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.
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 like ideas, history and books. If that is not what interests you, book another tour 🙂
I have 6 walking tours on GuruWalk: 1) The City), 2) Soho, 3) Covent Garden, 4) the South Bank, 5) Mayfair & St James & 6) ArtLand, which together have over 2,800 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.
• 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
• 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, join an expert-led English tour, enjoy a meet-and-greet with Beefeaters, or add a Thames River cruise.
Retrace the steps of the world's most infamous, unidentified serial killer, as we take you back to the Autumn of Terror 1888.
In just 3 months, under the cover of darkness, Jack the Ripper brutally murdered 5 innocent Women on the streets of Whitechapel and then vanished, never to appear again.
Come with us as we ponder some of the most compelling theories as to his identity and motives, hear about the vicious murders he committed and learn the tragic life stories of the poor women he preyed upon.
Along the way, we will visit, the Prostitute's Church, Mitre Square, Frying Pan Alley, Spitalfield's Market & The 10 Bells Pub.
The tour finishes at Spitalfields Market, not far from Liverpool Street Station.
Please note, groups larger than 6 and any educational groups will need to get in touch to arrange a private tour, as they will not be able to join the public tour
Turn back the clock 2000 years and join us as we trace the journey of the City of London, from the arrival of Julius Caesar and its roots as a square mile trading village along the River Thames, all the way to becoming the financial capital of Europe, home to dozens of the quirkiest glass skyscrapers on Earth.
Along the way, you will hear stories of the Viking occupation, William the Conqueror's Norman Conquest, the construction of London's medieval fortress, the devastation of Great Fire, the destruction of the Blitz, captured perfectly by a bombed out church, and the resilience and bravery of the people who lived through it and so much more!
Nowhere else in London is the clash of ancient crumbling icons and trailblazing modern architecture so obvious, with huge skyscrapers and historic 12th century churches standing proudly, shoulder to shoulder.
How can one self-governing little square mile, with ancient laws created by its council and imposed by its police force, stand so separately from everything around it?
Tour Highlights include:
- The Tower of London
- Monument
- London's Roman Wall
- The Blitz
- St Paul's Cathedral
- Tower Bridge
- Mansion House
- The Bank of England
- The Royal Exchange
- A walk along the River Thames
The tour finishes at St Paul's Cathedral.
Please note, groups larger than 6 and any educational groups will need to get in touch to arrange a private tour, as they will not be able to join the public tour
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 6 tours I lead in London, which together have gathered over 2,800 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.
• Get up close with the UK's largest living coral reef at the vibrant Coral Kingdom and catch sight of the colorful clownfish and the royal Blue Tang.
• Meet the fascinating inhabitants of the glacial regions, including Gentoo penguins and polar bears, at the unique Polar Adventure.
• Enjoy a premium experience by upgrading for a VR experience, any time entry tickets, or go all out with a Deluxe Package.
Street Art has been described as the most important artistic movement of the 21st Century, but it actually dates back to thousands of years ago. If you're a lover of art and culture then, yes, go to the National Gallery, go to the Tate Modern, and see the masterpieces created by the most famous artists over the last 400 years, but then join us on a Street Art tour and see what is happening at the grassroots level today. The work is beautiful, ever-changing and thought provoking.
But Street Art is not just pretty pictures, it is challenging and political and tells the story of the struggles of the working classes in Britain over the last hundred years.
You'll step back in time, and see how immigration into Brick Lane and the surrounding area has transformed Shoreditch from the poorest part of London, home to Jack the Ripper’s victims, to becoming one of the must see boroughs of the capital, home to pop up bars and shops, and more vintage clothes stores than you’ll believe.
Tour Highlights include:
- Street Art (Obviously!)
- A mix of spray paint, sculptures, stickers and stencils
- Banksy
- Mr Cenz
- Zabo
- Dreph
- Fanakapan
- Otto Schade
- Roa
- Shepherd Fairey
- Dale Grimshaw
- History of Brick Lane
- Spitalfields Market
- Old Truman Brewery
- Battle of Cable Street
- Gentrification of Shoreditch
The tour finishes at Truman Brewery, not far from Shoreditch High Street Station.
Please note, groups larger than 6 and any educational groups will need to get in touch to arrange a private tour, as they will not be able to join the public tour
Discover London's Tower Bridge with our unbeatable-priced ticket. Experience the thrill of exploring its rich history and crossing its mesmerizing glass floor.
When you are tired of London, you are tired of life’ the old saying goes. From the home of the British Royal Family to the packed pubs; from the heart of British politics, to the theatrical West End; from invading Romans to conquering Kings, London has it all.
On the Welcome to London tour, join us to see the city as it’s meant to be seen. Starting by the ‘mother of all Parliaments’ in Westminster, we’ll take you to the most iconic and beautiful sites you need to visit in London. We might even end near a pub, in true London fashion.
We’ll talk about why Big Ben isn’t called Big Ben, see the Abbey that has witnessed over a 1,000 years of royal coronations, walk through the royal parks of Buckingham Palace, discuss great military battles both old and new, and get under the skin of modern London at Covent Garden.
The Welcome to London tour is the perfect introduction to one of the greatest cities in the world. We’ll fuse history with tips and recommendations, and set you up for your London experience. From Winston Churchill to the Suffragettes to Queen Elizabeth II to James Bond, London has a fantastic story to tell.
Some of the sites we will see on the tour include:
- Big Ben and Westminster Abbey
- Buckingham Palace and St. James’ Park
- Trafalgar Square
- Pubs and Theatreland
- Covent Garden
