• Buckingham Palace - Buckingham Palace serves as the London residence and administrative center for the British monarch. Initially constructed for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703, it became an official royal palace when Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837. Today, it symbolizes the British monarchy, hosting state events and royal hospitality, with its State Rooms accessible to the public during summer. Don’t miss the guards outside in their iconic bear-skin hats. Discover the story of the man who intruded into the palace and reached the Queen’s bedroom.
• St. James’s - St. James’s is the oldest of London’s Royal Parks. Its landscape features a lake that acts as a wildlife sanctuary for ducks, geese, swans, and even pelicans. One king famously kept two pet crocodiles here! The park’s history dates back to King Henry VIII’s reign and has been influenced by several monarchs, offering a tranquil retreat with a regal backdrop.
• Queen Victoria Memorial - Situated at the end of The Mall in London, the Victoria Memorial is a magnificent monument dedicated to Queen Victoria, crafted by sculptor Sir Thomas Brock. Unveiled in 1911, it boasts a central pylon of Pentelic marble and statues in Lasa marble and gilt bronze, representing the virtues of the late queen. Weighing 2,300 tonnes and standing 25 meters high, the memorial was part of an ambitious urban planning scheme that included the creation of the Queen’s Gardens.
• Green Park - Green Park is steeped in stories, including one about a haunted tree and a jealous queen. Developed by Charles II over 350 years ago, the park is a peaceful haven of mature trees and grasslands, providing a serene escape from the city’s hustle and bustle.
• Whitehall - Whitehall is renowned for housing numerous government departments and is synonymous with the British Government itself. It has been the site of many historical events, including the execution of King Charles I. Look for the “Cavalry Blacks,” horses standing guard, mounted by soldiers in their splendid ceremonial uniforms.
• Downing Street - Downing Street is famous for housing the official residences and offices of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Built in the 1680s by Sir George Downing, it has been at the heart of British political power for over three centuries. The street is also a symbol of the British Government, with Number 10 serving as the Prime Minister’s home.
• Old Admiralty Building - The Old Admiralty Building, over 300 years old, once used wires on its top to send messages to the fleet in Portsmouth. It was here that Admiral Nelson’s body was retrieved from a barrel of brandy after his death at the Battle of Trafalgar. Curiously, about a third of the brandy was missing. Discover why on the tour.
• Banqueting House - Designed by architect Inigo Jones and completed in 1622, Banqueting House is renowned for its stunning ceiling painted by Peter Paul Rubens and is the only remaining part of the Palace of Whitehall. It was through this room that Charles I passed on his way to execution in 1649. The Banqueting House also housed Henry VIII’s wine cellar.
• Great Scotland Yard - Originally the site of buildings used by Scottish royalty and diplomatic representatives when visiting the English court, Great Scotland Yard became famous as the original headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, leading to the name “Scotland Yard” becoming synonymous with the police service. The street has a rich history, having housed notable figures such as architects Inigo Jones and Christopher Wren, and poet John Milton.
• Big Ben - Officially named the Elizabeth Tower after the late Queen, Big Ben refers to the 13 1/2 ton bell inside, made at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, the same foundry that cast the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Halfway up the tower, there’s a prison, and a light inside indicates that the House of Commons is in session.
• Houses of Parliament - The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament, is the seat of two parliamentary houses, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The current Gothic Revival palace, designed by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin, was constructed in the mid-19th century after a great fire destroyed much of the original building. Westminster Hall, however, remains. This was the site of many dramatic events in English history, including the trial of Guy Fawkes, the man who attempted to blow up Parliament, and the trial of Charles I.
• Parliament Square - Statues of major political figures from around the world adorn the square. Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela are honored here. The most famous of all is Winston Churchill, Britain’s wartime leader.
• Westminster Abbey - Known as the Nation’s church, founded in 1066, it is where every King and Queen of England, with just two exceptions, were crowned. It is also a place of royal marriages, funerals, and burials. Among the many famous people buried here, one is buried standing up. Discover why on our tour.
• Buxton Memorial Fountain - The Buxton Memorial Fountain commemorates the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834 and honors the parliamentarians who campaigned for abolition. Designed by Charles Buxton in collaboration with neo-Gothic architect Samuel Sanders Teulon, it was unveiled in 1865, coinciding with the United States’ Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery. Originally located in Parliament Square, the memorial was moved to Victoria Tower Gardens in 1957 and has undergone several restorations, the latest being in 2007.
• Boudiccan Rebellion - James Thorneycroft’s statue commemorates the queen who led a resistance against the Romans in Britain 2,000 years ago. This rather fanciful statue features horses modeled on Prince Albert’s own.
