8 best tours in London to discover the city’s rich history and iconic sights
Imagine visiting London for the first time, and you’re looking forward to going on an exciting adventure. For a novice traveler such as yourself, picking the right kind of tours in the city may seem overwhelming, but don’t worry—we’re here to help!
With our carefully chosen and unique travel tour options, you’ll surely discover the city’s best-kept secrets!
Why trust us? We are a group of experienced travel writers, each with a passion for the city and a wealth of knowledge about the best tours in London.
Now, let’s delve into the most unique, best-rated, and most worthy adventures in the city that you won’t find in the guidebooks.
How much do tours cost in London?
Tours cost around £30 to £50 in London. However, this varies depending on the type of tour, the number of people traveling in a group, and the distance of the locations from their starting points.
1. HiddenCity
Address: Shoreditch Exchange, Senna Building, Gorsuch PI
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Every day, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
HiddenCity is at the top of our list because of two words: immersively fun!
They offer four very different but equally exciting tours: Shadow of Spectre with a James Bond theme and Moriarty’s Game inspired by Sherlock Holmes.
They also have The Hunt for the Cheshire Cat based on Alice in Wonderland and The Enchanted Mirror, revolving around the world of Snow White.
The best part about these tours is their self-guided feature. To begin, you simply text “Begin” to their number upon arriving at the starting point.
Sad to say, the interactive tours won’t be as fun if you’re a lone traveler because it’s much better enjoyed with a group. However, it might depend on how much you enjoy exploring with others.
Whatever your preferences are, you can’t deny that HiddenCity is a unique tour provider in London. The atypical sightseeing tours with a twist will make your trip to the heart of Europe exciting and unforgettable!
A great way to see London
“Highly recommend this adventure. A great way to see London. We were not bothered about how long it took us – we preferred to casually work out clue by clue. Enjoy the pit stops for beverages and food along the way.
We did struggle on two clues but were guided back on track by Hidden City very quickly. Our favourite bits were the interaction with the public, the superb props used along the way. This is our second hidden city adventure and we plan to do the other two very soon. Highly recommend.”
- Michelle McKinley Bell, Google Review
Really fun, interactive game
“Really fun, interactive game. Clues can be tricky but they’re all solvable and leads you on a furious hunt around some hidden parts of London that you wouldn’t visit otherwise. Spot others taking part in the game, or are they spies out following you or trying to throw you off the scent? Only your instincts will tell.”
- Paul Dallison, Google Review
2. The Ghost Bus Tours
Address: 8 Northumberland Ave
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Every day, 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
If you’re an avid fan of the supernatural and a thrill-seeker at best, The Ghost Bus Tours is perfect for you.
The tours offer the most theatrical experience. Although it sounds scary at first, you’ll actually be laughing from start to finish.
The tour guides will also share spooky tales as you pass Westminster Abbey, the Old Bailey, the London Dungeon, and the Blackfriars Bridge.
Plus, you’ll be handed EMF devices as if you’re actually on a ghost hunt. Exciting, isn’t it?
Sad to say, the tour is very weather-dependent. You need to ensure the weather’s nice and dry before booking a schedule.
Overall, being exposed to the darker side of London with a comedic twist makes The Ghost Tours in London worth every penny.
Very funny, informative, and entertaining
“My son and I like spooky things and the darker side of life, so we took the ghost bus tour of our city London. It was very funny, informative, and the actress doing the tour was very entertaining. The ambience of the bus captured the mood, and there was a screen on the bus to see when she went downstairs. The descriptions were quite explicit with double entendres, so beware when taking younger children. Overall, I learnt about a more grisly side of London that is not talked about that often. Great fun.”
- Sarah H, Google Review
We had lots of laughs with everyone on the bus
“We had such a nice time on the tour, the staff made the tour complete. Without Cedric’s impressive storytelling the tour wouldn’t be complete. We had lots of laughs with everyone on the bus. We didn’t see much of the sights because the views couldn’t be seen that well from the bus. Maybe try and incorporate a few more ghost/murder facts cause some were overshadowed by interactions in the bus.”
- Romy Timmermanns, Google Review
3. Dragon Lore Tours
Address: 8 Flowersmead
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Every day, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Our third pick is Dragon Lore Tours. This is a top tour provider because, well… dragons!
Most tours in London are focused on sightseeing, but theirs go beyond visiting landmarks—they give participants an overview of London’s folklore and ancient legends.
