Private Tour, Entry to Westminster Abbey and London Highlights
Description
Join us for this half day tour around Westminster, a unique area where the Royalty meets Government. Starting in the beautiful Westminster Abbey, your guide will share stories about this most famous historic Church's past. Making our way next through Parliament square with iconic views of Big Ben, we'll visit Horse Guards Parade and on to St James's Park. Finally on towards Buckingham Palace, and Trafalgar Square, this tour covers many of the most recognisable sights around London.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We start our tour at Westminster Abbey, this famous church is recognisable from various famous royal weddings, funerals and coronations, it’s hard to ignore the history here! We’ll enter through the cloisters, a great opportunity to appreciate both the age and the scale of this magnificent building. Look around as we walk into the church, you will see many names, some of these you will recognise immediately, others you may remember once your guide links them with stories. Next let’s have a look at one of the oldest pieces of furniture in the United Kingdom. Last used in 1953, the chair patiently waits for the next coronation. As we pause to admire the coronation chair, listen as your guide paints a picture of the coronation ceremony, imagine the spectacle each time a new monarch is crowned in this very spot. Making our way around the church, we will find the sites of many Royal burials around the High alter. Two sisters, step sisters, both Queens but very different personalities. In life they weren’t very fond of each other, yet in death, they are buried here in the same tomb. Ladies Chapel shows you the hight level of a gothic style with its beautiful fan vaulted ceiling. Now it is time to check out Poets corner and find your favourite writer or a poet. Westminster Abbey has so much to offer and we will spend about 2 hours before we move on.
As we leave the Abbey, we arrive immediately into Parliament square, this a great opportunity to take a picture in front of houses of Parliament. How many statues of famous statesman can you recognise? Your Guide will be happy to explain who some of them were and their significance in British history.
This being London, there is always time for traditional pageantry. The horse guards are just around the corner. Here we see the Guards, proudly siting on their horses keeping this royal area safe. They are inspected every day, rain or shine. Time for another quick picture? Watch out though the horses can bite!
Leaving the famous buildings behind for a moment let’s wander through St James Park. Home to not only a lovely display of plants and flowers but also many birds. Any ornithologist would be in heaven here, black swans, white swans, pelicans, geese and many more species call St James Park their home. If you have children in your group then let’s take a few minutes to stop and feed the birds and the ever hungry squirrels!
Our next stop needs little introduction, Buckingham palace, a grand building and royal residence. If we get close to the gate, you will see the guards looking after her majesty. Your guide will help you figure out if Her Majesty is at home today. Perhaps you’d like a photo next to one of the most famous sights in the world?
We finish our tour on Trafalgar square, the very city centre of London. From here you are ideally placed to visit Leicester square and Covent Garden. Your guide Will be happy to help with any directions and suggestions for the rest of your stay.
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
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(35)
My Dad has always wanted to see Westminster Abbey, so I arranged a tour for just the two of us. I knew my Dad would have a lot of questions! Dan was an amazing tour guide! He was patient and knew so much about the monarchy, the abbey's history, and London in general. He also has a wicked sense of humor! Thanks for a great experience, Dan!
Ben was awesome! Funny, very articulate, and knowledgeable. Gave us far more information than we would have gotten had we done the self-guided tour. Little known items such as the story behind the Newton and Hawking markings probably would have been missed had we depended on the self-guided tour. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Marina was amazing and kept the whole family engaged! She is so knowledgeable and patient. We loved her and will try to request her next time!
What a lovely note to end on. Marina is wonderful with families, and it sounds like she kept everyone genuinely invested throughout the day. When you come back to London, reach out to us directly and we will make it happen! Mark Let me show you London
We had a delightful time with Denisa! She was very knowledgeable and made the tour so pleasant. We appreciate the time she took with us showing this amazing piece of history.
Theresa, so glad Denisa made it such a lovely day. I may be slightly biased as she's my wife, but I think she's rather good at this! Westminster Abbey alone has enough history to fill a week, and it sounds like she made every bit of it feel worthwhile. Thank you for sharing your experience. Mark Let me show you London
This is a walking tour with history and a chance to ask questions. We saw parliament, changing of the guards, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Guide was amazing at navigating to avoid crowds and maximize our time. Very knowledgable!
Beth, really glad the day flowed so well. Navigating a city like London to hit the big landmarks, including the Changing of the Guard, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey, without feeling rushed takes real experience. That's exactly what a private tour should deliver. Mark Let me show you London
Marina was an outstanding, knowledgeable tour guide! She helped us understand the importance and history of all the places we visited. Her story telling made the history of the locations come alive! I definitely recommend this tour and Marina!
What a lovely review to read, Danny! Marina's ability to bring a place's history to life is something our guests mention time and again, and it's always wonderful to hear. We're pleased you enjoyed your tour. Mark Let me show you London
We unfortunately had travel issues and missed a part of this experience, but guide Denisa did not let us down! She demonstrated welcoming flexibility offering us several options to reschedule. Our time with her in the Tower of London was one of favorite days in London. Denisa is a fabulous storyteller that will keep you entertained and learning for hours. A true professional at what she does... and even reveals her subtle sense of humor on occasion ;-) Thanks Denisa for a wonderful afternoon.
Neil, travel disruptions are so stressful, and we're really pleased we could offer some options to make it work. Agreed, Denisa is a wonderful storyteller, the kind who keeps you genuinely entertained while you're learning without even realising it. Mark Let me show you London
Lucy was absolutely delightful ! As a guide she is unsurpassed. She had a fantastic balance of personality & character, along with an abundance of detailed knowledge and passion. You knew she loved her work based on the manner in which she was dressed. A proper cape, signage & skirt. Throughout she checked to see if we needed clarification or wanted to see anything in particular. A beautiful memory !
Reading about your time with Lucy brought a smile to my face, Connie! That cape isn't just for show - it's rather fitting for someone with a superpower for bringing centuries of history to life. Her ability to balance that deep knowledge with such warm, attentive service is what makes these experiences truly memorable. Thank you for capturing your experience so beautifully! Mark Let me show you London
Certainly one of the most amazing experiences in London. A building more than a thousand years old and adored by Christians to this day. One of the most important buildings in the UK. Much wealth in gold.
Obrigado pela sua reseña maravilhosa! Westminster Abbey truly is one of London's most incredible experiences - over a thousand years of history in one magnificent building. The wealth of gold and artistic treasures, combined with its continuing importance to Christians today, makes it such a special place to visit. We're delighted you found it so remarkable during your London highlights tour. Mark Let me show you London
This was my favorite tour during my 5 days in London. Lucy greeted us in the rain with the happiest personality and designed the tour to maximize what we wanted to see. Her knowledge about the Abbey and surrounding area was incredible and made our experience amazing.
Robert, being your favorite tour out of five days in London is such high praise! Lucy's ability to stay cheerful in the rain while adapting everything to what you wanted to see really shows her dedication. Her knowledge of Westminster Abbey and the surrounding area truly transforms the whole experience. Thank you for such wonderful feedback. Mark Let me show you London