• Lambeth Palace - The home of the Archbishop of Canterbury in London. The brick towers are over 500 years old. This is the archbishop’s residence in London, and parts of the building are over 750 years old.
• Trafalgar Square - Dominated by Nelson’s Column, this square commemorates England’s greatest naval hero. The lions at the base were added later. The sculptor never saw a lion in real life and supposedly based them on his pet Labrador dogs.
• Canada House - This is Oceanic House, once owned by the White Star Line, operators of the ill-fated Titanic. Today, it is part of the Canadian High Commission. The libertine Casanova was once entertained here.
• Birdcage Walk - This pleasant avenue runs to the south of St. James’s Park. Named after the birds kept here during the reign of James I, Birdcage Walk features Wellington Barracks to the south, home to the five-foot regiments who guard the palace. On the other side is St. James’s Park, where tame parakeets can be hand-fed.
• Admiralty Arch - Sir Aston Webb’s High Empire Arch of 1905 is exactly 1/2 a nautical mile from Buckingham Palace. The style is known as High Empire. The offices of the First Sea Lord are in the north of the arch.
• Churchill War Rooms - A secret underground bunker from where Winston Churchill directed the Allies’ war effort in World War II. Built in 1940, the war rooms remained a secret until opened to the general public in 1984.
• Pall Mall - Named after a fashionable game from the late 1600s, Pall Mall is home to elitist gentlemen’s clubs. Gastronomic delights invented in the kitchens within these clubs include Beef Wellington, steak and kidney pie, and the humble sandwich. Some clubs achieved notoriety for gambling; one member boasted he could ride to Edinburgh on horseback backwards.
• St. James’s Palace - Built by Henry VIII for his second wife, Anne Boleyn, 500 years ago, this palace is still a royal residence, and all foreign diplomats report to St. James’s Palace. Following a fire in Whitehall in 1698, the royal family moved into this palace and remained here for the next 150 years.
• Berry Bros. & Rudd - The wine merchants set up business here in the seventeenth century, where Henry VIII once had his tennis courts. Inside Berry Brothers and Rudd, there are some massive scales where famous people from over 200 years ago had themselves weighed. The second floor is where the state of Texas had its legation during the brief time it was an independent state.
• John Lobb - This is where the great and the good have had their shoes made for over 250 years. Shoes are made in blocks of wood known as “sets,” and the shoe is built around it. These shoes are said to last a lifetime, and when you see the price, you’ll understand why.
• D. R. Harris & Co Piccadilly - Known for their hangover cures, this is the oldest pharmacy in London. D.R. Harris and Company are known for their gentleman’s grooming products.
• Piccadilly Circus - The Times Square of London, famous for its electronic billboards and the statue of Eros, the first aluminum statue in the world. Built in 1891, it was the first aluminum statue in the world and commemorates Lord Shaftesbury, a British Prime Minister of the mid-nineteenth century, who did much to alleviate the conditions of the poor, particularly children. The electronic advertising hoardings started in 1908 and are the largest in Europe, containing 281 trillion colors from 11 million pixels.
• Mayfair - The fair that was once held was banned in the late 1600s for its rowdiness. From that time onwards, townhouses were developed for wealthy residents. Look for the arcades, covered shopping areas over 200 years old, patrolled by the beadles in their nineteenth-century uniforms.
• Burlington House - Lord Burlington’s London home now houses the Royal Academy of Arts. Some of the world’s most famous contemporary artists exhibit here within the splendid neo-Palladian building.
• Fortnum & Mason - Founded over 300 years ago, Fortnum and Mason’s is one of London’s most famous department stores. They are purveyors of luxury goods to the Royal Family. Their Christmas hampers are world-renowned, as are their Scotch eggs, which were invented here.
• Hyde Park Corner - The massive statue of an angel surmounting a chariot was unveiled in 1913. The statue is so large that a dinner party for eight people was held within one of the horses. Only members of the Royal Family and the Household Guard are permitted to pass through the arch beneath.
• Apsley House - Home to the Duke of Wellington, victor over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. By the staircase is a massive 5-meter statue of the Duke’s adversary, Napoleon. The Duke was nicknamed the Iron Duke. Find out why on our tour.
• Park Lane - This London thoroughfare links Constitution Hill and Marble Arch. Along the east side of Park Lane are some of London’s most prestigious hotels. On the west side is Hyde Park, the largest of London’s central parks.
• Marble Arch - John Nash’s masterpiece from over 200 years ago stands at the site of the old Tyburn Hill, a place of execution for over 700 years. The arch once stood outside Buckingham Palace but was moved during the reign of Queen Victoria.
