London Sightseeing Tour: Iconic Sights and River Cruise

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Greater London

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Experience the best of London in just one day! Join a guided sightseeing tour to see iconic landmarks, visit famous attractions, witness the Changing of the Guard, explore St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London, and enjoy a scenic River Thames cruise. Upgrade to include a ride on the London Eye for breathtaking views.

Duration: 9 hours

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

City of London - Panoramic Tour
Begin the London adventure with a journey through the city aboard a luxury coach equipped with free Wi-Fi and USB charging, guided by an expert tour guide. As the tour progresses, the guide will share fascinating stories and intriguing facts about London’s rich history. Witness all of London’s most famous…

City of London - Panoramic Tour
Begin the London adventure with a journey through the city aboard a luxury coach equipped with free Wi-Fi and USB charging, guided by an expert tour guide. As the tour progresses, the guide will share fascinating stories and intriguing facts about London’s rich history. Witness all of London’s most famous landmarks, such as the Albert Memorial, Westminster Abbey, the renowned Elizabeth Tower, also known as ‘Big Ben’, and much more!
Changing of the Guard - At one of the initial stops, Buckingham Palace, experience a traditional ceremony that epitomizes British pomp and pageantry. During this event, guards from the New Guard of the Household Division arrive to take over the duty of protecting Buckingham Palace. Accompanied by a regimental marching band, these soldiers are easily identifiable by their bearskin caps and scarlet tunics. Despite their appearance, these soldiers are elite members of the British military!
St. Paul’s Cathedral - St Paul’s Cathedral stands as an iconic symbol of London. As one of the largest churches globally, its dome reaches an impressive height of 366ft and was the tallest building in London until the 1960s. Discover the Cathedral’s history on a guided walking tour and learn how Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece took 35 years to complete.
Tower of London - Nearly a thousand years of history await at the next stop, the formidable Tower of London. The long and bloody history of ‘The Tower’ is rich with myth and legend. Constructed by William the Conqueror in 1066, this historic fortress in the heart of London is known as a notorious prison and execution site.
Thames River - Thames River Cruise
Conclude the tour by heading to Tower Pier and boarding the next available boat for a scenic cruise along the River Thames. Enjoy a unique perspective of the stunning London waterfront as the journey continues to Westminster Pier, adjacent to the iconic Houses of Parliament. (open date ticket)
London Eye - London Eye: Standard Ticket (with the option)
Standing at 135 metres (443 ft) tall, the lastminute.com London Eye is Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel and one of London’s most iconic landmarks. Revel in spectacular panoramic views of London and other famous city landmarks, including ‘Big Ben’ and the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and St Paul’s Cathedral.

What's Included

Scenic Thames River cruise
Option to include London Eye ticket
Exclusive access to St Paul’s Cathedral
Admission to the historic Tower of London
Comfortable travel with air-conditioned coach
Personal audio headset provided
Guided by an experienced Blue Badge Guide

What's Not Included

Gratuities
Hotel pick-up and drop-off

Additional Information

Join us for a comprehensive full-day tour of London, expertly guided and full of fascinating insights into the city’s history. Explore renowned locations such as Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, and tour inside St Paul’s Cathedral. Experience the spectacle of the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace and inspect the Tower of London. In addition, partake in a delightful River Thames sightseeing cruise, which can be redeemed on the tour day or at your leisure. You can choose to enhance your tour with a Standard London Eye ticket.

Spend a day exploring London’s most famous sights
Explore two of the city’s globally recognized landmarks
Witness a classic British military ceremony
Be awestruck by the magnificence of St Paul’s Cathedral
Gaze at the irreplaceable Crown Jewels in The Tower of London
Take a picturesque boat ride on the River Thames
End the day with an unforgettable view from the world’s highest cantilevered observation wheel
You can choose to take the river cruise on another day and finish the tour at the Tower of London instead of Westminster Pier. The London Eye is a Standard Experience booked at a 6pm time-slot for guaranteed entry (if option selected).
Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace takes place on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (subject to availability).
If there is no Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace we see the Changing of the Guard at Horse Guards Parade instead
London Eye: The London Eye ticket is for standard entry around 6:00pm (subject to availability) on the same day. This ticket can only be used for this one visit. Please show the ticket on your phone as the barcode will be scanned. Visit to The London Eye is independent
Please note: St Paul’s Cathedral is closed to the public on Sundays and for special events or services. On these days we will stop for photographs outside St Paul’s Cathedral and spend longer at Tower of London instead.

Location

Victoria Coach Station

Buckingham Palace Road

Departs at 9 am (boarding at 8.30), Victoria Coach Station (Our team will be waiting to greet you by our Welcome Desk at Victoria Coach Station opposite gates 1 & 2 Nearest station: Victoria Station - Victoria line, Direct line, Circle line, British Rail

Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings

4.2

(1519 Ratings)

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Teri_h

Oct 17, 2024

None better! - Ruth and Idiris were fantastic! Their knowledge and expertise were immeasurable and made all the difference. We could see other yours with people shouting and jostling; Ruth knew right where to go and when yo go. The headset made all the difference.

