Things to Do in London

The Changing Of The Guards Ceremony  is iconic and seeing it up close is a once in a lifetime experience for many.

So why spoil it by having to stand for hours in the unpredictable British weather, amongst thousands of others, constantly fighting for the “best spot” only to discover  too late that your view is obstructed?

Take this FREE  (pay what you feel) walking tour with an expert guide who will take you to the “secret spots” (often hidden in plain sight) for unprecedented views of the ceremony. Much,smaller crowds, fewer or no barriers/fences or other obstructions, and an explanation of what is actually going on, so you can understand more of the traditions and pomp of the event as it unfolds in front of you.

GUARANTEED! to be within 20ft  (6 m) of the guards themselves, as they carry out this long standing tradition. Which traces its origins as far back as the late 17th century under the reign of William III, and remains little changed since.

PLUS! this tour will also take you to the CHANGING OF THE HORSEGUARDS to see the mounted regiments of The Household Cavalry carry out their daily guard change and inspection. This is the best place in London to get that iconic photo with a guard in full regalia.

PLEASE NOTE: All or part of the ceremony may be cancelled, altered or otherwise changed by Buckingham Palace at any time, often at short notice and often without explanation especially in inclement weather. I will do my utmost to give all participants the best experience possible but due to logistics of the ceremony,  the planned route may change, I will endeavour to keep the group informed of any changes if and when they occur. 


The tour will also show you other famous London attractions and monuments such as:

• Trafalgar Square
• Nelsons Column
• The National Gallery
• Admiralty Arch
• St James Palace
• Buckingham Palace 
• Clarence House
• Horseguards Parade
• The Banqueting House
• Downing Street 

And more…


✍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The walking tour with our guide Richard was G R E A T! We got to see the changing of the guard with great views! He really knew where we needed to be without a crowd in the way. We got great pictures and videos because of him! “

“Richard is such a good guide! We saw all the interesstings thinks very close! Highy recommend to do a tour with him!” - Petra - Austria

“Could not have been any more pleased with the quality of this tour. We never could have produced the same experience had we chose to do this on our own. This was stress-free, extremely informative, and super enjoyable.” - Brennan & Amy - Nashville


“best choice ever! Richard is witty, so be prepared for a fun tour! Highly recommended!”  Millie - Munich

These are just a couple of reviews from the thousands of happy visitors to London that I have had the pleasure of guiding over the past 20 years.

But don’t just take their word for it come and experience it yourselves.



📃THE BASICS📃- What you need to know! (And the boring legal bit)
📍The Tour Starts in Trafalger Sqaure (Nearest underground Charing Cross/Leicester Square) please meet at the TOP of the steps in the north east corner next to the statue of George IV on horseback. Please note that there may be several tour groups  here so make sure you find the right one.  I will be wearing a flat grey cap and carrying a black backpack

📍The tour ends at Horseguards which is around 4 minute walk back to the start point, but also a similar distance from Parliament Square for Churchill War Rooms, Westminster Abbey, “Big Ben” The London Eye, The  River Thames and Westminster Station

🧑‍🦽The route is flat on either paved roads plus a small sections on a gravel path/courtyard which may prove difficult for wheelchairs/buggy’s. The route is suitable for those with reduced mobility, however please be aware that at certain parts of the tour the group may need to move quickly to another location in order to secure a suitable vantage point for the next part of the ceremony.
A comfortable pair of shoes or trainers is sufficient,  no need for any specific footwear, although it is advised against wearing high heels.

🐕‍🦺The tour is suitable for dogs (although unadvisable due to large crowds and horses)  but they MUST be kept on a lead at all times.

🥤🥪Please note that there are very limited Toilet facilities or refreshments on this tour (there are public toilets and several cafes at the start point) You may eat and drink on the tour (please no alcohol) but please be responsible and take any rubbish with you until you can find a bin. Smoking and vaping is forbidden on this tour for the comfort of all participants.

