• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Step into the world of kings, queens, and royal tradition on this immersive 4-hour walking tour through Royal London. Witness the iconic Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and uncover the stories behind this centuries-old spectacle. From the elegance of St. James’s Park to the grandeur of The Mall and the royal history of Whitehall, your local host brings London’s majestic legacy to life with insider stories and fascinating details.

Destination

London, England

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

4 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Français, العربية, Türkçe

Included

• Private guide
• 1 Local snack or drink
• All Withlocals tours are carbon neutral

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 5 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

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 the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at By the Canada Gate at Green Park - London to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. 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.

3. Culture of the City

   On this private tour, you’ll experience and discover London through its culture. Whether it’s focused on a tradition, a special part of town with a story to tell, cultural beliefs, or around a cultural activity that shaped the city into what it is - this tour will be a cultural awakening you can’t miss!

4. Guards & Royals in London

   Your tour will focus on Royal London, a very important cultural subject in London. Thanks to your local host, you’ll learn and see how made an impact in London, making you experience the city from a different perspective.

5. Cultural Highlights

   As you deep dive into the subject of your tour, you’ll make stops to visit unique spots that will give you a full picture of the city. Visit St. James’s Park, The Mall, Admiralty Arch & Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall & Banqueting House, and more and see how these cultural highlights are part of the local life but have so much history behind them!

6. Storytelling Journey

   As you discover the cultural side of London, you’ll be able to embrace it thanks to the amazing stories and storytelling skills of your local host. Feel free to ask any questions and feel as if you are reliving history in the present time.

7. 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.

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

Nick🇺🇸 United States

(About local Anthony )

18 July 2025

Our group of four (two couples) spent half a day touring London with Anthony and he was fantastic! Enthusiastic, funny, caring and extremely knowledgeable about all things London. He showed us the "touristy" sites we wanted to see and also many hidden gems that made our day super special. When we travel back to London, Anthony is our guide. :) Note, Anthony is a foodie and if you want to find the best fish and chips or fine dining he has the answers.Anthony is Amazing!

Bonnie

(About local Sophie)

22 July 2025

I truly appreciate how patient she was with all four of us. She guided us with breeze and knowledge of London! And tolerated all my kids! We had a great afternoon with Sophie!Sophie was fantastic!

Codi🇺🇸 United States

(About local Anthony )

19 July 2025

We enjoyed our time with Anthony from the start until he left us at Trafalgar Square. The kids say our time with him and learning so much about London in such a short time was one of their favorite experiences of the trip. He gave us food tips, train tips, and safety tips to make our trip more enjoyable. Also, he has great stories! Bonus: he’s a super nice guy. Highly recommend booking with Anthony.London Must-Do

Peter 🇩🇰 Denmark

(About local Anthony )

19 July 2025

We had a great private tour of 4 hours with Anthony who clear not only knows every little corner of London but also loves the city and its little qwerky stories We did both the classic sites with a bit of light digestable history lessons but also some of the lesser known local pearls Me, wife and teenage son all really enjoyed it. We would warmly recommend Anthony when you are in London Great Local Londoner

Deana

(About local Anthony )

18 July 2025

Anthony was an outstanding guide to his city. The day for uniquely built for us and our interests. I will do more trips with him on my next visit to London. Fun and engaging day!

Colin🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Kemal)

16 July 2025

We booked Kemal when we were home in New Zealand, having reviewed other reviews about Kemal and having checked out his photography online and in instagram. This man is so modest about his accomplishments- everything online is understated. He has a great ability to engage with locals in Turkey in such a warm and genuine manner- people seem to do anything for him, allow him places and are happy for him/us to photograph them, showing their story and humanity. He has travelled to and knows so many countries- it’s not for nothing he was a staff photographer ( and executive editor) for National Geographic for many years. I don’t think we could ask him anything about Istanbul and the surrounding area ( we did two of his tours) which he didn’t know. He organised a car, and made recommendations for meals/ drinks (which were spot on- and we had as part of the tours). Not only that, he is very flexible to fit in with exactly what you want- just guiding, or going to places specifically for photographic opportunities. He met us at our hotel- really takes away any hassle- and you really do get to see a lot more than if left to your own devices. He also has a “voice map” guided out of the Galata area of Istanbul- we didn’t know about that- suggest checking it out. We weren’t sure if Kemal was the same person as “Kemal Nuraydin” in instagram- he is. He is the same Kemal in “Terra Photos tours” ( website and instagram) as well. Also, to remove any potential confusion, he actually lives in London, doing the same work there, but has friends and family in Istanbul, so is always happy to fly over to do your guiding or tour. Sounds like we are advertising him, which we are- only because we think he is so good at what he does. Thanks Kemal! Colin Brown and Ruth Bijl , Auckland, New ZealandTHE BEST GUIDE and PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE

