London, the United Kingdom's capital and largest city, is an endlessly fascinating place. With beautiful buildings that tell stories of the city’s rich history, iconic landmarks, world renowned museums, galleries and plenty of Harry Potter magic, the city has something for everyone
While you will never run out of things to do, it is easy to feel overwhelmed in this diverse and eclectic city. To help you get started, we have rounded up a list of the best London tours and experiences that the city has to offer.
Tower Of London Tours
One of the most famous buildings in britain's history, the Tower of London is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in 1066 by William the Conqueror, the tower sits on the bank of the River Thames and is now one of the longest surviving examples of Norman architecture.
With a rich, fascinating and dark history, the Tower evolved from being a palace of royal residence to place of imprisonment involving torture and execution. It is long said to be haunted by the spirits of those executed here; including former queen Anne Boleyn who is said to walk around the White Tower with her head tucked under her arm.
Home to the famous Crown Jewels, the Tower also houses other treasures like the largest colourless cut diamond in the world.
1. Tower of London Tickets with Crown Jewels & Beefeater Tour
Tour Duration: Flexible
Immerse yourself in the centre of British Monarchy as you explore this 900-year old castle and discover the tower’s history as a royal residence, a prison, and an armoury. From the White Tower to the Crown Jewels, there is much to explore in this iconic English landmark.
Why you should take this tour?
- Marvel at the seat of British power by visiting the historic Tower of London, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Admire the glorious Crown Jewels
- Discover the Royal Armouries collection housed in the White Tower, built by William the Conqueror
- Get a guided tour of the Tower of London by the Beefeaters, the ceremonial Tower Guards who have stood witness to the towers incredible history
2. Tower of London VIP Early Access & Best of Royal London Tour
Tour Duration: 4 Hours
Skip past the long queues with VIP early access to explore the Tower of London, the many treasures it holds and witness the traditional opening ceremony carried out by the Beefeaters. Next, take a scenic river shuttle up the thames to the St James Palace and conclude your tour at the Buckingham palace.
Why you should take this tour?
- Beat the crowds with an early morning start and VIP access to the Tower of London
- Enjoy a scenic view from the river shuttle up the Thames river. Explore St. James Palace and take a unique walking tour through the Horse Guards. Witness the traditional Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Buckingham Palace
- With a small tour group of 25 people or less, this tour is perfect for those who want to enjoy an intimate tour experience
3. Tower of London & St Paul's Cathedral Guided Tour with Thames Cruise
Tour Duration: 4 Hours 30 Minutes
Visit the tower of London and learn about its rich history and bloody tales. Explore the magnificent St. Paul’s Cathedral which has been standing tall for more than 300 years and enjoy a scenic cruise on the River Thames as you pass through the picturesque villages and market towns that make up London.
Why you should take this tour?
- Go on a guided tour of the Tower of london, a celebrated world heritage site
- Listen to tales of blood and dispute from the Beefeaters who are ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London. Discover the priceless Crown Jewels housed in the Tower.
- This combo deal also gives you the opportunity to discover the iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral, a religious centre and architectural gem.
- Float down England’s longest river, Thames and set sail on a journey through centuries of liquid history
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tours
No other building in the history of theater is quite as significant as the famous Globe Theater in London, England.
Opened in 1599 with a production of As You Like It, the first Globe’s run was short-lived. In 1613, during a performance of Henry VIII, a theatrical canon set the globe’s thatched roof ablaze and the theatre burned to the ground. With an unusual history of eviction, a fire, and a pulling down of the theatre by puritans, Shakespere’s Globe theatre that we know today is the 4th of its kind.
Delve into the life of the The Bard of Avon as you explore the theatre that staged some of Shakespeare's most famous and celebrated plays.
1. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Guided tour
Tour Duration: FlexibleGo on a journey through time as you visit one of the most famous theatres in all of the United Kingdom. Take a guided tour into a Shakespearean wonderland as you learn about the Globe Theatre’s unique history, Shakespeare’s life in London and his great literary works. Watch interactive displays, live demonstrations and learn about the costumes, props and musical instruments that were used.
Why you should take this tour?
