If you happen to be in London for the annual Trooping the Colour or Beating Retreat ceremonies, they are an absolute must-see.
Nestled between Downing Street, Whitehall and St. James’ Park, Horse Guards Parade occupies a prime location in central London and is just a five minute walk from the Houses of Parliament. The vast parade ground has been an important venue for English royalty for centuries, and it continues to dazzle visitors with regular military spectacles that showcase the best that the British Army has to offer.
In the time of Henry VIII, Horse Guards Parade was an enclosed courtyard attached to the enormous Palace of Whitehall, and it played host to a number of jousting tournaments during his reign. The palace burned to the ground in 1698, but the Parade remained in use as a military facility, and was once the headquarters of the Duke of Wellington.
Marching as to War
These days, Horse Guards Parade is London’s primary military parade ground, and is used for some of the armed forces’ most important events. It is sometimes thought that the Changing of the Guard only occurs outside Buckingham Palace, but in fact the same ceremony that is put on here every day is in many ways even more impressive. It is an astonishing display of military discipline and organisation. Every inch of the soldiers’ uniforms has been scrubbed, brushed or polished to perfection, and the result is a gleaming mass of bright-scarlet men marching precisely as one. Horses are often involved, always immaculately trained and presented. You aren’t allowed too close to these, but there are usually police horses positioned immediately outside the parade ground, and the friendly officers on top will often let children or adults pat them.
Experience a full-day private tour of London's spectacular Royal landmarks with a private and knowledgeable Blue Badge guide and discover the most popular sites including the Tower of London, the best of Westminster and the opportunity to see the Changing of the Guard.
On your private full-day tour, you will:
Enjoy Royal London on this fantastic day tour that begins in the heart of Westminster, follows the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and ends with the sight of the dazzling Crown Jewels at the Tower of London.
Meet your guide at Westminster for a tour outside the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Learn about the political history of Parliament Square and its relationship to The Crown. Westminster Abbey has been the site of 38 coronations since 1066, and numerous royal weddings and funerals, including the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and Her Majesty The Queen's state funeral.
From Westminster, wander up Birdcage Walk where you will follow the pomp and pageantry of the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Follow the Guardsmen and military band, with their famous red coats and black bearskin hats to Buckingham Palace. Head into Trafalgar Square, via Horseguards Parade, and along Whitehall - the political nerve centre of the UK and the address of 10 Downing Street - home to the British Prime Minister.
Enjoy a scenic boat ride along the Thames to Tower Bridge. You'll get to see London and Waterloo Bridges, the London Eye, the Globe, the skyscrapers, and St Paul’s Cathedral from the boat.
Your guide will then accompany you to St. Katherine's Docks for lunch (not included), after which you will enjoy an exclusive private tour of the infamous Tower of London, with reserved tickets included.
Then it's time to enter the Tower of London! Walk past Traitor's Gate and discover the many stories and scandals hidden within the walls of this ancient building. It was formerly a moated royal palace, that became an armoury, a royal mint, a zoo... and most famously the traitor's prison! You'll meet the Beefeaters and the ravens who guard the Tower and discover the stories behind some of the Tower's most famous prisoners from the young Princes in the Tower to Queen Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey whose graffiti you can still see in her prison cell.
Explore the White Tower, the oldest part of the fortress, walk the battlements, enter the torture chambers (if you dare!) and visit the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, where some very famous queens are buried.
Best of all, you will be able to admire the dazzling Crown Jewels which are kept behind extensive security in the aptly-named Jewel House. Due to the strict security measures in place and the moving viewing platform, your guide cannot accompany you but will wait for you at the exit.
End your tour inside the Tower to explore more at your leisure - or return to modern life with your guide!
Please note: Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace happens on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, but can be subject to change and weather conditions. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays you will see the changing of the Horseguards at Horse Guards Parade on Whitehall. You can check the schedule here: https://changing-guard.com/dates-buckingham-palace.html
This exciting City of Spies private tour has been created exclusively to take you on a fascinating journey through London's espionage history during the Cold War, the origins of MI5 and MI6, and to learn about Churchill's role in bringing down the Nazi regime.