Danielle

(About local Anthony )

16 July 2025

We had so much fun with Anthony. He knows London inside and out, and felt like an instant friend. He has a keen sense of humor, moves along at just the right pace, and shares fascinating stories and information. Anthony was so good at communicating, and helping design a four to show us the area of London we were interested in. We saw the Parliamentary areas together. Also, he nailed his food recommendations! We loved the pub, and he gave us some solid choices for our next day out to Borough Market. Anthony is Wonderful! An instant friend!

Clotilde

(About local Anthony )

14 July 2025

Thank you Anthony for being such an amazing, funny, interesting guide. We had a wonderful time with Anthony who took us from Shoreditch to the Tower of London. Anthony knows London and its history very well, he goes out of the crowded paths to show you less touristy but very interesting corners. He is passionate about being a great guide and making sure that everyone is having a fantastic time.Anthony is an amazing guide!!!!!

Nick🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Chris )

14 July 2025

We spent a great few hours with Chris discovering parts of London we didn't know existed. His historical knowledge was fascinating but he also tuned the tour to our interests by showing us multiple places to eat, markets and generally places of interest. He was easy company and had many interesting stories to tell. We have already discussed returning for a tour of another part of London.History of London

Jon🇺🇸 United States

(About local Chris )

12 July 2025

Chris was a wonderful guide. He was very energetic, knowledgeable and great with our kids (girls, ages 8 and 9). We did the walking tour the day we arrived, middle afternoon. This was a great way to get some exercise after a long flight and we couldn’t check-in yet anyway. Chris is a great guide and host - highly recommended!!Great way to start a London trip!

Barbara🇺🇸 United States

(About local Anthony )

6 July 2025

I can’t properly express how amazing our experience was. Anthony guided us on a 3 hour tour of amazing sites. I booked this tour because I knew I’d be overwhelmed by all that we wanted to see and do in London. This tour gave us a great taste of some of the most historical sites. Anthony’s knowledge of London and its history is so very impressive. I’m not a history buff, but he may have turned me into 1!Fell in love with London

Cindy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sophie)

6 July 2025

Our walking tour with Sophie was great! She is very kind and patient with my kids, and also was very knowledgeable and animated about London. I would highly recommend Sophie !Wonderful tour

Taina🇺🇸 United States

(About local Anthony )

2 July 2025

My husband and I had a private Borough market tour with Anthony. The meeting spot was easy to locate. Anthony is really friendly and made us feel comfortable commenting and asking questions. I feel we sampled some of the best that the market offered. Anthony made the perfect high quality choices and we truly loved everything we ate. Along the way we got a bit of history which brought the area to life. We saw and ate many things in London, but the tour with Anthony was my favorite! I highly recommend this tour for everyone visiting. IMO it’s best to do it at the beginning of a trip. Thank you, Anthony, for a wonderful experience!A Delicious-Filling-Interesting-FUN Tour

Adrienne🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Sophie)

26 June 2025

Sophie was energetic and enthusiastic! She kept our group entertained with great stories, insight, and knowledgeGreat walking tour

Andrea🇺🇸 United States

(About local Anthony )

21 June 2025

We had an absolutely fantastic time on our family walking tour through London, Bankside, Borough Market, the Underground, Parliament, and Westminster with Anthony as our guide! From start to finish, Anthony was engaging, funny, and incredibly easy to talk to, making the experience enjoyable for our entire family, including our teenage boys who can be tough to impress. His storytelling brought the history and culture of each location to life, weaving in fascinating facts with a perfect dose of humor that kept us all hooked. Anthony’s warm and approachable demeanor made it feel like we were exploring with a friend, and he effortlessly connected with our boys, sparking their curiosity and keeping them entertained. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide to show us the vibrant sights and flavors of Borough Market, the iconic Underground, and the historic landmarks of Parliament and Westminster. Highly recommend Anthony for an unforgettable London adventure!Fabulous time!!

