Spend your day experiencing some of London's greatest sites and traditions. Start your morning at Westminster Abbey, one of the world’s great churches, which for 1000 years has been the site of royal coronations. This incredible 700-year-old building is a must-see for any visitor to London and a significant structure in British history. It has welcomed Kings, Queens and statesmen, royal weddings (most recently Prince William and Kate Middleton) and state funerals. You may not have been invited to the Royal Wedding, but you can feel like royalty as you enjoy a tour led by an expert local guide, who will point out the most important and fascinating aspects of this great monument.
Every British monarch since William the Conqueror in 1066 has been crowned in Westminster Abbey, the most recent being Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. You’ll see the Coronation Chair, commissioned in 1296 by Edward the Confessor, as well as his shrine. It is also the burial place of 17 British monarchs, the Unknown Soldier (buried in French soil and covered by a slab of Belgian marble) and many of Britain’s greatest poets who lie in Poet’s Corner.
After your visit to the Abbey, your guide will lead you to the Changing of the Guard. This world-famous ceremony takes place either at Buckingham Palace or at Horse Guards Parade, depending on the day. Your guide will make sure you are in a prime position to enjoy the best views at this crowded event. Enjoy commentary regarding the history and pageantry behind the ceremony – see the Queen’s Foot Guards, with their red tunics and unmistakable bearskin hats, march to Buckingham Palace together with the military band or the Household Cavalry, complete with plumed silver helmets, ride in on their magnificent horses.
End your morning at Buckingham Palace, the residence of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. See the famous balcony where the royal family appears during major events, and hear stories of intruders and princes scaling the walls to get both inside and out!
After a break for lunch (on your own) it's a short walk to your next stop, the National Gallery, home to one of the greatest collections of Western and European paintings in the world. Your professional guide is a walking, talking guidebook with whom you can interact to your heart’s content. Even the greatest masterpieces of all time can seem dry if you don’t have an expert by your side to bring the stories and history behind the paintings to life.
The Gallery is the definitive London address for famous artistic masterpieces. You'll get up close and personal with the highlights of this collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900.
As you explore the collection, you’ll instantly recognize Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers. Your guide will share the story of how this innocent-looking still-life painting led to an angry exchange between Van Gogh and an old friend. You’ll also encounter Rembrandt’s Self-portrait, one of a series he painted throughout his life. This particular self-portrait is notable for its somber qualities and is filled with subtle hints about the inner life of the artist, which your guide will reveal to you. Of course, no collection is complete without a piece from the prolific Italian master, Leonardo da Vinci. One of his two nearly identical paintings named the Virgin of the Rocks is here; the other can be found at the Louvre. Once again your expert guide’s insight becomes invaluable as you discover details of the long life of this painting from its humble beginnings in a chapel in Milan to the prestigious halls of London’s National Gallery.
This full-day tour will introduce you to some of the most iconic sights and traditions in London. Expert local guides help to not only skip the lines and navigate the crowds, but also to get the most out of your time and your visits, ensuring that you get the very best out of your day.
Skip-the-line entrance to Westminster Abbey
Gratuities
