Welcome to London | Half Day London City Tour

Richmond-upon-Thames - A wealth of fascinating and thrilling experiences can be enjoyed over three days in London. Here’s the itinerary for the three days:

Welcome to the world’s most beloved city. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be greeted and provided with a transfer service to Richmond, where our English host families will warmly welcome you. Once you have your daily travel cards covering Zones 1 to 4, you’re all set to explore. (Your trip can be tailored to your needs, so please contact us for any specific requirements, whether in or out of London.)

Leicester Square - Located in London’s West End, Leicester Square was designed in 1670 and named after Leicester House, associated with Robert Sidney, the 2nd Earl of Leicester. Initially a refined residential area, it housed notable figures like Frederick, Prince of Wales, and artists William Hogarth and Joshua Reynolds. By the late 18th century, after Leicester House was demolished and retail changes occurred, it became a hub for entertainment. Today, Leicester Square is the vibrant heart of London, bustling with restaurants, cafes, cinemas, casinos, fast food outlets, hotels, international brands, street performers, and tourists. No London tour is complete without a visit to Leicester Square, a popular venue for nearly 400 years, attracting over 2.5 million visitors weekly. It’s a gathering place for Londoners and London enthusiasts, offering top shows, plays, and over 52 star-studded red-carpet film premieres annually.

Piccadilly Circus - At the intersection of Regent Street and Shaftesbury Avenue lies Piccadilly Circus, a trapezoidal area near London’s West End. Despite its name, there’s no circus here, but the term ‘circus’ typically refers to a circular area where several streets converge, following the Roman design. This quirk suits Piccadilly Circus, as it draws a diverse crowd in an already diverse city.
The name Piccadilly Circus originates from a 17th-century frilly collar called a “picadil.” It’s an apt description, as this area showcases the frills of London, with pubs, monuments, shops, and nearby West End theatres. Piccadilly Circus, akin to New York’s Times Square, is bustling with traffic, crowds, and neon lights at night, making it a major tourist attraction.
Known by its current name since 1743, the junction was established in 1819, and its history is evident. The bronze Shaftesbury memorial fountain, erected in 1893, is topped by a statue of Anteros, the Angel of Christian Charity. (The Evening Standard features a graphic of the nude statue on its masthead.) Technologically advanced for its time, it was the first sculpture cast in aluminium. In the late 1980s, the fountain was relocated from the centre to its current position at the south-west corner of the intersection. Nearby is the off-centre (the literal translation of the Greek word ‘eccentric’) Reduced Shakespeare Company, performing at the Criterion Theater since 1995.
Their specialty is a rapid, highly improvised presentation of the complete works of Shakespeare in 97 minutes, drawing inspiration from 37 plays. The 600-seat theatre often sells out, so plan ahead. The surrealistic show complements the Piccadilly Circus atmosphere, but for those interested in traditional theatre, London’s West End shows are just a short walk away. Here, visitors can enjoy the best of British theatre, with shows often later making their way to Broadway.
On the north-eastern side of Piccadilly Circus is the London Pavilion. Initially erected in 1859 as a music hall, Shaftesbury Avenue bisected the site in 1885. A new building was constructed, and by 1923, it was even illuminated with electric billboards. Rebuilt in 1986, the original 1885 facade was preserved, and the area was converted into a shopping arcade. Later, it was connected to the neighbouring Trocadero Centre. Piccadilly Circus is home to numerous pubs, but choose wisely. Some cater primarily to tourists, while others are less tourist-friendly. While exploring, don’t miss the newly installed, giant, curved TV screen at Piccadilly Circus, which rivals even Times Square.

Carnaby Street - Welcome to the heart and soul of the city’s fashion industry. Carnaby Street, a pedestrian shopping street in Soho, boasts a vibrant history dating back to its construction in 1682. Named after Karnaby House, it evolved from the first men’s boutique to the epicentre of the Swinging 60s, home to the punks of the 80s, and remains an iconic London area today. Nestled between Oxford and Regent Streets, it hosts a plethora of fashion and lifestyle retailers, including numerous independent fashion shops. In the heart of London’s shopping scene, Carnaby Street offers over 100 international and British fashion brands, independent boutiques, unique concepts, trendy beauty emporiums, grooming salons, and custom jewellery specialists. From brand-new flagships and UK firsts to showcasing one-of-a-kind designers, Carnaby’s 14 streets are lined with women’s wear, men’s clothing, cosmetics, and accessories like no other. Beyond shopping, more than 60 independent restaurants, bars, cafes, and pubs offer affordable à la carte options, late-night drinks, and even delightful breakfasts, captivating both tourists and Londoners. Now it’s your turn to explore this charming district with us.

