Located in Kensington Gardens, right across from the Royal Albert Hall, the Albert Memorial is an impressive Victorian-era monument, commissioned by Queen Victoria herself as a tribute to her beloved husband, who tragically passed away aged 42 in 1861. The Queen was utterly devastated by his passing and wanted a monument to honour Albert's memory as well as his contributions to arts, sciences, and industry. The memorial was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, a prolific British architect, in the Gothic Revival style. Standing at over 50 metres tall, it is a lavish and intricate structure, featuring a ciborium (a large canopy supported by columns) with a gilded statue of Albert seated at its centre. The statue was designed by John Henry Foley and depicts the prince holding the catalogue of the Great Exhibition, which he helped organise in 1851. The canopy is surrounded by the "Frieze of Parnassus", depicting notable artists, musicians, poets, and architects from throughout history, a nod to Prince Albert's interest in the arts and sciences.
The memorial was unveiled in 1872 and is one of several sites honouring the prince to be found throughout London including hte Royal Albert Hall, Albert Bridge, and Albert Memorial College.
The Victoria and Albert Museum is famous for its resplendent architecture, both inside and out, as well as its incredibly vast collection, boasting millions of artefacts from sculpture to jewellery, furniture, photography, fashion, and, of course, art and design from many eras and cultures. Navigating such a remarkable selection of objects can be overwhelming, so it is well worth arranging a tour to explore the V&A's treasures with a local expert guide. Our private tour combines an engaging museum visit tailored to your interests with a stroll through the elegant streets of Kensington, one of London’s most upscale and culturally rich neighbourhoods.
On your half-day private tour, you will:
Discover the jewel of London’s cultural crown on this intriguing private tour that begins inside the storied halls of the Victoria and Albert Museum. One of London’s most famous and cherished institutions, the V&A spans over 52,000 square metres and contains a whopping 145 galleries showcasing 5,000 years of applied arts. Accompanied by a licensed guide with a deep knowledge of the museum’s history, treasures, and architectural marvels, you'll journey through two centuries of global creativity and craftsmanship and hear about how the museum was first established and how it has evolved into the remarkable repository of millions of objects it is today.
Your guide will help you navigate the museum’s hallowed halls with ease, showing you a carefully curated selection of some of the museum's most iconic artefacts that can be tailored to your interests. As you make your way through the V&A’s grand galleries, you’ll encounter exquisite pieces of fashion, furniture, sculpture, and jewellery, each with its own story to tell. From Renaissance masterpieces by Raphael and Michelangelo to the theatrical grandeur of Bernini, every object has been handpicked to inspire and delight.
After a thorough exploration of the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, your guide will lead you out into the refined streets of South Kensington, a charming district long associated with royalty, science, and culture. On your scenic stroll through the Royal Borough, you’ll pass the majestic façades of the Natural History Museum and the Royal Albert Hall, where whispers of Victorian ambition still echo in the red brick and stone. Whilst Kensington is widely known as a playground for the rich and famous, you’ll discover the royal love story that truly underpins the history of this area: the relationship between Queen Victoria and her Consort, Prince Albert.
Your tour will continue through the leafy elegance of the Kensington Gardens, where you'll hear tales of Queen Victoria’s enduring love for Prince Albert and the enormous influence they had on wider society while you admire the golden spires of the Albert Memorial, a dazzling tribute to his legacy. You’ll also catch a glimpse of Kensington Palace, home to Prince William, Princess Kate, and other members of the Royal family, and the former home to the late, great Diana, Princess of Wales. Your guide will then bring you to the Sunken Garden, a serene and reflective space that now houses the bronze statue of Diana, a poignant homage set among carefully cultivated blooms. The experience concludes at the Kensington Palace gift shop, offering a chance to browse royal-themed treasures before continuing your London adventure.
Refined, personal and rich with intriguing insights, this half-day tour invites you to discover one of the city’s most elegant quarters through art, architecture, and the stories of those who played a key role in shaping Britain’s cultural heritage.
Explore the city of London like a lord or a lady and follow the footsteps of your favourite characters on this Downton Abbey Filming Locations half-day tour.
Even though Yorkshire and Highclere Castle are the main Downton Abbey filming sites for the earlier episodes, central London started to hog the limelight as the show clocked its later innings, and on this tour, you will flashback to the popular scenes set in the city’s iconic landmarks.
Play guessing games to jog your memory as you see:
Be bowled over by a few secret filming locations, including Lord Grantham’s London stately home shared by your Professional Private Driver Guide who happens to be a Downton Abbey fanatic as well. Brace for non-stop peppy conversation, not crisp commentary.
DISCLAIMER: This tour is an unlicensed and unauthorised tour of sites featured in the television series ‘Downton Abbey’ produced by Carnival Film and Television and NBCUniversal International Limited. Travel Curious Ltd. and this tour does not have any association with, or connection to, the television series ‘Downton Abbey’, Carnival Film and Television or NBC Universal International Limited.
"Darkest Hour" is a 2017 British war drama film with Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill in the early days of World War II when he became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom leading the country through "its darkest hour". The movie received 6 nominations for Academy Awards and an Oscar for Best Leading Actor, and on this tour, your driver-guide will take you to movie spots that will repeat the experience offscreen.
On this half-day tour, you will:
Step into an iconic London black cab and immerse yourself in the history of the capital with a half-day tour of "Darkest Hour" filming locations. With an expert driver-guide at the wheel, you will visit some of the most iconic sites of the movie, from the Houses of Parliament to the Cabinet War Rooms.
Pass by the places where Churchill stood and spoke to the people of Britain during the country's darkest hour and get a feel for the resilience and determination that helped shape the course of history.
With a knowledgeable guide to provide historical context and entertaining anecdotes, this tour is a must-do for history buffs and movie lovers alike.
Sit back and relax as you travel back in time in one of London's most iconic vehicles, taking in the sights and sounds of the city that Churchill called home during this pivotal moment in history.
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