London Classic Black Taxi Tour Experience

Our London classic tour takes in all the essential sites of London plus some extras, all in the comfort of a traditional London black taxi cab, complete with a panoramic roof for better touring experience. With access to most bus lanes, taxi ranks and our ability to stop, turn and park in places forbidden for other road users, means that we have unprecedented access to the streets of London. We run tours in English and 6 other languages, curated and produced by us, combining over 30 years experience in the touring business. Other languages are available on request. Every London cabbie has passed the fiendishly difficult "knowledge" of London. This involves knowing every street within a 10 kilometre radius of central London, plus over 20,000 points of interest. You can be assured therefore that you are in safe and capable hands for great tour of London.

What to expect:

Duration: 4 hours

Buckingham Palace

London SW1A 1AA, UK

Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the British monarch. Originally built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703, the palace became an official royal palace with the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. Today, it stands as a symbol of the British monarchy, hosting state occasions and royal hospitality, with its State Rooms open to the public during the summer months. Look for the guards outside in their famous bear-skin hats. Find out about the man who broke into the palace and found the Queen's bedroom.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

St. James's

London

St. James’s is the oldest of the Royal Parks in London. The landscape includes a lake that serves as a wildlife sanctuary for ducks, geese, swans, and even pelicans. One king kept two pet crocodiles here! The park’s history dates back to the reign of King Henry VIII and has been shaped by several monarchs, making it a serene retreat with a regal backdrop.

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Queen Victoria Memorial

Spur Rd, , London, SW1A 1AA

The Victoria Memorial, located at the end of The Mall in London, is a grand monument dedicated to Queen Victoria, designed by the sculptor Sir Thomas Brock. Unveiled in 1911, it features a central pylon of Pentelic marble and statues in Lasa marble and gilt bronze, symbolizing the virtues of the late queen. The memorial, which weighs 2,300 tonnes and stands 25 meters high, was part of an ambitious urban planning scheme that included the creation of the Queen’s Gardens.

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Green Park

London, SWA 1AA

There are many stories about Green Park, including a haunted tree and a jealous queen. Developed by Charles the second over 350 years ago the park is a serene haven of mature trees and grasslands, offering a peaceful escape from the bustling city life.

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Whitehall

London, SW1A 2BX

Whitehall is known for housing numerous government departments and being synonymous with the British Government itself. Whitehall has been the site of many historical events, including the execution of King Charles I. Look for the "Cavalry Blacks", horses standing guard mounted by soldiers dressed in their splendid ceremonial uniforms.

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10 Downing Street

Downing Street, , London, SW1A 2AL

Downing Street is renowned for housing the official residences and offices of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Built in the 1680s by Sir George Downing, it has been at the heart of British political power for over three centuries. The street is also a symbol of the British Government, with Number 10 serving as the Prime Minister’s home.

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Old Admiralty Building

Horse Guards Parade, Westminster, London, SW1A 2HQ

The Old Admiralty Building is over 300 years old. The wires on the top of the building were once used to send messages down to the fleet in Portsmouth. It was here that Admiral Nelson's body was retrieved from a barrel of brandy following his death at the battle of Trafalgar. Suspiciously about a third of the brandy was missing. Find out why on the tour.

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Banqueting House

Whitehall Palace Whitehall, Horse Guards Avenue, London, SW1A 2ER

Designed by the architect Inigo Jones and completed in 1622 Banqueting House is renowned for its stunning ceiling painted by Peter Paul Rubens and is the only remaining part of the Palace of Whitehall. It was through this room that Charles the first passed on his way to his execution in 1649. The Banqueting House was also home to Henry the eighth's wine-cellar.

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Great Scotland Yard

Great Scotland Yard, London SW1, UK

Great Scotland Yard was originally the site of buildings used by Scottish royalty and diplomatic representatives when visiting the English court1. It became famous as the original headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, leading to the name “Scotland Yard” becoming synonymous with the police service. The street has a rich history, having housed notable figures such as architects Inigo Jones and Christopher Wren, and poet John Milton.

