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10/10 Walking Tour! - Living London History Tours

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• Living London History Tours

Fabulous time! We saw sites we would never have known about and the historical information was... read more

I did the Secrets & Symbols of The City Tour. Jack is such a great guide! The tour was... read more

10/10 Walking Tour!

We really enjoyed Jack's Secrets and Symbols of the City tour and would highly recommend it to visitors and locals! We learnt so much about areas we walk past every day and now see them with a whole new light. We'll be back for another tour to explore other areas of our lovely London!

My husband and I took the "Secrets and Symbols of The City" tour. Jack is a lovely person and a very knowledgable guide. I highly recommend taking one of his tours, even if you have been to London many times. I guarantee you will learn lots of fun facts that you weren't aware of.

I was so pleased to be able to take a walking tour with Jack. I have been following his blog posts on Instagram for the last couple of years and was excited to be able to match up a tour when I was in London this year. His tour was everything I was hoping for-informative, dynamic and so interesting. Jack really knows the area’s history and lore! The whole experience was engaging, It left me wishing I could take another of his tours-hopefully when I’m next in London…

Jack's tours are always a treat. Covent Garden: Behind the Scenes is an excellent guided walk around an area that, on the surface, everyone knows. Dig a little deeper though & you'll be amazed by so much history. I always look forward to Jack's emails & when there's new tour dates announced I grab the calendar to book straight away. They get booked up quickly & deservedly so. Looking forward to our Westminster walk in May.

We took Jack's Westminister back streets and scoundrels tour on a quiet Easter Sunday afternoon. Not only does he know his stuff, but his enthusiasm and storytelling make history come alive. Jack has a knack for finding compelling tales of people who you may not have read about, like the would-be robber of the Crown Jewels, or the inhabitants of the Dickensian "devil's acre" slum near Westminister Abbey. Top notch!

This was the first walking tour I ever went on and I would def do another tour with Jack. He brought the London history alive with facts, personalities and anecdotes. He was well spoken, kind, professional, knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely a guide to follow. The people on the tour today were a mixture of London visitors and also many locals looking to learn a bit more, like me. Highly recommended.

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The 15 best walking tours in London

Those boots were made for walking, so use them to explore London’s best sights

London’s one of the most walkable capital cities in the world. Indeed, in many ways, London is the anti-L.A.: here people think you’re mad if you do drive a car around town. Besides, nothing quite lets you get to know a city like a good walk around – after all, London existed long before there were any forms of public or private transport more sophisticated than a horse. Plus, after trekking across half the city, you have the perfect excuse to sit down with a pint (or two). 

Sure, bus and boat tours are good, but there’s nothing quite like a London walking tour. From basic sightseeing treks to specialised theme tours, whether you’ve got a day, an afternoon or just an hour, there’s some sort of tour out there for you. Buckle up, folks: here’s our pick of the best walking tours in London.

Need more sightseeing inspiration? Check out our list of 101 things to do in London .

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London walking tours

1.  Food Walking tour: West to East

If you’ve got half a day to space and a burning curiosity to find out what exactly constitutes British cuisine (and then to eat it) this epic trek should be firmly up your street. Tuck into a six-hour walking tour that will take you from Buckingham Palace (where you'll witness the Changing of the Guard) past the Houses of Parliament and onto the Tower of London, where you'll surely be ready for the delicious British delights that await. Try fish and chips, scotch eggs, pie and mash and a so-called famous doughnut (not sure about that last one tbh), before venturing over the bridge to peruse the sights and smells of delicious Borough Market.

2.  Kensington Palace Gardens tour with Royal High Tea

If you're after an excuse to wear something other than wellies, visit the gorgeous Kensington Gardens on a guided tour before sitting down and nibbling scones at Royal High Tea. The two-hour tour is soaked in royal history and all the best bits of being British (tea and cake, mostly). Although entry to the buildings isn't included, you'll be walked and talked through the gardens, marvelling at the water features and Sunken Garden, with a visit to Princess Diana's statue and ending with an indulgent high tea in the surroundings of the Kensington Palace Pavilion. How marvy!

3.  Three-hour secret British food tour

Three hours of food and snacks? Yes, please! This three-hour guided tour includes eight delicious stops in the London Bridge area, giving you an insight into the history of British food culture (which is very cultured, might we add). Starting in the historic Borough Market, you'll eat your way through classics and end the tour with quintessentially British desserts and tea. Plus, on your travels, your tour guide will enlighten you on the history of each area and there'll be a secret surprise dish, too. Our tip: wear stretchy bottoms.

4.  Harry Potter walking tour

Anyone who’s seen or read the adventures of the Boy Who Lived (and if you haven’t, have you been living under a rock?) will know that London is a recurring character in both the films and books. Follow in Harry’s footsteps with this 150-minute jaunt, which goes from the ‘real’ Diagon Alley through to The Leaky Cauldron, Platform 9¾ and other fantastical locales. Being Muggles, there’s obviously a bit of a limit to what we can actually see – but that won’t stop you from soaking up the magical atmosphere.

