River Thames London Walking Tour

5.0 (one review) 3 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

one review

5.0

The Palace of Westminster aka The Houses of Parliament — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

The London Eye — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

This tour takes us along the banks of the River Thames between two of the most famous buildings in the world, the Houses of Parliament & the Tower of London.

We will travel on both sides of this famous old river which locals lovingly refer to as 'Old Father Thames' at various points along the tour. The fine buildings of London are meant to be seen from the river side & we will learn how things have changed over the centuries and millennia & learn how the river has shaped and influenced London right up to the present day.

We will learn the stories of some people that lived along the banks and some of the terrible disasters that have befallen the city.It's not all bad news though as we will past some iconic bridges, amazing photo opportunities & some of the most funky parts of town that until now travellers rarely got the chance to explore.

We will see many of the most famous sights in London but also hidden places right by the river which are little changed from centuries ago.

Half-day Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Short term availability Weather Dependent - Moderate

At a glance

Duration: 3 hours
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Ye Olde England Tours

Ages: Children (5–14 years) · Adults (15–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Tour Guide

Itinerary

Houses of Parliament

10 min Admission not included

We start at the Mother of Democracy and the famous Big Ben and learn about how over a thousand years ago this was all an island in the Thames
Stop 2

5 min Admission not included

See the famous revolving sign of New Scotland Yard at the home of the oldest Police force in the world.
London Eye

5 min Admission not included

One of the newest icons of London but also one of the most controversial when it was built.
York Watergate

10 min Admission included

See the old ceremonial entrance way to London where all the big names from history would alight from their boats on the Thames and find out why now you can't even see the river from here!
Victoria Embankment Gardens

10 min Admission included

Beautiful Victorian Gardens along the river that were built to help alleviate a very smelly problem.
Middle Temple Hall

15 min Admission not included

Previously right up against the river and now a few hundred yards from it, we can see some of the beautiful gardens and paths in this old legal quarter of London that featured heavily in the writings of Charles Dickens and frequently used in TV and movies such as Downton Abbey.
Stop 7

10 min

See the mosaic that covers over 2,000 years of London history at the only surviving Anglo-Saxon docks in the world and learn of how King Alfred The Great re-established modern London here after expelling those pesky Vikings.
St. Paul's Cathedral

10 min Admission not included

See St Pauls from the now iconic view from the Millennium Bridge.
Millennium Bridge

10 min Admission included

Offering some of the best photo opportunities in the whole of Central London.
Tate Modern

5 min Admission not included

We won't go inside but can you guess what it used to be?
Stop 11

10 min Admission not included

See the incredible Globe Theatre and find out why it is here in what was once the most salubrious part of London!
Stop 12

5 min Admission not included

Find out the lurid details of what would happen to the unfortunate who were sent here at His Majesty's Pleasure.
Golden Hinde

5 min Admission not included

See the wondrous replica of the famous ship of exploration used by Sir Francis Drake.
Southwark Anglican Cathedral

5 min Admission not included

One of the lesser known cathedrals in London.
Borough Market

10 min Admission included

The food market famous around the world which one way or the other has been here since Roman times.
London Bridge

5 min Admission included

The first and most historic bridge in London and yet oddly, not the most famous we will see.
Hay's Galleria

5 min Admission included

Now a high-end shopping and restaurant area but once the most advanced shipyards in the world.
HMS Belfast

5 min Admission not included

See the famous old Royal Navy ship which is now a museum vessel and permanently moored on the Thames.
London City Hall

5 min Admission not included

The home of the London Mayor and local government and surrounded by some of the new development which London is now also famous for. The best views of Tower Bridge can be found right here!
Tower Bridge

10 min Admission not included

Maybe the most famous bridge in the world which when it was built was also by far the most advanced too. People have flown under it, died from jumping off it but we'll just walk across with the opportunity for some great photos and to look through the centre gap and see the river below.
Tower of London

10 min Admission not included

We will finish outside the Tower of London whose moat once connected to the river and see Traitors Gate where those condemned souls would arrive by boat awaiting their dreadful fate.

Meeting point and pickup

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

Meeting point

We will be just outside the cafe, a few feet from the main entrance of Westminster Underground Station and almost directly across the road from Big Ben.

End point

We will finish at Tower Hill Station, right next to the Tower of London. There are also some great pubs and restaurants nearby if you'd like to continue with your day or alternatively get the Tube back to Westminster in just 10 minutes or so.

Pickup points

Zedwell Piccadilly Circus
The Hoxton, Holborn
The Langham, London
Cherry Court Hotel
Avonmore Hotel
Claridge's
Clifton Lodge Apartments
ME London
LSE Rosebery Hall Residence
Howard Winchester Hotel
Grosvenor House Suites
hub by Premier Inn London Westminster Abbey hotel

and 508 more pickup points

If we meet you at your hotel we can travel to the starting point by Tube or by taxi/uber (not included) or we can meet you at the tour starting point. Please do tell us of your hotel at booking if you'd like us to meet you there.