Covent Garden - Speaking of gardens, don’t miss Covent Garden. Once a fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, it is now a bustling shopping and tourist destination. Not actual gardens, the area is a stunning array of theatres, shops (many visit London just for shopping), and more, where street performers vie for tourists’ attention alongside restaurants, bars, clubs, and shops. Covent Garden is also a prime destination for theatregoers and patrons of the Royal Opera House by night. Situated in the heart of London’s Broadway West End, the area wasn’t always a fancy part of the city, but developments since the 70s have transformed it into a top tourist destination. Indeed, Covent Garden is one of London’s vibrant attractions, playing a significant role in today’s cultural life with its theatres, restaurants, cafes, street performers, stalls, markets, and numerous attractions. It’s a must-see in London.

Richmond-upon-Thames - After the tour, you’ll return to the English host families for dinner in Richmond. Following dinner, you’ll explore the picturesque Richmond Thames Riverside, with its many cafes, shops, and pubs for evening enjoyment. With the night still young, you can even stroll home along Riverside Drive, falling in love with the view.

Full Day London City Tour

Green Park - After a delightful English breakfast, your day begins at Richmond Train Station. Here’s today’s list of London highlights. You’ll explore the city’s most significant attractions with open-deck sightseeing tour buses. Your journey starts in Green Park, one of London’s Royal Parks. It connects with St James Park across the road, with Buckingham Palace in between. This lovely park features an ornate fence and paths crisscrossing the park, and in summer, visitors can rent deck chairs to bask in the sun. Green Park offers a peaceful escape from London’s bustling traffic, providing a serene green space in the city’s heart, perfect for a leisurely stroll. The park is well-connected to London’s transportation system, with a designated tube station and numerous bus stops, including sightseeing tour bus companies. The Ritz, an iconic London hotel, is nearby, along with other significant historical buildings like St James’s Palace, Clarence House, and Spencer House.

Hyde Park - Hyde Park is perhaps best known for Speaker’s Corner, where individuals stand on a soapbox to share their views with the crowd. However, there’s much more to see and do in Hyde Park than listen to political opinions. The land that forms Hyde Park was first acquired by Henry VIII from the monks of Westminster Abbey in 1536. While Henry used Hyde Park for deer hunting, today’s horseback riding is strictly for leisure. Casual and relaxing, Hyde Park’s trails are plentiful, but riders must bring their own horses. Visitors can often see the Royal Horse Artillery riding through Hyde Park early in the morning. Hyde Park was first opened to the public by King James I in the early 17th century. The park is divided by the Serpentine, a river dammed to create an artificial lake, an idea conceived by King George II’s wife, an avid gardener. Boat rides on Hyde Park’s lake remain a popular activity.

Marble Arch - Marble Arch once served as an entry gate to Buckingham Palace and today marks the entrance to London’s world-famous shopping district, Oxford Street, as well as Hyde Park’s Speaker’s Corner. Marble Arch also lends its name to the district where it was relocated. This charming masterpiece has a fascinating history. Renowned British architect John Nash (1752-1835) was a favourite of Prince Regent (later King George IV). Under George’s patronage, Nash designed and planned several significant landmarks and masterpieces, including Regent’s Park, Regent Street, Carlton House Terrace, much of Buckingham Palace, and the beautiful Marble Arch in London. By 1830, Nash’s work, featuring several statues and panels, was completed at Buckingham Palace. However, King George IV’s sudden death led to Nash’s dismissal by the Prime Minister of Wellington due to the project’s excessive costs. Consequently, architect Edward Blore was tasked with completing the work economically and practically. When Blore found himself with a disorganized collection of statues and panels, he sought Nash’s drawings to understand how the pieces fit together, but Nash was displeased with his dismissal. Despite its grandeur, this masterpiece contains a notable error. Our APTG blue badge guides will share the rest of the story during the tour.