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Big Ben

Parliament Square, Elizabeth Tower - Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA

Officially called the Elizabeth tower after the late Queen, Big Ben refers to the 13 1/2 ton bell inside made in Whitechapel bell foundry, the same foundry which cast the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Half way up the tower there's a prison and a light inside indicates that the House of Commons is in session.

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Houses of Parliament

Parliament Square, London, SW1A 0AA

The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament, is the seat of two parliamentary houses, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The current Gothic Revival palace, designed by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin, was constructed in the mid-19th century after a great fire destroyed much of the original building. Westminster hall, however, remains. This was the site of many dramatic events in English history including the trial of Guy Fawkes, the man who tried to blow up Parliament and the trial of Charles the first.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Parliament Square

Westminster, London, SW1P 3BD

Statues of all the major political figures from all over the world adorn the square. Abraham Lincoln, Gandi, and Nelson Mandela are honoured here. The most famous of all is Winston Churchill, Britain's wartime leader.

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Westminster Abbey

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

The Nation's church, founded in 1066 is where every King and Queen of England, with just two exceptions, were crowned. It is also a place of royal marriages, funerals and burials. Of the many famous people buried here, there's one buried standing up. Find out why on our tour.

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Buxton Memorial Fountain

1 Millbank, , London, SW1P 3JU

The Buxton Memorial Fountain commemorates the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834 and honouring the parliamentarians who campaigned for abolition1. Designed by Charles Buxton in collaboration with neo-Gothic architect Samuel Sanders Teulon, it was unveiled in 1865, coinciding with the United States’ Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery. Originally located in Parliament Square, the memorial was moved to Victoria Tower Gardens in 1957 and has undergone several restorations, the latest being in 2007.

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Boudiccan Rebellion

Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JH, UK

James Thorneycroft statue commemorates the queen who led a resistance against the Romans in Britain 2,000 years ago. This rather fanciful statue features horses modelled on Prince Albert's own.

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Lambeth Palace

Lambeth Palace Road, , London, SE1 7JU

The home of the archbishop of Canterbury in London. The brick towers are over 500 years old. This is the archbishop's residence in London, and parts of the building are over 750 years old.

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Trafalgar Square

London, WC2N 5DS

Dominated by Nelson's column, this square commemorates England's greatest naval hero. The lions at the base were added later. The sculptor never saw a lion in real life and supposedly they're based on his pet Labrador dogs.

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Canada House

Canada House 5 Trafalgar Square, London, SW1Y 5BJ

This is Oceanic house, once owned by the White Star Line, operators of the ill-fated Titanic. Today is is part of Canadian High Commission. The libertine Casanova was once entertained here.

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Birdcage Walk

Birdcage Walk, London SW1, UK

This pleasant avenue runs to the south of Saint James's Park. Named after the birds kept here during the reign of James the first, birdcage walk features Wellington barracks to the south, home to the five foot regiments who guard the palace. On the other side is saint James's Park where tame parakeets can be hand fed.

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Admiralty Arch

Admiralty Arch The Mall, Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square, London, SW1A 2WH

Sir Aston Webb's High Empire Arch of 1905 is exactly 1/2 a nautical mile from Buckingham Palace. The style is known as High Empire. The offices of the first sea lord are in the north of the arch.

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Churchill War Rooms

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

A secret underground bunker from where Winston Churchill directed the allies war effort in the second world war. Built in 1940 the war rooms, the rooms remained a secret until opened to the general public in 1984.

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Pall Mall

Pall Mall, London SW1, UK

Named after a fashionable game from the late 1600s, Pall Mall is home of the elitist gentlemen's clubs. Gastronomic delights invented in the kitchens within these clubs include the beef wellington, steak and kidney pie and the humble sandwich were invented here. Some of the clubs achieved a notoriety for gambling; one member boasting he could ride to Edinburgh on horse backwards.

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St. James's Palace

Marlborough Road, London, SW1A 1BQ

Built by Henry VIII for his second wife, Anne Boleyn, 500 years ago, this palace is still a royal residence and all foreign diplomats report to saint James's palace. Following a fire in Whitehall in 1698, the royal family moved into this palace and remained here for the next 150 years.