On your private city of spies tour of London, you will:
Your tour guide will take you on a journey through the streets of London to uncover the main characters and buildings that shaped the history of the world while telling you stories that seem more like Le Carré novels than real life.
After your walking tour, you will visit the Churchill War Rooms, located below the streets of Westminster. An underground network of bunkers that functioned as British wartime offices, planning, and map rooms.
It was here that much of Allied intelligence and strategy was discussed and planned in WWII, as well as serving as a place of refuge and shelter for the government during the blitz. Your guide will give a detailed and fascinating tour of this place that has been left exactly as it was since 1944.
Explore London’s most popular sites on this Royal London half-day tour, including spectacular parks and royal sites in Westminster.
On your private tour, you will:
Please note: that the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace happens on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, but can be subject to change and weather conditions. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays you will see the changing of the Horseguards at Horse Guards Parade on Whitehall.
You can check the schedule here: https://changing-guard.com/dates-buckingham-palace.html
On your tour, your guide will reveal the secrets of the power and politics of Westminster, while seeing some of the most popular landmarks. Learn all about the Houses of Parliament, the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, and be inspired by its mighty history.
Amble through the fabulous gardens and sights of St James's Park and have the opportunity to see the Changing of the Guard in front of magnificent Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the UK’s sovereigns since 1837.
This ceremony, seen by millions every year, is a must-see attraction in London. It takes place every other day between Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and Wellington Barracks, and is the perfect reminder of the tight relationship between the armed forces and HM the Queen.
Walk along the Mall and learn curious facts about British kings and queens, who turned the British Empire into the most dominant power on Earth.
Your tour finishes with a walk through Trafalgar Square, where your guide will show you the best places to grab a bite to eat in the area or direct you to some of the world's most famous artwork, located only metres away in the National Gallery.
Discover the most popular sites in Royal London on this family-friendly half-day tour, where you will see London’s unmissable attractions, parks, and finest Royal sites with an expert tour guide while keeping your family entertained.
On this family-friendly private tour, you will:
This tour is ideal for those families who would like a taste of London in half a day and want to see London’s unmissable attractions and finest Royal sites in an exciting four hours.
Whether your family is interested in history, nature, experiencing iconic British traditions or marvelling at beautiful Royal Palaces and Parks, this tour has something for everyone.
Get a peppering of tales, fun facts and stories about London, British Culture and tradition. Hear of the Secret tunnels which lie beneath Buckingham Palace, and the many attempts to steal the Crown Jewels. And the infamous 14-year-old cat burglar caught stealing the late Queen Victoria’s underwear. See London’s famous palace guards, the household cavalry mounted on their famous black horses, and maybe even members of the royal family, if you are lucky!
On this half-day tour, you will also avoid the rush and busyness of a group tour, and enjoy a more intimate, flexible experience. Your tour ends with an adventurous ride on the London Eye.
Your personal guide will help you quickly navigate London and ensure you have the smoothest, most enjoyable day possible creating great memories with your family.
Step into the world of Wartime London in the late 1930s and 1940s, where you will hear the stories of larger-than-life Winston Churchill, explore the underground bunkers that British wartime officers used during that time known as the Churchill War Rooms and learn about the resilience of Londoners during that time.
On your private Churchill War Rooms tour, you will:
Begin exploring the heart of London’s parliamentary district. This was the brain and nerve centre for British and Allied forces in Europe and abroad. See the Winston Churchill memorial, and learn about his adolescence, personal life and fascinating rise to government.
Your guide will take you to see the partially destroyed buildings from the blitz and visit The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the Prime Minister's residence. Next visit The iconic Cenotaph war memorial, special service headquarters and Ghurka memorial.
After your walking tour, dive into the Churchill War Rooms, an underground network of bunkers that functioned as British wartime offices, planning and map rooms. It was here that much of Allied intelligence and strategy was discussed and planned in WWII, as well as serving as a place of refuge and shelter for the government during the blitz.
