Things to Do in London
• Enjoy citywide views from a climate-controlled glass pod featuring LED lighting and a rotation system that ensures a smooth ride in any weather.
• From Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament, this ride delivers all the postcard-worthy London views you could ask for—no zoom lens required.
• Take your visit up a notch and pick from a range of upgrades in the next step, like fast-track entry, curated beverages, and more.
Old Money, New Money, Dirty Money in Mayfair & St James Tour: London's Super Wealthy (Not Suitable for Children)
Welcome! I’m Justin. This one of the newest of the 5 tours I lead in London, which together have gathered over 3,300 reviews averaging 5 stars (the highest on GuruWalk).
The Mayfair & St James district of London boasts the highest concentration of billionaires in Europe. Some got their money honestly, some not!
Traditionally, this part of London was home to royals and aristocrats along with the nouveau riche of Empire (the sugar-and-slave plantation owners of the West Indies and senior East India Company employees, rich from looting India and China).
Today, the old British elites are being sidelined by a tsunami of new money arriving from all over the world as London becomes the second-home capital of the world's mega wealthy.
While Britain has lost an empire, it has instead found a new role as butler and fixer to anyone who will pay. In the process, dictators, tyrants, oligarchs, plutocrats and kleptocrats have been welcomed with open arms into the UK's capital city.
But some friendly advice! If you just want to just take pretty pictures to put on social media and have no interest in history (and don't really like walking much), I am the wrong tour guide for you! My tours attract people who like ideas, history and books. If that is not what interests you, book another tour 🙂
You do get a chance to take some great photos, but also I hope you get to "think" a little about what this area of London represents as well!
Also, this walking tour is not suitable for children unless they are older teens interested in history, politics, economics or international affairs.
Still reading? OK, this is the tour's heart.
I'll navigate you through the natural habitat of many of the richest people on the planet, centring on St James's and Mayfair.
You will get to see the traditional "old money" haunts, but I'll also point out the $200 million homes and $30k-a-month apartment complexes and private members clubs beloved by the "new money" (often dirty money). And you'll see the places this new global mega elite go to shop, eat and play.
You'll also learn how the web of hedge funds, private equity companies and family offices based in this area put both clean and dirty money to work around the world: tax free of course!
Highlights of the tour include:
- Saville Row: Famed for its tailors, who make high-end suits for the world's wealthy.
- St James Street: Street hosting old money, new money and dirty money clubs along with a Russian oligarch's trophy building frozen by the UK government after Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
- Burlington Arcade: Central London's longest and most beautiful shopping arcade dating back to 1819.
- Pall Mall: The heart of London's "old money" club land, where royalty, aristocrats, politicians and civil servants mix.
- St James Square: One of the capital's most exclusive squares. Home to the East India Club, the private members only London Library and famous think tank Chatham House.
- St James Palace: The oldest royal palace in London: the venue where the King greets new ambassadors when they arrive in London.
- Marlborough House: Commonwealth Headquarters. HQ of ex and current British colonies club, the latter group of which have turned themselves into the world's largest dirty money laundering network.
- Berry Brothers: London's most exclusive and oldest wine merchant, which also hosts a hidden alley and pocket square.
- Piccadilly Arcade: A beautiful arcade of shops fronted by fashion icon Beau Brummell.
The tour will end a short walk from Piccadilly Circus underground stations. Note I do have a card reader so can take tips by credit or debit card.
• Behold the world-famous collection of Crown Jewels, a display of 23,578 exquisite gemstones still used in royal ceremonies today that are guarded round-the-clock.
• Venture into the White Tower, the oldest part of the fortress, built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and see its displays of arms and armour.
• Stand on Tower Green, where the tragic fates of royal figures like Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey unfolded, as you listen to stories of executions and betrayals.
• Enhance your visit: dive deep with an AI-powered audioguide (English only, iPhone required), join an expert-led English tour, enjoy a meet-and-greet with Beefeaters, or add a Thames River cruise.
City of London Tour: From Sugar and Slaves to Tea and Opium.
Welcome, I'm Justin. But some friendly advice! If you just want to take pretty pictures to put on social media (and don't really like walking much), I am the wrong tour guide for you! My tours attract people who love ideas, history and books. If that is not what interests you, book another tour 🙂
I have 5 walking tours on GuruWalk: 1) The City), 2) Soho, 3) Covent Garden, 4) the South Bank, and 5) Mayfair & St James, which together have over 3,300 reviews averaging 5 stars (the highest on GuruWalk in London).
City of London is my flagship tour.
This tour takes you through the "City of London", which is not the same thing as London!
The "City", as it's known to locals, is many things. Nowadays, we know the "City" as the central business district, with its many iconic skyscrapers, towering over ancient churches (providing the chance to take some stunning photos). It's also, however, the "old town", built within the footprint of the Roman city of Londinium.