Oxford Street - Oxford Street is one of London’s main thoroughfares, stretching between Tottenham Court Road and Marble Arch. It’s also Europe’s busiest shopping street, attracting around half a million visitors daily. Today, it boasts over 300 shops, cafes, restaurants, language schools, department stores, and more. It’s the heart of daily business, fun, leisure, and, of course, shopping in London. Like much of London, Oxford Street has a rich history. The street’s route was once part of the Via Trinobantina, a Roman road passing through London between Hampshire and Essex. During the Middle Ages, it was known as Tyburn Road, infamous for public hangings at Tyburn Gallows. In the 18th century, it became known as Oxford Road and later Oxford Street, transitioning from residential to commercial and retail use by the late 19th century, attracting street traders, confidence tricksters, and prostitution. The UK’s first department stores opened in the early 20th century, including Selfridges, John Lewis & Partners, and HMV. Unlike nearby shopping streets like Bond Street, Oxford Street retains an element of downmarket trading alongside prestigious retail stores. The street suffered heavy bombing during World War II, with several longstanding stores, including John Lewis, completely destroyed and rebuilt from scratch. Despite competition from other shopping malls, such as Westfield Stratford City and Brent Cross Shopping Centre, Oxford Street remains a sought-after retail destination. Shopping is a tradition on this street, and tourists particularly enjoy this experience during their London stay.

Regent Street - Regent Street, located in London’s West End, is a major shopping street. It was designed by architect John Nash and James Burton and named after George, Prince Regent, later George IV, Queen Victoria’s uncle. George IV was known as a pleasure-loving king, and his influence is evident throughout London. He also remodelled Windsor Castle. As you stroll along the street, you’ll gain insight into the history of British monarchs and their lifestyles in this charming city. Regent Street runs from Waterloo Place in St James’s at the southern end, through Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus, to All Souls Church. The street is renowned for its flagship international retail stores and brands, including Liberty, Hamleys, Jaeger, Apple Store, Microsoft, Bose, Burberry, Anthropologie, Hugo Boss, Breitling, Calvin Klein, Coach, Desigual, Gant, Guess, H&M, Hollister, Kiko, Kipling, Lacoste, Longchamp, Levi’s, Mango, Michael Kors, Nike Town, The North Face, Omega, Polo Ralph Lauren, Reiss, Superdry, Ted Baker, Tezenis, Tommy Hilfiger, Topman, Topshop, Tumi, Uniqlo, Yoshino, Zara, and many more. Regent Street was one of London’s first planned developments. After the Great Fire of London in 1666, Sir Christopher Wren and John Evelyn devised plans for the city’s reconstruction following the classical formal model. London’s roads were reconfigured, replacing the medieval layout, and houses were rebuilt on the old road network due to a lack of development. The Royal Polytechnic Institution, now Westminster University, has been based on Regent Street since 1838.

Piccadilly Circus - At the junction of Regent Street and Shaftesbury Avenue lies a trapezoidal area near London’s West End known to the world as Piccadilly Circus. It’s an odd name since there’s no circus there, but even odder is that ‘circus’ usually denotes around city area where several streets meet in a circle, after the Roman plan. But that eccentricity fits Piccadilly Circus, since this area of the great British capital attracts the most diverse set of people in an already diverse town.
The first half of the Piccadilly Circus name comes from a 17th-century frilly collar called a “picadil”. The name is a perfect description, for here are the frills of London. Here are pubs, monuments, shops and nearby theatre in the West End. Piccadilly Circus, akin to New York’s Times Square, it’s filled with traffic, crowds and (at night) neon lights befitting its role as a major tourist attraction.
Known already by 1743 by its current name, the junction was created in 1819 and its history shows. There’s the bronze Shaftesbury memorial fountain, erected in 1893, topped by a statue of Anteros, the Angel of Christian Charity. (The Evening Standard uses a graphic of the nude statue on its masthead.) Technologically innovative at the time, it was the first sculpture to be cast in aluminium. In the late 1980s, the fountain was moved from the centre to its present Piccadilly Circus location at the south-west corner of the intersection. Not far from the centre, is the off-centre (the literal translation of the Greek word ‘eccentric’) Reduced Shakespeare Company, who have performed at the Criterion Theater since 1995.
Their speciality is the rapid, highly improvised, presentation of the complete works of Shakespeare in 97 minutes. (Well, something that draws inspiration from 37 of the plays, anyway.) The 600-seat theatre regularly sells out, so plan ahead. The surrealistic show fits in well with the ambience of Piccadilly Circus, but for those interested in more traditional forms of theatre the London West End shows are only a few minutes’ walk. Here you can see the best of British theatre - shows which often are later imported to Broadway.
On the north-eastern side of Piccadilly Circus, is the London Pavilion. First erected in 1859 as a music hall, Shaftesbury Avenue bisected the site in 1885. A new building for the purpose was built and by 1923 was even lit with electric billboards. Rebuilt in 1986, the original 1885 facade was preserved, and the area converted to a shopping arcade. Later it was connected to the neighbouring Trocadero Centre. There are also pubs galore at Piccadilly Circus, but be selective. Some are nothing but tourists, some are very tourist unfriendly. While you’re doing touristy things, don’t miss the newly installed, giant, curved TV screen at Piccadilly Circus. Not even Times Square can compete with this one.

