• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Linda On The Run

Travel, Lifestyle, And Fitness For Those Over 60

  • Home
  • Destinations
  • About
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Home
  • Destinations
  • About
  • Contact
  • Search
Illuminated stone bridge with purple night sky

Top 15 Tours In London For Your Bucket List

April 2, 2023 //  by Linda On The Run//  Leave a Comment

56 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
Affiliate Links

Wondering which are the best tours in London? You are in the right place!

Because there are so many things to do in London, I will walk you through London sightseeing tours so you can decide which is the best for you.

Planning your trip to London last minute?

Make sure to book ahead! Hotels and tours often sell out the closer you get to your trip. Here are our top pics for London!

Top Experiences and Tours In London:

  1. The London Eye: Entry Ticket (Save time and book in advance!)
  2. Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour (Skip the line.)
  3. Tower of London & Crown Jewels Exhibit (Likely to sell out.)
  4. High Tea Thames River Cruise (Book ahead to save time.)

Best London Hotels:

  1. Sanderson London (Close to the subway!)
  2. The Montague On The Greens (Private and close to the subway)
  3. The Exhibitionist Hotel (In the heart of South Kensington)
  4. The Corner London City (Close to all subway connections.)

From the Tower of London tour to visiting Covent Garden landmarks or the sights of Shoreditch I have you covered.

If you are visiting London for the first time it can seem very overwhelming.

It can be difficult to know where to start as there are so many things to do in London.

London tours can be a great way to see all you want in a more efficient time effective way.

Also, the experience and knowledge of the tour guides mean you learn way more than you would if you explore alone.

So let me walk you through the best sightseeing tours in London and help you make a choice about how to get the most out of your London trip.

Top of Big Bus double decker with guided tour guide and tourists sitting in seats with view of National Gallery buildings. The article is about tours in London.
Photo Credit: Kristi Blokhin via Shutterstock.com

Top 15 Tours In London For Your Bucket List

London In One Day Tour with River Cruise

If you are short on time and want to make the most out of your trip to London then this is the London One-Day Tour for you.

You will see Westminster Abbey, changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, and enjoy a guided tour of St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London, plus much more.

The tour begins with a panoramic drive around Westminster and the West End where you will take in most of London’s top sights.

You then head to Buckingham Palace to see the colorful ceremony of the Changing of the Guard.

This is followed by a tour of St Paul’s Cathedral and some more sightseeing. You are then free to get on the River Cruise at The Tower of London at your leisure.

This really is the perfect 1 Day London itinerary and one of the best London sightseeing tours. As London Day tours go this one is hard to beat.

Book London In One Day Tour with River Cruise

St. Pauls cathedral with red double decker bus on the street outside in an article about tours in London.

Comedy Horror Ghost Tour on a Bus

If you are looking for something to do in London in the evening then this is the Comedy Horror Bus Tour might just be for you.

You will see many of London’s main sights and learn about the gruesome histories of the city’s most popular attractions.

The bus you travel in is known as the Necrobus. These buses are the original midnight-black Routemaster buses that were used as funeral buses. On board, you will find a creepy conductor, on-board actors, and technical trickery which really adds to the experience.

During your journey, you will travel through the West End, south of the river, and the heart of the city. Some of the sights visited include Westminster Abbey, Fleet Street, The Tower of London, and London Bridge.

This is one of the ghost bus tours in London that will give you an unusual perspective into some of the most famous landmarks.

Book Comedy Horror Ghost Tour on a Bus

Classic Routermaster bus painted in black for touristic tours, parked in a street of London. The bus is used for ghost tours in London
Photo Credit: JJFarq via Shutterstock.com

East London: Street Art Tour & Spray Painting Session

I love tours that show you parts of London that you didn’t know existed and teach you so much about the culture of this incredible city. This Street Art Tour & Spray Painting London tour is one of those.

Most visitors who come to London don’t explore the East End and Shoreditch and that’s a real shame.

It’s such a creative area driven by art and here is where you will find some of the best street art in the world.