👉Please be aware that the ceremony is on selected days only and can be cancelled, amended or rearranged at short notice for any number of reasons, particularly inclement weather conditions. I will attempt to advise any participants of any changes as soon as I am aware of them.

👉Also please note that the tour will come across wild animals particularly wild birds and waterfowl, as well as horses and other animals. I ask all visitors to exercise caution when around these animals as they can bite, all participants are responsible for their own safety at all times. This also includes crossing any roads or cycle paths.

👉Please follow any instructions given to you by myself, police officers or any other person in an authoritative position whilst on the tour.

🎒Please take basic precautions with your personal belongings. All visitors are responsible for any personal possessions. Neither the guide or Guru Walks accept any liability for loss or damage to personal possessions or any personal injury or death whist taking part on the tour.

📩 If you have any questions please feel free to contact me via the tour guru website

I look forward to welcoming you



PLEASE NOTE : If a tour is marked as unavailable it normally means that there is no guard change scheduled for that day. You can check the latest schedule here…

https://changing-guard.com/dates-buckingham-palace.html

If a tour is showing as unavailable please check the link above at alternative dates if possible. If there is a guard change scheduled but no tour available on dates that are convenient for you please check back as often there are last minute cancellations 

⌚Total tour time Approx 1 hour 40 minutes 

Welcome! My ‘London Essentials’ tour will cover the key sites within the historic royal quarter. Beginning at Wellington Arch marking the triumph of the Duke of Wellington against Napoleon, it ends at Westminster Abbey, the Royal Church of Coronation. On route, we will explore such highlights as Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace, Admiralty Arch, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, The Horse Guards Parade, Downing Street and The Houses of Parliament.
 
I combine personal experience with informed historical perspectives so I can share the distinctive character of each site with peculiar details, fun facts, and local tales. My particular focus is the incredible history of the monarchy. As we walk, I will be sure to convey its far-reaching impact on the city, both politically and architecturally. 

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

On this Rock ’n’ Roll Walking Tour of Soho, we explore the salacious, scandalous, and sensational history of an area that has always lived life louder, faster, and freer than the rest of London. Charles Dickens called Soho a place of “smoke and song", very little has changed.

From secret political meetings led by Karl Marx, to an eight-year-old Mozart astonishing London audiences, Soho has long attracted radicals, creatives, revolutionaries, and rule-breakers. It was home to Casanova, playground of princes and prostitutes, and the epicentre of a cholera outbreak that nearly brought Victorian London to its knees.

But Soho’s true legend was forged in music.

Walk the streets where The Beatles played their first and last London gigs, where Beatlemania exploded, and where the British music industry was turned upside down in the 1960s. Visit legendary venues that launched the careers of The Rolling Stones, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, and countless others who defined rock history.

We’ll explore the remnants of Soho’s infamous red-light district, once filled with strip clubs, sex cinemas, and late-night haunts where musicians, gangsters, and celebrities collided. Stroll down Carnaby Street, the epicentre of Swinging London, where fashion exploded, the miniskirt was born, and youth culture finally took control.

Along the way, you’ll hear stories of outrageous scandals, drug-fuelled nights, police raids, banned records, and performances that changed music forever. Discover how Soho transformed from a dangerous, seedy neighbourhood just a few decades ago into one of the most fashionable, creative, and culturally influential areas of the capital.

Tour highlights include:

• The London Palladium Theatre
• Trident Studios
• Carnaby Street
• Liberty London
• Golden Square
• The Bag o'Nails
• The John Snow Pub
• Soho’s old red-light district

This tour is perfect for music lovers, pop culture fans, history buffs, visitors looking for unusual things to do in London, and locals who want to experience the city’s wild side.

Book now and discover why Soho became the beating heart of rock ’n’ roll, rebellion, and nightlife in London.

Please note: Groups larger than six people and educational groups must arrange a private tour in advance.

