London is a huge city with an incredible array of tourist attractions. From Big Ben to St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London, there’s so much to see in the capital of England. If you have limited time, we recommend taking a London one day tour with an expert guide who will show you the highlights.
London One Day Tour
As Londoners ourselves, we know that the city can be a bit overwhelming for first time visitors. Our public transport takes a while to figure out, we drive on the left and name places aren’t always pronounced as you’d think they might be.
So a good way to relax and to really enjoy your time in London is to book a London tour package. Some of the best London guided tours are by Evan Evans. They’re actually the largest and oldest London tour operator, and part of the Travel Corporation group who serve more than 1.9 million guests each year.
They also have some great out of town trips to Stonehenge, Bath and other iconic British places. For their London tours, you can choose between a small group vehicle, luxury coach or walking tour.
On their popular London in One Day Tour, you travel on an air-conditioned coach with complimentary Wi-Fi and USB chargers. The London tours are led by a fully accredited Blue Badge guide from the British Guild of Tourist Guides.
Our guide was brilliant, very knowledgeable and funny. Thanks to the handy VOX audio headsets, you can easily hear your guide’s live commentary.
London Tour Highlights
You can choose either a half day or full day tour, depending on how much time you have available. We recommend the full day tour if you can fit it in.
The price is good value, at £99 for adults with reductions for families, children and seniors. This includes the entrance fee to St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London as well as your river cruise ticket.
- Changing of the Guard or Horse Guards ceremony
- Guided tour of St Paul’s Cathedral
- Guided tour of the Tower of London
- River Thames Cruise
You’ll find out all kinds of fascinating London facts along the way, such as:
- Which famous member of the royal family popularized the white wedding dress.
- In which shop did Winston Churchill buy his cigars.
- Where is the only gold post box in central London and why is it painted gold.
Buckingham Palace
No London sightseeing tour would be complete without a visit to Buckingham Palace. The London residence of the Queen, it was built in 1703. There are 775 rooms in the palace, as well as a cinema, chapel, doctor’s clinic, swimming pool, post office, ATM and a police station.
This royal residence has more than 40,000 light bulbs and 350 clocks. There are also apparently secret underground tunnels connecting it to nearby streets.
If you’re lucky, you might spot a royal carriage outside as we did. The Queen wasn’t inside though! We viewed the palace from outside, but if you book in advance there are tickets available to visit the interior in Summer.
The Mall
Next to Buckingham Palace is The Mall, one of the most famous London roads. On certain days of the year such as Commonwealth Day, 11 March, it is closed to traffic. Ceremonial processions take place on horseback and on foot.
As our guide pointed out, if you do see a car driving down on those days, it is most likely a member of the royal family with their protection officers. We spotted Princess Beatrice, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle being driven to commemorative events.
The Mall is coloured red with iron oxide pigment, to give the impression of a red carpet leading up to the Palace. The usual times for the Changing of the Guard are at 11 am on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays though it’s best to check beforehand if you’re not taking a guided London tour.
The Queen’s Guard hand on the responsibility of protecting the palace to the New Guard. They make their way along The Mall to Buckingham Palace, with a regimental band playing military music. Thanks to the tour guide, you get really close to the action.
After viewing the changing of the guard, walk along The Mall and you’ll glimpse Marlborough House over a brick wall. This London mansion was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1709 and is home to the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is a popular London cultural centre with art galleries, cinemas, a bar and bookshop. Carlton House Terrace, the Grade I listed building it sits within, was designed by famous architect John Nash and opened in 1831.
The tour makes a one hour stop at Trafalgar Square, where you can get lunch in one of the many cafes or pubs nearby.
Westminster Abbey
On your tour, you’ll also make a quick stop outside Westminster Abbey to take photos. This impressive Gothic church contains England’s oldest door and an unusual statue of a bearded lady.
Passing through Parliament Square, you’ll spot several statues of famous statespeople including Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln. Sir Winston Churchill has his eye firmly on the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.