• Bayswater - North Carriage Drive to the south of Bayswater Road is said to be haunted by a bus! This road was originally built by the Romans 2,000 years ago and links London to the university city of Oxford. J.M. Barrie, the children’s author, lived on this road and wrote his classic children’s novel “Peter Pan” here.
• Hyde Park - The largest of London’s many parks and gardens, Hyde Park was once the hunting ground of Henry VIII. The park you see today was landscaped in the early 1700s, and the Serpentine Lake was created. It was here that the Great Exhibition of 1851 was held, and the memorial to the man who made it such a success, Prince Albert, can be seen here.
• Serpentine Galleries - Award-winning galleries featuring works by some of the world’s most famous artists.
• Serpentine Boating Lake - An artificial lake created over 300 years ago was the centerpiece of Charles Bridgeman’s revolutionary development of Hyde Park. The lake was created by damming up the River Westbourne, which flows into the River Thames. There’s a lovely view to the east of the London Eye.
• Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain - Built at a cost of £3.2 million, this granite memorial commemorates the life of Diana, Princess of Wales. The fountain has two courses of water that meet at the bottom. The fountain is said to reflect Diana’s life of turbulence and calm.
• Albert Memorial - Probably the best example of Gothic Revival architecture, this memorial commemorates the life of Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria. The memorial was built during the height of the British Empire. The four figures at the base represent Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, where Britain’s presence was felt throughout the nineteenth century.
• Royal Albert Hall - The Albert Hall hosts the Proms, a summer-long celebration of classical music. The 8,000-seat auditorium is oval in shape and also hosts circuses and rock concerts. The distinctive dome is the largest unsupported glass dome in the world.
• Kensington Palace - Once the home of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Prince William and Princess Kate, this palace was the birthplace of Queen Victoria. The palace, over 300 years old, was built for Queen Mary and her husband, William, Duke of Orange. The palace is open to the public and features a costume museum.
• Natural History Museum - This splendid neo-Gothic building dates back to the late Victorian age, and the style reflects “High Church” architecture, popular at this time. The museum has over 80 million specimens. Exhibits include animatronic dinosaurs and Charles Darwin’s octopus.
• Science Museum - The Science Museum features many of the world’s inventions, including the first steam locomotive and the earliest computer. Also exhibited here is the car that made the first motor journey in Britain and a collection of veteran airplanes.
• V&A - Victoria and Albert Museum - Once described as the nation’s handbag, this museum features a curious collection of art from all over the world. There are over 2.3 million exhibits from all over the world, spanning 5,000 years of human history. Like most museums in this area, entrance is free to the general public.
• Harrods - Arguably the world’s most famous department store, Harrods’ reputation is second to none in accessing provisions for their most demanding customers. Their motto is: something for someone, everywhere. It was the first building in the country to have escalators, and a man with a wooden leg was employed to go up and down it, to demonstrate it was quite safe to use.
• Belgravia - Much of the land around here is owned by the Grosvenor family, who inspired the character of the grinning Cheshire Cat. Find out why on this tour. Belgravia is home to many of London’s embassies.
• Royal Mews - The Royal Mews is where the King keeps his carriages, which can be seen by the public on selected dates throughout the year. 24 of the King’s horses are stabled here, attended by 12 grooms. Also on display is a rare Rolls Royce, a gift from the Society of Motor Manufacturers to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
• Lambeth Bridge - Look out for the pineapples on top of the columns, the emblem of the borough of Lambeth. There are some great views towards the Houses of Parliament. This was an ancient fording point, going back over 4,000 years, and once had a horse ferry until this bridge was built.
• Lambeth Palace - The home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth Palace is distinguished by the brick tower gateway built over 500 years ago. The River Thames once went up to the wall, and the archbishop would have arrived by boat. The gardens are only accessible by nurses in the nearby St. Thomas’s Hospital.
• Florence Nightingale Museum - Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, established a school here 150 years ago. A small museum is dedicated to her memory, where you can see her famous lamp and pet owl, Athena. Florence Nightingale also approved the hospital’s design.
• County Hall, London - Once the home of London’s government, this building has over 8 kilometers of corridors and is home to the London Aquarium. When the foundations were being dug in the 1920s, an almost intact Roman galley was found from 2,000 years ago. The lion standing outside County Hall is made from Coade stone.
• Westminster Bridge - “Earth has not anything to show more fair,” wrote the poet William Wordsworth on Westminster Bridge. There are some great views towards “Big Ben” from this bridge. The colored canopies of the Houses of Parliament nearby feature the liveries of the Commons and the Lords.
