Los Angeles History Tour: Urban Development to Landmarks

Witness Los Angeles’ historical journey from its early urbanization in the 20th century, now boasting numerous historical sites. Observe the transition of a business district into a residential area. You’ll see the integration of early 1900s architecture in the rejuvenation of a modern downtown!

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Angels Flight Railway - Shortest Railway in the World
  • Grand Central Market - Historic market since 1917
  • Historic Theater District - Largest collection of pre- WWII theaters in America
  • Bradbury Building - Step into the oldest standing office building of Los Angeles
  • Old Bank District - “Spring Street of the West”
  • **The Last…
What's Included
  • Local guide
Additional Information
  • The tour ends at Pershing Square (532 S. Olive Street 90013), which is a 5 minute walk back to the starting point. The guide can point you in the direction.
Location
349 S Hill St
South Hill Street
We meet at the bottom of Angels Flight Railway (349 S. Hill Street 90013) located between 3rd and 4th on Hill Street across the Grand Central Market. Nearest Metro Rail station - Pershing Square Nearest Parking - Private lots at the corners of 3rd & Hill Street and 4th & Hill Street.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(206 Ratings)
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Devika_s
Nov 29, 2024
Exceptional Tour Guide and Unforgettable Experience! - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We had an amazing experience on the Downtown LA Walking Tour, and Phil was absolutely fantastic! His passion for the city’s history and architecture made the tour incredibly engaging. He shared fascinating stories, answered all of our questions with patience, and even pointed out hidden gems we would’ve missed on our own. Phil’s enthusiasm and deep knowledge truly brought the city to life. This tour was the highlight of our visit, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone exploring Los Angeles. Thank you, Phil, for making our day so memorable!
Review provided by Viator
Nate080411
Nov 27, 2024
Insightful and fun way to spend an afternoon - The walking tour with Phil was great. He was such a pleasant and knowledgeable guide. Taking 2 hours to learn more about downtown LA and how the city grew was very fascinating. He was able to answer all of our questions and had a great delivery. I don’t think people think about downtown LA that much compared to the Hollywood side of the city, but it is well worth the time. You will see some cool little spots and get a few steps along the way. The tour pick up and drop off are very close to each other making your logistics easy. I would highly recommend the tour and anything that Phil is guiding.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susan_b
Nov 21, 2024
Small group, perfect balance of info and number of locations - Phil is knowledgeable and informative in this very small group tour today, just 4 guests. The history of the Downtown streets was fascinating, giving a context to what we see today. Perfect balance of information and moving on to the next location.
Review provided by Viator
Dianajp6187og
Nov 18, 2024
Great experience - A very informative and enjoyable tour with our guide, Phil! He was incredibly patient and took the time to show us many aspects of downtown LA, sharing fascinating details along the way. His knowledge and enthusiasm made the experience truly memorable. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting DTLA!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ollyolsen5
Nov 6, 2024
Downtown LA Walking Tour - The tour was great. Our guide, Phil, was so informative about everything on the walk tour. So many interesting buildings & historical hotels & theatres. I would certainly recommend this tour. Small walking group, stopping frequently. Good for most ages. Cheers & thank you Phil👏😃 Mark & Kerry
Review provided by Tripadvisor
80annien
Nov 6, 2024
Take this Interesting LA Tour - Our trip was enlightening about LA. I saw and learned about things that I would not have seen if I had been touring on my own. Phil was very knowledgeable and patient. He was considerate to all the participants and genuinely shared his love for the city. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janevgs
Oct 29, 2024
Great tour and guide - We really enjoyed the tour, Rich was an excellent guide, knowledgeable, articulate and engaging with so much knowledge of the district. He clearly enjoys the tours and loves the city which definitely comes through to customers. Highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elizabeth_f
Oct 26, 2024
Knowledgable LA native guide - Highlight was seeing the inside of the Bradbury building! Loved learning about the jewelry district.
Review provided by Viator
Casandra_s
Oct 22, 2024
fascinating stories - The guide had great experience and knew a lot about the history of each place, it was an excellent way of getting to know DTLA.
Review provided by Viator
Martin_h
Oct 14, 2024
A Downtown walk offering surprising insights - Our visit to the Bradbury Building from inside was both intriguing and informative, like all other places along our route.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
December 2024
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