Explore WWII London in three riveting hours, from Bank to Parliament. Discover the city’s pivotal wartime role and experience history where it happened.
Destination
London, England
Category
Off The Beaten Track
Duration
3 hours
Transport mode
Walking tour
Available languages
English
Included
Private guide
7 reasons to book this tour
Heroes and History: WWII Family Walking Tour
Discover London's Blitz resilience at Bank Station.
St. Paul's survival: Symbol of wartime hope.
Media's wartime role unveiled on Fleet Street.
Explore wartime legal dramas at Royal Courts.
The Strand's strategic WWII significance revealed.
Victory celebrations explored in Trafalgar Square.
What you can expect
This tour is an ideal complement if you're planning to visit one of the Imperial War Museum sites (the Museum itself, Churchill / Cabinet War Rooms or HMS Belfast). This tour does NOT include access to any of those sites, but it DOES explain the significance of sites you will read and hear about in the museums.
Starting at the historic financial heart of London, Bank Underground Station, and ending in the vibrant Trafalgar Square, this tour explores key sites that tell the story of London’s resilience and strategic importance during the war.
Starting at Bank Underground Station, delve into London's WWII history, highlighting the city's vulnerability during the Blitz due to its financial significance. This tour reveals how the City of London was a prime target, sustaining heavy bombings. Moving on to St. Paul’s Cathedral, discover its miraculous survival amid the devastation. The iconic image of St. Paul's standing defiant amid the smoke and flames epitomises London's spirit of resilience and hope during one of its darkest times.
As the walk progresses through Fleet Street, discuss the pivotal role of the media in shaping public perception through propaganda and censorship during the war. At the Royal Courts of Justice, explore the significant legal proceedings of the era, including espionage and treason trials that shaped wartime and post-war Britain. Stroll down The Strand, reflecting on its strategic importance and the severe impact of the bombings on civilian life. The tour concludes at Trafalgar Square, commemorating its role as a focal point for victory parades and public morale-boosting gatherings after the war.
This is the plan
Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with Chris .
Meeting point
Meet at Mansion House - London to start your journey
Itinerary
This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.
Bank Underground Station
The City and why it was such an important WW II Blitz target.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
How Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece survived the Blitz
Fleet Street
Hub of British newspapers, media and propoganda
Royal Courts of Justice
Legal implications, wartime and postwar cases of treason and more
The Strand
Walking through this main thoroughfare we look at the impact of the War on civilian life.
Admiralty Arch
Explanation of the Admiralty and its role in the War
Trafalgar Square
The home of Victory parades!
Make it yours
Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.
Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.
Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.
I can personalize this tour for you
I can personalize this tour for you
Tell me your preferred date and group size
Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!
Flexible cancellation policy
Feel confident booking
Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.
Change of plans?
Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.
Loved by travelers worldwide
Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.
Reviews from guests
Brendan🇺🇸 United States
16 August 2024
William
30 July 2024
We had a great morning with Chris. He was extremely knowledgeable and completely customized our tour as we were walking and asking questions. I wish we had booked him for the whole day.Amazing Tour
Bridget🇺🇸 United States
28 July 2024
Chris is a wonderful guide, we had a great tour in London. He is very knowledgeable about the history of the city and was able to keep our whole family engaged, including our two teenage boys. Informative tour with Chris!
Eugene 🇺🇸 United States
2 June 2025
Chris was a wonderfully friendly and knowledgeable guide. We covered from Roman times to the present, all within the few blocks enclosed by St Paul’s Cathedral, Guildhall and the Royal Exchange. We learned a lot! We had not appreciated until then that London City is just a small part of London. Great historical tour of London City
Jonathan🇺🇸 United States
29 May 2025
Chris did a great job with our full day tour. He clearly knows London quite well and was able to answer all of our questions. He was also very mindful of my two kids and tailored the tour to suit our needs. I highly recommend him for those looking for a tour.Knowlegable, polite and patient!
Bailey🇺🇸 United States
26 May 2025
I booked a private tour with Chris for our group of 11 adults & 1 baby. Chris was a fantastic guide! He is very knowledgeable and was able to answer all of our questions. We learned a lot on our tour and it was overall the highlight of our time in London! He was also very accommodating to our group, especially the baby. I highly recommend booking a tour with Chris!Great experience! Highly recommend.