The 2-3 hour walk is also very interactive—you won’t notice you’ve been walking for hours because the tour guides are exceptionally clever! However, it might get tiring for some, so be sure to take that into account.
You’ll also get to visit the Tower of London from a mythological angle by seeing striking landmarks up close. This includes Southwark Cathedral, the Dragon Statue at the Royal Exchange, and Temple Church.
You’ll also pass by popular spots, including London Bridge, Borough Market, and The Leadenhall Building.
The tours are traditional and more interactive but still a relaxing experience.
Despite the positives, the tours from this roster are very weather-dependent, so it’s important to check the weather forecast.
Overall, Dragon Lore Tours is highly rated among history buffs due to its well-organized and informative tours.
One of the greatest experiences in London
“The tour guide Arjun is a lovely, knowledgeable and very chatty person to be in a tour with. We were five people only and had the time of our lives by getting to know many parts of London and stories you wouldn’t get otherwise. Arjun chatted with us on whatever came to our mind between the sights and we had such great talks about a plethora of things. If you are into mythical stuff, history, symbols, gods and mysteries and into finding hidden places in London, this is for you! Thanks a lot for that great experience.”
- Mindskarred, Google Review
It gave us a glimpse of Londinium in present day London
“In somewhat of a leisurely Jules Verne sequence, the tour was a memorable voyage across time. It gave us glimpses of Londinium in present day London. Our tour guide Mr Arjun, a prolific researcher and storyteller, dotted the landscape and ancient buildings with characters, events and turning points. Through various artefacts, he traced the origins of the financial capital of the world, and innumerable quests for power and influence. This was a very informative and thought-provoking tour and I would highly recommend it!”
- Aditi Hunma, Google Review
4. Discovery Tours
Address: 21 Old Steine, Kemptown, Brighton and Hove
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Mon-Fri: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Now that we’re done with the spooky, adventurous, and mystical tour providers, we’re moving on to the best tours in London for movie-themed trips!
Discovery Tours is an award-winning provider of tours in London. Our particular favorite is the Harry Potter London tour.
When you meet your true-to-life wizard as a tour guide, you’ll be first in line to learn about behind-the-scenes secrets of the blockbuster film. Potterheads will get a kick out of this!
The tours will also take you to Harry Potter landmarks such as Platform 9 ¾, Diagon Alley, and Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
What we like most about this provider is that the tour guides keep the crowd small, making the experience more interactive, personalized, and enjoyable.
Unfortunately, this might not be the best option for people with low stamina, as there’s a lot of walking involved.
Everything was well organized
“I have been on a tour to Stonehenge and Bath with Discovery Tours a couple of weeks ago. Everything was well organized. On our way to go they provided a lot of interesting information about the places we were passing through and anything we needed to know about Stonehenge and Bath 🙂 Laura and Manrico have been very friendly! Looking forward to travel with you again 🙂 see you soon!”
- Maria, Google Review
Absolutely magical
“Did the “Edinburgh, York and the Highlands” tour in February last year and it was amazing. Edinburgh is a beautiful city with old, pretty buildings like Edinburgh Castle and St Giles Cathedral. I also went to see the Greyfriars Kirkyard, the “Harry Potter” graveyard. Well organised trip with a great tourguide!”
- Svea Lahrmann, Google Review
5. Golden Tours
Address: Stop 1, Bulleid Way
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Every day, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Last but not least, we have Golden Tours in London—one of the best providers in town. They offer hop-on, hop-off tours, so you won’t have to worry about changing transportation throughout the trip.
You can choose from a variety of adventures, including tours of Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, The Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace. Sounds fun, right?
What we love most about Golden Tours is that they offer an audio tour guide and give tourists free access to their Wi-Fi.
Even better, they have excellent customer service. The tour guides are friendly and knowledgeable about every building, road, and tour detail.
However, their popularity comes with a downside.
Since their tours are well-known, you may experience some inconsistency in service quality. Some of their guides could handle large crowds well, while other travelers have been described as boring storytellers.
Overall, booking with Golden Tours is still worthwhile, especially if you’re a first-time traveler.
Great experience… festive lights
“Great experience last night with the missus as we take in both the sights and the festive lights. Our guide was excellent (Graham) who was entertaining and engaging. It was a little busy on the roads (Saturday night) and it was a little cold so please remember to wrap up warm.”
