from
$170
London in a Day Tour with Westminster Abbey, Big Ben & Tower of London
Admire the Crown Jewels, take a river cruise on the Thames, and explore the royal Westminster area
A day in London can quickly turn into a battle with crowds, long lines, and missed highlights. This tour removes the stress, starting with timed-entry access to Westminster Abbey, where you uncover royal history without the wait. Later, you sail past Tower Bridge and the Shard on a Thames River cruise before your expert guide walks you into the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels. Perfect for first-time visitors who want London's greatest hits in one well-paced day.
What's included
Trace 1,000 years of royal power
Expert English-speaking guide
Timed entry to Westminster Abbey
Guided tour of the Tower of London
Crown Jewels and White Tower access
River Thames boat ride
Photo stop at Big Ben (exterior)
Changing of the Guard or Horse Guard viewing
Guide tips
Lunch and drinks
Itinerary
Meet your guide in Central London
Your tour begins in central London, look for the exact location on your booking voucher. Here, you'll learn the full day's itinerary and get oriented for your deep dive into London’s most essential landmarks and royal history.
Guided tour of Westminster Abbey
With your skip-the-line ticket, bypass the main queues and step inside this magnificent church. Your guide will illuminate the Abbey’s thousand-year history as a religious center and the venue for nearly every coronation since 1066. See the famous Coronation Chair and the tombs of acclaimed figures in Poets' Corner, like Charles Dickens and Geoffrey Chaucer.
Walk past Big Ben to the gates of Buckingham Palace
Parliament Square opens up beyond the Abbey, where Big Ben marks the corner of the Houses of Parliament. Cut through St James's Park and arrive at Buckingham Palace, the working home of the monarchy.
Changing of the Guard or Horse Guards Parade
Arrive near Buckingham Palace to observe the traditional Changing of the Guard. This spectacle showcases military precision and centuries of tradition. On days when the ceremony does not take place (or due to bad weather), you'll instead enjoy the disciplined display of the Horse Guards Parade.
Free time for lunch near Trafalgar Square and Downing Street
After the ceremony, your guide will lead you toward Trafalgar Square for a break. You’ll have time to grab lunch (not included in the tour price) while in the area, and you’ll also see the exterior of 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the British Prime Minister, where momentous decisions are made.
Relax on a Thames River cruise
Following lunch, board a comfortable local clipper for a relaxing journey along the River Thames. This scenic ride offers a new perspective of the city, and your guide will point out famous sights like the London Bridge, Tower Bridge, City Hall, and the towering Shard skyscraper.
Explore the Tower of London with your guide
Dock beneath the formidable walls of the Tower of London, a site that has been a fortress, royal palace, and infamous prison since its founding by William the Conqueror in 1066. Your expert guide will share the Tower's bloody past, from the days of Guy Fawkes to Henry VIII's ill-fated wives, as you explore key areas like Traitor's Gate and meet the legendary Beefeaters.
Admire the Crown Jewels
After your guide provides an overview, head inside the Jewel House independently to witness the exquisite collection of Crown Jewels. You’ll see the stunning coronation regalia, adorned with thousands of stones, which symbolize the enduring power of the English monarchy.
Your tour ends in Central London
Your full-day adventure concludes in central London. Don’t forget to ask your guide for tips on how to spend your evening in this incredible city.
For Reference Only. Itineraries are subject to change
Select participants and date
Start times are in the product’s local time
Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance!
Sun, 27 Sep 2026
Meeting and drop-off point
Important Details
Discover what to expect, what's included, and everything you need to know before booking.
Good to know:
Dress Code: Westminster Abbey is a place of worship, so modest clothing is recommended.
Weather Advisory: The Changing of the Guard may be canceled without notice due to weather or decisions by local authorities, but an alternative experience will be provided.
Tour Changes: On days when the Changing of the Guard does not take place (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays or due to poor weather) you’ll instead visit the equally enthralling Horse Guard Ceremony.
Fitness Level: Get ready to earn your steps. This tour takes you across London on foot, from Westminster to the Tower, so bring a good level of fitness and comfortable shoes. The reward is seeing the city the way locals do.
Please Note: Guides are not allowed inside the White Tower or the Jewel House, but they will accompany you to each location and share everything you need to know. They will escort you to the Beefeater's Quarters, Traitor's Gate, and several other key areas in the fortress.
Accessibility: Unfortunately, this tour is not wheelchair accessible due to uneven surfaces and old stone stairways. If you have concerns about your mobility, we recommend checking out our Private London in a Day Tour.
Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the group can enter sites on time.
Your tour includes:
Expert English-speaking guide
Timed entry and guided tour of Westminster Abbey
Changing of the Guard or Horse Guard ceremony viewing (certain days, weather permitting)
Free time for lunch near Trafalgar Square (food and drink not included)
Boat ride down the River Thames by clipper
Guided tour of the Tower of London
Access to the Crown Jewels, White Tower, and more
What to bring:
Comfortable walking shoes
Water bottle
Camera
Weather-appropriate clothing
See what people are saying
4.96
635 Ratings
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Fabulous Tour
Isabella S.
