Ultimate Royal London: Tower of London & City of Westminster Tour
Description
Let us read you the story of London, a tale of two cities. From entrance to the Tower of London in the old city for the Crown Jewels and Beefeaters to a walking tour in the regal city of Westminster linked together by a relaxing boat ride on the River Thames, join us for the Ultimate Royal London experience. Come saunter with us for this well-paced crash course into London’s royal past, present and future - whether exploring over 1000 years of history in the Tower of London or walking the ‘red carpet’ down to Buckingham Palace, this is an experience you’ll never forget.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Welcome to your tour and one of the most iconic buildings in London. Discover the iconic sites on the outer walls such as Traitor’s Gate and Tower Hill with your guide before entering the complex to explore one of Britain’s most historic buildings at your own pace. You will see Britain’s most treasured royal artefacts, walk in the footsteps of Anne Boleyn, see the armour of Henry VIII, visit William the Conqueror’s White Tower and meet the ravens at your own pace.
Enjoy a river cruise on one of the boats that plough the mighty Thames. Learn about the landmarks from your guide as you pass - Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, St Paul's Cathedral, Southbank, London Bridge and so much more.
Welcome to Westminster. Marvel at Big Ben, a London icon and hear all about the centuries that took this majestic building from palace to centre of British democracy.
Dream of the last Anglo-Saxon king and a flagship of the Church of England, your guide will give you the lowdown on this most important of places.
The prime spot to get your photo with the mounted cavalry of the Queen’s Horse Guards and official entrance to Buckingham Palace itself. Visiting outside only.
Built on the site of an old leper hospital, did you know that St James’s Palace is the oldest royal palace in the whole of the UK? Take in this beauty, still the official royal residence today.
The most famous of King Charles III's palaces and housing a whopping 775 rooms, the stories attached to this icon have to be heard to be believed.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(39)
The Tower of London is a great place and I had no idea, so that was the best part of the tour. We started off meeting our guide and she gave us a lot of history and info. We went inside and she dropped us off at the Crown Jewels. It was 100% worth it to book the first tour of the day to beat the crowds and the heat. We learned later that the Tower closed on some days due to heat, we are glad we didn't encounter that problem. Before she left us, the guide told us to meet her in about 90 minutes for the boat tour. She also gave the option to skip the boat tour and stay at the Tower. I would say about half of the group opted to stay at the Tower...and having gone on the rest of tour I may have changed my mind to do that same knowing what was in store after. We gave ourselves a little extra time to grab some lunch nearby the meetup spot (Joseph's fish and chips - great!) and then headed over to the "boat tour." I imagined a private boat but really we boarded a public taxi boat, no guarantee of seating or even being near the guide. She talked on about the buildings we passed but honestly I tuned out. We were on the boat maybe 10 minutes and then hopped off to continue the rest of the tour on foot. The guide was a fast walker and did not stop to check that we were following. She would just walk off and stop at some point and hold up her flag so we could find her. I suppose that's one way to lead a tour. She gave history on some places we passed along the way and when we got near Buckingham Palace, she told us she would take us to a secret spot with a great view of a nearby lake and the palace, a beautiful backdrop. We walked into a nearby park and stopped on a bridge where you could barely see the Palace at all. The bridge itself was very crowded. And that's where to tour ended. It wasn't a "pass by" as the itinerary states. We were far away! The guide said we could go on to the Palace ourselves, which we did. Overall, this tour is EXTREMELY overpriced. I would recommend you just go to Tower of London directly and if you fancy a boat ride, hop on a boat or book a boat tour from the Tower of London website. Also, about the guide, I've been on plenty of tours but this one was not very friendly. She was knowledgeable and told nice stories, but in down times she didn't try to ask where we were from or make any small talk whatsoever. I guess that's not required but I would say usually tour guides are much friendlier. I regret tipping her.
Self tour at Tower of London once inside, which surprised us. We did get to see the Crown Jewels as the first ones to enter so no line and no crowds. That was a huge win
Babs was delightful and so knowledgeable. We had so much learning about the big sights of London and the history of the monarchy. She was great with kids and adults and we would definitely do this again and recommend to others!
Our tour guide Jo is very jolly and friendly. She’s also very well versed about the history of the tour. She’s very helpful as well
Very comprehensive tour of the Tower and beyond. Babs, our tour guide, was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend.
Nathan was great, informative and friendly. He took us to all of the big landmarks and gave us time to wander at the tower. We learned a lot and enjoyed our tour.
Jeremy was a great guide…informative as well as entertaining. We learned a lot about London, as well as the royal family. Would definitely recommend this tour.
Splendid tour from A-Z. Loved the guide Babs, for her knowledge, engagement, wits and of course the introduction to British sarcasm 😀 Would give her 10 stars if possible!
It’s the best way to get in and see the Tower of London before the crowds descend. Our guide was fantastic, knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
Francis was very knowledgeable and a great tour guide! First tour the Tower of London, then a boat to Westminster and on to the Buckingham palace. Highly recommend!
