Private London Tour with a Local: Custom Highlights & Hidden Gems
Description
Say goodbye to guidebooks and hello to discovering London like a local. On this private, customized tour, your host will take you beyond the expected—from historic landmarks to the hidden haunts that Londoners love. Whether you're into royal palaces, quirky shops, vibrant street art, or a local pub with stories to tell, this experience adapts to you. Within 24 hours of booking, you’ll receive a short questionnaire to share your interests and travel style. Based on your responses, you’ll be matched with a like-minded host who will reach out directly to plan your itinerary. You’ll agree on a meeting point and time—and your day will unfold naturally from there.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Experience London through the eyes of someone who lives and loves it—walking historic streets, modern boroughs, and hidden pockets of local life. This isn’t just a tour; it’s a flexible, personalized experience shaped entirely around you. Before your walk, your host will reach out with a short questionnaire to understand your interests—whether that’s iconic landmarks, local food, creative neighborhoods, or unexpected detours only locals know. Here are some highlights that may be included in your day:
Spend time with your host exploring one of London’s most famous landmarks as you hear the story behind the tower’s name, stop for photos away from the crowds, and take in the buzz of Westminster at the heart of the city.
Keep things central as you explore iconic locations along the Thames, admiring the architecture of Westminster Abbey, hearing stories of royal ceremonies and historical moments, and soaking up the atmosphere of this ceremonial district.
Step into the world of ancient history as you explore the British Museum’s vast collection with insight from your host, discovering highlights like the Rosetta Stone or Greek marbles—or simply passing through the area if you're short on time.
Get a feel for London’s creative energy as you stroll through Soho’s lively streets, passing legendary music venues, colorful cafés, and tucked-away squares while your host points out local favorites and hidden gems you won’t find in a guidebook.
Pause at the riverside to experience the flavors of the city like a local, sampling street food from across the globe, finding a quiet spot for lunch, or exploring nearby pubs, bookshops, or cultural venues depending on the day and your mood.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- After booking, you'll receive a short questionnaire to share your interests, preferences, and must-sees. Your guide will personally reach out to craft a fully customized itinerary that suits your style—whether you love history, food, hidden gems, or cultural experiences.
- This private tour is a walking experience. A private vehicle is not included.
- Public transportation or local taxis may be used to transfer between sites. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with your host after your reservation is finalized.
Reviews(122)
Dilek was very nice, but it wasn't anything we couldn't have done ourselves and we actually did see more ourselves. Very disappointing for the amount of money it cost. I was expecting a lot more for a private tour. It took a lot of back and forth to set up and she didn't engage the three teen girls whatsoever. I also expected to be more involved in the planning of sites to see. I also felt rushed for some reason, like she had somewhere else to go.
Hello Janet, A key part of our private experiences is usually tailoring the route and pace to each group, and we’re disappointed to hear that you felt there wasn’t enough involvement in the planning or that the experience felt rushed. This is not the impression we want guests to leave with, and we will be reviewing this feedback carefully with the host to ensure expectations are better set and the experience is delivered in a more engaging and participatory way. We would be grateful for the opportunity to welcome you again in the future and provide a much better experience, as we always strive to do. Warm regards, Sheenah and the City Unscripted team
Did did a great job explaining the highlights. The weather as is often in London turned for the worst and we pivoted to make the best of things.
It’s great to know the tour was adapted so you could still make the most of your time in London. Our host truly sounds, did a great job explaining the highlights and that you were still able to enjoy the experience despite the change in weather. Thank you so much for your feedback. We hope to welcome you on another experience in the future!
Becky was amazing and funny. She customized the tour a little to accommodate my requests. I would choose her again in a heartbeat!
We’re glad that you had such a great time with Becky and that she was able to tailor the tour to your interests. Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback and we hope to assist you again on your future travel!
Delia was an excellent tour guide. We covered a ton of area in 4 hours. She also helped us navigate the subways so we could use that the rest of the trip instead of taking Ubers. Saved a lot that way. Great experience
It’s wonderful that Delia helped you had a great experience, make the most of your time and showed you how to navigate the subway, such a great way to explore the city! We hope to welcome you again on another adventure soon. Thank you so much for your kind words!
We were on a family holiday and it was my teen son’s first time. He had come up with a list of things that he wanted to see and experience and I reached out to CityUnscripted to plan a day for us. Our guide JJ was the perfect match for my wacky group. He was jovial, informative and made the day special for us all. I can’t recommend him and CIty Unscripted enough.
I'm so glad to hear that JJ was the perfect match for your family — it’s wonderful that he made the day fun, engaging, and memorable for everyone. Thanks for the warm recommendation!
Shopping with Becky was fabulous. She knew the places to go so that I could buy what I wanted and have the experience that I was hoping to get. She was fun and knowledgeable. She took me for my first ride on the tube and on a double decker bus. It wasn’t my first time in London, but it was the best. Becky helped me tease my son because they support different teams. Even he enjoyed it.
So glad to hear you had such a fun and memorable time with Becky — sounds like the perfect mix of shopping, local experiences, and great laughs along the way!
Sandro was an excellent guide. He spent time sharing local history and allowed us to guide what we wanted to see and do! This well worth the money and time!
So glad to hear you had such a great time with Sandro — it’s wonderful that he combined local history with a flexible, personalized approach to your day!
Absolutely incredible experience with Delia as our tour guide! She was informative, knowledgeable, and showed us parts of the city we never could’ve discovered on our own. Everything was perfectly timed—relaxed yet full of amazing sights. She was especially thoughtful with the pace, tailoring the tour to suit my 5-year-old daughter. Couldn’t recommend her more!
We're thrilled to hear you had such a great experience with Delia. She’ll be so happy to know her thoughtful approach made the tour enjoyable for you and your daughter. We hope to welcome you again soon!
Darryl is a fantastic guide! He showed us hidden corners of London we’d never have found on our own and really took the time to tailor the tour to our interests. It felt personal, relaxed, and full of little surprises. A great experience — thank you, Darryl!
What a joy to hear this, thank you! We're thrilled Darryl was able to make your time in London feel so personal and full of discovery. Hidden corners and tailored experiences are what it's all about—thanks for sharing your adventure with us!
Becky was wonderful! She tailored our tour wonderfully based on the details we provided. She knew an amazing amount of each of the locations we visited and was super fun as well. Her tour was worth every penny.
We're so glad that Becky delivered such a personalized and fun experience. Her deep knowledge and thoughtful approach truly shine through. Thank you for the fantastic review!
