite cavalry regiment, mounted on exquisitely-bred, and specially-trained horses. As you watch the guards go through the ceremony, your guide will explain the significance of everything from the armor they wear to the colors on their uniforms.
Pass By: St. James's Palace, London England
St. Jame's Palace
Pass By: St. Paul's Cathedral, St Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD England
After a break for lunch (your guide will recommend a range of great places to eat) you’ll reconvene for a short walk down to the Thames for a scenic river cruise that will take you past a number of London landmarks like the Shard, the Gherkin, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye and more. Disembark at the foot of Tower Bridge and cross the iconic attraction as you learn its unexpected history.
Pass By: Trafalgar Square, Centre of the City, London SW1A England
Your next stop is Trafalgar Square, the geographic center of London and one of the city’s most iconic public spaces. While you marvel at the size of the bronze lions and enormous triumphal column, your guide will tell you about the naval history that gives the square its name as well as the dashing Admiral Nelson whose fame during his short life makes modern celebrities seem like total amateurs. You’ll also come across some unexpected curios, like the smallest police box in the world and a statue of George Washington that sits on a micro-plot of American soil.
Stop At: Westminster Abbey, 20 Dean's Yard Broad Sanctuary, London SW1P 3PA England
Your day begins in Westminster Abbey, where you’ll take advantage of pre-reserved tickets to visit England’s most hallowed church, before most of the crowds arrive. As you stroll across the beautiful Cosmati pavements and peer up into the elaborate vaulted ceiling, your guide will introduce you to the church’s tumultuous history, which mirrors that of England.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall, Horse Guards Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX England
On the other side of the St. James’s Park you’ll step into the Horse Guards Parade to witness a much less famous, but perhaps even more impressive ceremony: The changing of of the Queen’s Life Guard, an elite cavalry regiment, mounted on exquisitely-bred, and specially-trained horses.
Duration: 15 minutes
Pass By: Houses of Parliament, Parliament Square, London SW1A 0AA England
House of Parliament
Stop At: Changing of the Guard, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA England
Leaving the spiritual heart of England, you’ll avoid the large crowds gathered in front of Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of the Guard and head to Wellington Barracks instead. This is where most of the ceremony actually takes place, including the band’s performance and the highly-formal uniform checks. It’s even more surprising then that so few visitors come here to watch the Changing of the Guard, meaning you can get right within arm’s reach of the guards as they pass.
Kindly note that 'Changing of the Guard' can be canceled last minute due to bad weather, and does not take place every day. On days this ceremony does not take place, guests will see the Queen's Life Guard Change, Horse Guards Parade.
Duration: 20 minutes
Pass By: Parliament Square, London England
Parliament Square
Pass By: Coca-Cola London Eye, Westminster Bridge Road Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB England
After a break for lunch (your guide will recommend a range of great places to eat) you’ll reconvene for a short walk down to the Thames for a scenic river cruise that will take you past a number of London landmarks like the Shard, the Gherkin, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye and more. Disembark at the foot of Tower Bridge and cross the iconic attraction as you learn its unexpected history.
Stop At: Thames Cruises, Lambeth Palace Rd Lambeth Pier, Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SG England
After a break for lunch (your guide will recommend a range of great places to eat) you’ll reconvene for a short walk down to the Thames for a scenic river cruise that will take you past a number of London landmarks like the Shard, the Gherkin, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye and more. Disembark at the foot of Tower Bridge and cross the iconic attraction as you learn its unexpected history.
Duration: 15 minutes
Pass By: Take Walks, London England
Take Walks
Read more
Show less
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Tower of London, Tower Hill, London EC3N 4AB England
Your last stop, the Tower of London, is also the most impressive. With pre-reserved tickets at the quietest time of day, you won’t have to battle crowds to enjoy nearly 1,000 years of bloody royal feuds, improbable jailbreaks, jewel heists, menacing ravens, and even a ghost or two. Your guide, who has an expert grasp of British history, will regale you with the often hair-raising stories of this royal stronghold, jail, zoo, and sometimes execution block, including the mystery of two lost royal boys that still raises the hairs of everyone who hears it.
Duration: 1 hour
Pass By: Buckingham Palace, Spur Road, London SW1A 1AA England
Leaving the spiritual heart of England, you’ll avoid the large crowds gathered in front of Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of the Guard and head to Wellington Barracks instead. This is where most of the ceremony actually takes place, including the band’s performance and the highly-formal uniform checks. It’s even more surprising then that so few visitors come here to watch the Changing of the Guard, meaning you can get right within arm’s reach of the guards as they pass.
Stop At: Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UP England
After a break for lunch (your guide will recommend a range of great places to eat) you’ll reconvene for a short walk down to the Thames for a scenic river cruise that will take you past a number of London landmarks like the Shard, the Gherkin, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye and more. Disembark at the foot of Tower Bridge and cross the iconic attraction as you learn its unexpected history.