READ NEXT:
 15 Best Things To Do In Shoreditch London For Your Bucket List

This tour is led by a street art expert and takes you to see some of London’s best street art and also offers a 30-minute spray painting workshop.

It’s a perfect sightseeing tour in London for the more creative types of those with tweens and teens in tow.

You will see street art by Banksy, ROA, Shepherd Fairy, Jimmy C, Invader, Stik, and many more. This tour really is something a little different and will show you another side of London.

Book Street Art Tour & Spray Painting Session

Looking for a place to stay in Shoreditch? The Hoxton, Shoreditch is a perfect London base.

Painted walls and graffiti art are scattered in the Old Street, Brick Lane and Shoreditch area in East London
Photo Credit: EQRoy via Shutterstock.com

Secret British Food Tour

I’ve always thought that London is a city you enjoy one mouthful at a time.

The multicultural nature of the U.K. means the food choices are electric and plentiful and English people really do love their food.

On this 3-hour tour, Secret British Food Tour you will visit the city’s most well-known food venues and try some famous British Food. And of course, it’s London so you will also see some sights.

Try fudge and chocolate at Borough Market, award-winning Cumberland sausages, and sample the best fish and chips in town.

You will also learn about the history of the market and the surrounding areas including Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hind, the Shard, and Southwark Cathedral.

Then visit a pub to try some British cheeses and of course some delicious ale. You will also get to see London Bridge, Tower Bridge, and the Battleship HMS Belfast.

And like any great British meal, it ends with sticky toffee puddings and a cup of tea.

I honestly can’t think of a better way to be touring London.

Book Secret British Food Tour

Fish & Chips served in the newspaper ona food tour in London.

Jack the Ripper Guided Walking Tour

It surely can’t just be me who loves to explore the macabre and unusual in a new city. I feel it gives you a perspective of a place that most never hear about.

This Jack The Ripper Guided Walking Tour is for those of you who love your tours in London a little darker.

This walking tour of London is based around the East End and Victoria and is led by a Ripperologist who gives you an insight into 19th-century London.

You will learn about the victims, visit the crime scenes and also see some of London’s notable sights, such as Spitalfields Market.

This is a great London tour for those who like to make their sightseeing a little more unusual.

Book Jack the Ripper Guided Walking Tour

Illuminated cobbled street with light reflections on cobblestones in old historical city by night. Dark blurred silhouette of person evokes Jack the Ripper

Afternoon Tea Bus with a Glass of Prosecco

London with a prosecco in one hand and a cake in the other sounds like heaven. And that is just what you get to do on the Afternoon Tea Bus in London.

London afternoon tea is a must and this is a perfect way to make sure you don’t lose valuable sightseeing time.

You get to enjoy Afternoon Tea on a traditional double-decker bus while being driven around all the London sights. You will see the London Eye, the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and much more.

And you do all this while enjoying homemade finger sandwiches and an assortment of mini pastries and desserts. This has to be one of the best bus tours in London.

This London bus tour lasts 90 minutes and is a great way to see some of the sights in style. You can also do an Afternoon tea cruise.

Book Afternoon Tea Bus with a Glass of Prosecco

The English tea bus on the tower bridge. This is one of the London bus tours you need to take.
Photo Credit: Pack-Shot via Shutterstock.com

Secrets of London Walking Tour

When you get away from the tourist areas of London and into the backstreets you discover a whole different part of London and that is what happens on this Secrets of London walk.

Here you explore gas-lit alleyways, atmospheric pubs and hear stories of London most have forgotten, or perhaps just don’t speak off.

You start in Trafalgar Square before heading off into a part of London time seems to have forgotten.

You see the smallest police station in the world, and streets that inspired Harry Potter, visit the most superstitious hotel in London and rub one of the 7 noses of London.

If it all sounds a bit magical and mysterious it is. This is a sightseeing London that most do not see.

Book Secrets of London Walking Tour

Fountain on the Trafalgar Square with St. Martin on Fields behind

Panoramic Open-Top Bus Tour

This is London sightseeing at its easiest. On this London Panoramic Open-Top bus tour, you take a two-hour tour of the sights from the comfort of an open-top bus.