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Berry Bros. & Rudd

3 St. James's Street, , London, SW1A 1EG

The wine merchants set up business here in the seventeenth century where Henry the eighth once had his tennis courts. Inside Berry Brothers and Rudd there are some massive scale where famous people from over 200 years ago had themselves weighed. The second floor is where the state of Texas has its legation during the brief time it was an independent state.

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John Lobb

9 St. James's Street, Sw1, London, SW1A 1EF

This is where the great and the good have had their shoes made for over 250 years. Shoes are made in blocks of wood known as "sets" and the shore is built around it. These shoes are said to last a lifetime, and when you see the price you'll understand why.

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D. R. Harris & Co Piccadilly

52 Piccadilly, London W1J 0DX, UK

Known for their hangover cures, this is the oldest pharmacy in London. D.R. Harris and company are known for the gentleman's grooming products.

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Piccadilly Circus

London, W1V 9LB

The Time Square of London, famous for its electronic billboards and the statue of Eros, the first aluminium statue in the world. Built in 1891, it was the first aluminium statue in the world, and commemorates Lord Shaftesbury, a British Prime Minister of the mid nineteenth century, who did much to alleviate the conditions of the poor, particularly children. The electronic advertising hoardings started in 1908 and they are the largest in Europe, containing 281 trillion colours from 11 million pixels.

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Mayfair

London

The fair that was once held was banned in the late 1600s for its rowdiness. From that time onwards townhouses were developed for wealthy residents. Look for the arcades, covered shopping areas over 200 years old patrolled by the beadles in their nineteenth century uniforms.

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Burlington House

London, W1J 0BD

Lord Burlington's London home now houses the Royal Academy of Arts. Some of the world's most famous contemporary artists exhibit here within the splendid neo-Palladian building.

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Fortnum & Mason

181 Piccadilly, , London, W1A 1ER

Founded over 300 years ago Fortnum and Mason's is one of London's most famous department store. They are purveyors of luxury goods to the Royal family. Their Christmas hampers are world renowned as are their scotch eggs which were invented here.

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Hyde Park Corner

The Mall / Piccadilly / Grosvenor Place, Hyde Park, London, W1J 7JZ

The massive statue of an angel surmounting a chariot was unveiled in 1913. The statue is so large that a dinner party for eight people was held within one of the horses. Only members of the Royal Family and the household guard are permitted to pass through the arch beneath.

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Apsley House

149 Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner, London, W1J 7NT

Home to the Duke of Wellington, victor over Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo in 1815. By the staircase is a massive 5 metre statue of the Duke's adversary, Napoleon. The Duke was nicknamed to iron duke. Find out why on our tour.

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Park Lane

London

This London thoroughfare links Constitutional and Marble arch. Along the east side of Park lane are some of London's most prestigious hotels. On the west side is Hyde Park, the largest of London's central parks.

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Marble Arch

London, W1H 7EJ

John Nash's masterpiece from over 200 years ago stands at the site of the old Tyburn Hill, a place of execution for over 700 years. The arch once stood outside Buckingham palace but was moved during the reign of Queen Victoria.

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Bayswater

Bayswater, London, UK

North carriage drive to the south of Bayswater road is said to be haunted by a bus! This road was originally built by the Romans 2,000 years and links London to the university city of Oxford. J.M. Barrie, the children's author lived on this road and wrote his classic children's novel "Peter Pan" here.

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Hyde Park

London, W2 2UH

The largest of London's many parks and gardens, Hyde park was once the hunting ground of Henry the eighth. The park you see today was landscaped in the early 1700s and the Serpentine lake was created. It was here that the Great Exhibition of 1851 was held and the memorial to man who made it such a success, Prince Albert, can be seen here.

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Serpentine Galleries

Kensington Gardens, London, W2 3XA

Award winning galleries featuring works by some of the world's most famous artists.

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Serpentine Boating Lake

The Old Police House Hyde Park, Hyde Park, Serpentine Road, London, W2 2UH

An artificial Lake created over 300 years ago was the centre piece of Charles Bridgeman revolutionary development of Hyde Park. The lake was created by damming up the river Westbourne which flows into the river Thames. There's a lovely view to the east of the London Eye.