David🇺🇸 United States

(About local Chris )

20 June 2025

We had a wonderful tour with Chris. He is so knowledgeable and clearly is passionate about the City and its history. During the tour, he made sure to check with us about how the pacing of the tour felt. We especially appreciated his ability to tailor the tour to our interests — we asked for a focus on architecture and Chris delivered. I learned a lot and had fun doing it. Thank you Chris! Brilliant Tour of the City

Nick

(About local Anthony )

19 June 2025

Loved my tour with Anthony, he was so adaptable to their custom plan. I wanted to put together to better understand the city. Very knowledgeable, very handy, truly understand the best food in London and understand the great line of modern and past.Great, Knowledgeable, Kind

Marc🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Kemal)

16 June 2025

Kemal was a great teacher for us. He helped us take our photography to the next level or even to the level above that. We loved every second of it and truly appreciate him coming to Istanbul for us. Yes it is pricy but for us it was worth it, as we now have a new approach to taking fotos of the people on the streets, so thank you very much Kemal!Awesome Streetphoto Tour/Lesson in Galata

Thomas🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local Sophie)

10 June 2025

Sophie is a great guide Very enthousiastic about the city. Many historical references and anecdote makes the tour with Sophie always fascinating. We spend 3 hours with her and enjoyed every seconds. Sophie is also very kind All in all, I recommend her with no hesitation Enthousiatic

Katherine🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Anthony )

7 June 2025

We thoroughly enjoyed our walking tour with Anthony—an educational and fun three hours peppered with amusing anecdotes and entertaining historical tidbits! Would highly recommend! Fun and informative tour with Anthony

Olga🇺🇸 United States

(About local Anthony )

7 June 2025

Anthony was fantastic. My husband, myself, and our 9 and 11-year-old kids went on his tour our first full day in London. Not only did he take us to his favorite local spots, but he also showed us some of the biggest sites, but with a different perspective and viewpoint. He answered all of our questions, and you can tell that he has a deep bench of knowledge to draw from. Also, his taste in food is 🤌. We highly recommend him and we would absolutely go on another tour with him next time we're in town!Family-friendly, knowledgeable, and fun!

onkel_tom2🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Anthony )

7 June 2025

This was one of the best guided tours in my life: informative, entertaining and full of vivid impressions. Thanks AnthonyGreat experience

Achim🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Anthony )

7 June 2025

Wir hatten einen so tollen Nachmittag gemeinsam mit Anthony. Unglaublich freundlich und ein echter Kenner der wundervollen Stadt London. Er hat uns Plätze gezeigt, die wir sicherlich auf eigene Faust niemals erkundet hätten! Die Zeit ist wie im Flug vergangen und ganz sicher wiederholen wir dies bei unserer nächsten London Reise! Vielen Dank Anthony für die tolle Zeit!Einfach wunderbar!!

Luis🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Anthony )

6 June 2025

If you're looking to experience Shoreditch beyond the guidebooks and Instagram hotspots, Anthony’s walking tour is an absolute must. From the moment we began, it was clear that this wasn't just a job for him—it was a passion project. With an infectious enthusiasm for the quirky, the forgotten, and the fleeting, Anthony brought the streets of East London to life in a way few others could. What sets this tour apart is Anthony’s eye for the hidden details most would miss. He led us down quiet alleys and past unassuming buildings, revealing layers of history, culture, and creativity. His knowledge of Shoreditch’s ever-evolving street art scene was incredible—not just the big names like Banksy, but the emerging artists, political messages, and even the pieces that might disappear by next week. It felt like we were seeing a living, breathing gallery. Anthony also has a knack for storytelling, weaving in anecdotes about the area’s rebellious past, eccentric residents, and how Shoreditch continues to reinvent itself. His deep respect for the neighborhood’s character, both old and new, shone through in every stop and story. If you're curious, creative, or just tired of cookie-cutter tours, this is the one to book.

Leann 🇺🇸 United States

(About local Anthony )

4 June 2025

Loved Anthony’s energy and humor. Was a great time. Would recommend! Great food Tour!

Eugene 🇺🇸 United States

(About local Chris )

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

(About local Chris )

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!

gneves🇺🇸 United States

(About local Anthony )

28 May 2025

Highly recommend, he was great with our 8 year old daughter. He’s an amazing storyteller and knows the city in and out doing a comprehensive tour in 3 hours. Amazing tour!

Bailey🇺🇸 United States

(About local Chris )

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

(About local Chris )

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

(About local Chris )

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!

