Share this tour
Offered languages
- German
- English
- Italian
- French
- Spanish
This self-guided walking tour of central London runs from Victoria Station to Covent Garden, about 4 km in 75 minutes. Along the way, it tells the story of two students who pitched a tent in Buckingham Palace's garden and woke to armed guards.
Look for a tiled railway map from 1899 inside Victoria Station, garden huts covered in thousands of shells, and the pelicans of St James's Park, a gift to Charles II in 1664. Trafalgar Square hides London's smallest police box. It's now a broom cupboard. Then comes the Sainsbury Wing, built after a prince called the first design a monstrous carbuncle, and a joke its architect may have been making in return.
Perfect for curious visitors who like noticing the details. Install the VoiceMap app and enter the ticket code from your confirmation email to download the tour and start walking.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
The tour begins just outside Victoria Mainline station at the taxi pick up in Terminus Place. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
The tour ends at 1 Covent Garden, London WC2E 8BD, UK
Itinerary
-
Buckingham Palace (Pass by)
Stroll past Buckingham Palace, bought by George III in 1761, and the gilded Victoria Memorial outside. Its high garden wall is where two students once pitched a tent overnight. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
Trafalgar Square (Pass by)
Walk through Trafalgar Square, where Nelson's Column rises over Landseer's lions of 1869. Somewhere in a corner sits London's smallest police box, now a broom cupboard. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
St. James's Park (Pass by)
Amble around St James's Park, a royal hunting ground named for a medieval leper hospital, where pelicans have lived since a Russian ambassador gave them to Charles II in 1664. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
Admiralty Arch (Pass by)
Continue past Admiralty Arch, built as a memorial to Queen Victoria, once home to the First Lord of the Admiralty, and sold in 2012 to become a luxury hotel. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
Covent Garden (Pass by)
Wander through Covent Garden, a fruit and vegetable market from the 1650s, beside the Royal Opera House, where Handel wrote operas for the theatre from 1735. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
The National Gallery (Pass by)
Meander past the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery, built after Prince Charles called the first design a "monstrous carbuncle", with Corinthian columns that hold nothing up. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Saunter past Little Ben, a clock tower from 1859 given by the local French community, which first showed Paris time and once had an automatic gas light behind its face. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
London Victoria Station (Pass by)
Cut through Victoria Station to spot a tiled railway map from 1899, restored in 2024, showing Victorian lines later lost to the Beeching cuts. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
Rules (Pass by)
Stride past Rules on Maiden Lane, London's oldest restaurant, whose lavish decor is best glimpsed through the door, and which keeps its own country estate for game. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
St Martin-in-the-Fields (Pass by)
Head past St Martin-in-the-Fields, a Georgian church from 1726 with Corinthian columns, candlelit concerts and a cafe in the crypt. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The total tour time includes walking the route and passing by the attractions
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Your guide to the flawless travel experience
Popular Countries
Get our app
