London's Millennium Bridge is a striking pedestrian-only steel suspension bridge across the River Thames, linking St. Paul's Cathedral to the Tate Modern Museum. Inaugurated in the year 2000, things got off to a wobbly start: on its first day, around 100,000 people crossed the bridge, but it quickly became apparent that it wobbled alarmingly when faced with large numbers of pedestrians. As a result, just two days after opening, the bridge was closed for safety reasons, and engineers got to work to find a solution. The bridge was closed for almost 2 years for renovations before opening again in February 2002. Thankfully, the fixes were successful, and the bridge has remained stable ever since.
The Millennium Bridge later gained global fame after a memorable appearance in the film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in 2009 where it was destroyed by the Death Eaters as they terrorised London. Fortunately, the film’s dramatic scene where the bridge collapses was created using CGI, so no harm was done in real life.
Explore some of London’s most iconic buildings, markets, theatres, and fabulous views on this private walking tour in the London Borough of Southwark along the south bank of the River Thames and discover the London Bridge, Southbank, Borough Market, and more!
On your private walking tour, you will:
Begin at London Bridge, where the small trading town built by the Romans stood upon the river Thames. Hear the stories of how the Thames helped Britain take command of the oceans - from Sir Francis Drake and his journey on the Golden Hind to the HMS Belfast, the most significant surviving Royal Navy warship from the Second World War.
London has stood at the centre of the world’s commerce for centuries, adapting to the shifting tides of power and technology. A former dockland and industrial slum, and now an icon of successful regeneration, London Bridge is one of London’s most historic and storied districts.
Move west along the river and into the time of Shakespeare, as you pass by one of the world's most famous theatres, known for the timeless words penned by arguably the greatest playwright of all time.
A few blocks east and several centuries later, step into the world of Southwark, which was built on industrial, smoky origins. Grand Victorian wharves, granaries, and shipyards once spanned its shores, amassing the trade and treasures of Her Majesty's Empire.
Now, the area has evolved into one of London's most trendy and exciting districts. The neighbourhood has arguably the best vistas across the city, its finest riverside walk, and London's most beloved food and fresh produce at Borough Market.
Whether you're merely a muggle harbouring a belief in the wizarding world's existence or whether you remember He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, this Black cab tour will take you through several of the Harry Potter filming locations for the story of the boy who lived.
On your private driving tour inspired by the wizarding world, you will:
It may not be September 1st, but unbeknownst to students, trains do depart from Platform 9¾ daily. Enjoy a quick photoshoot there before pushing through the barrier, so you don't miss the departure of the Hogwarts Express!
Prepare for your sorting ceremony and be sure you know which magical creature you want to bring with you to Hogwarts. Don't forget to visit Gringott's Wizarding Bank to pay for each of your treasures at the real entrance to Diagon Alley (muggles can't see it but pass by it daily at Leadenhall Market.)
Remember the loss of muggle life on Brockdale Bridge (known in the muggle world as 'Millennium Bridge') as you cross. But never fear, the Dark Lord is now defeated and there have been no death eater sightings for many years.
In just four hours, you'll traverse many of London's hidden passageways and filming locations for the iconic 8 films. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Ernie Prang and Stan Shunpike navigating the Knight Bus throughout the city.
We promise even if you're not enough of a Potterhead to understand a single reference made in this tour, your guide is used to accompanying muggles and showing them the magic of the wizarding world, visible everywhere throughout London!
DISCLAIMER: This tour is an unlicensed and unauthorised tour of sites featured in the film series 'Harry Potter' based on the eponymous novels by author J. K. Rowling, produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Travel Curious Ltd. and this tour does not have any association with, or connection to, the film series 'Harry Potter', the author J. K. Rowling, and Warner Bros. Pictures.
At Black Cab Heritage Tours, we have a wide range of private tours and day trips from London, but our priority is to make sure you have a memorable experience, and that every detail of your tour is taken care of.
This “Build Your Own Tour” will allow you to work with one of our staff members to create the perfect customised tour according to your requests. These tours have been designed to be delivered within the city of London. If you want to do a day trip out of town or to a different area, please reach out directly so we can reconfirm the duration and the itinerary for the day.
We look forward to welcoming you to London soon!
Please note
At Black Cab Heritage Tours, we have a wide range of private tours and day trips from London, but our priority is to make sure you have a memorable experience, and that every detail of your tour is taken care of.
This “Build Your Own Tour” will allow you to work with one of our staff members to create the perfect customised tour according to your requests.
These tours have been designed to be delivered within the city of London. If you want to do a day trip out of town or to a different area, please reach out directly so we can reconfirm the duration and the itinerary for the day.
We look forward to welcoming you to London soon!
Please note
From Warhol to Banksy, explore the world-famous Tate Modern museum, a converted power station on the banks of the River Thames, followed by a stroll through the creative hub of London’s Southbank for stunning views, spectacular Brutalist architecture and London’s best street art.
On this private walking tour, you will:
London's Southbank has always had a salubrious reputation for divergent arts and creativity. Historically it was home to munitions factories and overcrowded industrial slums. The area was heavily bombed during the Blitz, but in the last decades has undergone a total regeneration.
It is also famous for its counter-cultural vibe, its street art and graffiti, and urban creative engagement programs across the arts including theatre, dance, poetry, writing, art and sculpture, at the various buildings within the Southbank Centre, with its magnificent Brutalist architecture.
Designed by celebrated British architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (also known for the Battersea Power Station and the iconic red telephone box) the Tate Modern is as famous for its architecture as for the impressive collection of contemporary art within. Your tour guide will show you the highlights of this vast space, including works by world-renowned artists including Andy Warhol, Lucio Fontana, Joseph Beuys’ Picasso, and many more.
