Nelson's Column

Explore the hub of British politics, power, and royalty on this two-hour private driving tour of Westminster and Central London in an iconic London Black Cab. With your expert private driver-guide, you will pass by all of Westminster’s historic landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, and Westminster Abbey.

On your private tour, you will:

• See iconic sights including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and the Palace of Westminster;
• Marvel at the architectural wonders of St James' Palace, Westminster Cathedral, St Margaret's Church, and Westminster School;
• Visit famous and lesser-known places including Downing Street, Central Methodist Hall, Banqueting House, Horse Guards, and the National Gallery;
• Hear stories and scandals about Trafalgar Square, Nelson's Column, Marble Arch, Wellington Memorial, Lambeth Palace, the London Eye, and the River Thames;
• End your tour with a drop-off at any preferred Central London location.
  
  

Discover the real history of power, politics, and monarchy in London on this express two-hour private tour of iconic London landmarks with an expert Cabbie who not only knows London like the back of their hand but is also a historian... with many royal and historic secrets to share with you!

Whether you are interested in the British monarchy's royal palaces or the historic UK Parliament based at Westminster for over 1000 years, your expert guide is more than happy to spill all the gossip, alongside the history of any topic which may interest you.

Learn about the ancient coronation rituals that have been taking place at Westminster Abbey since William the Conqueror on Christmas Day 1066 up to the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1952 and King Charles III. Admire the awe-inspiring Gothic architecture of the Abbey that has stood the test of time for over 1000 years.

Your guide is ready to discuss anything you throw their way - including filming locations for Harry Potter, James Bond, and Downton Abbey, among many others. In short, for any curiosity, you may have about London today and British history as a whole, you're in great hands! 

• Begin at the majestic Trafalgar Square, home of Nelson’s column and learn about the famous battle and Britain’s naval hero of the Napoleonic wars;
• Enter the magnificent dating back to 1824 and home to some 2300 masterpieces;
• Enjoy a fully guided tour of this beautiful neo-classical building, and admire the vast range of art ranging from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance, the Romantics and Impressionists;
•  See world-famous works by Botticelli, Da Vinci, Titian, Rubens, Vermeer, Caravaggio, Gainsborough and Reynolds, Turner, Van Gogh and Monet and many more.;
• Learn about the history of the National Gallery itself, as well as the lives of the artists and detailed explanations of their work and influences;
• Stop in front of Whistlejacket, the iconic horse by George Stubbs;
• End at the National Gallery to continue exploring at your own pace.
  
  The National Gallery was first opened to the public in 1824 and is a magnificent neo-classical building, designed originally by William Wilkins whose vision was to create a "Temple of the Arts". It certainly looks like that from the exterior, but it has been added to and extended several times since its’ opening. It is now home to over 2300 masterpieces dating from the mid-13th Century to 1900. 
  
  On your private tour of its various wings, you will see some extraordinary works of art by some of the world's best-known and best-loved artists. Highlights include Da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks, the Rokeby Venus by Velazquez, and Mars and Venus by Botticelli. 
  
  You’ll see works by Raphael and Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Titian. Rubens, Rembrandt, Holbein, Vermeer, and Van Dyck including the famous equestrian portrait of the ill-fated King Charles I, The Fighting Temeraire by Turner, and then of course the mesmerizing wing housing the Impressionists including Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Seurat and Monet. You’ll see works by Constable and of course the absolutely iconic portrait of the horse Whistlejacket by George Stubbs. 
  
  When you’ve satiated on some of the best art in the Western world, enjoy a warming drink with your private guide – and feel free to continue exploring the Gallery and gift shop at your leisure after the tour has ended. 

• Travel back to 1940 in one of our traditional London Black Cab time machines, which doubled up as fire engines in WWII, when the wartime leader was under pressure to make peace with Hitler as his armies advanced across Europe;
• Storm through the violence of ‘The Blitz’ with your private guide;
• Feel the jitters as you visualise Nazi Germany threatening Western Europe and Great Britain’s very existence; 
• See the Houses of Parliament, an iconic building where Churchill gave his famous speeches;
• Discover Buckingham Palace, the residence of the British monarch is also featured in the film;
• Pass by St. Paul's Cathedral, which plays a significant role in the film, as it was where Churchill attended a service to rally the British people during the war;
• End your tour at the Cabinet War Rooms, the Imperial War Museum or Warship HMS Belfast. (Tickets not included)