Trafalgar Square - Trafalgar Square is a very touristic public square with some of London’s most popular attractions, from galleries and historic buildings to monuments and statues, you can be a witness of deep-seated British history. Square also holds a series of events all year round. Listen to the stories of the kings such as Charles I, Charles IV, Admiral Horatio Nelson, General Sir Charles James Napier and Major General Sir Henry Havelock who shaped the history of this nation. Tourope UK’s APTG qualified blue badge tourist guides will ready to take you an immaculate journey through the timeline of our nation.

Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall - Explore the official entrance to St James and Buckingham Palace, since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660. Lifeguards have stood guard at Horse Guards and ready to offer you a true British ceremony. Although Changing The Queen’s Lifeguard is not as well-known as Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace smaller crowds and no railings between you and the men and horses taking part make it ideal for those with younger children and those looking for some amazing pictures. The ceremony lasts about half an hour, and the mounted sentries change every hour, or half hour in very cold weather during the day until 16:00 when a dismounting ceremony takes place. The Queen’s Lifeguard is normally provided by men of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment which consists of a Squadron of The Life Guards, who wear red tunics and white plumed helmets, and a Squadron of The Blues and Royals with blue tunics and red plumed helmets. Our APTG qualified blue badge tourist guides will be ready to tell you amazing stories about this ceremony. A simply not to be missed attraction in the heart of the city.

Downing Street - Being one of the most important political buildings in the world, the United Kingdom’s “White House”, Number 10 continuously hosts the British prime ministers since 1735. The main decisions affecting Britain’s destiny in the last 275 years have seriously been taken behind its iconic black door. Today it’s not possible to enter the street as a tourist but knowing the idea that an actual prime minister lives and works in the street is exhilarating.

Westminster Abbey - Westminster Abbey is a Church, burial ground, coronation site and much more and continues to attract visitors over 900 years after its founding. In many respects the architecture is common. There’s the traditional cross-shaped floor plan with a nave, north and south transepts and several round side areas but both its execution and use raise The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster (the official name) to among the highest examples of church construction. Here at Westminster Abbey lie buried kings and poets, scientists and philosophers who have themselves raised humankind to the highest levels. Isaac Newton and James Clerk Maxwell (discoverer of electromagnetic theory, which later leads to radio and TV), Chaucer and Kipling, Dr Samuel Johnson (creator of the first English dictionary) and many other justly famous names are interred here.

Houses of Parliament - The Houses of Parliament, known also as the Palace of Westminster is where the two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of Lords and the House of Commons) conduct their sittings. They lie on the north bank of the River Thames in the London borough of the City of Westminster, close by other government buildings in Whitehall. The oldest part of the building is still in existence, Westminster Hall, which dates from 1097. The palace originally served as a royal residence, but no monarch has lived in it since the 16th century. Most of the present Houses of Parliament structure dates from the 19th century when the Palace was rebuilt after it was almost entirely destroyed by a fire in 1834. The architects responsible for rebuilding the Palace was Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin, and the building is an example of the Gothic revival.