St Paul’s Cathedral
Our next destination is the iconic St Paul’s Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren. This Anglican cathedral has one of the largest domes in the world, at 366 feet high.
The guided tour delves into the history of this famous landmark and takes you into the crypt where you’ll see the tombs of Horatio Nelson, Alexander Fleming, Sir Joshua Reynolds and Henry Moore. Sir Christopher Wren’s tomb has the inscription: “Reader, if you seek his monument, look around you.”
In Paternoster Square, next to St Paul’s Cathedral, your guide will point out Temple Bar gateway, once the entrance to the City of London. If you visit London before June, you’ll see this statue of the Fearless Girl, by Kristen Visbal, standing for female empowerment.
Tower of London
From St Paul’s, it’s a short drive to the Tower of London, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Home to the Crown Jewels and the UK’s largest collection of medieval weaponry, it was originally built by William The Conqueror in 1066.
Over the course of its history, the Tower has been a prison, a zoo and a royal palace.
The tower is guarded by Yeomen Warders known as Beefeaters, the Queen’s Ghurkas and the famous ravens!
According to legend, if the ravens ever leave the tower, it would lead to the downfall of the monarchy and Great Britain. After the guided tour of the Tower finishes, you can stay for longer and visit the Crown Jewels, the White Tower and walk along the ramparts. There’s also a cafe if you’re feeling hungry.
Thames River Cruise
The final part of your London day tour is a Thames River Cruise, that you can either take when you finish visiting the Tower of London, or save your ticket to use another day. The pier is right next to the Tower of London. From here, you’ll cruise to Westminster Pier, admiring many famous landmarks along the way.
Small London Group Tours
Evan Evans also offer several small group tours in London, limited to less than 16 guests. With these luxury London tours, you travel in style in a Mercedes-Benz minibus, with luggage storage, climate control, padded leather seats, a panoramic glass roof, USB charging an free Wi-Fi.
For 2019, there are several exciting new tours, including:
Wartime London Small Group Tour
On this fascinating Wartime London tour, you will discover the spot where Sir Winston Churchill gave his VE Day speech. See wartime command centres such as Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms and Dwight D. Eisenhower’s headquarters in Mayfair.
Spy and Espionage Tour of London
In 1940, a third of the city was destroyed by bombing. The expert guide will show you the remains of a church that was bombed, and monuments to the Allied leaders. What makes this tour unique is that it visits parts of London that aren’t included in other tours. During the trip, music of the era is played and at the end of the afternoon, you’re given a special souvenir photo brochure. The tour lasts 3 hours and costs £69 for adults.
Led by an expert guide who has served the UK for over 30 years, you’ll uncover the sites used by the British intelligence services. From the headquarters of M15 and M16 to public dead drop sites, it’s s a fascinating insight into the world of espionage.
This 3 hour Spy and Espionage tour reveals how double agents passed secrets to the Soviet Union and how our intelligence agencies protect the UK. You’ll finish with a vodka martini at the hotel where infamous double agent Guy Burgess passed confidential information to his Russian handlers.
360 Virtual Tour
Thanks to virtual reality, you can now get a glimpse of some of Evan Evan’s tours before you even book. Their new 360° virtual tour takes you on board their luxury coaches to Stonehenge and Windsor Castle. It’s a great way to try before you buy!
Taking a guided tour of London is a great way to see the sights if you’re short on time or simply want expert insights. The London in one day tour is a great way to see some of the most famous places such as Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London.
If you’ve been to London before and previously seen those sights, or if you have an interest in espionage and wartime Britain, then the small group hidden London tours are ideal.
You might also enjoy:
- Famous Streets in London
- London Hidden Gems
- Luxury Cinemas in London
- Most Instagrammable Places in London
- Quiet Places in London to Rest and Relax
- Things to Do in Knightsbridge
Read all our London travel features
Like this? Pin for later or share with friends if you’ve found it interesting
In association with Evan Evans