5.  Westminster and the Churchill War Rooms

Few Brits have a bigger reputation than wartime PM and noted cigar smoker Sir Winston. So what better way to get a feel for the capital than via Churchill’s London? In two hours your Blue Badge guide will take you to see an array of major Westminster landmarks associated with the man, such as Big Ben and Downing Street, alongside the poignant Cenotaph war memorial. Walkers will then be led to Churchill's wartime bunker, where you can see several items that once belonged to big man, discover top-secret conversations that went on down there and soak up the drama of the room in which the fate of the world was shaped so long ago.

6.  Changing of the Guard guided walking tour

No experience is more quintessentially London than the Changing of the Guard: that is to say when one group of soldiers clock off and the next clocks on – with much ceremony – at Buckingham Palace. Your knowledgeable guide will also take you to see palaces, royal parks, royal residences and you'll even have an opportunity to march alongside the guards. The walk is aimed at all ages, with interesting insights for adults and plenty of fun for kids.

7.  Gangster walking tour of London’s East End led by actor Vas Blackwood

East London is definitely no Longer the gangland of yore: if the Krays twins were around today they’d probably own some sort of ironic theme cafe. But there’s a rich and thrilling not-so-distant-past there, and this tour is particularly special Led by ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ actor Vas Blackwood (aka Rory Breaker), who'll share his wealth of knowledge about the villains – both fictional and real – of London’s murky underworld. Over the two-hour tour you'll hear tales of the notorious Kray twins around Whitechapel and see iconic ‘Lock, Stock…’ locations from the much-loved Brit gangster flick.

8.  Historic pub walking tour

You could probably spend years working through London’s endless array of pubs and not really scratch the surface. But this three-hour afternoon tour is a decent start. Discover storied alehouses and literary drinking dens on a journey that stretches from ancient Southwark to the shiny West End, on a walk guaranteed to visit at least four of the capital’s finest historic boozers. Hear the history of the buildings, learn the differences between Elizabethan coaching inns and Victorian gin palaces, and visit the watering holes frequented by Charles Dickens – and have yourself a pint, if that's how you’re inclined.

9.  Private Sherlock Holmes walking tour

Explore the world of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Great Detective – plus his beloved sidekick Dr Watson, of course – on this private three-hour walking tour of London. Visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum (entry ticket not included), located at Holmes’ home of 221b Baker Street with your personal guide. Explore central London sites made famous in the filming of the Benedict Cumberbatch-starring adaptation ‘Sherlock’, such as Russell Square or New Scotland Yard. Along the way, lap up behind-the-scenes stories from the set.

10.  Blood and Tears walk

If you’re in the mood for something a little gristlier, then why not set a couple of hours aside one night to exploore the capital's dark side? You’ll be taken on a journey through the darker bits of the city’s past that includes visiting execution sites, learning about grave robbers and meet London's most notorious murderers as you wander from Barbican to Holborn. Unsurprisingly, a few details in this one are a little ghastly, so it's very much open to ages 12+ only (plus the 7pm start is past the little ’uns bedtimes).

11.  Greenwich highlights half-day walking tour

Perhaps no London borough is quite so distinctive singular as maritime Greenwich, and this fun and educational half-day tour comes highly recommended. All the major venues are on the walk, including the Royal Observatory, National Maritime Museum, the Cutty Sark, Old Royal Naval College, Queen’s House and Greenwich Market. Put on your comfiest boots and join your knowledgeable guide to experience the majesty of Britain’s naval zenith and meet the spot where Thor had a fight with Christopher Eccleston in ‘The Dark World’. This tour is led in small groups, so there’ll be no pushing or shoving. 

12.  Jack the Ripper tour with fish and chips

No name gets shivers running down the spine quite like Jack the Ripper, the infamous, never caught serial killer who terrorised the foggy streets of late Victorian London. See the sinister side of the city as you follow the blood-soaked footsteps of Jack and Sweeney Todd, wandering down gas-lit alleyways on a very spooky walking tour of London. Arriving at each scary spot by coach, your guide will dish out shocking true-life details about these infamous London murderers. Get goosebumps at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, the most haunted theatre in the city, and hear stories of the Ripper’s East End. Then polish the night off in style with a fish supper at a traditional East End boozer.

13.  Bowl of Chalk walking tours

The name? It's Cockney rhyming slang for 'walk'! So that’s 'Walk walking tours’, which admittedly doesn’t have quite the same ring. Maybe don’t quibble about that to Jonnie, the born-and-bred Londoner with a passion for taking people on walks around the city and sharing some of its secrets. His weekend tours are fun, laidback and – best of all for the budget conscious– delivered on a 'pay what you can' basis. Private weekday tours can be booked too: take a look on the website for further details.

14.  Unseen Tours

These alternative, extremely worthwhile tours are run by The Sock Mob, a social enterprise that works with homeless, ex-homeless or vulnerably housed people. And the guides who lead the four different tours of four very different bits of London – that’s Covent Garden, London Bridge, Soho and Brick Lane – have all experienced homelessness at some time in their lives. This absolutely doesn’t mean the tours are gruelling misery porn that dwells on the hardship of the guides’ lives – far from it! Actually they're fun, laidback journeys through each area's local history, with a few important details about social injustice thrown in too.