Review provided by Viator

Gilbert

Oct 12, 2024

Great Experience! - Sandra was great! I got to see all of the great site London has to offer in one day! Got all of my pictures :) thank you for a great experience and fabulous memories that will last a lifetime!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

J_e

Oct 9, 2024

Excellent experience - We very much enjoyed this tour and the history of London that went along with it. We were able to see the places we wanted and had a very memorable experience.

Review provided by Viator

James_d

Sep 26, 2024

great tour - What a wonderful tour which covered most of the main attractions. Nathan was a great tour guide for this attraction. Very informative.

Review provided by Viator

Sharon_s

Sep 25, 2024

London out and About - This day out was fun with good weather, knowledgeable guide David. No changing of the guard due to upcoming event but that was fulfilled with other activities. David was a good pace setter and allowed time to wander on your own with breaks for amenities and lunch. Enjoyed this tour as not rushed. Thank you for a lovely day around London.

Review provided by Viator

Travelfiend551

Oct 17, 2024

Great tour with informative guide. - Maria was a very knowledgeable guide whose commentary enhanced our tour. We were disappointed that the changing of the Guard was hampered by cold drizzling weather. We stood with hundreds of other tourists to see the spectacle, only to see the Gherkers. We spent a lot of time at the Tower of London, which enabled us to see the Crown Jewels, and historic artifacts of over 1000 years. The complex of buildings and exhibits there is so massive that we returned the next day. This ticket also included a boat ride on the Thames, which took about 30 minutes to Greenwich. The visit to St. Paul's Cathedral did not happen because the King was involved in a conference there that day.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Tokclare

Oct 10, 2024

London in a Day: Iconic Sights, Great Guide, and a Full Itinerary - Our first full day in London was packed with iconic sights and memorable moments on the “London in a Day” tour. We started early from Victoria Coach Station, excited to explore the city. Our first stop was outside Buckingham Palace, where we had a peaceful moment before the crowds arrived. As we drove around London, our guide provided fantastic commentary, pointing out historic buildings and interesting landmarks along the way. We then stopped at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Unfortunately, as it was a Sunday, we weren’t able to go inside, which was a disappointment as I’d been looking forward to seeing it up close. From there, we headed to Wellington Barracks and found a prime spot to witness the start of the Changing of the Guards. Following the soldiers to Buckingham Palace was a thrilling experience, even with the crowds. Police on horseback managed the crowds well, ensuring everyone stayed behind the edge of the footpath. Next, we enjoyed lunch at the gates of the Tower of London, grabbing some delicious fish and chips before heading inside. The Tower was enormous, and we had a lot to explore, from the royal jewels to ancient churches. While our guide gave us some great background info, I would have loved a tour led by a Beefeater—they have so much insight to share! The Tower of London deserved more time than we had, but we managed to capture some stunning photos of Tower Bridge before setting off on a cruise down the Thames. Unfortunately, the weather turned cold, which kept us inside for most of the cruise, but it was still a lovely ride. We wrapped up the day with a ride on the London Eye, taking in breathtaking views of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament from above. It was the perfect way to end a fantastic day of sightseeing. Overall, it was an incredible introduction to London, even though we couldn’t see everything in full detail. The tour was well-organised and offered a brilliant snapshot of the city’s highlights.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Linda_m

Oct 13, 2024

Disappointed - Title included Changing of the Guards; however, the tour did not include Changing of the Guard due to the date of the tour. The tour title should not have included this feature if it was not available. Missed the guard inspection. Also, the guide moved WAY too fast. He regularly left tour participants behind and did not allow time for tour members to take photos at key sites (e.g., Big Ben). The whispers / guide boxes were out of range as the guide was so far ahead. The tour seemed more like a race than a focus on key highlights. The guide moved so fast that one of my family members gave up and returned to the bus.

Review provided by Viator

John_w

Sep 24, 2024

Disappointed Tour - Crown jewels, very disappointed with overall tour. Changing of the guard - saw brief glimpse from distance at beginning, followed thru park too far away to see them, when reached Buckingham Palace, still too far away to see them march or change guards. Tour does not tell you that they leave you at the Tower of London and you are on your own to find your way back to wherever you stay. Not worth the money.

Review provided by Viator

Christa_d

Sep 28, 2024

Awful - We walked 30 minutes in the rain for our 9am departure. Got there at 8:45am. Checked in. Received our red wrist band and were told to wait around for our tour guide Dave to call us. Well, apparently the man that was helping us was incompetent bc the bus had already boarded, and Dave never came off the bus (failure by Dave) to see if any remaining tourist had arrived. I would not recommend this company (Evan Evans) for a tour at all. They don’t communicate well and some staff seem incompetent. With that said, we did talk to a woman who agreed to refund us given the situation was caused by their error. I did appreciate that and we made the best of our day on foot, which ended up being better than what the tour could’ve offered anyways.

Review provided by Viator