Hector 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Kemal)

21 May 2025

Had a fantastic time in the Galata area of Istanbul with Kemal. Local knowledge is a great thing. For someone trying to remember how to find their way around a camera again, it was a fantastic learning experience. I would thoroughly recommend Kemal's tour if you are lucky enough to find him available. He is patient, seeks out great photo opportunities, and willing acomplicies, to help 'get that shot'. We also learned a few tips and tricks to make our phone mobile photography better. An all round great time with an all round great guy! şerefe Kemal. Galata with Kemal

Rianna🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Chris )

19 May 2025

Mary

(About local Anthony )

16 May 2025

Chris delighted us with his charming personality, his comprehensive expanse of knowledge in all things Britain and adjusted his time to fit our personal questions. He was professional and very interesting with his anecdotes about living in London for the past 24 years. We highly recommend Chris for your next walking tour in London!Chris was nothing but incredible!

Christine🇺🇸 United States

(About local Anthony )

12 May 2025

Anthony was a great tour guide. He shared lots of great info about London and took us to areas we never would have found on our own. Lndon Gems

Steffi🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Anthony )

12 May 2025

Wir (Familie mit 3 Jungs im Teenager-Alter) hatten eine tolle Zeit mit Anthony. Er hat uns viel Neues über London erzählt, obwohl wir die Stadt bereits kennen. Auch unseren Kindern hat die Tour Spass gemacht und die 3 Stunden vergingen wie im Flug. Herzlichen Dank Anthony und vielleicht bis zum nächsten Mal :-) Spannende & unterhaltsame Tour mit Anthony

Alan🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Anthony )

10 May 2025

Anthony is a ton of fun. We had a great time exploring London with him. They aren't kidding about hidden gems. I've been to London many times, but still learned a lot of quirky things. I highly recommend him.Lots of fun

Pat🇺🇸 United States

(About local Chris )

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!

Gabriela🇧🇷 Brazil

(About local Anthony )

29 April 2025

Anthony is a cheerful, outgoing, and full-of-life person. He loves sharing knowledge, tips, and great stories about the city. It’s easy to feel comfortable around him, and the tour was light and fun. I highly recommend it

Dawniellle

(About local Anthony )

27 April 2025

Our tour with Anthony was everything we hoped it would be. He was engaging & knowledgeable. The walk around London hit all the historic sites we were hoping. He also gave us a great tour of the food stalls at Borough Market. Would definitely recommend booking with Anthony. Engaging

Anna🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sophie)

25 April 2025

We loved our tour with Sophie -- it's the second time we've had her give us a tour in London, and she did an amazing job. She made the history very interesting and accessible and guided the tour towards our interests. Highly recommend! Incredible tour guide!

Janine🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Anthony )

24 April 2025

The four of us, including two twelve year olds, loved the tour Anthony gave us. He took us to parts of London we wouldn't otherwise have seen and told interesting stories to match the locations. We couldn't have been more pleased.Great tour and stories to go with...

Stephanie

(About local Anthony )

24 April 2025

Anthony was a fantastic tour guide and kept our 6 and 9 year old children engaged and interested in learning about the sites we were seeing in London. It helped to provide context and interesting history to all the beautiful sites/buildings. They have repeated the stories they learned to our friends when telling others about our trip! Anthony is knowledgeable and engaging and both my husband and I and our children loved spending the day with him! Must book!!!

Unknown

(About local Sophie)

19 April 2025

Sophie was infectious with her love and knowledge of London. Loved the tour !Great personable tour!

Erin

(About local Sophie)

18 April 2025

Sophie is LOVELY. So kind and full of facts and seems to genuinely love what she does. Our family loved our tour with her. We hit all of the spots we most wanted to see and she was INFINITELY patient with my son who had endless questions for her. We learned a lot and had so much fun. Wonderful tour

Cassie

(About local Kemal)

16 April 2025

Kemal took my family of 4 to various points around the Galata Tower area. Within the first hour, we already learned a great deal of technique and info. We had no idea what our iPhones were capable of doing. He engaged my kids (12- and 14- y/o) in a natural way and encouraged them to keep taking photos throughout the experience. He sprinkled in historical information to give context of where we were. Highly recommend for beginners like us and I’m sure would be an amazing reliever for experienced photographers.Learned much more than I could imagine.

John🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Chris )

14 April 2025

A great experience

Dru🇺🇸 United States

(About local Chris )

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

(About local Chris )

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!

amacey66

(About local Anthony )

24 March 2025

We had a wonderful tour with Anthony! He is friendly, personable and a very enthusiastic Londoner! We enjoyed his storytelling of English and London history! Great introduction to London