As you explore the massive layer of concrete known as “The Slab”, you discover that the Churchill War Rooms actually consists of two separate museums.
The Cabinet War Rooms, whose centrepiece is the fascinating Map Room, detail the strategic and tactical exploits of the war room as a whole. This is where Churchill held no less than 115 cabinet meetings, hammering out the details of Allied offensives across Europe.
The Churchill Museum unpicks the life and works of the great man himself, from his early childhood to his state funeral. Particularly interesting is the large collection of passionately devoted letters he wrote to his wife Clementine, exposing the softer side of this famously tough statesman.
Your tour finishes in the War Rooms, and you are free to continue exploring at your own leisure or ask your guide for recommendations for food, including Churchill’s local pub.
Explore the best of London by the hand of a well-informed cabbie and professional driver guide, who knows the city like the back of his hand, including the most popular attractions and many hidden gems on this panoramic sightseeing tour of London.
On your private driving tour, you will:
Please note: that the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace happens on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, but can be subject to change and weather conditions. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays you will see the changing of the Horseguards at Horse Guards Parade on Whitehall. You can check the schedule here: https://changing-guard.com/dates-buckingham-palace.html
Your guide will meet and greet you at your central London hotel (or preferred pickup location) and after your 4-hour tour, you can be dropped off at your hotel or any central location of your choice.
On this half-day tour, your guide will stop at a minimum of 6 popular locations to tell you about the fascinating history of these iconic attractions.
This is less of a whistle-stop tour than most of the London highlights tours and invites you to slow down, while those around you hop on and off of buses without enough time to truly appreciate the layers of history and wild stories that surround so many London icons.
There will be plenty of opportunities throughout your tour to take those treasured photos – and if you want to take time out, your London guide knows all the best places to grab a coffee.
Delve into the world of espionage with Bond, James Bond on a private tour of London to uncover many filming locations in the city of London that you have seen in your favourite movies for over 40 years.
On your James Bond filming locations tour, you will:
London is a city unlike no other in respect of its long associations with the world of espionage - the spies, double agents, traitors, heroes and villains from every continent played out their cloak-and-dagger games of cunning, deceit and treachery on the mean streets that we shall traverse.
Like in real life, the city has played host to some incredible spy moments on the big screen, including in Bond film scenes over the past 55 years. Your 007 expert tour guide is here to take you undercover and whisk you through the film locations from ‘Dr. No’ through to ‘Spectre.’
James Bond fans will not only get to see those film scene sites - but also most of London's iconic landmarks, plus a special visit inside one of the world's most famous spaces, the National Gallery.
DISCLAIMER: This tour is an unlicensed and unauthorised tour of sites featured in the film series 'James Bond' produced by Danjaq LLC and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Travel Curious Ltd. and this tour does not have any association with or connection to, the film series 'James Bond', Danjaq LLC and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
The Premier Classic London Experience is the perfect way to discover the marvellous city of London for first-time visitors and for those who have a short time in the city.
On your private driving tour, you will:
Please note: that the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace happens on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, but can be subject to change and weather conditions. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays you will see the changing of the Horseguards at Horse Guards Parade on Whitehall. You can check the schedule here: https://changing-guard.com/dates-buckingham-palace.html
During the Premier Classic London Tour, your knowledgeable guide will warmly greet you at your central London hotel or chosen location.
Throughout the 4-hour tour, you will have the opportunity to discover the history behind at least 6 popular London landmarks, all while comfortably riding in an iconic London Taxi.
This tour has been designed for those who want to take their time to appreciate the rich and fascinating stories that surround these iconic attractions, without feeling rushed or overwhelmed, and our fully customisable to suit your needs and interests.
Your guide will ensure that you have plenty of chances to snap memorable photos and can even recommend the best spots for dining, shopping, or any other of your interests for the rest of your trip.
It's important to note that this tour doesn't include entry to any attractions or requires tickets.
At the end of the tour, you'll have the option to be dropped off at your hotel or any other central location of your choice.
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