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

Free Jack the Ripper Walking Tour of London – Whitechapel 1888

Step back in time and follow the trail of the world’s most infamous unsolved serial killer on our Free Jack the Ripper Walking Tour of London. Journey into the dark heart of Victorian London as we transport you to the Autumn of Terror, 1888, when the streets of Whitechapel were gripped by fear.

Over the course of just three months, under the cover of darkness, Jack the Ripper brutally murdered five women and then disappeared without a trace. His identity was never discovered, leaving behind one of the greatest true crime mysteries in history.

On this expert-led Jack the Ripper tour, we uncover what really happened. You’ll explore the real crime scenes, examine the most compelling suspects and theories, and hear chilling details of the murders — while also learning the often-overlooked, tragic life stories of the women involved, placing the crimes within the harsh social realities of Victorian East London.

Discover how these events changed London forever, shaping everything from policing and journalism to popular culture. From modern-day Jack the Ripper tours and barber shops to films, books, and conspiracy theories, we explore the lasting legacy of Jack the Ripper more than a century later.

Historic Locations Visited

Along the way, you’ll visit many of the most notorious and atmospheric locations connected to the case, including:

Whitechapel

Mitre Square

Frying Pan Alley

Spitalfields Market

The Ten Bells Pub

Christ Church Spitalfields 
St Botolph's Without Aldgate (So-called Prostitute Church)

Tour Details

Duration: Approximately 2 hours

Finish: Spitalfields Market, close to Liverpool Street Station

Price: Free (tips welcome)

Whether you’re a true crime enthusiast, history lover, or visiting London for the first time, this Jack the Ripper walking tour is one of the most unforgettable things to do in London at night.

Places are limited — book your spot now and experience London’s darkest story where it really happened.

Please note: Groups of more than 6 people and educational or school groups must contact us in advance to arrange a private Jack the Ripper tour, as they are unable to join the public tour.

Street art is often described as the most important artistic movement of the 21st century, but its roots stretch back much further than spray cans and brick walls. On this Free Street Art Walking Tour of Shoreditch, we explore how modern urban art grew from centuries of protest, creativity, and working-class expression, and why East London has become synonymous with it.

Yes, you can visit the National Gallery or Tate Modern to see masterpieces behind glass, but on this tour you’ll experience art where it truly lives: on the streets, in alleyways, on shutters and walls, constantly changing, reacting to politics, culture, and the city itself. No two tours are ever the same.

Starting outside Shoreditch High Street Station on Braithwaite Street, we dive into the history of Shoreditch, Brick Lane, and Spitalfields. These areas were shaped by waves of immigration, industry, poverty, rebellion, and reinvention. From French Huguenots and Jewish communities to Bangladeshi migration, the neighbourhood has long been a place of outsiders, creativity, and resistance.

Street art here is not just decorative, it is political, provocative, and deeply connected to class struggle, identity, and gentrification. As we walk, you’ll learn how Shoreditch transformed from one of the poorest districts in London, once the killing ground of Jack the Ripper, into one of the city’s most fashionable and desirable neighbourhoods.

Along the way, you’ll see an incredible range of styles including stencils, murals, paste-ups, stickers, sculptures, and large-scale spray art, with works by some of the world’s most famous and influential street artists, including:

• Banksy
• Shepard Fairey
• Roa
• Mr Cenz
• Fanakapan
• Otto Schade
• Dreph
• Zabo
• Dale Grimshaw
• Stik

We also explore key historic locations such as Brick Lane, Spitalfields Market, and the Old Truman Brewery, while discussing the Battle of Cable Street, anti-fascist resistance, and the ongoing impact of gentrification on local communities.

This 2-hour free street art tour finishes near the Old Truman Brewery, right in the heart of Shoreditch’s creative district. Perfect for art lovers, photographers, culture seekers, London locals, and first-time visitors looking for an authentic, alternative side of the city.

Book now to experience Shoreditch’s street art, history, and culture before it changes again.

Please note: Groups larger than six people and educational groups must arrange a private tour in advance.