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Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain

W Carriage Dr, , London, W2 2UH

Built at a cost of £3.2 million this granite memorial commemorates the life of Diana, Princess of Wales. The fountain has two courses of water which meet up at the bottom. The fountain is said to reflect Diana's life of turbulence and calm.

5 minutes

Albert Memorial

Princes Gate, Kensington Gore, London, W8

Probably the best example of gothic revival architecture, this memorial commemorates the life of Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria. The memorial was built during the height of the British Empire. The four figures at the base represent the Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas where Britain's presence was felt throughout the nineteenth century.

5 minutes

Royal Albert Hall

Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP

The Albert Hall hosts the Proms; a summer long celebration of classical music. The 8,000 seat auditorium is oval in shape and also hosts circuses and rock concerts. The distinctive dome is largest unsupported glass dome in the world.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Kensington Palace

Kensington Gardens, London, W8 4PX

Once the home of Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince William and Princess Kate, this palace was birthplace of Queen Victoria. The palace is over 300 years built for Queen Mary and her husband, William, Duke of Orange. The palace is open to the public and features a costume museum.

2 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Natural History Museum

Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD

This splendid neo-gothic building dates back to the late Victorian age and the style reflects "High Church" architecture, popular at this time. The museum has over 80 million specimens. Exhibits include animatronic dinosaurs and Charles Darwen's octopus.

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Science Museum

Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2DD

The science museum features many of the world's inventions, including the first steam locomotive and the earliest computer. Also exhibited here is the car that made the first motor journey in Britain and a collection of veteran airplanes.

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V&A - Victoria and Albert Museum

Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL

Once described as the nation's handbag, this museum features a curious collection of art from all over the world. There are over 2.3 million exhibits from all over the world, spanning 5,000 years of human history. Like most museums in this area, entrance is free to the general public.

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Harrods

87-135 Brompton Road, , London, SW1X 7XL

Arguably the world's most department store, Harrods reputation is second to none in accessing provisions for their most demanding customers. Their motto is; something for someone, everywhere. It was the first building in the country to have escalators and a man with a wooden leg was employed to go up and down it, to demonstrate it was quite safe to use.

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Belgravia

London

Much of the land around here is owned by the Grosvenor family, who inspired the character of the grinning Cheshire cat. Find out why on this tour. Belgravia is home to many of London's embassies.

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Royal Mews

Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 1QH

The Royal Mews is where the King keeps his carriages which can be seen by the public on selected dates throughout the year. 24 of the King's horses are stabled here, attended by 12 grooms. Also on display is rare Rolls Royce, a gift from the society of motor manufacturers to the late Queen Elizabeth the second.

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Lambeth Bridge

Lambeth Rd, London, SE1 7SG

Look out for the pineapples on top of the columns, the emblem of the borough of Lambeth. There are some great views towards the Houses of Parliament. This was an ancient fording point, going back over 4,000 years and once had a horse ferry until this bridge was built.

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Lambeth Palace

Lambeth Palace Road, , London, SE1 7JU

The home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth palace is distinguished by the brick tower gateway built over 500 years ago. The river Thames once went up to the wall and the archbishop would have arrived by boat. The gardens are only accessible by nurses in the nearby Saint Thomas's hospital.

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Florence Nightingale Museum

Lambeth Palace Road, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, SE1 7EP

Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing established a school here 150 years ago. A small museum is dedicated to her memory where you can see her famous lamp and pet owl, Athena. Florence Nightingale also approved the hospital's design.

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County Hall

Belvedere Road, , London, SE1 7GP

Once the home of London's government, this building has over 8 kilometres of corridors and is home to the London aquarium. When the foundations were being dug in the 1920s an almost intact Roman galley was found from 2,000 years ago. The lion standing outside County Hall is made from Coade stone.

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Westminster Bridge

, , London, SE1 7PB

"Earth has not anything to show more fair", wrote the poet William Wordsworth on Westminster bridge. There are some great views towards "Big Ben" from this bridge. The coloured canopies of the Houses of Parliament nearby feature the liveries of the Commons and the Lords.