Terri🇺🇸 United States
25 May 2025
Chris was a great guide! We had planned an afternoon Kickstart tour and had some check in issues at our Airbnb so we were a bit late getting started. Chris was very adaptable - waited for us while we grabbed a quick bite to eat and re-arranged some of his planned tour. He provided a great overview of London - particularly in the government area and gave us useful recommendations as to travel and restaurants too. Definitely a 5 star.London visit
Patty🇺🇸 United States
22 May 2025
We had the absolute pleasure of spending our first day in London with Chris as our tour guide, and it was the perfect introduction to this incredible city. Not only did he teach us how to navigate the Tube like locals, but he also took us to some of London’s most iconic spots: Parliament, Covent Garden, the financial district, and so much more.
What truly set Chris apart was his extraordinary knowledge and the fascinating historical stories he shared at every stop. His passion for the city is contagious, and we left the tour feeling more connected to London’s rich past and vibrant present.
Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, booking a tour with Chris is a must. Highly recommend!A fantastic day in London with Chris!
Rianna🇨🇦 Canada
19 May 2025
Pat🇺🇸 United States
4 May 2025
Chris had us at "Welcome to London."
Our biggest disappointment was that we didn't book Chris for all 3 days we were in London. Chris is fabulous, interesting, great sense of humor, and has a wealth of knowledge at his fingertips!!! We'd like to come back just to have Chris show us more of the city he truly loves.Truly a fabulous guide!
John🇨🇭 Switzerland
14 April 2025
A great experience
Dru🇺🇸 United States
7 April 2025
Two words to describe Chris's tour " oh wow"!
Chris will take you " behind the scenes " of London and show you things of interest with some great storytelling to go with it!
Chris is knowledgeable and personable.
If you are looking for a great tour of London..Chris is your guide!Oh Wow
Aneta
4 April 2025
Chris was incredibly patient and kind — we had four kids and a grandma in our group, so we weren’t always the fastest or most focused, but he handled it all with such grace and good humor. He shared many interesting facts, and I genuinely believe there’s no question Chris can’t answer. Thank you so much, Chris!Wonderful tour!
Karen🇺🇸 United States
11 March 2025
Six friends traveling together accompanied Chris on a Sunday afternoon Pub tour. We thoroughly enjoyed Chris' knowledge of the architecture and history of London as we walked from pub to pub. The neighborhood pubs he introduced us to were a delight to see and then taste their specific brews. The afternoon went quickly! Would we join Chris again on another tour? Absolutely!Sunday afternoon Pub tour
Christopher🇺🇸 United States
2 March 2025
We were in London for a short time, and our tour with Chris was the perfect way to get acquainted with both historical and modern London in just a couple hours. Chris was not only friendly and engaging, but truly a wealth of knowledge about history and life in London. He was also flexible to ensure our tour fit in a pretty compact day of dining and other activities. Our tour with Chris was the highlight of our short time in London and we'd highly recommend him to any future visitors. Thank you Chris!Perfect Intro to London
Gilbert🇱🇺 Luxembourg
3 February 2025
Hello
We had a fantastic walk starting from Smithfield- st Bartholomeus - Barbican -London Wall - St.Alphage Wall and finished at Guildhall.
Chris has brought us a precise tour and responded to the points we had agreed.
I will ask him to extend for next year to extend this tour, as I plan to present this to a group of interested visitors.
London: 2000 years in 2 hours
Olga🇩🇪 Germany
11 January 2025
We had the absolute pleasure of taking a private 2.5-hour tour of London with Chris, and it exceeded all of our expectations! The tour was a birthday gift for my husband, who had lived in London for nearly two years. I thought it might be difficult to surprise him, but Chris did an incredible job of curating a unique and highly personalised experience that catered to his interests and needs.
Chris shared so many fascinating facts and little-known details about London that even my husband, with his familiarity with the city, was thoroughly impressed and delighted. His passion for the city's history and culture really shone through, and his engaging storytelling made the experience truly unforgettable.