Westminster Bridge - Westminster Bridge is not an ordinary bridge to span the river Thames. It has a very tumultuous history in London. The bridge’s colour is green and the story of the bridge is colourful. We will tell you about the history of the bridge after Lady Boudicca’s role in London’s 2000-year-old history. Oh before we leave we will walk along the bridge and take pictures of London Eye, Royal Festival Hall and the River Thames.

London Eye - Our Millennium Wheel is the first-built and largest observation wheel in the world (a type of evolution on the Ferris wheel) and has been since its opening at the end of 1999. The London Eye stands 135 metres (443 feet) high on the western end of Jubilee Gardens, on the South Bank of the River Thames in Lambeth, London, England, between Westminster and Hungerford Bridges. It is adjacent to London’s County Hall and stands opposite the offices of the Ministry of Defence situated in Westminster which it overlooks to the west. The London Eye was designed by architects David Marks, Julia Barfield, Malcolm Cook, Mark Sparrow hawk, Steven Chilton, and Nic Bailey. The London Eye’s wheel carries 32 sealed and air-conditioned passenger capsules attached to its external circumference. Rotating at a rate of 0.26 metres per second so that one revolution takes about 30 minutes to complete, the London Eye wheel does not usually stop to take on passengers (the rotation rate is so slow that passengers can easily walk) except for the wheelchair users. What a lovely panoramic sightseeing attraction in the city. Our APTG qualified blue badge tourist guides will gladly tell you the history of the landmarks that you will see from the sky.

Covent Garden - Speaking of gardens, be sure not to overlook Covent Garden. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a very popular shopping and tourist site. Not really gardens at all, the area is a spectacular array of theatres, shops (many people visit London just for the shopping) and more where the street performers compete with restaurants, bars, clubs and shops for tourists’ attention. Covent Garden is also the prime destination of theatregoers and patrons of the Royal Opera House by night. It’s situated right in the heart of London’s Broadway West End. The area wasn’t used to be a fancy part of the city, however, series of developments after 70’s made this district a prime destination for tourists. Indeed, Covent Garden is one of the vibrant places of interest in London. It plays a great role in today’s cultural life with its theatres, restaurants, cafes, street performers, stalls, markets and many attractions. It’s a must-see place in London.

St. Paul’s Cathedral - St Paul’s Cathedral is a cathedral on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London, and the seat of the Bishop of London. The present building dates from the 17th century and is generally reckoned to be London’s fourth St Paul’s Cathedral, although the number is higher if every major medieval reconstruction is counted as a new cathedral. The first cathedral was built of wood by the Saxons. It burned down in AD 675 and was rebuilt, again in wood, ten years later. After this version was sacked by the Vikings in 962, the “second” St Paul’s was built, this time mainly in stone. The predecessor to Wren’s cathedral, the third St Paul’s (known as Old St Paul’s), was begun by the Normans after the late Saxon cathedral suffered in a fire of 1087. Work took over two hundred years, and a great deal was lost in a fire in 1136. Nonetheless, the roof was once more built of wood, which was ultimately to doom the building. The church was “completed” in 1240 but a change of heart soon led to the commencement of an enlargement programme, which was not completed until 1314. The cathedral was however consecrated in 1300. It was the third longest church in Europe at 596 feet (181 metres) and boasted one of Europe’s tallest spires at some 489 feet (149 metres). England’s first classical architect Sir Inigo Jones added the cathedral’s new west front in the 1630s, but “Old St Paul’s” was finally ruined in the Great Fire of London of 1666. Building work on the latest St Paul’s Cathedral commenced in June 1675 to a design by a great English scientist and architect of the 17th century Christopher Wren, and St Paul’s Cathedral was completed on October 20 1708. The story starts from this point on and you can’t wait to hear the rest of it from our qualified blue badge tourist guides.

The Monument to the Great Fire of London - The Monument to the Great Fire of London, more commonly known simply as the Monument, is a Doric column situated near the northern end of London Bridge. Commemorating the Great Fire of London, it stands at the junction of Monument Street and Fish Street Hill, 202 feet (62 m) in height and 202 feet west of the spot in Pudding Lane where the Great Fire started on 2 September 1666. Constructed between 1671 and 1677, it was built on the site of St. Margaret’s, Fish Street, the first church to be destroyed by the Great Fire. The Monument comprises a fluted Doric column built of Portland stone topped with a gilded urn of fire. It was designed by Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke. Its height marks its distance from the site of the shop of Thomas Farriner (or Farynor), the king’s baker, where the blaze began. Hear the story of how London missed its opportunity to be a highly planned city of all times.