- Experience Elizabethan London as an expert guide takes you through the Globe Theater, built by Shakespeare’s own playing company
- Gain access to an extensive exhibition dedicated to the life and work of of the renowned playwright
- Multilingual audio guides to ensure you don't miss any of the Globe’s fascinating stories
Harry Potter Tours
Harry Potter fans, this one's for you. From watching the films on the big screen to stepping into the costumes, sets and film locations yourself, the city of London provides ample opportunity for you to realise all your Harry Potter fantasies.
Witness the Wizarding World come to life as you make your way through London, try some butterbeer, discover iconic filming locations in the city like the real Diagon Alley and get an enchanting behind the scenes glimpse into the sets and studio that produced the widely known and loved film franchise. Here are some of our top Harry Potter tour picks
1. Unique Fully Guided Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter
Tour Duration: 5 hours
Escape the muggles and go on a magical journey on this guided tour of Warner Bros, Studio. Explore the many iconic movie sets including the Great Hall, Platform 9 ¾, Hagrid’s Hut and learn about the making of this beloved film franchise.
Why you should take this tour?
- A dedicated studio guide to take you through the original sets, props, and costumes from all eight of the films, including the Great Hall, Platform 9 ¾™, Hagrid’s Hut, and many more!
- Audio headsets to ensure you don't miss any of the exclusive secrets and behind the scene facts
- Spend as much time exploring as you’d like, with priority re-entry into the studio once the guided tour ends
2. Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Premium Coach Transfers
Tour Duration: 6 hours
Immerse yourself into the Harry Potter universe on this exciting tour of the Warner Bros. Studio in London. Step into iconic sets from the films like the Great Hall, the Forbidden Forest, Platform 9 and ¾ and let all your fan dreams come true.
Why you should take this tour?
- Discover the magic of filmmaking on this highly rated and incredibly sought after tour of the Warner Bros. Studios in London
- Get comfortable and easy return transfers to the studio and back on a Wifi enabled luxury coach
- Get to fly a broomstick in front of a green screen as you learn about the different technologies that brought the books to life
- See the actual props, costumes and explore the iconic sets from all eight films
3. Harry Potter Film Locations Guided Tour
Tour Duration: 2 hours 30 Minutes
Take an enchanting guided walk through London with an expert Potterhead as you make your way through the real Diagon Alley to standing on the bridge destroyed by the Death Eaters and the many other filming locations for the Harry Potter movies.
Why you should take this tour?
- Explore the iconic filming spots within London of the beloved Harry Potter franchise
- Enjoy the services of a professional guide, as you make your way through the filming locations with interesting facts and trivia from the movies
- Get your picture taken with the disappearing trolley at Platform 9¾!
- This tour is available in several languages, i.e. English, French, German, Italian and Spanish
London Stadium Tours
Home to some of the most successful English football teams, London is steeped in sporting history.
Catch a football match, cheer for your favorite teams, and go behind the scenes with a look into press rooms, dressing rooms, player tunnels and more. For football fans, a visit to London’s iconic stadiums is a must-do and unforgettable experience. Read on for our top tour picks.
1. Wembley Stadium Guided Tour
Tour Duration: 1 Hour 15 Minutes
Go behind the scenes of one of the greatest stadiums in the world. With an expert guide, enjoy the spectacular panoramic views of the entire stadium, learn about the stadium’s history, tour the royal box, see the actual FA cup, press rooms, players tunnel and more.
2. Arsenal FC Emirates Stadium Tour
Tour Duration: Flexible
Visit the home ground of one of the most successful English football clubs in history and experience the stadium like the players do. Explore iconic spots like the press room, dressing rooms, players tunnel and end your tour with a visit to the famed Arsenal Museum.
Why you should take this tour?
- Walk through the stadium at your own pace on this audio-guided tour
- Put yourselves in the shoes of the players with a first-hand feel of what it's like to play football there
- Relive the celebrated moments in Arsenal’s history on your museum visit
- With an audio-guide available in 9 languages, get a fascinating insight into the rich history of Arsenal football club
3. Chelsea FC Stadium Tour and Museum Entrance Tickets
Tour Duration: 1 Hour
Specially put together for chelsea fans, this tour takes you behind the scenes of Stamford bridge. With access to the players rooms, dressing rooms and more, this multimedia-audio guided tour is sure to be a dream come true for chelsea fans.
Why you should take this tour?
- Gain access to areas at Stamford Bridge that are usually reserved only for officials and players
- Experience the field like a team member as you explore the stadium, the press room, player dressing rooms and walk through the main tunnel area.
