London Famous Sites Guided History Tour

Join me, a passionate local Londoner, on a tour around some of London's most famous sites. Using my many years of experience as an English language teacher, I will speak slowly and clearly on the tour, in a way that non-native English speakers will understand.
We will see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, St James's Park, St James's Palace, Trafalgar Square, Downing Street, Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and much more.

You will learn about: the intruder who broke into Buckingham Palace in 1982, the pelicans living in St James's park, Larry the cat who lives in Downing Street, why King Henry VIII was the worst husband in the history of England, Winston Churchill's daily alcohol intake, the British Empire and much more!

Meeting Point

The Ritz London

150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR, UK

I'll be waiting under the bright 'The Ritz' sign just outside Green Park underground station.

What's included:

• A lovely walk

What to expect:

Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Green Park

London, SWA 1AA

Learn about the horrible plague pit that was discovered here and the assassination attempt on Queen Victoria (you'll be very surprised by the punishment given to the wannabe assassin!). After that, we'll take a leisurely stroll through the park.

15 minutes

Buckingham Palace

Spur Road, London, SW1A 1AA

Outside Buckingham palace we will consider 4 questions. 1. Why do we have a monarchy? 2. How much power does the King have? 3. Is the King safe when he is inside the palace? 4. Why was the Queen mother happy when the Nazis landed a bomb on the palace?
A little secret... The answer to question number 3 is no! In 1982, somebody broke into the palace and entered the Queen's bedroom while she was sleeping!

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

St. James's Park

Horse Guards Road, The Storeyard, London, SW1A 2BJ

Find out the bizarre story of why there are a family of pelicans living in the park. Let's take a stroll through one of London's most beautiful parks!

10 minutes

St. James's Palace

Marlborough Road, London, SW1A 1BQ

Learn the horrible history of the worst husband in the history of England, King Henry VIII, the man who built the palace. Why did he have 6 wives? Why did he kill 2 of them?

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Trafalgar Square

London, WC2N 5DS

Who is Lord Nelson and why does he have such a tall statue in Trafalgar Square?

15 minutes

10 Downing Street

Downing Street, , London, SW1A 2AL

Learn about Larry the cat, who lives with the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall

Horse Guards Whitehall, , London, SW1A 2AX

Why does the King have two birthdays? How does he celebrate them?

5 minutes

Churchill War Rooms

King Charles Street, Clive Steps, Westminster, London, SW1A 2AQ

Churchill. Hero or villain?

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Houses of Parliament

Parliament Square, London, SW1A 0AA

What goes on inside this beautiful building? How close did Guy Fawkes come to blowing it all up in 1605?

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Westminster Abbey

20 Dean's Yard, Broad Sanctuary, London, SW1P 3PA

Learn about the coronation of the King

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included