London Bridge - London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, between the City of London and Southwark. It is between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge; it also forms the western end of the Pool of London. The original London Bridge made this one of the most famous bridge emplacements in the world. It was the only bridge over the Thames in London until Westminster Bridge was opened in 1750. On the south side of London Bridge is Southwark Cathedral and London Bridge station. On the north side is the Monument to the Great Fire of London and Monument tube station.
A bridge has existed at or near the present site for nearly 2000 years. The first bridge across the Thames in the London area was built by the Romans on the present site around 46 CE and was made of wood. The location was most likely chosen as a bridgeable spot which still had deepwater access to the sea. The bridge fell into disrepair after the Romans left, but at some point either it was repaired or a new timber replacement constructed, probably more than once. In 1013, the bridge was burned down by King Ethelred in a bid to divide the invading forces of the Dane Svein Haraldsson.
This episode reputedly inspired the well-known nursery rhyme London Bridge is falling down. The rebuilt London Bridge was destroyed by a storm in 1091 and yet again, this time by fire, in 1136. The current London Bridge was constructed by contractors John Mowlem from 1967 to 1972 and opened by Queen Elizabeth II on March 17, 1973. London Bridge is a fairly dull edifice comprising three spans of pre-stressed concrete cantilevers, paid for in part by the sale of the earlier Rennie bridge. It is 928 feet (283 metres) long. The cost of £4m was met entirely by the City of London’s Bridge House Estates. The current bridge was built in the same location as Rennie’s bridge, which was carefully demolished piece by piece as the new bridge was built, so the bridge would remain in use throughout.
In 1984 the British warship HMS Jupiter collided with London Bridge causing significant damage to both ship and bridge. On Remembrance Day 2004, various London bridges were furnished with red lighting as part of a night-time flight along the river by wartime aircraft. The red lighting on London Bridge considerably improved its drab appearance, so it has been left on the bridge (but not the other bridges) and lights it at night.

HMS Belfast - HMS Belfast is the last remaining vessel of her type and one of the largest and most powerful light cruisers ever built. At 80 years old HMS Belfast is now a popular museum and tourist attraction in London. Built by Messrs Harland & Wolff in 1936, HMS Belfast was launched by Anne Chamberlain, wife of the then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, on St Patrick’s Day in 1938. This Warship was designed for the protection of trade and offensive action from Germany. Two months at sea and then, unfortunately, hit a magnetic mine and this masterpiece of Windsorian engineering was damaged so severely she was out of action for three years. On re-joining the home fleet in 1942 she was still the largest and most powerful cruiser in the Royal Navy and most importantly she was equipped with the most advanced radar systems. HMS Belfast was immediately called into action and played a crucial role in protecting the arctic convoys, Russia’s supply route throughout the war. Most notably in her role during the Battle of North Cape which saw the sinking of the German battle cruiser Scharnhorst and the loss of all but 36 of her 1,963 crew. HMS Belfast remained protecting the arctic convoys until 1944 when she spent five weeks supporting the D-Day landings and reportedly fired one of the first shots on D-Day itself. After the Second World War HMS Belfast played an active role in the Korean War from 1950-1952 working with other Allied Forces to support the retreating American and South Korean troops. HMS Belfast was brought to London opening to the public on Trafalgar Day, 21 October 1971. Her final years were spent performing peace-keeping duties until she was retired from service in 1963. Explore and visit this sleeping beauty by our APTG qualified blue badge tourist guides today.

Tower Bridge - Tower Bridge is probably the city’s most distinctive symbol of today. The Bridge shows a lot to its medieval predecessor London Bridge with its starlings and elaborate twin towers that give the bridge its name but it’s not just a homage to the past, hidden inside that medieval-looking exterior there’s a rather wonderful piece of Victorian engineering and in its day it was the biggest and most sophisticated lifting bridge in the world. Unlike London Bridge, the genius of the design is that the bridge can act as a gateway swinging open to allow tall ships to pass through. We will tell you plenty of things about this masterpiece in London, just follow us!

