London in a Day: Tower of London, Westminster & River Cruise
Description
Experience the quintessential sights of one of the world's most fascinating and dynamic cities on this full-day London walking tour. From Westminster Abbey to the Tower of London and even the River Thames, this London city tour is proof that limited time doesn't have to mean a limited view of the UK capital. Soak up London's key attractions in just one action-packed day, with all the logistics handled for you as you explore in the company of a knowledgeable Blue Badge guide.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your morning starts at Parliament Square near Westminster Abbey. Catch a glimpse of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, and meet some of the fascinating figures whose statues surround the square as you make your way to the church.
Enter the Abbey at opening time to go directly to the Coronation Chair before crowds begin to surround it. Learn about the history of the building—England’s most important church—and visit the final resting places of a few of the countless monarchs and luminaries buried inside, from kings and queens to great writers and scientists. Please Note: Only the 9AM tour will include skip-the-line entry and a guided tour of Westminster Abbey. The 10AM tour does not include entry, but your guide will give an introduction to the Abbey from the exterior.
It’s a short dash from the Abbey to Buckingham Palace, where you'll catch the Changing of the Guard if it's taking place on the day of your tour. As the crowds gather in front of the palace, your guide will take you to a great alternative viewpoint to witness this historic ceremony.
You’ll also swing by the Horse Guards Parade—home to the lesser-known but arguably more impressive King's Life Guard—on your way to Trafalgar Square.
You'll break for lunch at London's busiest square. Before you part ways for the break, your guide will share more about what makes this the beating heart of London and point out a few of its most significant spots—including a tiny patch of American soil!
Reconvening with your group after lunch, you’ll board a Thames sightseeing cruise complete with lively and entertaining commentary from the crew. It's a fun and relaxing way to journey to your last stop of the day.
Your final stop is one that's sure to be a highlight: the Tower of London. With pre-reserved tickets, you’ll get inside quickly to enjoy a tour of its fascinating (and sometimes gruesome) history. Your full-day London tour comes to an end at the Jewel House inside the Tower. While your guide can't accompany you inside to see the Crown Jewels, they'll give you a primer on the top pieces to look out for and their significance so you can check them out on your own.
Tower Bridge (exterior)
St James Palace (exterior)
Houses of Parliament (exterior)
Big Ben (view)
London Eye (view)
St Paul's Cathedral (view)
The Shard (view)
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This tour is in English.
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- Please Note: The 10 AM tour does not include entry to the Abbey. Instead, your guide will provide an introduction to the Abbey from the exterior.
- The Changing of the Guard ceremony is dependent on good weather and does not take place every day. Should the ceremony take place during your tour, we will view it. On alternative days, we will view the Queen's Life Guard Change/Horse Guards Parade. Guard Change does not happen on Tuesdays.
- Walks and Devour comply with all local government regulations. Please refer to local government guidelines for the most up to date information.
- Please note: This tour offers multiple options. Take a moment to choose the one that best suits your interests.
Reviews(951)
Very experienced and knowledgeable guide, nice route and very well planned. Loved it Crown jewels, westminister abbey interior tour - amazing !
Fast paced & walking intensive! My fitness watch recorded 14K steps.. I loved the tour. Dominic is an Excellent tour guide. Very personable & knowledgeable. Ask for him. We would have preferred to have some transportation as part of the tour.
Our guide was so knowledgeable. You could tell she loved the history of England. Seeing the changing of the guard was definitely a highlight.
Lori was a wonderful guide. Extremely knowledgeable, allowed us to enjoy at a good pace. Impressed with how much we covered in a day!
We decided to pack all the attractions into a single day. This was great when in a time crunch. Our guide was amazing. Get ready to get an unbelievable amount of steps in.
Our guide Amber was outstanding. All the things she shared reflected her deep knowledge of the area. The tour hit all the highlights of central London. We loved it!
This was an amazing way to see so many places in London in just one day! Our guide Peter and his bus driver were amazing! Peter was very skilled and knowledgeable about London and all of the sites we visited. He gave us tips that saved us time and was so informative and kind. We appreciate this tour and Peter, and the bus driver from our tour. At the Tower of London he helped us to be able to see the changing of the guard and the 62 gun salute for the Queen’s birthday celebration! He got us in the right spot to see both!
Jackie our guide was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and really friendly. Perfect guide on a long day. Got in all the key sites.
Our guide Karen is a 41 year resident of London, therefore very knowledgeable about issues other than just the history, which is so rich. From Big Ben to Westminster Cathedral & the river cruise on the Thames to the Tower bridge and the Tower of London it was a spectacular day. We finished the day with a Viator "skip the line" ticket on the London Eye.
Our guide was very good and very knowledgeable ,I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see London in a day
