Secret Gardens of the City of London Private Tour

4.9 (42 reviews) 3 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

42 reviews

4.9

In the heart of old Roman London — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Secret Gardens of the City of London Private Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

This private walking tour takes us to many hidden, silent, sacred and secret gardens and ruins in the City of London. Even Londoners don't know about most of these sites and that is why they are such wonderful and historic places. Beautiful old gothic church yard gardens, each a peaceful, historic oasis in busy London.

This is an immersive historical and architectural walking tour of the City of London's public pocket gardens, ancient churchyards, and medieval ruins. It does not enter private residential squares or domestic backyards.

Secret Gardens of the City of London is also a #1 ranking travel book and has been the travel feature in the Independent Newspaper.

Half-day Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours City Tours Religious Tours

At a glance

Duration: 3 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Ye Olde England Tours

Ages: Youth (10–14 years) · Adults (15–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Local guide
Included: Private tour
Included: Professional guide
Included: Tour escort/host
Included: Hotel pickup

Not included

Not included: Transportation to/from attractions

Itinerary

St. Paul's Cathedral

5 min Admission not included

The tour starts under the majestic gaze of one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.
Stop 2

10 min

Explore the beautiful landscaped gardens of St Pauls Cathedral.
Festival Gardens

5 min

Delightfully colourful gardens with an incredible backdrop.
Stop 4

5 min

This beautiful garden was redeveloped during Covid and features a water feature and view not to be missed.
Stop 5

5 min

Beautiful shady garden, a haven for silver birch with a cooling water feature at the rear amongst other things.
Cleary Garden

5 min

Beautiful gardens with an Italian inspiration due to the Roman ruins that lay beneath.
Stop 7

5 min

This secret garden is dedicated to one of the most famous Lord Mayors of London who amongst other things built the nearby church.
Stop 8

5 min

Almost completely hidden from view, this beautiful garden has a definitive Welsh theme with a sad history behind it.
The Monument to the Great Fire of London

5 min Admission not included

See the incredible monument to the Great Fire of London
St. Dunstan In The East

10 min Admission included

Visit the most beautiful ruin in the old City of London.
Stop 11

5 min

One time home of the most famous diarist in history, Samuel Pepys, the garden has some incredible decorative stones illustrating the unique and memorable life of this fascinating man,
St Olave's Church

10 min

This historic church and garden has been through Great Fires, Plagues, World Wars and as such as some incredible history.
Stop 13

5 min Admission not included

80 years after The Blitz this garden is finally being redeveloped but its true secret is why it is hear at all and for that we have to go back to one of the darkest moments in Londons history, many centuries ago.
Garden at 120

15 min

Visit London's newest sky garden which offers a fantastic view of where we have been and where we will be going. The garden has a capacity of 207 people so it is possible that on rare occasions we cannot get in. So far so good though!
Stop 15

5 min

A beautiful modern garden with a poignant work of art regarding the slave trade on the spot where two men campaigned tirelessly for its destruction.
Leadenhall Market

5 min

A stunning Victorian market built on top of a Roman market, beautiful and iconic, seen in many shows and movies.
Stop 17

5 min

The garden of this ancient church is relatively plain but it has a grave within it that is possibly the most famous grave in English literature, set as it is amongst ancient lanes and alleys.
St. Michael's Cornhill

5 min

No cars or any vehicles can get close to this secret garden, huddled away in the medieval passageways. A beautiful garden with a nice sun trap too. Surrounded by old churches, pubs and the oldest coffee shop too.
Guildhall

5 min Admission included

Right in the middle of London we will stand on top of the old Roman amphitheatre
St. Lawrence Jewry

10 min Admission included

This little space in the heart of the old Jewish district of London and almost entirely rebuilt after WW2.
Stop 21

10 min Admission included

This sunken garden has a history both ancient and the merely old.
Stop 22

5 min

These unusual gardens hold an ancient secret uncovered in WW2, ruins of the old Roman City Wall.
St Mary Aldermanbury Garden

10 min Admission included

This little garden has strong associations to William Shakespeare and even Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.
Stop 24

5 min

A magnificent old tree steels the show here with incredible modern architecture all around.
Postman's Park

10 min Admission included

Visit this beautiful but rarely visited park with its touching memorial to everyday heroes.

Meeting point and pickup

You can be picked up from your accommodation or go straight to the meeting point.

Meeting point

The tour starts just outside Caffe Nero outside St Pauls Underground Station

End point

The tour starts just outside Caffe Nero outside St Pauls Underground Station
We finish just yards from St Pauls Underground Station

Pickup points

Zedwell Piccadilly Circus
The Hoxton, Holborn
The Langham, London
The Resident Soho
Claridge's
Sofitel London St James
Victory House Leicester Square
ME London
hub by Premier Inn London Westminster Abbey hotel
St Giles London Hotel
Montcalm Piccadilly Townhouse
TOP Hotel John Howard Apartments

and 182 more pickup points

We can meet you at any Central London hotel (not just those listed) and then go by tube to the starting point at St Pauls.

Using your ticket

Dress code is smart casual
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended

Hotel pickups commence prior to this time

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Dress code is smart casual
We have earmarked this tour as especially safe during the Coronavirus outbreak due to generally quiet places that we visit where social distancing is generally not a problem. All of our tours are private so it is just you/your family and your guide. To make it easier and safer for all concerned we would suggest starting this tour a little later than the usual time, perhaps around 10.30-11am which allows us all to miss rush-hour. We are happy to still come to your hotel to meet you but for the moment we would suggest meeting us at the tour starting point. This allows you to arrive by a taxi or uber rather than public transport. Please feel free to wear masks throughout or at times during the tour. Your guide will also have a mask with them.