Oldest London Restaurant & Covent Garden Guided Tour

5.0 (8 reviews) 2 hours Free cancellation

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8 reviews

5.0

Oldest London Restaurant & Covent Garden Guided Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Oldest London Restaurant & Covent Garden Guided Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Get yourself a Cocktail at the Famous Rules Restaurant after retracing the steps of Covent Garden’s elite, their bizarre history and secrets.

Step into the glamorous and scandalous world of old London on our Covent Garden guided tour and learn the history of the rich, the royal family and the city’s most powerful people.

Hear about the British ballet dancer organising a coup behind closed doors, the nefarious coffee house owned by London's most feared female gangster and the deadly argument between actors about their wigs.

Gossip with us about the affairs of the aristocracy and the monarch’s mistresses before escaping to London’s oldest restaurant, Rules. Immerse yourself in high society and hear about the scandalous secrets held inside the restaurant’s walls.

Join the most unique sightseeing experience in London, bringing you a combination of royal history, upper-class cover ups, and Covent Garden’s rich past.

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At a glance

Duration: 2 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 10 people
People per booking: 1–10
Guide: English
Operated by: Where Now Tours

Ages: Adults (18–100 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Professional English-speaking guide
Included: Exclusive entry to Rules Restaurant before public opening hours
Included: Guided walking tour of Covent Garden

Not included

Not included: Gratuities
Not included: Alcoholic beverages: Option to buy yourself at cocktail at the beautiful Rules Restaurant
Not included: Snacks
Not included: Meals

Itinerary

Stop 1

10 min

One of London's most famous streets for retail. A bustling and lively street filled with shops and boutiques.
Stop 2

10 min

The apartment where prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn lived at this apartment for most of her life. Known as the greatest ballet dancer of her generation, perhaps of all time.
Stop 3

5 min

A secret garden hidden behind the large building of the shopping district. A great example of Green-Urbanism.
Stop 4

5 min

A famous street for shopping which takes you to the north-west entrance of the Covent Garden Piazza.
Stop 5

10 min

Known as the "Actors Church", the historical St. Pauls backs onto the Piazza and is known as much for its plays and performances as its sermons.
Stop 6

10 min

Make-up brand that originated from the 2014 blog of Emily Weiss, the building was once the coolest club in London.
Covent Garden Market London UK

10 min

Was one called "Convent Garden" as it was a garden where nuns lived and grew food for the poor. It has had many incarnations since - a living enclave only for the 1%, a den of vice, an arts district, and of course a huge market. These days the piazza houses a small version of what it once was with a much smaller market filled with known brands and boutiques.
Stop 8

Passing by

At the front of the actors church is where the famous Covent Garden Street performers take to the stage. You will often find jugglers, buskers, and magicians plying their trade on the cobbles here.
Stop 9

10 min

An iconic London theatre with its origins in the 17th century. Known for its world-renowned Opera and Ballet performances.
Theatre Royal Drury Lane

5 min

Historical London West End Theatre, built at the same time as the Royal Opera House but known for its more salacious stories.
Stop 11

Passing by

Historical London Street where J.M.W Turner Was born.
Stop 12

20 min Admission included

London's Oldest Restaurant. Once frequented by Charles Dickens, Graham Greene, and Ian Fleming. Also known for its connections to the political elites and the royal family.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Meet your guide where James Street meets the Covent Garden Piazza. Your guide will be holding an orange umbrella. Please adhere to Rules Restaurant dress code of avoiding shorts, joggers, tracksuits, or sportswear.