Duration: 20 minutes
Pass By: Tate Modern, 53 Bankside, London SE1 9TG England
Tate Modern
Pass By: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT England
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
Pass By: St. James's Park, Horse Guards Road The Storeyard, London SW1A 2BJ England
Now it’s time for little surprise. On the other side of the St. James’s Park you’ll step into the Horse Guards Parade to witness a much less famous, but perhaps even more impressive ceremony: The changing of of the Queen’s Life Guard, an elite cavalry regiment, mounted on exquisitely-bred, and specially-trained horses. As you watch the guards go through the ceremony, your guide will explain the significance of everything from the armor they wear to the colors on their uniforms.
Pass By: St. James's Palace, London England
St. Jame's Palace
Pass By: St. Paul's Cathedral, St Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD England
After a break for lunch (your guide will recommend a range of great places to eat) you’ll reconvene for a short walk down to the Thames for a scenic river cruise that will take you past a number of London landmarks like the Shard, the Gherkin, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye and more. Disembark at the foot of Tower Bridge and cross the iconic attraction as you learn its unexpected history.
Pass By: Trafalgar Square, Centre of the City, London SW1A England
Your next stop is Trafalgar Square, the geographic center of London and one of the city’s most iconic public spaces. While you marvel at the size of the bronze lions and enormous triumphal column, your guide will tell you about the naval history that gives the square its name as well as the dashing Admiral Nelson whose fame during his short life makes modern celebrities seem like total amateurs. You’ll also come across some unexpected curios, like the smallest police box in the world and a statue of George Washington that sits on a micro-plot of American soil.
Stop At: Westminster Abbey, 20 Dean's Yard Broad Sanctuary, London SW1P 3PA England
Your day begins in Westminster Abbey, where you’ll take advantage of pre-reserved tickets to visit England’s most hallowed church, before most of the crowds arrive. As you stroll across the beautiful Cosmati pavements and peer up into the elaborate vaulted ceiling, your guide will introduce you to the church’s tumultuous history, which mirrors that of England.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall, Horse Guards Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX England
On the other side of the St. James’s Park you’ll step into the Horse Guards Parade to witness a much less famous, but perhaps even more impressive ceremony: The changing of of the Queen’s Life Guard, an elite cavalry regiment, mounted on exquisitely-bred, and specially-trained horses.
Duration: 15 minutes
Pass By: Houses of Parliament, Parliament Square, London SW1A 0AA England
House of Parliament
Stop At: Changing of the Guard, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA England
Leaving the spiritual heart of England, you’ll avoid the large crowds gathered in front of Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of the Guard and head to Wellington Barracks instead. This is where most of the ceremony actually takes place, including the band’s performance and the highly-formal uniform checks. It’s even more surprising then that so few visitors come here to watch the Changing of the Guard, meaning you can get right within arm’s reach of the guards as they pass.
Kindly note that 'Changing of the Guard' can be canceled last minute due to bad weather, and does not take place every day. On days this ceremony does not take place, guests will see the Queen's Life Guard Change, Horse Guards Parade.
Duration: 20 minutes
Pass By: Parliament Square, London England
Parliament Square
Pass By: Coca-Cola London Eye, Westminster Bridge Road Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB England
After a break for lunch (your guide will recommend a range of great places to eat) you’ll reconvene for a short walk down to the Thames for a scenic river cruise that will take you past a number of London landmarks like the Shard, the Gherkin, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye and more. Disembark at the foot of Tower Bridge and cross the iconic attraction as you learn its unexpected history.
Stop At: Thames Cruises, Lambeth Palace Rd Lambeth Pier, Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SG England
After a break for lunch (your guide will recommend a range of great places to eat) you’ll reconvene for a short walk down to the Thames for a scenic river cruise that will take you past a number of London landmarks like the Shard, the Gherkin, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye and more. Disembark at the foot of Tower Bridge and cross the iconic attraction as you learn its unexpected history.
Duration: 15 minutes
Pass By: Take Walks, London England
Take Walks
Included
- Changing of the Guard
- Horseguards Parade
- River cruise along the Thames
- Free time for lunch at own expense
- Headsets
- Small Groups of 20 people
- English only speaking guide
- Entrance to Westminster Abbey
- Entrance to Tower of London
- Entry/Admission - Tower of London
- Entry/Admission - Westminster Abbey
- Entry/Admission - Thames Cruises
Not included
- Food & Beverages
- Gratuities
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate guests with mobility impairments, wheelchairs or strollers on this tour.
- Comfortable walking shoes recommended.
- Please note that for security reasons bag searches will take place at Westminster Abbey and at the Tower of London.
- Near public transportation
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Features
Tourism
90%
Cultural
65%
Original
20%
Reviews
Collections
This experience is part of these collections
You may also like
See all 51 Collections
Click to discover other experiences
See all
Collections
Windsor Castle
118 Activities
Collections
Stonehenge
148 Activities
Collections
Bus Tour
77 Activities
Collections
Excursions From London
54 Activities
Collections
Warwick Castle
19 Activities
Collections
Tower Bridge
19 Activities
Collections
London Eye
35 Activities
Collections
Gourmet
86 Activities
Collections
Harry Potter
88 Activities
Collections
Film Location
121 Activities
Vivian was fantastic!! Such a depth and breadth of knowledge both past and present of London and all its history. She knew the long history of battles, buildings and bridges. We were filled with interesting trivia the whole time were where walking around London between sites. Not a wasted moment. Vivian took us to back places where we saw what all the other tourists wanted to see, but with less crowds and closer views. She was very keen on the groups need for "comfort breaks" and the overall health and ability of the her guests. She is a professional in the truest sense. She was funny, kind and personable on top of it all. Great experience. I highly recommend!
