Covent Garden

Discover the best of Westminster, and see some of London's unmissable attractions in a half-day tour including spectacular parks and royal sites with a Blue Badge tour guide.

On your private tour, you will:

• See Whitehall and 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben;
• Enjoy a privately guided tour of Westminster Abbey, where 38 coronations have taken place;
• Learn about fascinating English history, British tradition and London's incredible past—from the plague and the great fire of London to the Blitz;
• Hear stories as you visit the outside of Buckingham Palace, via the beautiful St James's Park and Trafalgar Square.

Reveal the secrets of power and politics on your exciting tour of Westminster, seeing some of the most recognisable landmarks. Learn all about the Houses of Parliament, the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, and be inspired by its mighty history.

Then, gain insight into the centuries-old Westminster Abbey (with entrance tickets included), the setting for every coronation since 1066, many royal weddings and the final resting place of 17 monarchs. 

Amble through the fabulous gardens and sights of St James's Park and admire the magnificent Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the UK’s sovereigns since 1837. Walk along the Mall and learn curious facts about British kings and queens, who turned the British Empire into the most dominant power on Earth.

Your tour finishes with a walk through Trafalgar Square, onto Covent Garden, where your guide will show you the best places to spend the rest of your time dining and shopping. 

Westminster is one of the most historic and well-known areas located in the heart of London. It has been home to many kings and queens, including Henry VIII and Elizabeth I and on this 2-hour private tour, you will have the chance to explore Westminster in all its glory.

On your private tour, you will:

• Walk past Westminster Abbey, where every British monarch since William the Conqueror has been crowned;
• See Whitehall and 10 Downing Street, where the prime minister lives and works;
• Pass by the Houses of Parliament also known as the Palace of Westminster and the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom so that you can see Big Ben up close;
• See Buckingham Palace, home to the British monarchy since 1837 and hear about British kings and queens who turned the British Empire into one of the most dominant powers in history;
• Take a stroll via the beautiful St James's Park, the oldest Royal Park at the heart of ceremonial London, and see St James's Palace;
• Explore Trafalgar Square, where Nelson’s Column can be found in honour of Admiral Nelson, after his victory in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
• End your tour at Covent Garden, a shopping and dining hub in London's West End.

If you want to discover the heart of London, come with us on this private tour!

This 2-hour trip will take you through some of the most famous and beautiful locations in Westminster, including Whitehall and 10 Downing Street, where all the British government happens. We'll also take you to the Houses of Parliament, the supreme legislative body of Great Britain, Somerset House and Big Ben for the perfect photo opportunity!

You'll hear stories about fascinating English history, British tradition and London's incredible past—from the plague and great fire of London to the Blitz, and the secrets of power and politics on our exciting tour of Westminster while you visit some of the most recognisable landmarks in London.

You will also take a stroll down St James's Park through its fabulous gardens and sights before heading over to Buckingham Palace.

Your tour will end with a walk through Trafalgar Square to see Nelson's column onto Covent Garden, where your guide will show you the best places to spend your time dining and shopping!

Explore the uniquely fascinating and intriguing areas of Holborn, once the home of Charles Dickens, and Covent Garden, a world-class area which attracts Londoners and tourists alike for its amazing food, entertainment and luxurious boutiques.

On your private tour, you will: 

• Start your tour outside the historic Cittie of Yorke pub, near Holborn Tube Station;
• Explore Gray's Inn, one of the Inns of Court in London and Lincoln’s Inn Fields – the largest public square in London since 1630;
• Admire the spectacular buildings of Inigo Jones - one of Britain’s most renowned architects – who also designed Banqueting House and Covent Garden;
• Discover the Sir John Soane's Museum – filled with artistic treasures, antiquities and paintings;
• Stop at the Old Curiosity Shop, built in 1568 from old ships' timbers.
• Pass through the Royal College of Surgeons of England and hear about the history of surgical advancement outside the Hunterian Museum.
• Enjoy strolling along the Strand and see many famous sights like the Savoy Hotel, Strand Palace and Somerset House.
• Wander up the atmospheric cobbled back lanes to end your tour at the marvellous covered market at Covent Garden.

Holborn is an extremely fascinating and historic area of central London – home of the Royal Courts of Justice and the Gray's Inn, one of the Inns of Court, the old Royal College of Surgeons, quirky museums, shops and galleries, opulent palaces and stunning architecture, exclusive hotels and some of the oldest pubs in London. It is teeming with the interesting and lesser-known stories and scandals of central London!

You’ll learn all about the legal history of London as you stop to admire the famous Royal Courts of Justice and wander around Lincoln’s Inn Fields and the Inns of Court – where London’s wig-wearing, black-cloaked barristers reside. You’ll be able to admire the amazing architecture of Inigo Jones – who also designed Banqueting House at Whitehall, and Covent Garden, where your tour finishes.

Enjoy the timed entrance to Sir John Soane's Museum (former home of the famous architect of the Bank of England) which is filled with exquisite treasures from his travels on the continent.

You’ll visit several eccentric shops like the Old Curiosity Shop built in 1568 and an old jewellery shop from the 1600s. You’ll also find some of London’s oldest, most atmospheric pubs in Holborn - like Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, beloved of Samuel Johnson. The Strand is lined with grand palaces like Somerset House and the Strand Palace, flashy West End theatres and pubs like the Nell Gwynne, and exclusive Hotels like the Savoy.

You’ll be able to pop in and out of many of these places to get a glimpse and a photo of life behind the grand facades of Holborn – or grab a coffee or something stronger at the Savoy bar! Your tour ends at the bustling Covent Garden Apple Market. 

Explore the city of London like a lord or a lady and follow the footsteps of your favourite characters on this Downton Abbey Filming Locations half-day tour.

Even though Yorkshire and Highclere Castle are the main Downton Abbey filming sites for the earlier episodes, central London started to hog the limelight as the show clocked its later innings, and on this tour, you will flashback to the popular scenes set in the city’s iconic landmarks.

Play guessing games to jog your memory as you see: 

• Buckingham Palace, while not a regular setting, references are made throughout the series due to its importance as the residence of the British monarch;
• Lancaster House, a neo-classical mansion used for filming historical dramas due to its opulent interiors;
• Bridgewater House, a privately owned home symbol the exclusivity and wealth of its owner, reflecting the lifestyle of the elite during that era;
• Belgrave Square, an affluent area in London;
• Criterion Restaurant, the historic restaurant in Piccadilly Circus;
• The Ritz London Hotel, built in 1906, 
• Hyde Park and the Albert Memorial, one of London's largest parks served as a backdrop for strolls and social events;
• Astor House, 
• St. Pancras Station is used in many scenes boarding trains or meeting others in London;
• and these are just for starters. How many could you spot?

Be bowled over by a few secret filming locations, including Lord Grantham’s London stately home shared by your Professional Private Driver Guide who happens to be a Downton Abbey fanatic as well. Brace for non-stop peppy conversation, not crisp commentary.

DISCLAIMER: This tour is an unlicensed and unauthorised tour of sites featured in the television series ‘Downton Abbey’ produced by Carnival Film and Television and NBCUniversal International Limited. Travel Curious Ltd. and this tour does not have any association with, or connection to, the television series ‘Downton Abbey’, Carnival Film and Television or NBC Universal International Limited.