He was thrilled with this thoughtful and informative tour, and I couldn’t have asked for a better gift for him. Thank you, Chris, for making this such a memorable day for both of us. Highly recommended!A great London Tour with Chris
Prisco
6 January 2025
My wife and I spent 3 great hours with Chris on the local history tour that began at St Paul's Cathedral. This man is a wealth of information about all things historical in London. We learned things that are not written in the history books and can only be explained in detail in person. This tour was worth the time amd money !! Great day with Chris
Debra🇺🇸 United States
19 December 2024
If you want to experience London to the fullest, Chris is the expert you want. We began our trip with Chris as our guide-- not just a facts person, but a person who asked what our interests were and expertly crafted a tour where we didn't have a lecture, but a conversation. Chris's depth of knowledge about London and his ability to connect with us made our conversation about London so exciting and engaging. He really connected with us and made our tour special, meaningful, and fun. Chris wanted us to share his excitement about London with us, and we were hooked! Can't wait to come back to London and tour with Chris again.Exciting, Engaging Tour with Chris
Jennifer🇺🇸 United States
26 November 2024
Chris was amazing! Even though it was a typical rainy London evening, Chris made it memorable and fun! Very knowledgeable and knows the history of area like the back of his hand. Chris was amazing at answering our 10 year old nephews questions and keeping him engaged as well! I very much suggest Chris for your next London tour!!!Fun and Knowledgeable
Raymond🇺🇸 United States
10 November 2024
Chris was wonderful. He was incredibly helpful before my tour in making recommendations. He was on time, very communicative and he was cheery and knowledgable. We got a great walking tour which was perfect for day 1 to get to know the neighborhoods. I’d do this tour again. Chris is outstanding
Laurelle🇺🇸 United States
4 November 2024
We had an amazing three-hour tour with Chris through the City of London. Chris kept us moving (we had just flown in) and brought Roman, Restoration, and modern history alive. The little-known history of London’s guilds was particularly fascinating. We recommend Chris whole heartedly. History Alive in the City of London
James🇦🇺 Australia
20 October 2024
Chris was polite and easy company during our tour. He demonstrated his proclaimed local historian credentials commendably. Although the 'free snack or drink' didn't materialise (except for Chris .. we paid ) it was after two other walking tours in Lucerne and Milan that we felt more underwhelmed than at the time by this experience. Having said that it was satisfying enough, and Chris did his best to come up with a tailored tour . Relaxed Historical tour
Denise🇺🇸 United States
28 September 2024
Chris was on time and made the tour fun and interesting. he spent time with us to see what we were interested in and prepared a tour that was perfect. he's knowledgeable and pleasant. highly recommend. excellent tour guide.
M🇺🇸 United States
12 September 2024
I had the pleasure of joining Chris on a tour of London, and it was truly exceptional. His deep knowledge of British History infused our journey with fascinating insights and local expertise. We explored coffee and later immersed ourselves in the vibrant pub culture. Chris’s passion for the city and his personalized approach made the entire experience both enriching and delightful. Highly recommend him for anyone looking to explore London’s unique charm with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide!
Madelyn
11 September 2024
I couldn't recommend Chris enough. I booked this for my mom and my two sisters and I to have a little "jumpstart" to our London trip. It was exactly what we wanted it to be. He walked us through so many different sites and we ended at Buckingham Palace and gave us a ton of history and little tidbits we would have never gotten otherwise. He even taught us how to ride the tube. Would give this man a raise if I could! AMAZING
mike🇺🇸 United States
3 September 2024
My wife and I booked a tour with Chris for our visit to London. Had a great time. So knowledgable and friendly. We learned a lot and had a blast. Loved our tour with Chris
Heather🇺🇸 United States
3 September 2024
Chris gave us a really interesting and informative tour of the canal area. We learned all about London history and current culture. He is very knowledgeable and easy to talk with, and the tour went by almost too quickly! This was not an area we would have walked on our own and are grateful that he helped us learn about a new neighborhood. Wonderful tour
Jasmine🇺🇸 United States
30 August 2024
Chris was an absolute gem of a guide for myself and my fiancé. We navigated through some scheduling issues (due to my confusion) and he was patient and understanding throughout the communications. He led us through Greenpark, through Buckingham Palace, by Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, and we ended up at Trafalgar Square, which checked off all of our “wish list” spots. Chris was enlightening and knows SO much about British history, and weaved in some interesting tidbits about our personal interests. He provided us with advice for the rest of our trip, especially navigating the Eurostar and we couldn’t have left the tour more invigorated or appreciative! Informative and Entertaining!
