Top 10 Tours and Excursions in London

On foot, by bike, boat or bus, by day and by night. London's most infamous history or its splendour reflected in palaces and monuments: there are tours to suit all tastes, pockets and travellers.

If you love getting to know a city by wandering through its streets, this walking tour of the city centre is a great option because it takes in some of the wonders hidden in the labyrinth of streets that make up one of the most beautiful and historic parts of London, the Old Town.

What you will learn

You'll discover how Covent Garden was once London's most vibrant red-light district; you'll learn all about the great fire that ravaged the city in 1666 in front of the Great Fire of London Memorial and how the plague killed a third of its population. You'll also see other landmarks such as Tower Bridge and what was for centuries the tallest building in the city, St Paul's Cathedral. A real spectacle for the eyes.

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I have been to London many times, but this tour took me to places I had never seen before and made me see the city in a different way. I learned a lot about Jack the Ripper and London's more terrifying history. I will definitely do another one of his tours on my next visit.

Are you easily scared or do you love to hear spooky stories? If you answer yes to the latter... Welcome to the Jack the Ripper Night Tour. Here your guides, terrifyingly in character, will take you back many years to the places that played host to the most gruesome scenes in London's history.

But there are several versions of this terrifying tour. You can do it with a Fish & Chips tasting or, if you prefer, you can hire the Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes version of the bus tour. Which one would you dare?

What you'll learn

As well as visiting the city's most infamous landmark, the Tower of London, you'll discover chilling sites of black legend, such as the first Psychiatric Hospital, the Plague Pits, the Traitor's Gate and the haunted areas of the East End. And how and where one of history's most notorious serial killers, Jack the Ripper, operated and whose identity is still unknown to this day. Ready to have a... scary time?

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Engineering and train buffs, a tour of the history of the world's oldest and most iconic underground system awaits you. Travel back 150 years to learn the secrets and history of how the underground network that runs through London was built, virtually by hand, why it was pioneered and how renowned architects designed its line system, as well as seeing a ghost station abandoned 50 years ago.

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London is a city of heavy traffic and crowds, so going with a guide will make cycling more comfortable by showing you the best areas to cycle, such as the banks of the Thames, while telling you the details of everything you see. In addition, and contrary to what it might seem, the bike tour is not hard, even children from 10 years old can do it.

With this tour of London's parks by bike you will see the most important gardens of the city, such as Kensington, Hyde Park, Green Park or St. James Park, as well as its main places of interest: Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and the Princess Diana Memorial. Exercise, fun and sights to see - what more could you ask for?

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Thames cruises are a really nice way to see the London skyline on the banks of this mighty river and take a break from the intense walking that this great city demands. With departures every half hour, the Thames cruise from Westminster to Greenwich is a great value boat tour that takes in up to 13 of London's top attractions.

What you'll see on this tour

Departing from Westminster Pier, you can relax on deck or inside the boat and take photos, while a knowledgeable guide explains the history of wonderful landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

The tour ends in Greenwich, where you can get off the boat to see the area and visit places such as the Cutty Sark exhibition ship, Greenwich Park, the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory at Greenwich on your own. You can also return to your starting point, Westminster, on board the same cruise ship if you wish. I have written an article about 7 Best Thames River Cruises in London which may be of interest to you.

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Unlimited comfort and mobility. These are two of the advantages that have made the iconic sightseeing buses a 'must' that you'll see around the city at all hours.

They allow you to admire London from the heights and comfortably seated, while a guide explains the history of the different places, avoiding daily dependence on its crowded public transport network and, most importantly, having the possibility of doing their complete routes or getting on and off (its famous "Hop on-Hop off") as many times as you want in each of its dozens of stops.

The Big Bus routes

There are several companies that offer these routes, but the Big Bus tourist bus has more variety of routes, up to 3, and more stops, about 45, besides being the best to go with children, as they have activities on board and explanations especially designed for them.

Their routes depend on the geographical area or the theme of the attractions they include, from some with all the must-see attractions in London to others with stops at the main leisure experiences for the whole family, including an exclusive route through the Notting Hill district and another early in the morning to see how this great city dawns.

This tour also includes a free walking tour of the city, a cruise on the River Thames and some local discounts. Their buses are fully adapted for pushchairs and people in wheelchairs or who need guide animals.

In my guide on London Sightseeing Buses you can read all the details about each company, all their routes and the attractions you will find at each stop.

Personally, big cities fascinate me even more at night. When the natural light disappears and the neon lights, street lamps and spotlights start to wake up to illuminate the imposing monuments, streets and shopping areas, it feels like it's just you and the city.

Why I like this night tour

Touring the city at night and doing it comfortably seated on a tour bus is a great idea, especially after you've been walking around all day. This night bus tour is from the same company as the previous one, Big Bus, only it departs at dusk and you can see the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral, Millennium Bridge and more.

Their buses depart every 5-12 minutes in summer and every 15-30 minutes in winter, with a single route with over 20 free stops where you can hop on and off whenever you want. In addition, this tour also includes a sightseeing cruise on the River Thames and three walking tours of the city.

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Here's a tour that no literature lover should miss: can you imagine seeing in person what the theatre where Shakespeare's most famous plays were performed was like? If you have seen the famous film 'Shakespeare in love' you will get an idea of this tour of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, a reconstruction of the original Elizabethan theatre.

With this tour of Shakespeare's Globe you will learn about playwriting in 16th century London, how sound effects were created 400 years ago, scripts, costumes and even his music through his Globe Exhibition. If you want to round off your visit and feel like a real 'British' you can include an afternoon tea experience with sweets, inspired by the brilliant play "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

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Feel like royalty for a day with this tour of Buckingham Palace, complete with tea at the end of your visit, a rare opportunity that can only be enjoyed for eight weeks of the year.

What this tour is all about

A guide will take you to the gates of what has been the official London residence of the British Royal Family since the 19th century and is now inhabited by Elizabeth II, and you will be given your ticket to visit the interior at your own pace and with the explanations of an audio guide.

Marvel at the lavishly decorated palace rooms with their chandeliers, elegant furnishings and treasures from the royal collection, and enter the Throne Room, where photographs are often taken at royal weddings.

After the tour you and your guide will enjoy a stroll through Britain's most beloved park, the beautiful St. James's Park, before ending your experience with a typical afternoon tea and an exquisite spread of sandwiches, homemade scones served with thick cream and jam and freshly baked cakes. A delightful tour fit for a king.

If you want to really understand British history, a guided tour of two of its most iconic and influential sites is a good place to start. This guided tour of Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament is a great way to get a brief overview of the history of the British Royal family and their traditions, which are still so present in the lives of the British people today.

What you'll learn

From the place that has seen all the great monarchs crowned since 1066 and celebrated great royal weddings, such as that of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, in the essential Westminster Abbey, to the place where politics and the future of the country are still decided today, in the Houses of Parliament, which houses the House of Commons and the Lords.

Also, at the Palace of Westminster, a World Heritage Site, you can see the Elizabeth Tower, which houses London's greatest landmark, Big Ben, the bell that strikes its grand clock. For more details on how to visit Westminster Abbey, see my guide to Westminster Abbey. London Westminster Abbey Tickets: how to buy and prices.

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If you're a history buff and fancy enjoying another historic must-see on your trip to London, this guide to the Tower of London can help you organise your visit. Tower of London Tickets and Tours: how to buy, prices and schedules can help you organise your visit to the Tower of London. If, on the other hand, you fancy a more relaxed visit, Madame Tussauds will be a great contrast on your trip. Here is an article I have written about London Madame Tussauds Tickets: how to buy and what to see in case you want to know more.