London Spy and Espionage Tour

What we know about the world of spies and spying is limited to what governments, the military and spy organisations want us to know. The information that is released to the general public, through declassification, autobiographies from retired spies, and 'leaks'; only give us the smallest look into the secretive, selective, and seemingly seductive world of spies. This spy tour of London cannot reveal everything, but we can tell you what you need to know.
Aimed with both die-hard spy geeks and people who are curious if the best spies really do drink Vodka Martini's this tour gives you insight into what is known about the people who keep us safe from behind the scenes, and how they manage to do this without being noticed. Beginning in Swiss Cottage, the starting point for a spy story almost too good to be true, which involves the only Brit to receive the Iron Cross, we will take you to the anonymous and infamous sights of London that spies would rather you didn't know.

Meeting Point

WatchHouse Somerset House

Somerset House East Wing, London WC2R 1LA, UK

The tour will start outside Watchouse inside the central courtyard of Somerset House.

What's included:

• Guide

Not included:

• Travel on the TFL network using either Apple or Android pay, an oyster card, or a contactless card.

What to expect:

Duration: 3 hours

Waterloo Bridge

London, SE1 9PX

Waterloo Bridge is the site of one of the most famous Cold-War assassinations, that of Georgi Markov. Markov was killed by a poisoned Ricin pellet fired from a needle tipped umbrella and is one of a handful of assassinations carried out by Russian agents at the request of the Russian intelligence service.

10 minutes

The Savoy

London

This grand London hotel is steeped in espionage history, including connections to the creator of James Bond, who engaged in real-life intelligence work and has a surprising spy link to the tradition of placing a Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square. During World War II, this hotel was the favourite residence of a spy so secretive that even Prime Minister Winston Churchill was unaware of his identity.

10 minutes

Edith Cavell Memorial

10 St. Martin's Place, London, WC2N 4JL

Edith Cavell was a nurse in occupied Belgium during the First World War. Executed by the Germans on charges of spying, which the British government denied, she became a martyr and a symbol of German inhumanity. However, newly declassified documents suggest a very different version of events.

10 minutes

High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom

Canada House, Pall Mall E, London SW1Y 5BJ, UK

Discover how a Canadian MI6 spy warned the British government about possibly another war with Germany as early as 1919.

5 minutes

Old Admiralty Building

Horse Guards Parade, Westminster, London, SW1A 2HQ

This is where some the Directorate of Naval Intelligence was based during both World Wars. Hear how this secretive military organisation was fundamental in the establishment of two of Britain's secret services, how intelligence deciphered here helped bring America into World War One, and how a plan created in this building, using a dead body, went on to not only fool the Germans but inspire the best-reviewed British Musical of all time!

10 minutes

Whitehall

London, SW1A 2BX

Whitehall is home to the British Government and has been linked to Spying and Spies since the early 20th Century. It is also the location of Downing Street and the Admiralty, both of which have links to the British Secret Service. Home to the first head of the Secret Service, the police force charged with stopping foreign spies in the First and Second World Wars, Whitehall is also the location of Downing Street and the Admiralty.

30 minutes

Riverside Walk Gardens

56 Millbank, London SW1P 4RL, UK

Riverside Walk Gardens is the perfect place to take photos and hear all about the Security Intelligence Service (Mi6), its history, and how it works with its sister organisations the Security Service (Mi5) and Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).
Whilst here we will also learn about how Mi6 and its headquarters have been used in the James Bond films, and TV series such as Sherlock.

After looking at Mi6 we will cross Vauxhall Bridge and get the train to Waterloo where we will walk the short distance to our final location.

20 minutes

Parliament Square

Westminster, London, SW1P 3BD

Stopping at Parliament Square allows us to talk about how Sir Winston Churchill changed the fact of espionage through his decisive leadership during the Second World War.
Parliament Square also gives us a chance to discuss the UK's Parliamentary oversight of our Spy organisations, how we work with our international allies, and how a Spy ended up buried in one of the world's most famous the UNESCO world heritage sites - Westminster Abbey.

From here we will board a famous London double-decker bus and head towards Mi6.

15 minutes