There are so many walking tours of London available that the choice can be overwhelming. In this article, we compare the best themed and sightseeing walking tours to help you choose the right one for you.
Undoubtedly of the best ways to explore London is on foot and what better way to do that than to take a walking tour of London. However there are so many to choose from that it can be overwhelming picking the right tour to match your interests, budget and timescales.
In this post you will find a comparison of different London walking tours to help you decide which one is the best fit for your needs.
I have divided the post into 2 sections:
- The best SIGHTSEEING London walking tours
- The best THEMED London walking tours
Tip – If you are visiting London in winter do check out the availability of your chosen tour as they run less frequently during the colder months. On the flip side also remember if you are visiting during peak season to book your tour in advance to avoid disappointment!
Remember that themed tours will be focussed on places connected with the theme rather than the main tourist highlights of the city (although you may see some of London’s main sights, landmarks and attractions too)
If you are a first time visitor to London I highly recommend highlights of London tour as the perfect option to get your bearings and become acquainted with the city.
Always wear comfortable shoes and check the weather forecast before your London walking tour to ensure you are fully prepared.
Best sightseeing walking tours of London
If you would prefer to take a walking sightseeing tour of London England and see the main highlights of the city in a few hours this is the selection for you.
I have curated these best London tours from a couple of tour companies including Get Your Guide and Take Walks.
Get Your Guide is a tour aggregator and offers a comprehensive range of tours in London.
Most tour bookings can be cancelled up to 24 hours before (just double-check the terms and conditions when you book), you can pay in your own currency so there are no exchange fees and tickets can be downloaded onto your phone so no need to worry about keeping bits of paper safe.
I love taking tours – whether it is a themed walking tour or a sightseeing walking tour. With Get Your Guide, you know exactly what the cost is so no unexpected surprises.
Take Walks offer a number of small and exclusive tours in London. Their groups generally number 12 -15 and offer memorable experiences with well-planned itineraries.
| NAME OF TOUR | LENGTH OF TOUR | HIGHLIGHTS OF TOUR | BOOK HERE |
|---|---|---|---|
| London's Top Sights: Walking Tour with Fun Local Guide | 4 - 5 hours | 20 of the major sights of London are included in this walking tour | BOOK HERE |
| London: Old City Walking Tour | 3 hours | Millennium Bridge, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral and more | BOOK HERE |
| London: Changing of the Guard Walking Tour | 1.5 hours | Your expert guide will take you to the best viewing point so you don't miss a thing and take the best photographs - find out about the history behind the ceremony | BOOK HERE |
| Walking Westminster: Big Ben & Houses of Parliament | 1 hour | Get the best views of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament from special vantage points. | BOOK HERE |
| Private 90-Minute London Kick-Start Tour with a Local | 1.5 hours | Private tour with a local - find out insider tips as you visit London's must-see spots | BOOK HERE |
| London: Top 20 Sights Walking Tour and Clink Prison Entry | 6 hours | See 20 of the major London sights plus visit the Clink - the UK's oldest prison! | BOOK HERE |
| Westminster to Tower Bridge Customized Tour with a Local | 4 hours | Private personalised tour - see the sights and get an authentic insight into local life | BOOK HERE |
| London: Top 20 Sights Walking Tour and The Shard Entry | 2 hours | Includes a skip the line ticket to the Shard | BOOK HERE |
Best sightseeing walking tours of London
Want to see the sights of London? These are my selection of the best sightseeing walking tours of London.
See over 20 of London's most popular sights in half a day with a fun local guide!
Walk through the most famous parts of town and see sights such as Buckingham Palace, Westminster Palace, London Bridge, the Tower of London and more!
Travel back in time to the original square mile of London located by the River Thames. Explore the Old Town – or more well known as "The City" to locals - and learn about some of the most important events in British history as you see some of London’s oldest buildings.
An absolute must do for visitors to London! Marvel at the pageantry of the Changing of the Guard ceremony on a walking tour alongside the Queen's foot soldiers in London. March in step with the soldiers and learn the history of the guards, royals and their palaces.
This tour takes you through the heart of Westminster, revealing the stories behind the statues in Parliament Square. Discuss the history of Westminster Abbey and see views of the outside of the Palace of Westminster that you can usually only see on TV.
A great way to get the most out of your stay in London. Why not take a kickstart 90 minutes tour with a local! Get all the must-see insights for a memorable trip to the fabulous city of London.
Explore London’s top 20 world famous landmarks during this walking tour of the city. After your tour visit the medieval Clink Prison which was the most notorious medieval prison in London and is the oldest prison in the UK.
Explore the fascinating area between Westminster and Tower on a bespoke experience created by your host. Discover theatres, iconic landmarks, Shakespearean history, and hidden gems during your adventure.
Its not all about the old! During this tour explore London’s top 20 world famous landmarks. Afterwards go up The Shard, Europe's tallest building and London from up high. This is another absolute must-do for anyone visiting the capital! Skip the line and enjoy a 360 degree view of the city.
15 themed walking tours of London
In this section discover the best themed walking tours of London including those based around popular TV shows such as The Crown and Killing Eve.