Tower of London - Few prisons can claim to be as popular as the Tower of London, an attraction - unpleasant for some - for over 900 years. Its twenty towers are filled with an ancient tradition of royal blood, armor and jewels and the history to match. The Tower of London central structure began as a fort - used by the original builder William the Conqueror who completed the first tower around 1100 AD. At its completion it was the tallest building in London. Henry III had it whitewashed in the 13th century and the name, White Tower, has stuck. Later it evolved into a prison, used by Henry VII (and many others). Still later - and continuing to this day - it has acted as a repository for the extensive collection of crown jewels. Henry VII, nearly always short of money, had few jewels to store. But the stone complex, near the Tower Bridge alongside the River Thames, has also been used at various times to house the Royal Mint, the Public Records, the Royal Menagerie (later to form the starting point of the London Zoo) and an observatory (built in 1675). Listen to the rest of the story of the Tower of London from us today.

Buckingham Palace - Buckingham Palace is still the official residence of Britain’s monarchy, as it has been since Queen Victoria’s designation in 1837. Much of the Buckingham Palace was constructed as early as 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham. Buckingham House (as it was then known) was purchased in 1762 by George III, who used it as a private residence. Over the following 75 years the house was expanded to form three wings around a central courtyard. When Queen Victoria discovered Buckingham Palace lacked several ‘necessary’ rooms - such as a formal ballroom, a nursery, visitor’s bedrooms and others - major additions were undertaken, including adding an entire wing to form a quadrangle. Buckingham Palace is the home of the Changing Guard Ceremony in London. The Changing of the Guard has been a tradition for hundreds of years whereby the Household Regiment, the Queen’s Guards at Buckingham Palace, change shift in a fascinating show of pomp and circumstance.

Richmond-upon-Thames - Tonight, you can either stay in London for an immaculate London by night activity, or you can return to your English homes for your delicious homemade dinner. You can embellish your London experience by joining one of the best West End musicals tonight. Your tour can be customized based on your travel interest in London. Let’s explore our city together.

Half Day London City Tour | Transferring to the Airport

The British Museum - Today is the last day of your London 3 day package, but there are some other important places that you will explore. After having breakfast with your English host families, you will get on the tube, like real Londoners. Now that you have mostly seen the major landmarks of London, it’s time to explore the cultural jewels of the city. Your day starts with the British Museum. The British Museum is one of the largest and most important museums of human history and culture. The oldest museum in the world, The British Museum was established in 1753 and was based largely on the collections of the physician and scientist Sir Hans Sloane, although principally a museum of cultural art objects and antiquities, today. The British Museum was founded as a ‘universal museum’. This is reflected in the first bequest by Sir Hans Sloane, comprising some 40,000 printed books, 7,000 manuscripts, extensive natural history specimens, prints by Albrecht Dürer and antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Middle and the Far East and the Americas. There are plenty of things to see in three hours in the museum.

Oxford Street - After lunch, you will keep exploring London, and will go to bustling Oxford Street for a massive shop till you drop experience. You will have time to enjoy a shopping frenzy in London’s top iconic shopping parade.

Oxford Street is one of London’s stretching between Tottenham Court Road and Marble Arch. It’s also Oxford Street is one of London’s artery stretching between Tottenham Court Road and Marble Arch. It’s also Europe’s busiest shopping street hosting around half million visitors daily. Today, there are more than 300 shops, cafes, restaurants, language schools, department stores and many more. It’s the heart of daily business, fun, leisure and of course shopping in London. Like everywhere in London, Oxford Street has its history. The street route used to be part of the Via Trinobantina, a Roman route that passes through London between Hampshire and Essex. It was known as the Tyburn Road during the Middle Ages when Tyburn Gallows was also known for its public hangings. It became known as Oxford Road and then Oxford Street in the 18th century and began to change from residential to commercial and retail use by the late 19th century, attracting street traders, confidence tricksters and prostitution. The first department stores in the UK opened in the early 20th century, including Selfridges, John Lewis & Partners and HMV. Unlike nearby shopping streets such as Bond Street, it has retained an element of downmarket trading alongside more prestigious retail stores. The street suffered heavy bombing during World War II, and several longstanding stores including John Lewis were completely destroyed and rebuilt from scratch. Oxford Street, with several chain stores on the street and a number of buildings listed, remains in demand as a retail place amid competition of other shopping malls, including Westfield Stratford City and the Brent Cross Shopping Centre. Because shopping is simply a tradition on this street and especially tourists love this experience during their stay in London.

