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Best of London: Tower of London, Thames & Changing of the Guard
4.6
765 Ratings
Greater London
Experience the royal highlights of London on a 4-hour walking tour. Visit the Tower of London, witness the Changing of the Guard, and take a Thames River cruise. Learn about the British Royal Family and Queen Elizabeth II.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Tower of London - Start your day with exclusive access to the historic Tower of London, once a fortress, prison, and execution site.
This early morning tour ensures a crowd-free experience and offers the chance to witness the captivating Opening Ceremony performed by the esteemed Yeoman Warders (if selected). By avoiding the crowds, you’ll be among the first to see the Crown Jewels.
- Thames River - Next, board a relaxing riverboat on the Thames as your expert, English-speaking guide shares insights about the major landmarks along its banks.
Disembark and, depending on the day, either attend the Changing of the Guards or enjoy a fully guided walking tour through the vibrant city of Westminster.
- Changing of the Guard - If you choose the ‘Changing of the Guards’ option, you may witness either the Changing of the Foot Guards or the Changing of the Horse Guards in London, depending on the Household Cavalry’s schedule. These events are famous for showcasing British tradition and military precision, enhancing London’s reputation.
- Westminster - Alternatively, select the ‘Royal Walking Tour’ option to explore the heart of London with a fully guided walking tour through Westminster. Immerse yourself in centuries of history and the foundations of the British monarchy. Westminster is rich in stories, with each corner revealing tales of kings and queens, political intrigue, and cultural milestones. Admire famous sights like the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey, and discover lesser-known spots with fascinating stories and intricate details, ensuring a well-rounded experience.
- Buckingham Palace - Your tour concludes outside Buckingham Palace, where you’ll have ample time to capture the moment with photographs, adding the perfect finishing touch to your experience.
What's Included
- VIP early-access tickets to Tower of London
- Expert, English-speaking guide
- Changing of the Guards (depending on the day)
- Opening Ceremony at the Tower of London by the Beefeaters (if option selected)
- Headsets when appropriate, so you always hear your guide
- Guided Walking tour of Westminster City (depending on the day)
- Boat ride on the River Thames
What's Not Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Embark on a captivating journey through London’s royal history and iconic landmarks. Begin with an early access visit to the infamous Tower of London, where you’ll see the opening ceremony and be dazzled by the Crown Jewels. Cruise the Thames River aboard a relaxing boat and either attend the Changing of the Guards or explore the heart of London on the Westminster City Walking Tour.
- Please note that there will be no guiding inside the Jewel House and White Tower at the Tower of London as this is forbidden by the venue.
- The Changing of the Guard is subject to changes in date, time and cancellation at the discretion of British authorities. Cancellation due to bad weather or other circumstances is not announced before the morning of the ceremony. When this occurs, you will be provided with a walking tour of Westminster city instead.
- Please note that the changing of the guard schedule may change and on different dates we will see either Foot Guards or Horse Guards.
- Please note that the Changing of the Guards ceremony is not included if your tour departs from 9am onwards. On these days, you will be provided with a walking tour of Westminster city instead.Due to increased security measures at many attractions some lines may form on tours with ‘Skip the Line’ access.
Location
1 Tower Hl Ter
Tower Hill Terrace
Meeting Point - Walking Tour: Directly in front of the Ticket Office at Tower of London, look for the City Wonders sign.
Arriving by tube: Tower Hill Tube Station: Head west turn right towards Trinity Square, turn left onto Trinity Square, Tower of London - 3 min walk
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(765 Ratings)
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James_b
Jul 26, 2024
Very nice - Jo was a very good tour guide, she really knew her history. The London Tower was impressive definitely worth the trip. JV from Concord Ohio
Review provided by Viator
Daniel_w
Jul 26, 2024
Great overview of London - The guide was terrific. Getting to Tower of London for opening ceremony beat the crowds. We got right in to see crown jewels. Brisk walk and river boat ending at Buckingham.
Review provided by Viator
Phillip_s
Jul 23, 2024
Fabulous tour and tour guide! - Natalie was amazing! Very informative and kept us on schedule. It was a great your thanks to her.
The tour began right on time and had us be among the first into the London Tower. From there, the boat trip provide new information shared by our guide, Natalie. The short walk to Buckingham Palace was also came with additional knowledge gained.
Review provided by Viator
Naomi
Jul 20, 2024
A walking tour full of history and anecdotes - It was a wonderful tour. Natalie was well versed in the history of the places visited. She possessed humour and had many interesting stories to share. I highly recommend it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Steve_w
Jul 18, 2024
Fantastic tour! - Michael gave us a personal tour. He was incredibly knowledgeable, witty, and enjoyable. The tour was fantastic ending with viewings of the king and his procession. Simply amazing.
Review provided by Viator
Joyce_v
Jul 17, 2024
Wonderful experience! - Wonderful experience! We highly recommend this tour. Lee was our tour guide, very knowledgeable and professional with a great sense of humor.
Review provided by Viator
C5034gnjennifers
Jul 16, 2024
Great tour, amazing guide - the BEST way to see the Tower of London! - All I can say is WOW, what a great tour! There were six of us in our tour and when we arrived, we wound up getting a tour guide all to ourselves! Jeremy was our guide and he was AMAZING. He was so knowledgeable, not only about all the sites, but the best times to arrive and leave each of the sites to optimize travel and not have crowds. We learned so much. I would definitely recommend this tour! My only suggestion is to be sure you leave enough time to visit the Crown Jewels and the White Tower (both of which are interesting but you have a limited amount of time to do both, so be sure to budget correctly).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jarrod_m
Jul 16, 2024
Perfect access and tour! - Fantastic tour guide Natalie was a wealth of information. The perk was definitely getting into the Tower of London early and watching the keys to opening the tower. This allowed us to be the FIRST in line to see the Crown Jewels. No waiting at all!
Review provided by Viator
Julie_d
Jul 14, 2024
Good tour! - Good & informative tour! Enjoyed ourselves. Only thing could say was it did run a little long at some stops.
Review provided by Viator
Fsujen95
Jul 14, 2024
A+ from this U.S. teacher - Jo was our tour guide and she was phenomenal! My husband and I were on our honeymoon and we’d had quite a few hiccups on the trip. We were so happy we took this tour- it was very informative, interesting, entertaining…Jo was so good, and she took time to make a special connection with us. Can’t say enough about how much we enjoyed this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
