Nelson's Column

Explore London’s most popular sites on this Royal London half-day tour, including spectacular parks and royal sites in Westminster.

On your private tour, you will:

• Experience the Changing of the Guard, one of the most popular attractions in the city;
• Discover Whitehall and 10 Downing Street, the UK Prime Minister's office;
• Walk by the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, an iconic symbol of London;
• Hear fascinating British history and London's incredible past;
• Walk around the Mall, St. James's Palace, and Horse Guards Parade;
• Explore St James's Park, the oldest Royal Park created for sport-loving Henry VIII and a once-famous duelling venue;
• See Buckingham Palace from the outside as you learn more about Royal History;
• Finish your tour at Trafalgar Square, home to the iconic Nelson's Column, the National Gallery, and the National Portrait Gallery.

Please note: that the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace happens on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, but can be subject to change and weather conditions. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays you will see the changing of the Horseguards at Horse Guards Parade on Whitehall.
You can check the schedule here: https://changing-guard.com/dates-buckingham-palace.html

On your tour, your guide will reveal the secrets of the power and politics of Westminster, while seeing some of the most popular landmarks. Learn all about the Houses of Parliament, the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, and be inspired by its mighty history.

Amble through the fabulous gardens and sights of St James's Park and have the opportunity to see the Changing of the Guard in front of magnificent Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the UK’s sovereigns since 1837.

This ceremony, seen by millions every year, is a must-see attraction in London. It takes place every other day between Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and Wellington Barracks, and is the perfect reminder of the tight relationship between the armed forces and HM the Queen.

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, where your guide will show you the best places to grab a bite to eat in the area or direct you to some of the world's most famous artwork, located only metres away in the National Gallery. 

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 historical 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!

Enjoy a privately guided tour of London's Trafalgar Square and the magnificent National Gallery, a stunning museum housing a vast collection of celebrated masters from the Italian Renaissance through to the French Impressionists, situated at the top of Trafalgar Square in central London, gazing down Whitehall towards the Houses of Parliament.

On your private tour of the National Gallery you will:

• 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. 

"Darkest Hour" is a 2017 British war drama film with Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill in the early days of World War II when he became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom leading the country through "its darkest hour". The movie received 6 nominations for Academy Awards and an Oscar for Best Leading Actor, and on this tour, your driver-guide will take you to movie spots that will repeat the experience offscreen. 

On this half-day tour, you will:

• 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)

Step into an iconic London black cab and immerse yourself in the history of the capital with a half-day tour of "Darkest Hour" filming locations. With an expert driver-guide at the wheel, you will visit some of the most iconic sites of the movie, from the Houses of Parliament to the Cabinet War Rooms.

Pass by the places where Churchill stood and spoke to the people of Britain during the country's darkest hour and get a feel for the resilience and determination that helped shape the course of history.

With a knowledgeable guide to provide historical context and entertaining anecdotes, this tour is a must-do for history buffs and movie lovers alike.

Sit back and relax as you travel back in time in one of London's most iconic vehicles, taking in the sights and sounds of the city that Churchill called home during this pivotal moment in history.