READ NEXT:
The Ultimate London Paris Itinerary You Should Steal

You will see the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus to name but a few, and all the time without expert narration.

This is not a hop-on and hop-off bus although they are available. This is a great London tour if you have limited time.

Panoramic Open-Top Bus Tour

If you are looking for a place to stay Page8, Page Hotels is the perfect base.

Big ben clock tower in winter sunny morning. You can see the House of Parliament.

Palaces and Parliament Walking Tour

This 3-hour Palaces and Parliament walking tour takes is most of the most iconic London sights, particularly those associated with Parliament and The Royal Family.

You will see more than 20 of London’s top sights so make sure you wear comfortable shoes. Here you really do get to see the best of London.

You will explore the city of Westminster, see Green Park and Buckingham Palace, and The Mall. Travel through Parliament Square and see Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.

This is one of the great tours in London for first-timers in London as it really does take in many of the main areas

Book Palaces and Parliament Walking Tour

Buckingham Palace at sunrise. The picture is taken from the Mall and you can see greenary and the statue in the foreground.

Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour

If you are obsessed with this magical franchise then this is the London tour for you. This interactive Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour around London takes in 18 sights associated with the film or cast.

Your guide is Potter mad of course and will impart you with wizarding facts on your travels. Highlights include passing The Leaky Cauldron, exploring Diagon Alley, or at least the places that inspired them.

This is one of the London Walks for those that love this franchise and want to see the sights associated with it.

Book Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour

Goodwin's Court was JK Rowling's inspiration for Knockturn Alley in Harry Potter
Photo Credit: DimplePatel via Shutterstock.com

River Thames Evening Cruise with Bubbly and Canapés

If you are wondering what to do in London in the evening then this River Thames Evening sightseeing London tour might be perfect for you.

Here you get to see the sights, the sunset and enjoy a glass of bubbly and sumptuous canapés all while listening to live performances.

London by night is truly spectacular and seeing all the landmarks illuminated is magical. This cruise takes you from Tower Millenium Pier down the river and back again.

You will see the London Eye and Tower of London, the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf Tower Bridge, and lots more.

This open-air boat is the perfect way to see all London has to offer. Touring London doesn’t get much better than this.

Book River Thames Evening Cruise with Bubbly and Canapés

The Nightscape Of Tower Bridge. Tower bridge all lit up at night with buildings in the background.

Classic Bike Tour

This Classic Bike London Tour starts early in the morning and takes in most of the city’s legendary sights. Traveling along cycle lanes, side roads, and alleys you get to see London in a whole new way.

You start at Big Ben and then continue around London taking in all the main iconic sights. You also spend some time in Covent Garden, Leather Lane Market, and Smithfield’s Market.

The tour ends at Westminster Bridge where you can stroll down the river, and grab a coffee or something to eat before enjoying the rest of your day.

Book Classic Bike Tour

Big Ben in London in the morning. The picture is taken from Westminster Bridge and you can see The House of Parliament.

Tower of London Beefeater Welcome & Crown Jewels

Looking for a tower of London tour? This one is perfect.

Discover the Tower of London on a 3-hour tour led by a Beefeater. On this tour, you get a private 15-20 minute private tour with a Beefeater around the tower.

You will see The Crown Jewels, see and hear the famous ravens and learn about the incredible history of this majestic and imposing building.

You will also learn about the Beefeaters themselves and what it is like guarding the tower.

This tour of London is an amazing way to see The Tower and avoid all the queues. Tower of London tickets are included in the price.

Book Tower of London Beefeater Welcome & Crown Jewels

Rubens At The Palace is a great place to stay if you want to keep up the royal theme.

Beefeater guards or Yeoman warders at the Tower of London. They are outside the tower looking at a notebook.
Photo Credit: John Crux via Shutterstock.com

Changing of the Guard & Buckingham Palace Tour

If you want to see the pageantry of the monarchy in full force then the Changing of the Guards of the King’s Household Cavalry is where to be.

READ NEXT:
 15 Places For The Best Brunch In London

On this London tour, you will explore the state rooms of Buckingham Palace and watch the Changing Of The Guard. Your guide will explain the history and meaning behind the ceremony. It really is quite something to behold.

