St James' & Mayfair - Private Tour of London's Royal & Aristocratic Villages

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Fortnum & Mason

  One of London's most sophisticated department stores, it's hard to believe it started life as a market stall! We will wander around the ground floor so I can point out what the store invented 300 years ago which is still in demand today and explain what intriguing structures are on its roof. I guarantee you will want to return at a later date for a more leisurely browse of the entire store to do some serious shopping!

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Royal Academy of Arts

  Built by the Earl of Burlington in the mid-1660s, I doubt he would recognise it today as at least 9 architects have worked on the building since then! Currently occupied by the Royal Academy, its summer exhibition is a firm fixture in London's 'Social' calendar.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 3
  Burlington Arcade

  The Burlington arcade has just celebrated its 200th anniversary and was built by one of the Earls of Burlington, George Cavendish. As we wander through and enjoy window shopping some of the 45 retailers who occupy the arcade today, we will see the Beadles who have guarded the arcade since day 1!

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 4
  Berkeley Square

  Most famous for its nightingales which are, in all probability completely fictional, this is one of London's most historically interesting squares. With a forgotten river flowing beneath it, the square is home to many plane trees and a collection of grade 1 listed buildings around its edges one of which is home to the world famous Annabel's night club.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5
  Mount Street Gardens

  An oasis of peace and tranquility, it is hard to imagine you are only 5 minutes walk away from one of the busiest shopping streets in London. But life has not always been so calm here - in the 10 minutes we'll take to wander through these gardens, I'll tell you what lies beneath our feet and what gruesome secret one of the buildings at the side of the gardens holds.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 6
  Shepherd Market

  A leafy retreat nowadays, it used to be the centre of Mayfair's red light district where the aristocrats of old, with too much time and money on their hands, went for their entertainment. It was also the downfall of one MP - but which one?! I'll fill you in on the tour!

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 7
  Green Park

  As we cross Piccadilly and move from Mayfair in the north to St James' in the south, we leave the aristocrats behind and concentrate on the royals. Hear the legend of how Green Park gets it name and learn about the Royal dynasties who will feature during this part of our tour.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 8
  St. James's Palace

  Built by Henry VIII on the site of what used to be a woman's leper hospital, this was intended to be the palace for Henry's son promised to him by Anne Boleyn. But as the son turned out to be a daughter, Henry used the palace as a hunting lodge instead. The palace has been at the centre of many a Royal event so I will tell you many interesting stories from its past. If it's a day the ancient ceremony of the Changing of the Guard is scheduled to take place, we'll be able to enjoy pageantry at its best.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 9
  Buckingham Palace

  One of London's most iconic and recognisable buildings, Buckingham Palace is the office of the monarchy. The late Queen Elizabeth II used it on weekdays and Charles III has yet to decide where he will make his London home. This is a chance to see the world famous palace balcony which has been the focal point of many Royal celebrations including the late Queen's 50th, 60th and 70th jubilees and William and Kate's wedding celebrations. This stop is all about the Royals!

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 10
  St. James's Park

  One of eight Royal parks in the capital, St James' is one of my favourites with its ornamental lake and wildlife frolicking in its waters. With luck we'll catch a glimpse of the resident pelicans, a pair of which were gifted to Charles II in 1664 by a Russian ambassador - there have been pelicans on the water ever since!"

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 11
  Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall

  Originally Henry VIII's tiltyard for jousting, it is best known today for its ancient ceremonies of the Changing of the Guard and the Trooping of the Colour. Horse Guards was home to a gigantic sandpit during the 2012 London Olympics - the question is, though, which sport was it for?! .

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 12
  St. James' Square

  Built by Henry Jermyn as a reward for his loyalty to Charles II during the English Civil War, this was the place to live in the 17 and early 1800s. A pretty square, there are still remnants of the days of old with Nancy Astor's former home and one of Sir Christopher Wren's churches gracing its edge.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 13
  Jermyn Street

  How better to end the tour than a wander along one of the most historic and sophisticated shopping streets in London. With a cheese shop which used to be a market stall and a perfumery dating back to the 1700s, this street has many stories to tell.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• When your booking is confirmed, you will receive contact details for me (Sandy) your guide for this tour. My aim is to give you the best experience you could possibly have so if you have any special requests, be sure to tell me what they are! If you need to go at a slower pace, or stop for a break midway through the tour, that will be fine with me.
• The tour will last between 3.5-4 hours depending on what walking pace you set and the number of questions you ask.

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