The "City" also has its own police force, ancient laws and unique government and once financed the largest Empire the world has ever seen, spanning a quarter of the globe.
From being a European backwater in the 1500s, London became the largest city in the world in the 1800s, the centre of immense power and wealth.
I'll tell the story of London's rise by walking with you along the English capital's oldest streets, many of which date back 2000 years.
The triumph of London is also often a tale of "dirty money", from the Bishop of Winchester's brothels; sugar and the slave trade; and the East India Company's rape of a subcontinent and hooking of China on opium. Come with me to learn all about London's secrets
Highlights of the tour include:
- The Monument: Centre of the Great Fire of London.
- The Gilt of Cain: The City of London's first open recognition of the contribution of slavery to their wealth.
- The Modern City: the Gherkin, Cheese Grater, Scalpel and Walkie Talkie. Where the City stands in the world today.
- The Golden Triangle:The tiny alleys that housed the coffee shops of the 17th & 18th centuries frequented by stock market speculators and fraudsters but which also gave birth to modern capitalism.
- The Bank of England and the Royal Exchange: Financiers of sugar and the slave trade.
- Leadenhall Market: Stunning Victorian marketplace used as a set in a Harry Potter movie.
The tour will end a short walk from the Monument Tube Station where the tour started. I do have a card reader so can can take credit/debit cards for tips.
• With departures every 15 minutes, operating throughout the day, plan your travel flexibly and easily, even if your flight gets delayed.
• Take advantage of free WiFi, handy USB plug-ins, and room for bulky luggage and even bikes, so you can ride comfortably while staying connected.
• Enjoy flexibility with round-trip tickets valid for an entire month from your chosen date, giving you ample time to complete your trip at your own pace.
• Add an optional London City audio guide upgrade to explore top attractions with insightful commentary at your own pace.
This is a tour about the mysteries and secrets of the British Museum.
We will travel to Egypt, Mesopotamia, the ancient Greek world, pre-Columbian Mexico, Easter Island, and other places on planet Earth.
In the fifteen months I have been working at the museum, I have gradually learned about the numerous mysteries and secrets that many of the thousands of objects in the museum hold.
In many cases, they are not what they seem to be and offer us a fascinating insight into ancient civilizations, which have left us an extraordinary legacy that we are often unaware of.
It will be a two-hour tour, and I hope you find it enjoyable, occasionally fun, and always interesting.
Thank you and see you soon,
Miguel
Discovering Notting Hill: A Walk Through London’s Most Iconic Neighbourhoods.
Come along on a fun and intimate walking tour through one of London’s most colourful and storied neighbourhoods—Notting Hill. With smaller group sizes, this is no cookie-cutter sightseeing experience. Small numbers mean more time for questions, spontaneous detours, and the freedom to explore at a relaxed pace. It also allows us to duck into charming local shops, meet market traders, take photos and discover corners that bigger groups simply can’t reach.
I’ve been exploring Notting Hill since the early 1990s. This neighbourhood has a magnetic mix of energy, diversity, and charm. From iconic movie locations to tucked-away mews and listed Victorian villas, every street has a story—and I’d love to share some of my favourites with you.
We’ll weave in and out of Portobello Road Market, soaking up its colourful atmosphere, Georgian architecture, and the vibrant rhythm of everyday life. You'll hear about Notting Hill’s fascinating history, its famously desirable homes, and the changes that continue to shape its identity today.
Along the route we will see the prep school of a future King, uncover a former racecourse and check out London's oldest independent cinema.
Film fans, take note: we’ll visit five real-life locations from the 1999 film Notting Hill. Cameras are very welcome throughout—there’ll be plenty of opportunities to capture the beauty (and quirky bits) along the way. I know all the best locations and I'm always on hand to help with photos.
Portobello Market is open every day, but Fridays and Saturdays are when it really comes alive, with everything from antiques & vintage fashion to street food and fresh produce. Prefer a calmer stroll? A Sunday to Thursday visit offers a more laid-back vibe with fewer crowds—perfect if you want space to wander.
Whether you join in the morning or afternoon, this tour is a chance to see Notting Hill as locals know and love it. Afterward, you’ll be perfectly placed to shop, grab a bite, sip a coffee, or dive into a pub—whatever suits your mood.
Spots are limited and fill up quickly, so grab yours now and get ready to discover Notting Hill in a way that’s personal, memorable, and full of surprises.
• Get up close with 150+ lifelike wax figures, including Harry Styles and other A-list stars, and marvel at the precision of their craftsmanship.
• Step into immersive sets, from the Marvel Universe 4D movie experience to selfie moments with the Royal Family on the palace balcony.
• Travel through London’s past on the nostalgic Spirit of London ride and test your bravery in the chilling Chamber of Horrors.
• Upgrade your ticket with fast-track entry or add the Champagne Bar Experience with a complimentary drink for a wholesome experience.