15.  East End street art walking tour

If you’re a Londoner, there’s a decent chance that you’re not so bothered about the historical side of walking tours. After all, you’re up to speed. You know it all. So here’s the chance to get to know a very different side to the capital. This two-hour tour takes attendees through the street art of the East End, wandering through alleys and markets and telling the stories of artworks through the artists that made them. Learn whose tags are whose and discover the history and meaning behind the art adorning the walls of this historic district.

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London Walks - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Free Walking Tours London

See our Calendar Below for All Tours, as well as Things to Do & Travel Tips

Featured tours.

Historic London Pub Tour

Historic london pub tour highlights.

• Royal Westminster

Royal Westminster Highlights

• St. James's Palace
• Buckingham Palace
• The Changing of the Guard **
• The Houses of Parliament
• Westminster Abbey
• 10 Downing St.
• Churchill War Rooms
• St. James's Park
• and much more!

Graffiti & Street Art

Graffiti & street art highlights.

• Whitechapel (made famous by the ‘Whitechapel Murders’ – committed by Jack the Ripper)
• Liverpool Street
• The Old Jewish Quarter

All in One Highlights

• St. Paul's Cathedral
• The Tower of London
• The Bank of England
• HMS Belfast
• London Bridge
• Tate Modern
• Millennium Bridge
• Tower Bridge
• London Monument
• River Thames
• Changing of the Guard
• Trafalgar Square
• London Underground
• Temple Church

• Harry Potter

Harry Potter Highlights

• Westminster Tube (closest tube to the Ministry of Magic as seen in The Order of the Phoenix)
• Cecil's Court (aka Diagon Alley)
• St. Paul’s (Geometrical Staircase as seen in the Prisoner of Azkaban)*
• Godwin’s Court (aka Knockturn Alley)
• The Palace Theatre (home to the ‘The Cursed Child' - the 8th story in the Harry Potter franchise) - Tickets *
• Horseguards Avenue (Ministry of Magic Staff Entrance as seen in Deathly Hallows Part 1)
• Millennium Bridge (rebuilt after the attack by the Death Eaters! (then a walk past Shakespeare's globe)
• Scotland Yard Place/Horse Guards Avenue (Ministry of Magic Visitors entrance as seen in the Order of the Phoenix and Deathly Hallows Part 1)
• Trafalgar Square (Location of the final Harry Potter film premiere)
• Downing Street (Muggle Prime Minister's Office and location of communication between the Muggle PM and the wizarding world) Note: Depending on your guide and the day/time, the tour will finish at either Leadenhall Market or Borough Market (both sites have been used as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron (as seen in the Philosopher's Stone and Prisoner of Azkaban onwards respectively.)

WWII London

Wwii london highlights.

Just some of the locations covered...

• The ruins of Grey Friar's and the Memorial Garden
• The Barbican
• The Guildhall

Free Tours by Foot is pleased to present free walking tours of London, including guided walks, self-guided, and GPS-led audio tours.

We provide a platform for professional, freelance tour guides to lead walking tours at no upfront cost, so that you may enjoy a quality sightseeing experience no matter what your budget. 

Our model of live guided tours ensures that your tour guide must strive to give his or her best on every tour.

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REGULARLY SCHEDULED TOURS

• London All in One
• Brixton History, Street Art and Culture
• City of London
• Notting Hill Markets and Culture
• Shakespeare's London
• Graffiti and Street Art
• Majestic Mayfair
• Soho, Piccadilly Circus and Chinatown
• World War II
• Sunday Southbank
• Rock n' Roll
• Dark Side of London Ghost Tour
• Jack the Ripper

Food/Pub Tours Tours

• Borough Market and Maltby Street
• East London Food Tour
• City of London Historic Pubs
• Bermondsey Beer Mile
• Pub Crawl and Cockney Sing-a-Long
• Westminster auf Deutsch
• Royal Kensington
• London Christmas Lights
• Twilight on the Thames Night Tour

PRIVATE ONLY

• British Museum
• Covent Garden and the West End
• London Christmas Markets
• London Docks
• The Tea Tour
• The Final Journey : Execution Walk to Tyburn

AUDIO AND SELF-GUIDED LONDON TOURS

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Even if you don't download any tours, you will still have access to valuable information on sightseeing, eating, and playing in London.

Available Tours:

• Royal London (Westminster)
• Harry Potter Locations  (in English and en Espanol)
• Rock N Roll London
• Thames River Walk
• Royal Borough of Greenwich
• Kensington Gardens
• Public Bus #11 (temporarily rerouted - unavailable)

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We also offer our guiding services for private groups where we can guide you anywhere in London. We are also experts in the region. 

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London walking tours

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Secrets of Covent Garden - The bits you may miss

Welcome to London - Westminster: power, people and politics