The vibrant city of London is teeming with attractions and famous landmarks, which lure many travelers looking to experience Britain’s rich history and culture. United Kingdom’s capital is the perfect confluence of old and new and is home to multiple architectural and heritage attractions. Travelers will enjoy a ride on the London Eye as they soak in the city’s amazing views. Head to the British Museum or the Natural History Museum to marvel at the incredible treasures they house. For a fun day out with the family or alone, make a beeline for the popular wax museum – Madame Tussauds – where you can take plenty of Instagram-worthy photos with statues of celebrities, as well as the royal family! Make sure you don’t miss out on the Big Ben and head to the Tower of London to see the crown jewels. Shopping enthusiasts will enjoy a stroll down Oxford Street. Tired after all that shopping and sightseeing? Then unwind at Hyde Park or plan a picnic with family at Richmond Park. Check out the list of the best Viator tours in London, United Kingdom.
1. Be spellbound by the Making of Harry Potter Tour at Warner Bros. Studio (from USD 153.0)
Take a trip to Hogwarts and experience J.K Rowling’s popular series come alive during this four-hour tour. Head to London Victoria and take the luxurious Mercedes coach, either in the morning or the afternoon. Availability of free Wi-Fi on the coach will keep you entertained during the hour-long journey. Enjoy a self-guided magical tour on your arrival as you observe the props, costumes and the original sets from the Harry Potter movies. Take a walk along the streets of Diagon Alley, or pay a visit to Gringotts and Ollivanders. Relive the special effects moments that were created in the movies at the Ministry of Magic or in the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Don’t forget to take pictures at Platform ¾ in front of the Hogwarts Express!
Warner Bros Harry Potter Admission and Transport from London
Duration: 7 hours
2. Time travel to Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath (from USD 126.0)
This tour includes transport from London in an air-conditioned coach. It first takes you to Windsor Castle, the home of the British Royal Family, the world’s largest and the oldest occupied castle. Learn about its fascinating history and explore St George’s Chapel and the State Apartments. The second stop on the tour is Salisbury, Wiltshire, home to the 5000-year-old Stonehenge. The prehistoric stone circle is a heritage site and its origins remain a mystery. Next stop on the tour is Bath, where you can marvel at the Georgian architecture. Explore the town with your guide as you learn about the Bath Abbey, the Pulteney Bridge and the famous Roman Baths.
Tip from Content Creator
Brittany
Stonehenge • Windsor Castle • Bath
Decided to take a day trip outside of London to visit some historical sites in the UK. The whole trip, including transport, took about 11 hours. The furthest point is Bath, which is about 3 hours away from London. If you have a day to spare while visiting the city, I would definitely recommend sneaking away to the countryside to explore more! Stonehenge was my personal favorite, because I love a good mystery & seeing it in person doesn’t help you get any closer to solving it.
While you could absolutely make this trip on your own with a rental car, I enjoy the convenience of booking through tour guides that’ll take me to & from + give me some backstory to the places I’m seeing.
Has anyone ever been to any of these sites? If not, would you take the time to visit while in London?
Tip from Content Creator
I decided to pay a visit to Stonehenge when I was in London as it's one of the most famous prehistoric structures in the world. Archaeologists still don’t know who built the Stonehenge circle or its specific purpose, except for the fact that it appears to be some sort of a calendar that marks the summer and winter solstices.
Stonehenge is located 144 km (90 mi) away from London, so you might be wondering how to get there. You have a few options:
- You can rent a car. This will be more expensive of course, especially if you are going alone. To add to this, you will need to have a valid driver's license and be willing to drive in the UK, which might be intimidating for us Europeans since everything is on the wrong side.
- You can take the train. This will be somewhat a complicated option, since you will have to get a train to the town of Salisbury and from there, get a bus to drop you off at the site, which is, pretty much, in the middle of nowhere.
- You can go for a bus tour. This is my favourite and the option I decided to go for. I went with the simplest of tours (roundtrip and tickets included) with the company GoldenTours. The buses are super comfortable, with air-conditioning and an entertainment tablet per seat. However, the star of the tour was the bus driver, Jim! He was not only a bus driver, but a tour guide and an entertainer. The price of the tour was 58 GBP (72.7 USD), with everything included, and I can tell you that it was most definitely worth it!
Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath Coach Tour From London
Duration: 11 hours
3. Take the Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus Tour (from USD 56.0)
One of the famous and best tours in London, this exciting trip offers you an overview of London’s hotspots. Jump aboard the bus at any of the locations such as Hyde Park or the Piccadilly Circus and grab your seat in the lower or on the upper deck. While you relax, a guided tour is given of the Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and many other famous landmarks. You can also choose to hop down at Covent Garden to have a look at the shops, or click pictures of Buckingham Palace. This tour pass also provides you with the opportunity to go for the walking tour. The walk begins from Trafalgar Square and ends at the Horse Guards. The River Thames cruise is an additional feature in this journey, where you can enjoy the exciting cruise from Westminster Pier to Tower Pier, or the other way around.
London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with River Cruise
Duration: 70 to 210 minutes
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4. Avoid the queue to ride the London Eye (from USD 61.0)
Pray it’s a clear day, and not balmy English weather, and head to the London Eye, which is close to the Thames. Skip the huge line if you are availing this tour and board one of the capsules. The well-built capsules are air-conditioned glass pods, which can hold up to 25 passengers at a time. Standing tall at 135 meters (443 feet), it takes you to the top and is a 30-minute ride. Opened in 2000, the London Eye lets you admire the stunning skyline. Try to spot the Big Ben or St Paul’s Cathedral, which are almost 40 km (24.8 miles) away from here. After this unique experience, pay a visit to the London Eye 4D, where you can watch an incredible movie with special effects like bubbles and mist.