This was our family's first time in London. Guy kept the tour interesting (we had a 12 y.o) and kept us moving. He also knew all the great spots for views and photo ops!! Both our kids loved his ruler of rulers so much they had to purchase one!!!! Highly recommend this walking tour and Guy the Guide.
Alice, our guide, was so knowledgeable and interesting. This tour was a highlight of our visit even when my husband and I have been here numerous times. There is a lot of walking but it’s worth it as the entire tour is filled with information. Definitely a tour to put on your itinerary!
We loved our walking tour of London. We hit a lot of key attractions in the city at a pace that was very comfortable for our group which ranged from 70 years olds to tweens. In particular, our tour guide, Emily, was fantastic from start to finish. She had great energy, did a terrific job of explaining the historical significance of the various sites, and was very pleasant throughout.
Be prepared to do a lot of walking, but the reward is you will see a lot of the highlights of London.It is a full day, and except for the 15 minute boat ride, it is all on foot. Richard was an excellent guide. This tour is fast paced and does not allow time for any shopping; don;t even think of picking up a magnet or whatever at Westminster Abbey, etc. While the tour does include admission to a number of sights, you are on a whirlwind tour and won't see much. If you are into photography, be prepared to run to catch up if you stop to take a picture. This tour is more quantity over quality. Would I do this tour again.....No.
I highly recommend this tour, as we truly saw so much of London with our guide, Richard, who was knowledgeable and personable. Great sense of humor. Started out at Parliament Square, where we learned about the statues and why people were being honored there. Then we went to Westminster Abbey, before the crowds arrived. Richard showed us highlights within: the ordination chair, architectural and historical features, burial crypts, history of the monarchy, famous people honored within the magnificent building. Then we walked over to the Changing of the Guard ceremony and got an absolutely perfect place to stand where we could see the whole thing, and we were not camped out there all morning! Many photo ops of the ceremony, around Buckingham Palace, royal homes and apartments from the street, and then over to the Horseguard Parade, where again we had a perfect view. Pointed out 10 Downing Street and other important buildings, Scotland Yard, Trafalgar Square, history of Lord Nelson, National Gallery. After lunch on our own, we took a boat tour on the River Thames where Richard pointed out famous landmarks, and we had a tour of the Tower Bridge and Tower Bridge Museum. Fascinating museum about Victorian technology that still was used until the 1970s, and we were able to take an elevator way up on the bridge to a walkway where glass panels allowed us to see the street and river below the bridge. Then we walked to the Tower of London, where we toured the amazing grounds with Richard, who taught us about how and why it was built, who lived, who was imprisoned, and who was executed there, and we saw collections of armor for men and horses, and weapons. The final thing we did at the Tower was view the incredible Crown Jewels. There, we read about the history of the monarchy, and saw dazzling items on display, used at various milestone events like baptisms, weddings, ordinations, and other important events. I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see as much of London as possible. There were plenty of opportunities to rest, and the pace was steady but not overwhelming, but we felt like we had a full day of sight-seeing and learning about London. Richard took great care of us, and got us right up close to many places where it would have been difficult to see things without his expertise.
The tour was very interesting. Guide was very good. A lot of walking you need stamina. Only disappointing factor was the description indicated a full tour of the tower of London my main interest. He only pointed out the different areas and left us on our own as it was the last portion of the tour. Overall would recommend.
Very good but a lot of walking.
This was a great tour. Our guide Guy was very knowledgeable and did a wonderful job. Westminster Abbey and Tower of London were certainly two of the highlights of our trip. Tower Bridge was also really interesting and we may not have gone there without this tour. I had never been to the changing of the guard as I did not want to deal with the hassle of the crowds. Guy knew just were to go to get a great view and avoid the huge crowds. We also saw the changing of the horse guards which was great for our horse crazy 11 year old. Wonderful tour and we highly recommend it.
Although an 8-hour tour seems long, this one was perfect! A great way to see top London stops in one day - very efficient, and group entry into the venues was way better than booking separately and waiting in line at each one Our guide Guy was very knowledgeable. We had a great day!
Amazing tour, our guide Alex was incredibly knowledgeable and provided facts as well walked place to place. He went above and beyond, I would recommend this to anyone and Alex to anyone as well. Great full day trip to hit all the sights.
I booked this tour so that we could see as many attractions as possible in one day. It did not disappoint! Our guide, Guy, was very knowledgeable about each site visited and made sure we didn’t miss anything that was important to us. It is a long day so dress comfortably with good walking shoes!