Soho - After shopping, you will go to SoHo, London’s bizarre multi-cultural, the most colourful district for your exploration. Through SoHo, you will reach Chinatown where Chinese culture dominates the whole town with its funky characteristic.

Well, welcome to the most colourful and creative district in the West End of London. Although Soho is originally a fashionable area for the aristocracy, it has been one of the main entertainment arenas in the capital since the 19th century but the history of Soho goes back to the 16th century. The area was developed from farmland by our monarch, Henry VIII in 1536. The aristocracy had mostly moved away by the mid-19th century when Soho was particularly badly hit by an outbreak of cholera in 1854. For much of the 20th century, Soho had a reputation as a base for the sex industry in addition to its nightlife and its location for the headquarters of leading film companies. Since the 1980s, the area has undergone considerable gentrification. It is now predominantly a fashionable district of upmarket restaurants and media offices, with only a small remnant of sex industry venues. London’s gay community is centred on Old Compton Street in Soho. As a result of Greek and Italian immigration, many small and easily affordable restaurants and cafés, mainly were founded in Soho during the 19th century. In London’s red-light district, there are hundreds and hundreds of secret taste spots that you will admire. Just delve into the exciting London food scene as you let your stomach lead you to the best restaurants and secret taste spots in London. Get downright messy with street food at London markets or enjoy a creative cocktail at top bars in London, yes, they are all in Soho. London is also crammed full of traditional English pubs, from traditional boozers to quirky hangouts, you name it. For locals and tourists on a bright and sunny day, Soho Square is a really cool place to hang out, chill with your friends have something to eat and of course have something to drink. You will also realize its pavements busy with tourists going to West End shows, media professionals in the area marching to work, hungry patrons and taste hunters sampling some of London’s best restaurants and of course, people looking to have a dazzling night out at Soho’s vibrant clubs, bars and English pubs. In order to assume the soul of Soho, the best thing you can do is wander its medieval narrow streets or sit at a table and watch all the passers-by while you’re drinking your Soho style cocktails. Explore off the beaten track and hidden gems of Soho with our APTG qualified guides today.

Leicester Square - Your tour will end in Leicester Square where you can watch talented street performers.

Leicester Square is a square in London’s West End. It was designed in 1670 and is named after the contemporary Leicester House, named after Robert Sidney, the 2nd Earl of Leicester. Originally, the square was a gentrified residential area, with tenants including Frederick, Prince of Wales and artists William Hogarth and Joshua Reynolds. In the late 18th century, when Leicester House was demolished and retail changes took place, it became a centre for entertainment. Today, Leicester Square is the heart of London with its restaurants, cafes, cinemas, casinos, fast food stores, hotels, international brands with the street performers and tourist crowds. No tour is completed in London without visiting Leicester Square. Leicester Square has been a popular venue for almost 400 years. Well, the vicinity welcomes more than 2.5 million visitors every week! It’s a meeting point of all Londoners and London lovers. The city’s top shows and plays and over 52 star-studded red-carpet film premiers each year can widely be enjoyed by all visitors.

London Heathrow Airport T2 and T3 - It’s time to say goodbye to London. You will be transferred to the airport for your late flight, and we do hope you have enjoyed your stay in the world’s capital. Hope to see you next time in the city for different activities in different places.

• Free group leader package for every 15 paying customers
• Dinner
• Breakfast
• Return (Roundtrip) transfers
• Sightseeing bus tickets

• Daily travelcards
• Lunches

This compact package offers you a sublime London experience hosted by our cordial English families. A stellar choice when time is of the essence. From the initial minute to the program’s conclusion, you are assured the finest care from our operations team, group heads and tour guides.

London has something for everyone and its charm is well-known. This realization will spotlight why London is a city that imprints enduring and cherished memories from the outset of our package, lasting a lifetime.

Visit world-renowned landmarks and learn their fascinating stories and history from a seasoned tour guide. Our Excursion Tour aims to introduce you to London’s key attractions and interesting facts within the limited time available.

Experience authentic English culture in quintessential homes set in the picturesque landscapes of Richmond and Kingston. We welcome you to join us!

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.