The second part of the tour takes you on a fascinating and colourful stroll along the river Thames with spectacular views of London landmarks, towards the Southbank Centre. Soak up the lively atmosphere, admire the spectacular Brutalist architecture, and head below to the Undercroft, a Skate Space that has been going for 40 years and is covered in a mass of graffiti and that has taken on iconic status as part of London’s counter-culture.
You’ll also see some fabulous street art on the Hungerford Bridge before walking south towards Waterloo, via the superhero Covid tribute to the NHS by celebrated muralist Lionel Stanhope.
Lastly, you will visit the hidden gem of London’s street art scene… Below the rumbling platforms of Waterloo Train Station, you will find the Leake Street Arches and 300-metre graffiti tunnel, the longest, biggest street art space in London. As an active, free space it is an ever-changing canvas with artists working there every day… some creations last months, others days, or even hours! It is an incredibly vibrant corner of the city and a testament to the years of hard work and cultural regeneration that have gone into making Southbank one of the most trailblazing artistic hubs in the world.
Discover the many filming locations of the Harry Potter movies in muggle London on a private walking tour of the most famous landmarks of the city. Unlike other cities, London was used in many of the scenes, so you will have the opportunity to visit the actual sites that made it on the big screen!
On your Harry Potter private walking tour you will:
Explore the literary and cinematic landmarks inspired by Harry Potter’s world on this magical tour of London with a private guide, who is also a Potter fanatic.
Prepare for your own sorting ceremony and be sure you know which magical creature you want to bring with you to Hogwarts. On this half-day tour, you'll traverse many of London's hidden passageways and filming locations for the iconic 8 films.
Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Ernie Prang and Stan Shunpike on the Knight Bus!
See Diagon Alley, the Leaky cauldron, and other spellbinding places - both obvious and hidden from muggle eyes. Enjoy fascinating trivia on the series and gain a lesser-known insight into the characters, author and actors.
Hear tales that even the most dedicated fans and Potterheads will not have heard before! With wands, quizzes and prizes, you will enjoy a unique wizarding experience.
Note: If you would like to visit Platform 9¾ after the tour to hop aboard the Hogwarts Express, your guide will be happy to direct you to King's Cross Station, a short tube ride away.
DISCLAIMER: This tour is an unlicensed and unauthorised tour of sites featured in the film series 'Harry Potter' based on the eponymous novels by author J. K. Rowling, produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Travel Curious Ltd. and this tour does not have any association with, or connection to, the film series 'Harry Potter', the author J. K. Rowling, and Warner Bros. Pictures.
London’s streets, landmarks, and lively neighbourhoods have served as the backdrop for countless films, from classic black-and-white masterpieces to modern blockbusters. They’ve also provided inspiration for scores of talented musicians who have called the city home over the years. Based on some of the most requested stops on our Premier Classic London tour, our jam-packed movies, magic and music route offers an exhilarating ride through London with a charismatic cabbie-guide that knows the streets like the back of their hand, showing you intriguing corners of the city related to the Beatles, Harry Potter, and other great British icons.
On this half-day private taxi tour, you will:
Set out on a dazzling journey through the sights, sounds and spellbinding stories of London on this private half-day adventure in an iconic London Cab. With a licensed cabbie as your personal guide, a local who knows every shortcut, side street and star-studded secret of the city, you’ll be collected straight from your central London hotel and whisked into a world where legendary music, blockbuster cinema and British magic come vividly to life.
While the exact order of your itinerary can vary depending on your driver and the location of your hotel, you'll soon find yourself in the place every music lover dreams of: Abbey Road in St John’s Wood. You’ll have the opportunity to stand on the famous zebra crossing where the Beatles made history and soak up the atmosphere of the studios where the band recorded their greatest hits. Nearby, you’ll pass the former London homes of Paul McCartney and John Lennon, glimpsing the quiet neighbourhood streets that once echoed with the footsteps of rock ’n’ roll royalty. You will also spend time in the heart of the capital, where some of London’s most renowned streets unfold before you. You’ll glide along posh Pall Mall, soak in the pomp and circumstance of the Mall (with views of Buckingham Palace), and roll through the grand avenues of Westminster, places that have starred in countless films and remain at the centre of British pageantry. You'll pause at Savile Row, the elegant home of bespoke tailoring, where your guide will reveal yet another chapter of Beatles lore: the site of the group’s final public performance.
Heading into the buzzing West End, you’ll pass through Leicester Square, the glamorous gateway to London’s cinema district. This is where film premieres light up the night, crowds gather to spot stars on the red carpet, and movie history is made again and again. Then it is time to step into another realm entirely, the world of Harry Potter. Visit real London locations that have transformed into some of the wizarding world’s most recognisable settings, from the grand Australia House (Gringotts Bank), to the sleek curves of the Millennium Bridge, to the atmospheric arcades of Leadenhall Market, which inspired Diagon Alley. Fans young and old will feel the magic in every moment.
Throughout the journey, your cabbie-guide brings the stories to life with an infectious passion for London’s cultural tapestry, mixing insider knowledge, film trivia, musical legends and a few delightful surprises tailored to your interests. Combining must-see landmarks, unforgettable movie moments and musical milestones, this exhilarating taxi tour is a fun and immersive way to experience London at its finest.
Please note that the sites listed are the main highlights typically included on this route; however, the exact stops may vary depending on traffic conditions, road closures, and events taking place in the city on the day of your tour. Distances between locations can be considerable, which may affect the order, inclusions and duration of each stop. If you have any specific preferences or requirements, please inform your driver at the start of the tour—they will do their best to tailor the experience accordingly.
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