The grid provides an overview of the different London walking tours available and key important details. More information on each tour can be found in the article below.
| NAME OF TOUR | LENGTH OF TOUR | HIGHLIGHTS OF TOUR | BOOK HERE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magical London - Harry Potter Guided Tour | 2.5 hours | Platform 9 3/4 Diagon Alley The Leaky Cauldron | BOOK HERE |
| Mary Poppins Walking Tour | 2 hours | St Paul's Cathedral, Bank of England | BOOK HERE |
| Charles Dickens Walking Tour | 3 hours | Borough Market, Dickens House Museum | BOOK HERE |
| Killing Eve Walking Tour | 3 hours | 10 filming locations including London Bridge and Southwark | BOOK HERE |
| The Crown Walking Tour | 2.5 hours | Trafalgar Square, Admiralty Arch, Buckingham Palace and more | BOOK HERE |
| Shakespeare in London Tour | 3 hours | The Globe Theatre, Clink Prison and Southwark Cathedral | BOOK HERE |
| Notting Hill Rom-Com Tour | 1 hour 40 mins | Portobello Market | BOOK HERE |
| Movie Hot Spots Tour | 2 hours | James Bond, Harry Potter, Brigid Jones and more locations | BOOK HERE |
| Doctor Who Tour | 2.5 hours | London streets featured in the legendary TV series Doctor Who | BOOK HERE |
| Paddington Bear (TM) Walking Tour | 2.5 hours | Visit London landmarks from 2 films and 20 books | BOOK HERE |
| Sherlock Holmes Tour | 2 hours | Visit locations from the book, TV series and films | BOOK HERE |
| Bridget Jones Tour | 2.5 hours | Visit locations seen in all 3 movies. | BOOK HERE |
| James Bond Walking Tour | 2 hours | Visit locations used in "Skyfall", "SPECTRE" and other Bond movies | BOOK HERE |
| Jack the Ripper | 2 hours | Visit Whitechapel and walk in the footsteps of Jack the Ripper | BOOK HERE |
| Grim Reaper Tour | 2 hours | Tower of London, Plague Pits, the East End | BOOK HERE |
Guide to the Best Themed Walking Tours of London
Choose from a selection of the BEST themed walking tours of London. There is a tour here for everyone whatever your interest from well know TV shows and films, to literary figures and more London is the place to explore.
A magical 2 and a half hour walking tour across London. Visiting Platform 9 3/4, Diagon Alley, the Leaky Cauldron and more this is the perfect tour for any Harry Potter fan
The perfect tour for fans of Mary Poppins. Highlights of this 2 hour walking tour include St Pauls Cathedral, the Bank of England, and the City.
Step back into the 19th century on this 3 hour Charles Dickens walking tour of London. You will visit locations that influenced Dickens the man as well as some of the places that feature in his literary works.
A must for any fan of the TV drama series Killing Eve. Take this 3 hour walking tour and see 10 locations from the show as well as numerous iconic London landmarks. Includes behind-the-scenes secrets on the making of the show and a pit stop in one of the cafe locations used in the series.
Explore the rich world of “The Crown” and learn how the hit series mixes royal reality and well researched fiction into an award-winning smash. Includes 10 locations from the show including Royal Palaces and iconic London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace
This unique Shakespeare tour is perfect for lovers of the world's greatest playwright. This is also a great tour for anyone interested in Elizabethan London. Enjoy the official in-house Globe Theatre tour and a visit to Southwark Cathedral where you can admire its famous Shakespeare window.
If you enjoy a romantic comedy I would highly recommend this tour! See the locations and settings of romantic comedy favourites such as “Notting Hill,” “Bridget Jones 2: Edge of Reason,” “Love Actually,” and more.
If you love movies and love London, then you’re sure to enjoy this 2-hour Movie Hot Spots Tour. See where Bridget Jones famously kissed the love of her life, visit the seedy spots where Alfie picked up his birds, and prepare for a day trip to Gotham City.
Walk the streets of London and discover sites associated with the legendary TV show Doctor Who. Visit more than 15 city locations, like the iconic tower featured in The Bells of Saint John and the cathedral from where Cyberman launched an attack on Earth.
A must for any lover of the famous bear from Peru! Take a magical journey through the streets of London on a 2.5-hour walking tour of locations associated with the “Paddington Bear” movie and books by Michael Bond.
Grab your deerstalker and take a Sherlock Holmes Tour of London. Explore places featured in the books, real sites that inspired Arthur Conan Doyle and locations featured in film and TV adaptations of the detective's great adventures.
Visit Bridget Jones film locations as seen in all three movies, including her home, the famous diary kiss scene, memorial service and other locations on this 2.5-hour walking tour.
Discover the London of James Bond on a fascinating tour visiting film locations, real spy stories, and places familiar to the author – Ian Fleming. Discuss some of the classic James Bond London settings and take part in trivia about the actors!
On this tour you will go back in time to 1888 and trace the bloody trail of one of the world’s most infamous serial killers. This 2-hour walking tour will introduce you to the history of Jack the Ripper, whose murders still haunt London to this day.
Travel back in time with this grim reaper walking tour of London. Visit The Tower of London one of London's most haunted buildings and walk in the footsteps of one the world's most notorious murderers - Jack the Ripper.
Plan your visit to London
For further practical tips and advice to help plan your London visit and itinerary –
- London Travel Guide – my step-by-step guide to planning your London visit and a great place to start!
- Planning to visit London’s popular sights? Read my guide on how to book London Attraction tickets
- Visiting London for the first time? Read my essential travel tips for London.
- How to plan your London itinerary – What to do and see in London (including the top 23 sights, landmarks and attractions plus a bucket list guide that includes London’s hidden gems.
- Budget London Guide – How to plan your London trip without breaking the bank.
- 31 free things to do in London
- London accommodation guide – How to choose the right area and accommodation for your stay.
- Guide to London Eye – best ticket options
- Tower of London – Guide to visiting one of London’s most popular attractions
London Travel Guide & Itinerary Planner (+ 4 bonus ebooks)