Robert🇺🇸 United States
19 August 2024
Frances🇺🇸 United States
16 August 2024
Chris was excellent from the booking process to being flexible around my clients unusual schedule. Customized the itinerary to make it interesting for a group of mixed ages.Fun & flexible
Aly🇺🇸 United States
14 August 2024
We had a wonderful tour of Southbank with Chris. 3 young kids can be challenging but he kept them engaged and was mindful of when we needed a break. We learned so much and covered a lot of ground Wonderful Day
Simone🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
23 July 2024
Chris was just the most wonderful guide . He was very knowledgeable about the history of London and explained it beautifully to the kids and us . I am
So glad we chose Chris and can’t wait to go on more tours with him . My kids enjoyed themselves thoroughly . He answered all our questions patiently and in great detail. Thank you Chris . We really appreciated the time we spent with you. Fantasic tour
Eric🇨🇦 Canada
18 July 2024
It was a unique and fabulous experience; I highly recommend it! Chris is a wonderful person who is exceptionally knowledgeable about historic England and ties this knowledge in with one of my favourite beverages: good coffee. Chris’ passion for history, architecture and coffee shone throughout the tour. He was generous with his time and information. Chris also provided us with recommendations for a great brunch spot before our tour and left us with many resources to explore during our visit to England.A Caffeinated Tour in Historic England
tracy
18 July 2024
Thank you Chris for providing a wonderful tour of the Science Museum for our family client. We look forward to working with you again in the near future!Excellent Tour Guide
Kelly🇺🇸 United States
26 June 2024
Chris was a wonderful guide. He was able to tailor the tour to meet our needs and showed us places we would never have seen on a general tour. 5 stars!! Fabulous and detailed tour!
Lindsey🇺🇸 United States
12 June 2024
Chris was knowledgeable, insightful and took us to some really fun places - the whole tour really grounded our family trip to London.Lovely afternoon
luis🇨🇴 Colombia
8 June 2024
Chris is an excellent and prepared guide. We had a great time. We visited the old part of London,
Jan
2 June 2024
Wir waren zum Champions League Finale in London und wollten es mit ein wenig Kultur und Geschichte verknüpfen. Chris war dafür die perfekte Wahl und hat uns interessant und humorvoll durch die Stadt geführt.
Er konnte auch noch ein wenig lernen, z.b. warum so viele Menschen in Schwarzgelb in London unterwegs waren.
Super tour mit Chris
Sarah🇨🇦 Canada
2 June 2024
Chris was a delight.. So full of knowledge, curiosity and was wonderfully friendly. We felt taken care of and explored Shorditch was ease. Loved it! Thank you Chris. Wonderful Guide
Suzanne🇺🇸 United States
17 May 2024
Best walking tour ever! Chris is so knowledgeable and loves sharing his knowledge of London - it’s past and present. We asked for an extended tour and Chris personalized a tour just for us. Due to an error on my part, Chris had to adjust his plan on the fly and make an extra journey on the tube to meet us. He answered all of our questions, always checked in with us to see how we were doing and if we wanted to see something else, and even helped us find our way home! We highly recommend Chris, he is kind, personable, and a great tour guide!Chris is awesome!
Jeanine
13 May 2024
Spent our first afternoon on a private tour with Chris and it could not have been better. Try finding a Christmas carol tour in May. Hubby's all time favorite movie. Messaging back and forth with Chris to work out details, hubby walking with bad knees, 11 year old adhd bouncing off walls and Chris was a pro. On the tour he was Engaging, answering all sorts of questions thrown at him, including off the wall ones. And he brought the book with him so as we were looking at places mentioned or the inspiration, he could read the passages to us. Then he took the time to make all sorts of recommendations where to eat for all different sorts of food. Ate at the pub he recommended for dinner and it was incredible. Chris was lovely!! Perfect private tour for my family.
Petra🇩🇪 Germany
1 April 2024
Wir waren zum ersten Mal in London, hatten schon das eine oder andere auf eigene Faust gesehen und wollten mit Chris noch etwas mehr über London erfahren. Er hat sich ganz nach unseren Wünschen gerichtet und uns von Westminster über die White Hall Road zum Trafalgar Square geführt. Er gab uns Einblicke in die Geschichte Londons, erzählte uns über die Geschäfte in der Jermyn Street, wo u.a. auch die Royals einkaufen und zum Abschluss führte er uns in ein sehr schönes Pub. Chris ist sehr sympathisch und engagiert. Man merkt ihm an, dass ihm diese Tätigkeit Spaß macht und er mit Herzblut dabei ist. Er hat uns so manches erzählt, was man nicht im Reiseführer liest. Im Vorfeld unseres Treffens haben wir mit ihm kommuniziert und er hat sich dann Gedanken gemacht, was er uns noch alles zeigen könnte. Wenn wir wieder einmal nach London reisen, werden wir Chris sehr gerne wieder buchen. Wir wünschen ihm weiterhin viel Freude bei seiner Tätigkeit als "Private Guide". Vielen Dank nochmals, Chris!Mit Chris immer wieder gerne durch London
debra
12 March 2024
Chris was beyond amazing and informative! He walked us around London, and completely tailored our tour based on what we wanted to see during our short stay. Friendly, engaging, passionate and welcoming is how I’d best describe Chris’ approach and personality. My mother, who is 72 and not as robust as others in the group, had no problem keeping up with the tour and to top off our experience- we saw the King pulling out of his residence. Chris really outdid himself and I would highly recommend using him as your tour guide! Outstanding tour!
maria.weiss1080🇦🇹 Austria
6 February 2024
Chris was a wonderful tourguide filled with enthusiasm and passion. It was quite apparent that he truly loved his work as his way of talking was vivid and captivating. We are glad to have decided to book a tour with him.Marvelous!