You will learn about the history of Buckingham Palace and its State Rooms and see the Royal Collection as well as see the pomp and ceremony of the monarchy up close.

You can’t travel to London without watching this ceremony.

Book Changing of the Guard & Buckingham Palace Tour

 Band of the Grenadier Guards outside Buckingham Palace for changing the guard
Photo Credit: Chris Lawrence Travel via Shutterstock.com

30 Top Sights and Churchill War Rooms Tour

This tour has you exploring Churchill’s War Rooms while also seeing 30 iconic London landmarks. It’s the perfect tour of London for those who want the sights and a little bit more.

This is one of the London Walks that take you past sights such as Buckingham Palace, Westminster, and Downing Street.

Also, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London.

Once in the Churchill War Rooms known as Churchill’s Bunker where you will learn about the men and women who worked in the underground hideaway.

This is one of the great tours in London that takes in so much and shows you to a part of London most don’t see.

Book 30 Top Sights and Churchill War Rooms Tour

Interior view of the deep level shelter which housed the Cabinet War Rooms during WW II. Today they are part of the Churchill War Rooms Museum.
Photo Credit: Uwe Aranas via Shutterstock.com

Packing List When On Tours In London

If you will be traveling, either by plane or by car to London, here are some tips on how to pack lightly.

A concealed travel pouch may be one of the most important items you bring along when experiencing London tours. 

It is always important to protect your personal information. Identity thieves are everywhere.

This unisex RFID-blocking concealed travel pouch is lightweight and comes in several colors. It has lots of organization to give you peace of mind.

You can place it under your clothes next to your body to carry your ID safely.

If you have a pouch already that does not come with RFID protection, as I do, these RFID sleeves are the perfect solution.

This configuration comes with enough credit card sleeves that the entire family would be protected. They are slim too, so they will easily fit into your pouch or wallet. 

If you are planning on taking a lot of pictures with your phone you will definitely want to consider an external charging battery.

This Anker high-speed phone charging battery is the exact one I carry with me on all of my trips.

It can be used on a variety of phones, not just an iPhone as I have. And wow is it fast!

My daughter gifted me with this FugeTek selfie stick and tripod setup for my birthday. I absolutely love it! It is made of lightweight aluminum and so easy to use.

It has Bluetooth connectivity and is a breeze to use for taking photos during your Covent Garden activities.

You will want to bring your own refillable water bottle with you. 

I never leave home on a trip without my Bobble filtration bottle. The 18.5-ounce size is perfect for hiking and it fits nicely in the pocket of a backpack.

This replaceable carbon filter ensures fresh water at all times.

Then this collapsible silicone foldable water bottle would work well for you. Would not take up much space at all. 

You will want a backpack or daypack with you to store snacks, your water bottle, phone, extra clothes, etc… No matter the time of day or evening.

This foldable water-resistant backpack would be great.

It is very affordable and is available in many color options for you to choose from. The fact that it folds down into a zippered pouch will make it easy to pack.

—

As you can see when it comes to tours in London, there are so many to choose from. Whether you take one of the London walks or the London bus tours I know you will have an amazing time.

No trip to London is complete without one of these London day tours. These tours really do show you the best of London and save time.

Enjoy your vacation and come back and tell me all about it.

Category: London, Travel, United KingdomTag: Great Britain, London, travel

Previous Post: «a plate with eggs, bacon, toast, beans, and sausages breakfast in covent garden 15 Best Places to Have Breakfast in Covent Garden London
Next Post: London At Christmas: 10 Festive Things For Your Bucket List White illuminated angel surrounded by strings of white lights glow in the night sky»

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

About Me

5 days in Paris Linda on rooftop

Hi, I’m Linda, a world travel blogger. I hope to inspire you to see the world and that it is never too late to chase your dreams. Come tag along with me as I help you plan your trip to wherever your heart desires! From Russia and Alaska to Peru and Malta, the world is waiting!

Search

Site Footer

Linda On The Run Privacy Policy

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from Qualifying Purchases.

Copyright © 2023 · Mai Lifestyle Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

56 shares