• London Eye - Built to commemorate the millennium, the London Eye is now London’s most popular tourist attraction, with over 3.5 million visitors a year, one of the tallest observation wheels in the world. The wheel is over 100 meters in height and has 32 pods that can hold up to 12 people at a time. It takes half an hour to make a full revolution.
• Thames River - The Thames is the second oldest place name in the English language, named by Julius Caesar following his invasion over 2,000 years ago. Although only just over 300 kilometers in length, the river was once the busiest in the world. The river has changed greatly since Victorian times when it was up to three times wider than it is today.
• Sir Joseph Bazalgette Memorial - The man who built London’s sewage system and drastically altered the shape of the Thames. Before Bazalgette’s great engineering project, the Thames was a foul-smelling and dangerous river. The 100-kilometer embankments along the Thames greatly altered the flow and nature of the Thames.
• Cleopatra’s Needle - A gift from the Turkish viceroy of Egypt, Cleopatra’s Needle is a 4,000-year-old obelisk said to be jinxed! Look at the base of the obelisk, and you’ll see shrapnel damage from one of the first bombs to land on British soil, dropped by a Zeppelin in the First World War. Buried beneath the obelisk is a time capsule, depicting England’s most beautiful women of the time.
• Waterloo Bridge - Known as the Ladies Bridge, this was built during the Second World War when the men were away fighting. There are some great views of both the City and Westminster from this bridge. The bridge is made from a self-cleaning stone from the Isle of Portland on England’s south coast.
• Aldwych Area - Meaning “the old port” in Old English, this area of London is home to the London School of Economics, one of the country’s most prestigious universities. We are on the edge of the theatre district here. Covent Garden is also close by, a major hub for dining and entertainment.
• Somerset House - Once the site of a royal palace, this building dates from the late 1700s. Public records were once held here. Today, the building is a venue for lectures and also features Courtauld’s art gallery.
• Fleet Street - Once famous for newspaper publications, some of the old taverns frequented by journalists still remain, including one with a foul-mouthed parrot! The Church of St. Bride’s is known as the wedding cake church. You’ll see why on this tour.
• St Bride’s Church - Often described as the journalists’ church, the spire is said to have influenced the design of the modern wedding cake. This has been a place of Christian worship for over one thousand five hundred years. The present church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren.
• Temple Bar - The huge dragon in the middle of the road marks the boundary of the City of London, the world’s oldest continuous democracy. The City of London is a political entity in its own right, with its own police force, schools, and government. Endowment funds from hundreds of years ago make the City of London one of the most prosperous pieces of real estate in the world. The dragon is said to be protecting the city’s wealth.
• St. Paul’s Cathedral - Sir Christopher Wren is the architect of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the fourth such on this site. The dome is second only in size to St. Peter’s in the Vatican. The dome is known for its acoustics, known as the whispering gallery because a whisper can be clearly heard across the gallery.
• London Bridge - Some great views from this bridge towards Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast. There have been several London Bridges here. The most famous stood for 650 years and once had shops and houses on top of it. There was even a jousting match on the bridge between an Englishman and a Scotsman. To find out who won, come on our tour!
• Tower Bridge - Instantly recognizable as London’s most famous bridge, the lifting mechanism got stuck as a bus crossed over in 1952. Find out what happened next on our tour.
• Tower of London - In its time, the Tower of London has been a prison, a jail, a place of execution, a royal palace, and a zoo. The Crown Jewels are kept here and are on public view. The jewels were stolen once, and the thief was awarded land and a pension! There are also some ravens in residence, looked after by a raven master, one of the Beefeaters who guard the tower.
• Southwark - The major entertainment hub during Shakespeare’s day, Southwark could be a rough and ready place, full of taverns, bear pits, and theatres.
• Borough Market - A fruit and vegetable market for over 700 years, the market is a favorite place to sample some of the best street food from all over the world.

• Private transportation
• Bottled water
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Parking fees

Our London classic tour takes in all the essential sites of London plus some extras, all in the comfort of a traditional London black taxi cab, complete with a panoramic roof for better touring experience. With access to most bus lanes, taxi ranks and our ability to stop, turn and park in places forbidden for other road users, means that we have unprecedented access to the streets of London. We run tours in English and 6 other languages, curated and produced by us, combining over 30 years experience in the touring business. Other languages are available on request. Every London cabbie has passed the fiendishly difficult “knowledge” of London. This involves knowing every street within a 10 kilometre radius of central London, plus over 20,000 points of interest. You can be assured therefore that you are in safe and capable hands for great tour of London.

• Travelling sickness

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.