- Jimmy Wong, Google Review
Absolutely loved the Christmas Lights Tour
“Absolutely loved the Christmas Lights Tour with driver, Albert and our guide, Robin. It was indeed a great experience to watch all the lights in London’s iconic places. A must to actually feel the Christmas vibes. It was an hour spent well. Our guide was gem of a person and a true history buff who explained us through various interesting facts about all the areas we passed. His voice was clear and audible till the last seat, also loved his jokes. Definitely recommend the tour especially with Robin.”
- N A, Google Review
6. Brit Movie Tours
Address: 7 Bell Yard, London WC2A 2JR, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 330 127 7007
Hours: Every day, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Brit Movie Tours bridges the gap between fiction and reality, providing film and TV enthusiasts with immersive experiences that allow them to step into the worlds of their favorite characters.
Their tours are carefully researched and curated, ensuring that every stop is packed with interesting facts, behind-the-scenes stories, and insider knowledge.
What’s more, the company offers various options from walking tours to private taxi tours, and each one has knowledgeable guides accompanying you.
Note that Brit Movie Tours is unavailable on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.
Highly recommended
“A Delightful Paddington Tour! We had a lovely time exploring the Paddington film locations, it was such an informative and enjoyable experience. Our tour guide, Owen, was absolutely brilliant, friendly, enthusiastic, and full of energy. I’d seen a few reviews mentioning unclear guides, but that was definitely not the case here. Owen was clear, engaging, and made the morning enjoyable. Highly recommend! Thankyou – Family from Warwick”
- Melissa Possart, Google Review
Excellent
“Rory our guide was excellent. He was engaging and went out his way to include the young children on the tour. He had a great knowledge of the filming locations and about the stories deeper meanings. Would highly recommend”
- Tracy Woodin, Google Review
7. The Cloak & Dagger Tour
Address: The George Inn Yard, 77 Borough High Street, London SE1 1NH
Phone: (+44) 07791 190 531
Email: [email protected]
Start times:
- Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday: 7:30 PM
- Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday: 6:00 PM
The Cloak & Dagger Tour is like no other. This multi-award-winning atmospheric history tour takes you on a guided journey through the horror and gruesome history of London’s dark past.
Travel off the beaten track and experience the fascinating and gruesome reality of London’s horrible history.
See it brought to life as you meet the people from the dark history you explore, face-to-face!
Note that the Cloak & Dagger Tours are unavailable on Mondays.
A good opportunity to learn
“I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it was great! A good opportunity to learn about the darker side of London’s history in a creative way. The knowledge acquired is different from your average tour bus education. Great acting by the tour guides as well. I ended up being the only person, and was glad they didn’t cancel on me.”
- Amber Bamber, Google Review
Great experience
“This is a great experience. Ollie was very knowledgeable, and the history relating to Southwark was very interesting, and mostly disgusting in various ways. Ollie was very engaging, and answered that many questions we had around the topics. The other actor, Mary or Harriet or the serf or catchpole, was really funny, although quite intimidating when explaining historical mugging techniques😬. I would definitely receive this tour. The added benefit is that it starts and ends at the George Inn, so you can get drinks at the start and the end!”
- Mark Osborne, Google Review
8. Brit Music Tours
Address: 124 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom
Phone: 0330 223 6902
Email: [email protected]
Start times:
- Open daily from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Brit Music Tours brings together the best of British music, from the origins of music genres to the most famous figures in the UK.
It offers walking tours, coach tours, and private tours around the music locations in London, Manchester, and Liverpool.
Each lets you visit locations significant to The Beatles, David Bowie, Queen, and many more. However, it’s best to schedule your next tour as soon as possible. Brit Music Tours has limited availability due to high demand.
Highly recommended
“Thoroughly enjoyed our George Michael themed taxi tour. Visited many poignant places of interest associated with his life & music. A must for any Lovelie. Our driver Michael was great! Very friendly & knowledgeable – great guide/guy indeed x. Im only posting a couple of pics as you need to go on your own adventure. Highly recommended”
- Michelle Watson, Google Review
Best tour ever
“Best tour we ever had. seen a lot, heard a lot and information that is not generally known. Also important, Pete is very pleasant company, a very nice man. The tour does justice to beautiful music history that should be kept alive and honored. It’s a wonderful memory for us. Would recommend it to everyone!”
- Wendy van Rooijen, Google Review