10 Best Tours In London - Updated 2024

Melanie
Melanie 
Updated
| 5 min read

As one of the top tourist destinations across the globe, London has a seemingly endless list of activities and attractions that you can check out while you’re in the city. With established sights, such as Tower of London, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Kensington Palace, and newer, more modern tourist draws, such as London Eye, Science Museum, and Harry Potter-related stops, there are plenty of places in and around the city that you can explore. The biggest issue is not that you may not know where these places are during your holiday, but rather it’s not having enough time to see all of them. Joining a tour will allow you to discover the top spots without fear of wasting time or getting lost in the capital. Check out this list of the best tours in London.

1. See the best of London with a one-day tour (from USD 148.0)

Book this tour if you can only set aside one day for sightseeing. The activity takes guests around the most well-known attractions of the city, including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. It also allows tourists to witness the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.

You can pay an additional fee to get a ticket to London Eye. The tour even includes a ticket for a sightseeing cruise on the Thames River.

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London in One Day with Tower of London and London Eye Upgrade

Duration: 9 hours

1401 reviews

2. Explore famous landmarks boarding the iconic double-decker buses (from USD 52.0)

The double-decker buses in London are arguably as iconic as the attractions themselves. What better way to go sightseeing around the city than taking a ride around London? With this hop-on, hop-off tour, you will be given the freedom to explore the capital at your own pace.

All buses play on-board commentaries on the city’s top attractions. Included in the route are stops for Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, Hyde Park, and London eye. One-, two-, and three-day ticket options are available for purchase.

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London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with River Cruise

Duration: 70 to 210 minutes

8626 reviews

3. Enter the world of Harry Potter through a magical tour (from USD 19.05)

best tours in london | enter the world of harry potter through a magical tour

You won’t want to miss out on this tour if you’re a Potterhead. The activity takes you to key sights and attractions that served as the books’ inspiration and were depicted in the movies. Among the sights that Harry Potter fans will recognize are Leaky Cauldron, Gringotts, Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, and the bridge that was destroyed in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”

Along the way, you will also get to spot famous London landmarks, such as Trafalgar Square, Shakespeare’s Globe, Borough Market, and London Eye.

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Magical London: Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour

Duration: 2.5 hour

17115 reviews

4. Go around London at night (from USD 36.83)

best tours in london | go around london at night

Did you know that London completely transforms at dusk? You will get to catch sight of the city’s famous landmarks decked in lights while on an open-top bus if you book this unforgettable tour. You will also get the chance to marvel at the brightly lit sites, including but not limited to Big Ben, London Bridge, the fountains of Trafalgar Square, and Tower of London.

A tour guide will happily share some fun tidbits about each attraction with you during the activity, which takes around 90 minutes.

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London: London by Night Sightseeing Open-Top Bus Tour

Duration: 1.5 hour

3619 reviews

London Tour Guide

Robert Woolf

Robert Woolf

I am a London tour guide and my tours include talking about people who have shaped the city plus the many connected places such as Hampton Court Palace, The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the commercial centre of the city: the City of London, and London’s world class museums and galleries. I have been guiding for 12 years. I am a licenced London Blue Badge Tour Guide, a City of London Guide, and a Westminster Guide. The reviews I receive from clients speak of their enjoyment from the local knowledge and the humour I bring to my tours. Born within sight of Hampton Court Palace, I am a Londoner and apart from 2 years in the Middle East, I have worked in this capital city all my business and tour guiding careers. I have travelled widely and I appreciate what appeals to visitors coming to London. I can tailor my tours to interest children. I guide couples, families and larger tour groups. I particularly enjoy visits to Westminster Abbey, where I also volunteer guiding students and children through its wonderful interior – on my tours you will hear about monarchs, why scientists and poets are remembered, the architecture and religious history. The Abbey is the story of England. Come on an engaging and fun tour with me. There is so much to show you !

Tours by Robert

5. Visit the streets where Jack the Ripper roamed (from USD 22.86)

visit the streets where jack the ripper roamed

Jack the Ripper is one of, if not the most infamous serial killer, and the crimes he committed have become all the more notorious because the real identity of the murderer remains a mystery, even today. This spine-chilling tour takes you along the streets of London and back in time when the cobbled pavement was stained by the heinous crimes committed by Jack the Ripper.

Besides giving you more information about that dark era, the guide provides some tidbits about the possible identity of the killer by talking about today’s criminal profiling strategies.

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London: Jack the Ripper Walking Tour with Ripper-Vision

Duration: 105.0 minute

1480 reviews

6. Marvel at the top sights in the South Bank (from USD 61.0)

South Bank is an area where many of London’s biggest attractions can be found, and this walking tour allows you to see famous spots easily. Among the stops that are included in the activity are London Bridge–where you can admire views of Tower of London–Borough Market, Winchester Palace, The Shard, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, The Clink, and Southwark Cathedral. Also included in the itinerary are HMS Belfast and The Golden Hinde.

The tour will be provided by locals from the area, so you can bet on hearing insider tips on where to go after your leisurely walk around the city.

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Southbank Tour : London's Top Sights

Duration: 2 hours

191 reviews

7. Go on a music-centric walking tour (from USD 31.0)

Audiophiles, make sure to sign up for this walking tour. This activity guides you through spots where famous music artists have spent some time, including the street where the Rolling Stones recorded their very first album, the place where Elton John worked as a tea boy, and the sites where David Bowie and the Sex Pistols made their temporary abodes.

Paul McCartney’s business headquarters is also included in the itinerary, as well as the club where Prince played at. Classical music fans will also love the fact that the tour offers a trip to Mozart’s residence.

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Music walking tour of London's Soho

Duration: 2.5 hours

82 reviews

8. Develop your feminist knowledge of London (from USD 19.0)

Many know London as a center of tourism, but what many may not be aware of is its feminist history. This activity leads you to the top sights of London that are tied to the lives of women, heroes, and villains who have played key roles in the city’s story, such as Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, Parliament Square, and Houses of Parliament.

The tour is a must, particularly for those who want to see London in a different light.

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The Feminist Tour of London

Duration: 2.5 hours

329 reviews

9. View graffiti art (from USD 31.0)

Among the graffiti artists of today, none is more famous than Banksy. In this tour, you will get to see not only the secretive artist’s work but also that of other artists, such as Obey Giant, D*face, Invader, Martin Ron, Dan Kitchener, ROA, Cranio, and Otto Schade.

As you visit their famous works–both authorized and unauthorized–the host will give you information not only about each piece but also about the artists themselves and the stories behind their creations.

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London Street Art Tour ft Banksy

Duration: 2 hours

340 reviews

10. Discover the best of London

A trip to London can be overwhelming, especially for first-timers who are unsure about where to head to first to see what the city is famous for. You can sign up for these tours if you are unsure about where to head to, have limited time for sightseeing, or simply don’t want to have to worry about creating your own itinerary. With any of these activities, you will get to see the best of London with no hassle.

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Wander through London's Old City (from USD 19.0)

This activity is for those who feel that they are able to get to know a city better by exploring it on foot. The walking tour takes you along the streets of London’s Old City. An expert guide who is knowledgeable about the rich history of the city will lead you to key attractions, such as Covent Garden, London Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Tower of London.

Make sure to wear comfortable shoes if you join the tour, which takes around three hours.

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London Old City Walking Tour, St. Paul's Cathedral, The Strand

Duration: 3 hours

10 reviews
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Melanie is a freelance travel writer. She considers freelancing for Trip 101 to be a combination of two of the things she loves: writing and traveling. She has gone sightseeing with family,...Read more

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