- Visit the Chelsea museum to learn about the clubs history and their many triumphs through the ages
- With multimedia guides available in 12 languages, enjoy a series of enjoyable videos, historical footage and quiz content
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours in London
Think London, and one of the first images to be conjured up in people’s minds are the iconic red open-top busses. In a city with so much to offer, a Hop-on Hop-off bus tour is the easiest and most inexpensive way to ensure you see all of the main attractions.
1. The Original London: 24/48 Hr Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus + Cruise & Walking Tour
Tour Duration: Flexible
Explore London with these Hop-On Hop-Off tickets that take you through 80 popular stops across 6 distinct routes.
Why you should take this tour?
- Explore the city at your own pace with a choice between a 24 or 48 hour pass
- Get the benefit of a free River Thames cruise pass for an alternate perspective of the city’s top attractions
- Explore the city’s rich history with the additional choice of three major walking tours
2. Golden Tours: London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour + Free Extra 24Hrs
Tour Duration: Flexible
Discover london’s main attractions on a Hop-On Hop-Off tour that takes you through over 40 stops with 4 distinct routes.
Why you should take this tour?
- Ensure you don't miss any of the city’s key attractions with the choice between a 24/48 or 72 hour pass
- Amazing photo opportunities from the tour bus deck that can’t be captured from the city streets
- Wifi enabled tour bus with the added on-board entertainment of a 3D treasure hunt game
- An English speaking guide on board the bus, as well as a multilingual audio guide available in 11 languages
- Get a complimentary walking tour and boat ride on the River Thames, as well as a 24 hour bonus, ensuring you have ample time to explore
3. BigBus London: 1/2/3 Day Hop-On-Hop-Off + Cruise & Walking Tour
Tour Duration: Flexible
Discover london’s main attractions on a Hop-On Hop-Off tour that takes you through over 40 stops with 4 distinct routes.
Why you should take this tour?
- Choose between a 1-Day, 2-Day and 3-Day bus pass, available in Classic, Premium and Deluxe packages
- Live commentary from a tour guide on the red route
- Complimentary earphones and audio commentary available in 12 different languages
- Complimentary guided walking tour and a relaxing River Thames cruise
Guided day tours from london
For a change of pace, look outside of London’s limits.From the Neolithic era Stonehenge that has stood the test of time, the historical city of Bath that houses the famed Roman Baths, the charming university town of Oxford,to the Queen’s favorite Windsor Castle, there is much to explore. Check out our top combo picks for the best guided day trips from London!
1. Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath Tour with Access to Roman Bath From London
Tour Duration: 11 Hours
Take a scenic day tour from London to the three most popular out of town attractions- Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and the Roman Baths.
Why you should take this tour?
- Return transfers in a comfortable luxury A/C vehicle
- Witness the magnificent standing rocks at Stonehenge and explore St. George's Chapel;the venue for several royal ceremonies
- Explore Windsor Castle, the 900-year-old home of the British monarchy and the famous works of art it houses. Get the chance to explore the Roman baths, built around hot springs that have been flowing for over 2,000 years
- Multilingual audio guides in English, Spanish and French
2. Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Oxford Guided Tour From London
Tour Duration: 11 Hours
Visit Oxford, one of the most famous university cities in the world.Take in the beauty of the Windsor Castle and marvel at the ring of standing stones at Stonehenge.
Why you should take this tour?
- Return transfers in a comfortable air-conditioned, wifi enabled coach
- Enjoy a walking tour of Oxford, one of the most famous university cities in the world
- Step into neolithic houses and marvel at the UNESCO World Heritage Site; Stonehenge
- Enjoy an immersive guided tour of the Windsor Castle grounds
- VOX Personal Audio Headset in English and Spanish
3. Stonehenge and Bath Guided Day Trip From London with Free Lunch Pack
Tour Duration: 11 Hours
Journey into the UK’s past on this guided tour of Stonehenge, the magnificent remnants from the neolithic age and historical city of Bath.
Why you should take this tour?
- Journey through time and bask in the splendor of two of England’s historical sites, Stonehenge and the Roman Baths
- An expert guide and VOX audio headsets to ensure you don't miss a word of the live commentary
- Experience the local culture on a walking tour and enjoy a complimentary lunch pack
