If there’s one thing everybody agrees about London, it’s that the best way to see it really is on foot. This roundup of eight walking tours in London will take you on a journey through some of the city’s most famous neighbourhoods and attractions. Discover a whole lotta magic on a Harry Potter walking tour, or raise a pint at one of the city’s historical pubs aboard a pub crawl. So, lace up your shoes and get ready to explore – especially when the weather is playing ball!
1. Sherlock Holmes Tour
On this walking tour of London, you’ll experience sites featured in the much-acclaimed Sherlock Holmes series. Visit the locations that inspired Arthur Conan Doyle and which have made appearances across all his books as well as on films and TV shows.
The tour starts in the exact place where Holmes and Watson first met, and then goes on to gentlemen’s clubs and grand hotels featured throughout some of Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels – a real must for fans of Holmes and Watson.
📍You’ll find the starting point for the Sherlock Holmes Tour outside the Granaio Restaurant at 224 Piccadilly, W1J 9HP.
🚇 Nearest station is Piccadilly Circus.
2. London: See 30+ Top Sights and Eat British Food Tour
Join a local guide and take in all on this six-hour walking tour. You’ll see 30 of the city’s biggest attractions, and enjoy some delicious British grub along the way. You’ll start off winding your way through Green Park, where you’ll be able to watch a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Then you’ll head to Westminster and will be able to view some of London’s most iconic landmarks, including Parliament Square and St. James’ Palace.
Next up, you’ll visit Shakespeare’s famous Globe Theatre and will then move onto the Shard before stopping at HMS Belfast for some foodie fun. From there, it’s off to the Borough Market to try your hand at fish and chips, pie and mash (a favourite), fresh pints of British beer and finally, some doughnuts. Sounds pretty good to us!
📍You’ll find the starting point for the London: See 30+ Top Sights and Eat British Food Tour outside the Ritz hotel, 150 Piccadilly, St. James’s, W1J 9BR.
🚇 Nearest station is Green Park.
3. Jack the Ripper Tour
Get ready for an interactive walking tour of London’s East End. You’ll learn about Jack the Ripper and his victims, and explore sites where he committed his crimes in this historic area which is shrouded in mystery. You’ll also discover how public perception has been shaped since the murders took place, and compare it to what really happened in 1888.
Get a magnifying glass and start looking at what’s going on at the crime scene, figure out who killed the victims and get to work solving this mystery. You’ll need all of your deductive reasoning skills to crack this case – trust us! You can grab your tickets for the tour here.
📍You’ll find the starting point for the Jack the Ripper Tour at the west entrance of Aldgate Tube Station, Aldgate High Street, EC3N 1AH.
🚇 Nearest station is Aldgate.
4. Changing of the Guard Guided Walking Tour
See one of the most famous ceremonies in London, with a friendly guide bringing you closer to what’s happening on Horse Guards Parade. Join the guards on their journey as you march to Buckingham Palace, following an exciting drum beat. Get close to the Grenadier guard, take some amazing pictures and opt for a private or group tour.
And those furry hats? Well, let’s just say that there are a lot more things than meets the eye.
📍You’ll find the starting point for Changing of the Guard Guided Walking Tour at the Equestrian statue of Edward VII, Waterloo Place, St. James’s, SW1Y 5ER.
🚇 Nearest station is Charing Cross.
5. City of London Walking Tour
Step back in history about 2,000 years with a three-hour walking tour that will take you through London’s Old Town, better known by its original name ‘The City’. You’ll get to visit some famous sites like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Additionally, you’ll see some contemporary landmarks, such as the Millennium Bridge, popularly referred to as the ‘Wobbly Bridge’, which extends from St. Paul’s Cathedral to the Tate Modern, which is situated in a renovated power station. Stroll alongside the River Thames and visit HMS Belfast and much more.
📍You’ll find the starting point for the City of London Walking Tour at the corner of the Covent Garden Piazza by the Apple store, WC2E 8HB.
🚇 Nearest station is Covent Garden.
6. London’s Palaces and Parliament Walking Tour
Explore London’s most popular tourist spot city of Westminster, on this three-hour walking tour in London. You’ll learn fun facts about the area while seeing some of its most famous landmarks – all from an insider’s perspective.
Head to the heart of London and witness history at every turn. Start at Green Park, then walk down ‘The Mall’, known formally as ‘The Route of Queen Victoria’. Travel past Big Ben before stopping by some other famous buildings such as the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, and Trafalgar Square.
📍You’ll find the starting point for the London’s Palaces and Parliament Walking Tour outside the Ritz hotel, 150 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London, W1J 9BR.
🚇 Nearest station is Green Park.
7. Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour
The penultimate addition on this roundup of walking tours in London will take you through London’s musical past and present, including the locations where some of Rock’N’Roll’s most famous musicians lived. You’ll get to explore four different hidden pubs in Soho too so you can whet your whistle while you’re at it.
You’ll even have the opportunity to visit places where famous people like Mozart, General Charles Du Gaulle, and Karl Marx lived in Central London. As an added bonus during this trip, you’ll also pass iconic sites such as Casanova’s and Marilyn Monroe’s house too.
📍You’ll find the starting point for the Soho Music and Historic Pubs Tour at 5 Piccadilly Circus, W1D 7ET.
🚇 Nearest station is Piccadilly Circus.
8. Ghastly Ghost Walking Tour in London
If you’re looking to hear about the capital’s spooky and haunted side, then you could do worse than by joining this final addition to our walking tours in London roundup. You’ll get to hear bone-chilling stories from murder mysteries past while strolling past some major landmarks like St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London — a site of death, despair and execution – all in just two hours.
Take a picture of every landmark and see if you can spot any ghosts and ghouls. Spooky stuff!
📍You’ll find the starting point for the Ghastly Ghost Walking Tour in London at All Hallows by Tower Church, Byward Street, EC3R 5BJ.
🚇 Nearest station is Tower Hill.
So there you go – whether you’re a first-time visitor or a long-time resident, you’ll be able to witness a side of London that you never knew existed on these walking tours in London. Happy walking!