River Thames London Walking Tour

5.0
(1 reviews)

3 hours (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

This tour takes us along the banks of the River Thames between two of the most famous buildings in the world, the Houses of Parliament & the Tower of London.

We will travel on both sides of this famous old river which locals lovingly refer to as 'Old Father Thames' at various points along the tour. The fine buildings of London are meant to be seen from the river side & we will learn how things have changed over the centuries and millennia & learn how the river has shaped and influenced London right up to the present day.

We will learn the stories of some people that lived along the banks and some of the terrible disasters that have befallen the city.It's not all bad news though as we will past some iconic bridges, amazing photo opportunities & some of the most funky parts of town that until now travellers rarely got the chance to explore.

We will see many of the most famous sights in London but also hidden places right by the river which are little changed from centuries ago.

What's Included

Tour Guide

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

If we meet you at your hotel we can travel to the starting point by Tube or by taxi/uber (not included) or we can meet you at the tour starting point. Please do tell us of your hotel at booking if you'd like us to meet you there.

OR
Meeting point
Caffè Nero

We will be just outside the cafe, a few feet from the main entrance of Westminster Underground Station and almost directly across the road from Big Ben.

End point
Tower Hill

We will finish at Tower Hill Station, right next to the Tower of London. There are also some great pubs and restaurants nearby if you'd like to continue with your day or alternatively get the Tube back to Westminster in just 10 minutes or so.

Itinerary

Duration: 3 hours (approximately)
  • 1
    Houses of Parliament

    We start at the Mother of Democracy and the famous Big Ben and learn about how over a thousand years ago this was all an island in the Thames

    10 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 2
    Metropolitan Police

    See the famous revolving sign of New Scotland Yard at the home of the oldest Police force in the world.

    5 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 3
    London Eye

    One of the newest icons of London but also one of the most controversial when it was built.

    5 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 4
    York Watergate

    See the old ceremonial entrance way to London where all the big names from history would alight from their boats on the Thames and find out why now you can't even see the river from here!

    10 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 5
    Victoria Embankment Gardens

    Beautiful Victorian Gardens along the river that were built to help alleviate a very smelly problem.

    10 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 6
    Middle Temple Hall

    Previously right up against the river and now a few hundred yards from it, we can see some of the beautiful gardens and paths in this old legal quarter of London that featured heavily in the writings of Charles Dickens and frequently used in TV and movies such as Downton Abbey.

    15 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 7

    See the mosaic that covers over 2,000 years of London history at the only surviving Anglo-Saxon docks in the world and learn of how King Alfred The Great re-established modern London here after expelling those pesky Vikings.

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 8
    St. Paul's Cathedral

    See St Pauls from the now iconic view from the Millennium Bridge.

    10 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 9
    Millennium Bridge

    Offering some of the best photo opportunities in the whole of Central London.

    10 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 10
    Tate Modern

    We won't go inside but can you guess what it used to be?

    5 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 11
    Shakespeare's Globe

    See the incredible Globe Theatre and find out why it is here in what was once the most salubrious part of London!

    10 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 12

    Find out the lurid details of what would happen to the unfortunate who were sent here at His Majesty's Pleasure.

    5 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 13
    Golden Hinde

    See the wondrous replica of the famous ship of exploration used by Sir Francis Drake.

    5 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 14
    Southwark Cathedral

    One of the lesser known cathedrals in London.

    5 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 15
    Borough Market

    The food market famous around the world which one way or the other has been here since Roman times.

    10 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 16
    London Bridge

    The first and most historic bridge in London and yet oddly, not the most famous we will see.

    5 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 17
    Hay's Galleria

    Now a high-end shopping and restaurant area but once the most advanced shipyards in the world.

    5 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 18
    HMS Belfast

    See the famous old Royal Navy ship which is now a museum vessel and permanently moored on the Thames.

    5 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 19
    City Hall

    The home of the London Mayor and local government and surrounded by some of the new development which London is now also famous for. The best views of Tower Bridge can be found right here!

    5 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 20
    Tower Bridge

    Maybe the most famous bridge in the world which when it was built was also by far the most advanced too. People have flown under it, died from jumping off it but we'll just walk across with the opportunity for some great photos and to look through the centre gap and see the river below.

    10 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 21
    Tower of London

    We will finish outside the Tower of London whose moat once connected to the river and see Traitors Gate where those condemned souls would arrive by boat awaiting their dreadful fate.

    10 minutes Admission ticket not included

Additional info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Supplied by Ye Olde England Tours

Tags

Half-day Tours
Private Sightseeing Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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