Top 10 Tours and Excursions in London

On foot, by bike, by boat or bus, by day and by night. On London's most infamous history or on its splendor reflected in palaces and monuments: there are tours for all tastes, pockets and travelers.

If you are one of those who love to know a city getting lost in its streets, this walking tour through the center is a great option because it covers several of the wonders that are hidden in the maze of streets that make up one of the most beautiful and most historic parts of London, its old town.

What you will learn

You will discover how Covent Garden was once London's most vibrant red light district; you will learn all about the great fire that ravaged the city in 1666 in front of the Great Fire of London Monument and how the plague killed a third of its population. You will also get to know other emblematic points such as Tower Bridge or what was for centuries the tallest building in the city, St. Paul's Cathedral. A spectacle for the eyes.

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I have been to London many times, but this tour took me to places I had never seen before and made me see the city in a different way. I learned a lot about Jack the Ripper and London's more terrifying history. I will definitely come back for another one of his tours on my next visit.

Are you easily scared or do you love to hear spooky stories? If you answer yes to the latter... Welcome to the Jack the Ripper night tour. Here your guides, terrifyingly into their role, will take you back many years to know the places that starred in the most Dantesque scenes of London's history.

But you have several versions of this terrifying walk. You can do it with Fish & Chips tasting or if you prefer you can hire the bus tour version of Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes. Which one would you dare?

What you will learn

Besides visiting the most infamous place in the city, the Tower of London, you will discover chilling places of the black legend, such as the first Psychiatric Hospital, the Plague Pits, the Traitor's Gate and the haunted areas of the East End. And also, how and where one of the most famous serial killers in history whose identity is still unknown to this day, Jack the Ripper, operated. Are you ready to have a... scary time?

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Lovers of engineering and train operation, the history tour of the world's oldest and most iconic subway awaits you. Travel back 150 years to learn the secrets and history of how the subway network that runs through London was built, practically by hand, why it was pioneered and how renowned architects designed its line system, as well as seeing a ghost station abandoned 50 years ago.

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London is a city of heavy traffic and crowds, so going with a guide will make the bike tour more comfortable, showing you the best areas to cycle, such as the banks of the Thames, while telling you the details of everything you see. In addition, and contrary to what it might seem, the bike tour is not hard, even children from 10 years old can do it.

With this tour of London's parks by bike you will know the most important gardens of the city, such as Kensington, Hyde Park, Green Park or St. James Park, as well as its main attractions: Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and the Princess Diana Memorial. Exercise, fun and sights to feast your eyes on, what more could you ask for?

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Thames cruises are a really nice way to see the London skyline on the banks of this mighty river and take a break from the intense walking sightseeing that this great city demands. With departures every half hour, the Thames cruise from Westminster to Greenwich is a very affordable boat tour with which you will admire up to 13 of London's major attractions.

What you will see on this tour

Departing from Westminster Pier, you can relax on deck or inside the boat to take pictures, while a specialized guide explains the history of wonderful monuments such as the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

The tour ends in Greenwich, where you can get off the boat to see this area and visit on your own places like the Cutty Sark exhibition ship, Greenwich Park, the National Maritime Museum or the Royal Observatory of Greenwich. Also, if you wish, you can return to the starting point, Westminster, on board the same cruise ship. I have written an article about 7 Best Thames River Cruises in London that may be of interest to you.

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Comfort and mobility without limits. These are two of the advantages that make the iconic tourist buses have become a 'must' that you will see touring the city at all hours.

They allow you to admire London from the heights and comfortably seated, while a guide explains the history of the different places, avoid daily dependence on its crowded network of public transport and, most importantly, have the ability to make their full tours or get on and off (his famous "Hop on-Hop off") as many times as you want in each of its dozens of stops.

Big Bus routes

There are several companies that offer these tours, but the Big Bus tourist bus has more variety of routes, up to 3, and more stops, about 45, plus it is the best to go with children, as they have activities on board and explanations especially designed for them.