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London Eye

Westminster Bridge Road, Riverside Building, County Hall, London, SE1 7PB

Built to commemorate the millennium, the London Eye is now London's most popular tourist attraction with over 3.5 million visitors a year, one of the tallest observation wheels in the world. The wheel is over 100 metres in height and has 32 pods which can hold up to 12 people at a time. It takes half an hour to make a full revolution.

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Thames River

, , London

The Thames is the second oldest place name in the English language, named by Julius Caesar following his invasion over 2,000 years ago. Although only just over 300 kilometres in length, the river was once the busiest in the world. The river has changed greatly since Victorian times, when it was up to three times wider than it is today.

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Sir Joseph Bazalgette Memorial

London

The man who built London's sewage system and drastically altered the shape of the Thames. Before Bazelgette's great engineering project the Thames was a foul smelling and dangerous river. The 100 kilometre embankments along the Thames greatly altered the flow and nature of the Thames.

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Cleopatra's Needle

Thames Embankment, , London

A gift from the Turkish viceroy of Egypt Cleopatras needle is a 4,000 year old Obelisk said to be jinxed! Look at the base on the obelisk and you'll see shrapnel damage from one of the first bombs to land on British soil dropped by a Zeppelin in the first world war. Buried beneath the obelisk is a time capsule, depicting England's most beautiful women of the time.

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Waterloo Bridge

London, SE1 9PX

Known as the ladies bridge, this was built during the second world war when the men were away fighting. There are some great views to both the City and Westminster from this bridge. The bridge is made from a self cleaning stone from the isle of Portland on England's south coast.

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Aldwych Area

London

Meaning "the old port" in old English this area of London is home to the London School of Economics, one the country's most prestigious universities. We are on the edge of the theatre district here. Covent garden is also close by, a major hub for dining and entertainment.

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Somerset House

The Strand, , London, WC2R 1LA

Once the site of a royal palace this building dates from the the late 1700s. Public records were once held here. Today the building is a venue for lectures and also features Courtaulds art gallery.

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Fleet Street

Fleet St, , London, EC4

Once famous for newspaper publications, some of the old taverns frequented by journalists still remain, including one with a foul mouthed parrot! The church of Saint Bride's is known as the wedding cake church. You'll see why on this tour.

1 minute • Admission Ticket Not Included

St Bride's Church

Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 8AU

Often described as the journalists' church the spire is said to have influenced the design of the modern wedding cake. This has been a place of Christian worship for over one thousand five hundred years. The present church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

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Temple Bar

100 St Paul's Churchyard, London

The huge dragon in the middle of the road marks the boundary of the City of London, the world's oldest continuous democracy. The City of London is a political entity in its own right, with its own police force, schools and government. Endowment funds from hundreds of years ago make the city of London one of the most prosperous pieces of real estate in the world. The dragon is said to be protecting the city's wealth.

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St. Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Churchyard, London, EC4M 8AD

Sir Christopher Wren is the architect of Saint Paul's cathedral, the fourth such on this site. The dome is second only in size to saint Peter's in the Vatican. The dome is known for its acoustics, known as the whispering gallery because a whisper can be clearly heard across the gallery.

2 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

London Bridge

London, EC4R 9HA

Some great views from this bridge towards Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast. There have been several London bridges here. The most famous stood for 650 years and once had shops and houses on top it. There was even a jousting match on the bridge between an Englishman and a Scotsman. To find out who one, come on our tour!

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Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge Road, London, SE1 2UP

Instantly recognisable as London's most famous bridge the lifting mechanism got stuck as a bus crossed over in 1952. Find out what happened next on our tour.

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Tower of London

London, EC3N 4AB

In its time the Tower of London has been a prison, a jail, a place of execution, a royal palace and a zoo. The Crown jewels are kept here and are on public view. The jewels were stolen once and the thief was awarded land and a pension! There are also some ravens in residence looked after by a raven master, one of the beefeaters who guard the tower.

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Southwark

London

The major entertainment hub during Shakespeare's day, Southwark could be a rough and ready place, full of taverns, bear pits and theatres.

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Borough Market

8 Southwark Street, , London, SE1 1TL

A fruit and vegetable market for over 700 years, the market is a favourite to place to sample some of the best street food from all over the world.

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