London in a Day: Tower of London, Westminster & River Cruise
Description
See London’s biggest landmarks in one unforgettable day, with pre-reserved entry to Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London, a Thames River cruise, and an expert Blue Badge guide leading the way. From Big Ben and Buckingham Palace to the Crown Jewels, this carefully planned tour takes care of the logistics so you can experience more of London in less time. Step inside historic Westminster Abbey, see Buckingham Palace and the Horse Guards Parade, then cruise along the Thames towards the Tower of London. Finish inside the 1,000-year-old fortress, where you’ll discover its extraordinary history and see the dazzling Crown Jewels up close.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Start your day in the heart of historic Westminster, surrounded by some of London’s most recognisable landmarks. Take in Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament as your Blue Badge guide introduces the people, power and events that have shaped Britain from this extraordinary corner of the capital. Please note: Guests selecting London in a Day starting from the Tower option will visit the same attractions and enjoy the same inclusions as the standard tour, but in the reverse order, starting at the Tower of London and ending at Westminster Abbey.
Step inside Westminster Abbey, the magnificent setting for royal coronations since 1066 and the final resting place of kings, queens, poets and some of Britain’s most famous figures. With pre-reserved entry, explore the Abbey with your expert Blue Badge guide and discover the stories behind royal weddings, state funerals and centuries of British history,from the Coronation Chair to the tombs of monarchs and Poet’s Corner.
Walk through St. James’s Park to Buckingham Palace, the world-famous London residence of the British monarch. Hear the stories behind royal life at the palace. Your guide will also bring you to Horse Guards Parade for a glimpse of Britain’s centuries-old royal traditions.
Enter the ceremonial heart of royal London at Horse Guards Parade, home to the King’s Life Guard and one of the capital’s great military traditions. See the mounted guards on duty and discover the history behind the uniforms, rituals and pageantry that have protected the monarch for centuries.
Continue through the heart of central London to Trafalgar Square, dominated by Nelson’s Column and surrounded by landmarks that tell the story of Britain’s past. Along the way, your guide connects the royal, political and cultural history you’ve encountered throughout the morning before time to pause for lunch and recharge ahead of the afternoon’s adventures.
Give your feet a rest as you take to the Thames for a sightseeing cruise through the heart of London. See the city from a completely different perspective as you pass landmarks including the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral and The Shard, travelling east towards Tower Bridge and the final,and oldest, chapter of your day.
Finish your day inside the formidable Tower of London, a royal palace, prison and fortress with nearly 1,000 years of extraordinary history behind its walls. Follow your Blue Badge guide through stories of kings and queens, prisoners, executions and intrigue -from Anne Boleyn to the mysterious Princes in the Tower. Explore the medieval fortress and come face-to-face with its greatest treasure: the spectacular Crown Jewels, still used in royal ceremonies today.
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
- 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.
- 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(984)
This was a great trip and worth the money. Nigel was very knowledgeable. He gave us tips like where is the best viewing for the Changing of the Guard. We did a crazy amount of walking so be prepared with comfortable shoes and lots of water. I would definitely do this one again.
It was a fantastic tour. We were only in London for 48 hours and this tour covered all the major sites . Our tour guide , Patrick, was knowledgeable and wonderful. If you only have a short amount of time in London, I highly recommend this tour
Patrick, our tour guide, was extremely knowledgeable and informative. Day was long but we definitely got "London in a Day"
Sophie was our tour guide, and she was exceptional. So impressive how much she knows! We were with other Americans, with 18 people on our tour in total. But with earpieces, we never had to stress about being able to hear Sophie. Obviously, this is a long tour, and there’s a lot of walking. Probably not the best tour to choose if you have mobility challenges, or find it hard to spend a lot of time on your feet and walking all over. But it’s a great way to see a lot of the major landmarks in one go. Another note is that this is not a “round trip” tour. The ending point is not the same as the starting point. No big deal for us but some others on our tour seemed surprised by this.
Extremely disappointed with this tour. Paid $540 for three people for 10am tour. For a premium-priced full-day tour (10:00 AM to past 4:00 PM), the value was nowhere to be found. Booked directly from Walks & Devour Tours based on high reviews from Tripadvisor. The itinerary itself was underwhelming: the entire first half of the day was just walking past several sights without going inside, followed by an hour-long lunch break, a standard public boat ride, and finally a very rushed, superficial tour of the Tower of London. To make matters worse, our guide was unengaged, recited generic information without real depth, and showed little effort to connect with the group. During a 35°C heatwave, there was zero consideration for group comfort -- no stops in shaded spots and no proactive planning for basic restroom breaks. A full day in the city was effectively wasted on an inefficient, lackluster walk. Save your money and book shorter, direct visits to specific attractions instead.
Did not get what was advertised. Tower of London only was Crown Jewels which were not there. No tour, no beef eaters. There was no getting in early. Only a side door. And more the guide was a nice man and tried
Excellent tour. Oliver was wonderful and very knowledgeable. The tour was long but could have been longer as there was so much to see. I highly recommend this tour.
Mary was unstoppable! I couldn't keep up! Hottest Day of the year. She was getting SUNBURNED! OW MY ACHING BODY
It’s a good one, our guide Anna was a mind and mine full of great knowledge and information on many aspects of all our tour
Wear very comfortable shoes and clothes! It is a walking tour, and there will be a LOT of walking. The tour was very enjoyable, but one of my sisters had to leave the tour at the halfway point. My other sister, and I were able to rejoin the tour after seeing her back to our hotel.