London Eye Fast-Track Ticket with 4D Experience
Duration: 30 minutes
London Tour Guide
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 Gu... Read more
Tours by Robert
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5. Explore Warwick Castle, Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford and Cotswolds (from USD 101.0)
This day trip from London takes you in a luxury coach to Warwick Castle, which is a magnificent castle from the Middle Ages. Take a stroll along the huge towers and ramparts, or climb the staircases to reach the Princess Tower, or take a tour of the dungeons. If you are visiting here during the summer, you may be lucky enough to observe archery, falconry and jousting taking place in the gardens. Next stop is William Shakespeare’s Tudor-era home in Stratford-upon-Avon where you can do your own thing or check out Bard’s home. The next stop is Oxford, popularly known as the City of Dreaming Spires. Here you can see the university buildings, take a look around of the Bodleian Library, or explore the Christ Church College, which was shown in the Harry Potter movies. Finally, head to the Cotswolds, which is known to be the ultimate destination of outstanding natural beauty.
Warwick Castle, Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford Tour From London
Duration: 10 hours 30 minutes
6. Fun with family at Madame Tussauds and Star Wars exhibition (from USD 45.0)
Enjoy a family-friendly time in Madame Tussauds, where you can pose with 300 wax figurines amid 14-themed zones, including Bollywood, culture, and film. Take a selfie with Nicole Kidman and David Beckham, or say hi to the Royal Family, or sing a song with Michael Jackson and the Beatles, or shake hands with Donald Trump. Hop aboard on to the classic black cab and ride back to London’s colorful history. Enjoy 4D animation, life-like replicas and interactive displays of superheroes in the Marvel Super Heroes 4D movie experience. Last but not the least, stop by the Star Wars exhibition to have a lifetime experience. Share a drink with Han Solo in the cantina bar, or engage yourself in a fight with Anakin Skywalker or Darth Vader. Explore Jabba’s Throne Room or feel the force with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn.
Madame Tussauds London Skip The Line with Star Wars Exhibition
Duration: 2 to 3 hours
7. Enjoy a dinner cruise on the Thames (from USD 111.0)
Go on a dinner date with your loved one in this dinner cruise across the Thames River. Enjoy a mesmerizing and romantic three-hour journey, after you hop aboard the London Showboat from the departure pier in Westminster. Once boarded, you are welcomed with a glass of wine in the lounge saloon. Head to your seat for an exciting four-course meal, including classic British dishes along with red or white wine. Admire the stunning scenery as the cruise takes you across the Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and St Pauls Cathedral. The exotic menu includes multiple delicacies including the oak-smoked Scottish salmon mousse with a mustard and dill center, roast chicken wrapped in Parma ham, dauphinoise potato, lasagne, and dark and milk chocolate truffle cake with raspberry sauce. Groove to the music of a live cabaret singer, while the cruise sails under the Millennium and Tower bridges.
London Thames River Dinner Cruise with Live Music and Dancing
Duration: 3 hours
8. Take a trip from Oxford to Downtown Abbey to Highclere Castle (from USD 212.0)
Catch hold of a coach at 8:30 am from London to reach the historical city of Oxford after a 90-minute journey. Walk along with your guide to explore the world-famous Oxford University, and the Bridge of Sighs along the charming streets. Head back to your coach, which will then take you to Bampton Village in Oxfordshire, also featured in the TV show Downton Abbey as Downton Village. Pose to click pictures inside the church, where Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley took their vows. Explore the local exhibition or the Bampton Community Archive if you are interested in learning about the village’s history. Hop on back to your coach to reach Hampshire, where you will spy the beautiful Highclere Castle. Take a tour of the castle and visit the main hall and library featured in Downtown Abbey. Listen to stories about the show’s characters from your guide.
Downton Abbey, Oxford, and Highclere Castle from London
Duration: 10 hours
9. A tete-e-tete with the Beefeaters and Crown Jewels tour in Tower of London (from USD 44.0)
Head to the Tower of London to opt for an independent, audio, or a one-hour guided tour to explore the stormy history of this place. Yeoman Warder or the “Beefeater” takes you through this journey, where you can learn about its origin, the rescue from William the Conqueror’s hold, the prison, armory and the execution spot. Immerse in myth and history as you come across the Royal Armories collection of the White Tower, the Bloody Tower and the Traitor’s Gate. The Tower of London is also a famous tourist hotspot as it is home to the British Crown Jewels, since the 14th century. Thousands of tourists gather here to see the remarkable regalia and the ultimate symbol of the British monarchy. The famous 105.6-carat Kohinoor diamond is also on display. Don’t forget to see the ravens and learn about the superstition attached to them!
Tower of London Ticket with Crown Jewels and Beefeater Tour
Duration: 1 day
10. A slice of history awaits at the Churchill War Rooms in Westminster (from USD 27.0)
The Churchill War Rooms in Westminster await your arrival. Simply show your ticket and explore ex-Prime minister Winston Churchill’s world between 9:30 am to 6 pm. The British statesman’s place who led Britain through World War II is an amazing piece of living history. Explore it as you become a time traveler entering rooms where important decisions and wartime strategies were made. You can also opt for the audio guide to learn about what transpired in the historic rooms. Head to the Churchill Museum, which offers you a detailed story of Winston Churchill in a more modernized format, or click a picture of the 10 Downing Street door.
Churchill War Rooms Entrance Ticket
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Explore the gems of London
The vibrant city of London is synonymous with fashion, lifestyle and the Royal Family. It is a popular tourist destination as travelers throng to the city to experience its old-world charm and modern vibe. A visit to London is a must as it is teeming with plenty of iconic spots such as the Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Oxford Street and more.
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