Kristina🇫🇮 Finland
23 January 2024
We had a great tour around London with Chris! A lot of great recommendations and useful information as well as interesting details about the history of London. Thank you Chris!A fun day out and about
Alex🇩🇪 Germany
21 January 2024
Chris was very knowledgeable and was eager to tell the most minute details about the history of London. You can tell he's passionate about what he does. Communication all the way up until the day of the tour was good as well. The tour is definitely a little pricey for just one person so I would recommend to go as a group.
Anil
2 January 2024
Knowing the city and the rich west end of London well, we decided to tour some of the more "down at heel" parts of London's east end. As important to the history of the world's greatest city, this tour by Chris provided a very interesting insight into the histories of those that powered much of the industrial growth of London.
Chris was a very friendly and engaging guide, focusing in particular on the younger members of the party. On a what was a very wet day, Chris kept everyone engaged and interested for two hours, starting in Bethnal Green and working our way through Brick Lane, Aldgate and eventually Cable Street.
This is a different face of London, Chris brought it to life and provided interesting insights into the lives of its residents over the years, in particular the waves of immigration that have fuelled the growth of key trades in London over the centuries. An uncommon history of London
Monika🇦🇹 Austria
11 December 2023
Ich war mit meinen Töchtern ein Wochenende in London und Chris hat uns sehr engagiert in einer individuellen auf unsere Wünsche ausgerichteten Tour sehr viel Neues und viele spannende Details erzählt. Und das sehr aufmerksam und persönlich. Wir haben uns sehr gefreut, mit ihm London wieder ein Stück mehr zu entdecken. Besonders war auch die Tee-Verkostung! Danke Chris!Super
Marcel
19 November 2023
Seeing part of London with Chris was great. Chris is a great storyteller and has a lot of knowledge about London history.
A relaxed person with a lot of interaction.
Thank you Chris for making our trip more valuable. Great tour
Withlocals experiences
are always
Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.
More about me
Dive into the heart of London with a seasoned guide who's been marvelling at the city's charm since 2001. I bring a university specialty in British History, now enjoying a 2nd career following 30 years experience as a business consultant in IT and e-commerce; I bring an astute and informed perspective to my London tours.
When I'm not unravelling the intricacies of technology or navigating the world of global retail, I'm immersing myself in the vibrant tapestry of London's streets. My professional life has blessed me with the freedom to dedicate time to my family, engage with incredible guests on diverse walking tours, and explore every captivating nook of London.
As an ardent Londoner by choice, my enthusiasm for this magnificent city and its surroundings knows no bounds. Armed with a degree in British History, I'm your personal encyclopaedia, ready to enrich your journey with intriguing local facts and stories. With English as my first language and some proficiency in Spanish, our conversations will be as vibrant as the city streets. My French isn't too shabby either!
As a Liveryman with the prestigious Worshipful Company of Pewterers, a group with a Royal Charter dating back to 1473, and a Freeman of the City of London, I am deeply connected to London's rich history and traditions. In 2024 I qualified as a City of London (Green Badge) tour guide, and am registered with both the CLGLA (City of London Guides and Lecturers' Association) and the Institute of Tourist Guiding (ITG).
Whether you're seeking an exclusive Royal Tour, a stroll along Southbank, a venture into the Bermondsey Beer Mile, an exploration of the City of London or Shoreditch, or even a family, seniors, or corporate tour, I'm your guide.
I'm a specialist in cafes in quirky locations, particularly within City of London churches. I am a TEDx speaker on the topic, and write regularly for publications such as Skyline (Friends of City Churches) and cityguide (professional magazine for City of London tour guides).
Fancy a bespoke tour tailored to your unique interests? Perhaps you're seeking tips on London's must-dos, like getting an Oyster card or navigating the city's public transport system? I'm here to create a personalised London experience just for you. Connect with me and let's bring your dream London tour to life!