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.
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
Want a London tour that's actually fun?
This isn't your typical dry history walk. It's a lively two-hour journey through Westminster, packed with jaw-dropping stories, sharp wit and a touch of sleight of hand.
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⭐️”Literally leaves you astounded with magic and delight. The best thing you can do when you have a morning in London! Highly HIGHLY recommended!” - 5 Stars
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You'll explore London's most iconic landmarks, hear wild tales about kings, queens and curious characters, and see a few impossible things along the way.
This is a fast-paced, family-friendly experience that blends the best of live street performance with true London storytelling.
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Changing of the Guard
On select days (Mon, Wed, Fri), we time the tour to catch both the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Horse Guard. Watch the marching soldiers, hear the music, and witness one of London's most iconic ceremonies, right in the middle of our tour.
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Highlights and Stops
• Buckingham Palace
• Houses of Parliament
• Big Ben
• Westminster Abbey
• Trafalgar Square
• Horse Guards Parade
• St James's Palace
• Clarence House
• The Mall
• Hidden corners and surprising stories most tourists never hear
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What You'll Get
✅ A unique mix of comedy, history and live magic
✅ Entertaining stories about royalty, rebellion and ridiculous moments in London's past
✅ A family-friendly experience that keeps everyone laughing and learning
✅ Local insight from a Covent Garden performer who knows how to work a crowd
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⭐️ “The best 2 hours of walking and discovering facts even I didn't know as a Londoner. Such an informative, funny and entertaining way to discover the peoples' history of London.” – 5 Stars
⭐️ “A fantastic tour. Lots of information and interesting FUN facts. We enjoyed finding out new facts about the places we thought we knew well. And then the MAGIC tricks made a 5 star rating even better. ” – 5 Stars
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Tour Details
• Duration: 2 hours
• Distance: approx. 3 miles (5 km)
• Who it's for: All ages, families, couples, groups and solo travellers
• Check availability when booking
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👉 Don't just see London, experience it. Discover a city of laughter, magic and unforgettable stories.
Book now and let's make history fun again.
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
This one and a half hour tour will begin with a brief history of the area, from the time when highwaymen would stalk the Hampstead Road and move on to discuss how Camden became a boom town in the railway era. We will then talk about some famous faces who have called Camden home, including the likes of Charles Dickens and of course, Amy Winehouse. Camden has however also been witness to some rather turbulent times, such as in the 1920s when the Camden Town Gang fought rival gangs in the Camden pubs and Camden's very existence threatened by a planned road through its very heart. Camden nowadays is famous for its market, or rather markets which sell almost everything one could imagine, including excellent food from every corner of the globe. It is of course impossible to do a tour in Camden without talking about Camden's role in the music scene, from Rock and Roll to Britpop, Camden has it all. So come here with an open mind and an empty stomach and enjoy this incredible area with us!
Discover London's Tower Bridge with our unbeatable-priced ticket. Experience the thrill of exploring its rich history and crossing its mesmerizing glass floor.
• 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.
The South Bank: A Story of Pubs, Prisons, Prostitutes and Shakespeare's Plays
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 and 6) ArtLand, which together have over 2,800 reviews averaging 5 stars (the highest on GuruWalk).
My South Bank tour is especially liked by those interested in history and literature
The South Bank of the Thames at Southwark is one of the oldest parts of London. The wealthy and powerful traditionally lived and worked north of the Thames in the "City of London" and pushed the theatre, entertainers and lower classes across London Bridge into Southwark.
The area is fascinating and associated with the birth of English theatre. It is also the oldest part of London south of the river. Apart from Southwark Cathedral, it does not have big, impressive buildings like Westminster but it has so many different stories to tell!
Highlights of the tour include:
- The George Inn: Ancient galleried pub reputed to have staged Shakespeare's plays
- Crossbones Graveyard: Home to 15,000 bodies of paupers and prostitutes
- Borough Market: London's foodie mecca
- Southwark Cathedral: Rich in American associations, from the founder of Harvard University to a governor of England's first successful colony in North America, Virginia
- The Clink Prison: Used to imprison religious dissenters, the forerunners of America's Pilgrim Fathers
- The Golden Hind: The ship that opened the door to the English colonisation of America
- The Globe Theatre: Plays were popular entertainment in the late 1500s and early 1600s. Shakespeare was not high culture, but a fun night out for the masses!
I do have a card reader so can can take credit/debit cards for tips.
