Sites and Insights: An Expert-Led London Welcome Tour

Your first taste of London, side-by-side with a local guide
From US$513 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
2.5 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
  • Westminster Abbey
  • Big Ben
  • Piccadilly Circus
  • Trafalgar Square
  • Horse Guards Road
  • Carnaby Street
Traveler Testimonials

"Catered to our own interests"

"Our tour with Jonathan was awesome. He was so knowledgeable, and catered the tour to our own interests."

-Amanda P.

"Hugely informative"

"Our tour was a hugely informative overview of the city and its most famous landmarks. Mark knew literally everything there was to know about everything, but very kindly tailored his tour to our 11-year-old son’s interests."

-Brian L.

"Engaging with both adults and kids"

"Harry was an amazing tour guide. He was very engaging with both the adults and kids and provided an outstanding overview of London which set the stage for the rest of our visit."

-Jordana F.
Photos & Highlights
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Tour Description
If London has captured your imagination, our 2.5-hour orientation experience offers a fresh perspective on the history, art, and culture of the British capital. Join an expert to add context to your visit and set yourself up for deeper exploration on your own.

Looking for insider recommendations? Get expert tips to seeing the true London in our London City Guide.
Experts
Marc Marc
Art Historian
Janice Janice
Local Guide
Tim Tim
Historian
Fred Fred
Local Guide
Biba Biba
Local Guide
Noah Noah
Local Guide
Alex Alex
Local Guide
Philippa
Local Guide
Laurence Laurence
Local Guide
Tim Tim
Tour Guide
Jonathan Jonathan
TOUR GUIDE
Imogen Imogen
Historian
Fintan Fintan
Doctoral Student
Ever dreamt of looking out over the banks of the Thames, standing in awe beneath the majestic clock tower of Big Ben, or seeing the iconic red double-decker buses navigate the bustling streets? 

Partner with your local expert to navigate the British capital - its most iconic destinations and those off-the-beaten-path - letting the city’s energy wrap you in the fabric of its two-thousand-year history. Be sure to share your interests to allow your guide to adapt the tour for an experience unique to you.

Will you immerse yourself in the vibrant colors and energy of Carnaby Street? Can you keep up with Piccadilly Circus's hectic beats?

See historic Trafalgar Square, where sounds of past triumphs still reverberate, or continue with a walk on Horse Guards Road. Perhaps you’ll hear a faint whispering on King Charles Street… It’s Churchill beckoning you to join him in the War Rooms.
 
Not only will you get to know the city through its most iconic places, but you’ll also have a chance to taste the flavors of London with a small treat along the way. Grabbing a bite from your expert’s favorite spot will initiate you as a true local!

From ancient churches and Big Ben to the Beatles and WWII, you’ll discover hundreds of years of living culture. Here, every step tells a story and every corner reveals a new adventure. 

Upon parting, you’ll have made a friend, learned about the history of the city’s top sites, and have a roadmap for further exploration. 
  • You’d like to learn how to navigate the city while seeing a highlight of London’s most iconic monuments and sites. 
  • Along with the sites and monuments, you’d like to experience the energetic streets of Soho, a London hot spot, and get insider recommendations from your expert. 
  • You’re looking for an eye-opening introduction to the two-thousand-year history of London with a local expert by your side.  
  • Carnaby Street 
  • Piccadilly Circus
  • Trafalgar Square
  • Horse Guards Road
  • St. James Park 
  • Westminster
  • Big Ben

Additional Trip-Planning Resources

A few things that pair well with this tour: 
Does the tour include the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace? 
No, this tour does not include the Changing of the Guard, if you are interested in this experience you can check out our Half-Day Royal London Tour with Changing of the Guard.

Does this tour include the London Eye? 
This tour does not include an interior visit of the London Eye, but you will still be able to see it exteriorly as you approach the City of Westminster, right on the Thames River.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.

Is this tour wheelchair-friendly?
The tour is fast-paced and includes some narrow alleys and cobbled streets. We do not recommend this tour for clients with severe mobility issues.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.


Where You'll Start
(5.0) 24 Reviews

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

Laurence was a wonderful tour guide and the tour was informative and fun.
Alex was a delight as a tour guide. He’s knowledgeable, entertaining, engaged and charmingly positive. His tour was extremely well-organized, and we learned a tremendous amount about the Royal Estate and how it actually functions, Buckingham Palace and the surrounding buildings, and the important nearby areas of Trafalgar Square and Covent Gardens. His love of London was infectious, and spending several hours with him was a superb way to get introduced to the city. He was also extremely considerate of our needs and interests. He is absolutely first-rate as a tour guide.
We had the most delightful walking tour with Alex and it was filled with great antidotes and laughter. An absolute highlight!