Their routes depend on the geographical area or the theme of the attractions they include, from some with all the must-see attractions in London to others with stops at the main leisure experiences for the whole family, including an exclusive route through the neighborhood of Notting Hill and another early in the morning to see how this great city dawns.

This tour also includes a free walking tour of the city, a cruise on the River Thames and some local discounts. Their buses are fully adapted for baby carriages and people in wheelchairs or who need guide animals.

In my guide on Top London Sightseeing Buses you can read all the details of each company, all their routes and the attractions you will find at each stop.

Personally, big cities fascinate me even more at night. When the natural light disappears and the neon lights, street lamps and spotlights start waking up to illuminate the imposing monuments, streets and shopping areas, it seems as if there is only you and the city.

Why I like this night tour

Touring the city at night and doing it comfortably seated on a tour bus is a great idea, especially after walking around all day. This night bus tour is from the same company as the previous one, Big Bus, only it leaves at dusk, and with it you can see illuminated, among others, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral or the Millennium Bridge.

Their buses leave every 5-12 minutes in summer and every 15-30 in winter, with a single route for more than 20 free stops where you can get on and off whenever you want. In addition, this tour also includes a sightseeing cruise on the River Thames and three walking tours of the city.

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Here's a tour that no literature lover can miss: can you imagine seeing in person how the theater where Shakespeare's most famous plays were performed? If you have seen the famous movie 'Shakespeare in love' you will get an idea of this tour to Shakespeare's Globe Theater, a reconstruction of the original Elizabethan theater.

With this tour of Shakespeare's Globe you will learn about the dramaturgy in 16th century London, how the sound effects were created 400 years ago, the scripts, the costumes and even the music through his Globe Exhibition. If you want to round off your visit and feel like a real 'British' you can include the experience of having an afternoon tea with sweets, inspired by the great play "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

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Feel part of royalty for a day with this tour of Buckingham Palace, with tea at the end of your visit, a rare opportunity that can only be enjoyed for eight weeks of the year.

What this tour consists of

A guide will take you to the gates of what has been the official London residence of the British Royal Family since the nineteenth century and today inhabited by Elizabeth II and will give you your ticket to visit the interior at your own pace and with the explanations of an audio guide.

You can marvel at the lavish decoration of the palace rooms and its chandeliers, elegant furnishings and treasures from the royal collection and enter the Throne Room, where photographs are usually taken at weddings of royalty.

After the visit you will enjoy with your guide a walk through the most beloved park by the British, the beautiful St. James's Park, to finish your experience enjoying a typical afternoon tea with an exquisite display of sandwiches, homemade scones served with thick cream and jam and freshly baked cakes. A delightful tour fit for a king.

If you want to really understand British history, a guided tour of two of its most iconic and influential sites is a good place to start. This guided tour of Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament is a great option to learn in a brief overview the history of the British Royal family and their traditions, which are still so present in the lives of the English today.

What you will learn

From the place that saw all the great monarchs crowned since 1066 and celebrated great royal weddings, such as that of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, in the essential Westminster Abbey, to the place where politics and the future of the country are still decided today, in the Houses of Parliament, which houses the House of Commons and the Lords.

In addition, at the Palace of Westminster, a World Heritage Site, you can visit the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the greatest symbol of London, Big Ben, the bell that strikes its grand clock. For more details on how to visit Westminster Abbey, you can consult my guide on London Westminster Abbey Tickets: how to buy and prices.

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If you like history and you feel like enjoying another historic landmark on your trip to London, this guide on Tower of London Tickets and Tours: how to buy, prices and schedules can help you organize your visit to the Tower of London. If on the other hand you feel like a more relaxed visit, Madame Tussauds will be a great contrast in your trip. I leave here an article I have written about London Madame Tussauds Tickets: how to buy and what to see in case you are interested in knowing more.