September 26, 2026
The definition of "excellent" should include a photo of our guide, Andrew. It was an all day tour and he kept us amused, educated, and informed the entire time. When we booked this tour I thought it was a little pricy, but it was worth every single penny.
Fabulous Tour
keith S.
September 23, 2026
We loved this tour! It was packed with information and using The Tour Guy gave us special access to sites. Adrian, our guide, was a font of knowledge about English history, particularly the complicated history of the monarchy. He was adept at drawing parallels to more current and contemporary events, with a welcome sprinkling of pop references and humor. He truly made the tour a pleasure. Be prepared to walk a lot - but well worth it!
Great couple of hours spent
Neill W.
September 22, 2026
Carlos was so good. Expect crowds and 3 hours on your feet...however, a good way to see and learn about Barcelona sites visited.
Great tour
Catherine S.
September 18, 2026
Toby was a great tour guide. This was a long tour but really informative.
Jennifer K.
September 18, 2026
Wonderful tour and guide
Jennifer A.
September 18, 2026
Highly recommend this tour! Our guide,Frances, was excellent. She was attentive, energetic and above all extremely knowledgeable. It’s a great way to see some of London’s top sites and learn so much along the way.
Jan T.
September 17, 2026
The tour was great and the tour guide Penny was her name was very knowledgeable and basically answered any question that we had about what we were seeing which was a lot. Great tour.
Robert R.
September 16, 2026
Jeanine H.
September 15, 2026
Awesome
Cindy C.
September 15, 2026
Our London In A Day Tour with Jackie exceeded our expectations. She was beyond pleasant, accommodating & knowledgeable and guided us through venues w/expert precision, keeping us on task and on time, while imparting expert knowledge and advice on how to get the most out of our visits.
Jeffrey J.
September 14, 2026
Ms Patty Glaser
Patty G.
September 13, 2026
The tour was excellent. Our guide’s was full of detailed information about the places we visited and the whole history of London and England. I would highly recommend this tour.
Patricia P.
September 12, 2026
Awesome! Jackie was fantastic.
Great tour!
GORDON W.
September 11, 2026
Andrew did an incredible job for us on this tour. He was friendly and extremely knowledgeable. This was a fantastic tour. Rick Steves recommended The Tour Guy, and he was spot on. I’d recommend Andrew’s tour anytime.
One day in London
Jeff W.
September 11, 2026
Jill was fantastic. She was very informative and also attentive to the needs of all the guests on her tour.
Mrs and Mr Manning
William M.
September 11, 2026
Adrian presented a massive amount of history on every aspect of this tour. The historical context was very interesting. We would highly recommend this tour and Adrian as the guide.
Great tour
Michael D.
September 10, 2026
There was a whole lot to see on this tour and Helena did a great job. She was full of information and clearly has a passion for the history of London.
Nicholas M.
September 09, 2026
Very interesting. We saw so much and Adrian (tour guide). Was very informative and explained everything that you saw without losing our attention. This tour is a long walking amount
Absolutely AMAZING!
Greg G.
September 08, 2026
From start to finish, our guide was extremely knowledgeable, kind, attentive, and fun! I learned so much on the tour and enjoyed the conversations I had with the guide. My family and I took two private tours with The Tour Guy in Rome last year and was extremely impressed. This tour was equally impressive! I highly recommend this company for tours.
Covered alot
Debra W.
September 07, 2026
If you want to get as many tours in one day as possible , book this one! Tons of info And I feel I saw so much! Out tour guide was great and full of Trivia. Great to not stand in lines and mess with tickets. A very good day. I felt The emails beforehand were great, easy directions. Thank you.
London in a day
Teresa C.
September 07, 2026
Bradley K.
September 07, 2026
Fantastic day of learning and fun!
Candice V.
September 06, 2026
Great tour and fabulous guide! It was a full day tour that would have taken us a week to complete on our own. Wear comfortable shoes and get all your steps in as you visit everything that makes London so special. History mixed with insider stories and some horror thrown in. Our guide knew all the secret vantage points to view changing of the guard parade and the Queen’s horsemen. We used discreet doors away from crowds to enter some of the sites. The cruise provided a much needed rest point as viewed the city from the Thames. An A+ all around experience and highly recommend!
Deidre B.
September 02, 2026
It was WONDERFUL
London Tour by Sean Geelan
Bogdan S.
September 02, 2026
This was one of the best tours my wife and I have ever taken. Sean was incredibly informative and detailed, bringing central London's history to life at every stop. The tour ran exactly on time and as scheduled, thanks to Sean's conscientious planning. As a licensed London Blue Badge Tourist Guide, he was able to get us into places like Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London without waiting in long lines. We highly recommend booking a tour with Sean Geelan for an unforgettable experience.