Would you like to see the city with a native English-speaking tour guide who has had the honor of being a full-time tour guide in multiple European cities since 2014? Then read on. 👇
Through years of experience, I have learned that these tours are most enjoyable for you if I hone it down to just the most exciting stops and the most interesting stories.
Alfred Hitchcock once said "the length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder," and I think that applies doubly so to a tour. You're on holiday, I appreciate that. You want to see the main sites, take the best photos, maybe laugh a little, and then head off on to the next adventure.
With that in mind, I keep the tour to an entertaining one hour and fifty minutes. During that time we will see the main sites, allowing you to take photos of:
- Buckingham Palace
- Houses of Parliament
- "Big Ben"
- Westminster Abbey
- Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column
- Horse Guards Parade
- Wellington Arch
- St Martin's In The Field
- National Gallery
- Apsley House
- RAF Bomber Command Memorial
- The Commonwealth Gates
- St James' Palace
- The Mall and Pall Mall
- Crimean War/Nightingale Memorial
- Waterloo Place
- 10 Downing Street
- Churchill War Rooms
- On Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday the 11am tour will see and hear the army band march by us for the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Unless it is cancelled due to rain.
More important than the sites themselves are the stories. Little insightful or interesting anecdotes; what the little horse steps are at Waterloo Place, why Constitution Hill is called that when we don't... um.. have one, tales from the Battle of Britain, the Gunpowder Plot, what the Queen did when she woke up to find a drunken man had climbed the walls of Buckingham Palace and broken into her bedroom at 7am, etc, etc.
Having done these tours for the better part of a decade, I can usually field any history question you may have about the nation or the city, and can also offer suggestions of the best places in the city for gin, pretentious coffee (my vice), or the most memorable dining experiences with something unique to them.
I hope to see you soon,
Theo
This is not a typical tour. It’s an accessible, narrative‑driven walk for curious travellers who enjoy history, symbolism and big questions about what money and power really mean today.
Walk through the heart of London’s financial district and discover how money and power shaped the City from ancient empires to today’s global markets. On this tour we follow backstreets, temples and churches to uncover how war, technology, sovereignty, ambition, and belief systems all influenced the evolution of money.
We’ll visit the remains of a Roman temple linked to older Babylonian ideas about trade, law and sacred authority, then connect these to the rise of the City of London, the Bank of England, insurance markets and modern finance. Along the way, you’ll see familiar landmarks with new eyes and hear the stories behind coins, credit and capitalism.
We uncover how London’s financial district, this one‑square‑mile City rose to dominate global finance and conclude with current affairs to see why Bitcoin is seen as one of the most important discoveries of the modern world.About contributions
About contributions
This is a free‑booking, tip‑based tour. You are welcome to tip at the end according to your budget and the value you feel you received. I also pay a booking fee for each guest, so your contribution directly helps keep this experience running.
You may also like other walks with Dragon Lore Tours:
https://www.guruwalk.com/gurus/cf5ly4ndp2fc2htn2p0u
• Get pre-booked entry to a climate-controlled capsule for a 30-minute rotation on the London Eye, offering 360-degree views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.
• Enjoy a one-way Thames River cruise with live or recorded commentary, allowing flexible boarding from Westminster, Tower, or London Eye piers for city sightseeing.
• Visit both icons on the same day or split your visits across different dates to suit your itinerary; both sites are located just a 2-minute walk apart at the London Eye Pier.
• On the next page, upgrade to the London Eye fast-track option at checkout to bypass standard boarding lines, saving approximately 30–60 minutes during peak hours.
Hello and welcome to London. I'm excited to invite you to join me for the chance to experience the great monuments of the city of Westminster. With 500 five stars reviews you can see I love helping visitors enjoy their holidays. We'll experience sites including Buckingham palace, St. James palace, the horse guard's parade, Whitehall and the houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey with a few cheeky stories thrown in. I have lived in London for twenty years and led my tours for six of those. I've worked in many of the buildings we'll see along the way and gathered lots of stories and tales from the history of the city. We'll encounter the past glories and highlights of the area, including part of the Changing of the Guard ceremony if you join me for my morning tour on Monday, Wednesday or Friday where we'll witness the guards march past on parade in their fabulous Bear skin caps. Or experience the Captain's inspection of the Palace troops, with marching and music at 3 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays during my 2pm tour .
We'll meet at the Ferdinand Foch horse statue opposite the Shakespeare pub at Victoria Station.
During the tour, we'll pass the Royal Mews and Buckingham Palace, make our way down the Mall encountering other lovely habitats and hidey holes of the Royal Family and their ancestors.
Passing St. James Park down the Mall, we'll then make our way down historic Whitehall experiencing all things parliamentary, police-like, and political party-ish.
We'll finally arrive at the Houses of Parliament to say hello to Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. I love to make sure my walkers get the most out of their visit so please come with lots of questions so we can make your tour your own.
