The 10 best walking tours in London for curious wanderers
London is a city that never runs out of stories. From history and art to culture and politics, there’s something fascinating around every corner.
It can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. The good news is you can always take it all in on foot. Wandering through London’s streets lets you soak up its character in a way no bus or Tube ride ever could.
Of course, having a little guidance makes it even better. Even though most of our team are locals, hopping on a few walking tours totally changed how we see London.
Here are some of the best ones we’ve tried and loved!
Historical and cultural walking tours in London
1. Royal London Walking Tour
– Media credits: walkwithphilip
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Operating hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Departure point: Buckingham Palace, Buckingham Gate, Tourist Bus Stop. SW1A 1AA (outside King’s Gallery)
End point: Westminster Abbey
Price: ££
If you want to experience London with a royal twist, the Royal Walking Tour delivers more than just Buckingham Palace selfies. It’s a 90-minute stroll and you’re not only ticking landmarks off your list, but also stepping into centuries of royal history!
The Changing of the Guard is the showstopper. Thanks to our guide’s insider knowledge, we had a front-row view without getting lost in the sea of cameras.
Beyond the pomp, though, the tour shines when it slips into side streets: Prince Philip’s barber, a 17th-century hat shop, and even the courtyard where London’s last sword duels played out.
| Pro tip: Book the Buckingham Palace or Westminster Abbey entry add-ons. If your schedule allows, these balance the outdoor energy with amazing interiors. |
2. Women of Westminster London Walking Tour
– Media credits: loveandlondon
Duration: 2 to 3 hours
Operating hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Departure point: Agatha Christie memorial on Cranbourn Street
Price: ££
Skip the same old London highlights and try the Women of Westminster walking tour instead.
In just a couple of hours, you’ll wander past Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, and Big Ben. In this tour, the spotlight’s on the women who shaped politics, literature, and beyond.
The guides are sharp, funny, and full of stories that stick with you long after the walk’s done. It’s probably not for restless little kids or those chasing quick-hit sightseeing, but for curious travellers about the herstory? Absolutely unmissable.
| Pro tip: Arrive early at the meeting point. The Agatha Christie memorial can get busy, so give yourself extra time to spot your guide. |
3. WWII Secrets of Westminster, Churchill’s War Rooms & Museum Walking Tour
– Media credits: visitlondon
Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Operating hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Departure point: Westminster Tube
Price: £££
If you want to see London through the eyes of wartime insiders, the WWII Secrets of Westminster and Churchill’s War Rooms walking tour is for you. It’s less of a stroll through the city and more a step back into the shadowy world of 1940s London.
The Westminster portion is a great introduction, mixing stories of spies and wartime politics. We loved how the guides brought the drama of the era to life with their anecdotes. It made us feel the weight of history under our feet.
But it’s the Churchill War Rooms that seal the experience. They were preserved as they were in 1945.
They offer an almost eerie glimpse into the nerve centre of Britain’s wartime strategy—beds still made, maps still pinned, phones once used to patch through calls.
| Pro tip: After the guided portion, you can explore the Churchill Museum at your own pace. Give yourself extra time since there’s far more to see than you’d expect. |
Themed walking tours in London
4. Harry Potter-themed Walking Tour in London
– Media credits: volga_londonstories
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Operating hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Departure point: Southwark View Point
Return point: Palace Theatre, 113 Shaftesbury Ave
Price: ££
This Harry Potter walking tour is a fun way to explore more of the franchise. It starts with a Sorting Ceremony that sets the mood before winding through places like Soho, Covent Garden, and Borough Market.
The guide made the city come alive with film trivia, Rowling-inspired stories, and little hidden spots we’d never found on our own.
The quizzes and house games keep things lively. There’s even an option of a Thames boat ride, which adds a nice change of pace.
This isn’t the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, though, so there are no sets or props. It’s more about imagination, storytelling, and seeing real London through a magical lens.
| Pro tip: Rewatch Half-Blood Prince before going. The Millennium Bridge is one of the highlights, and you’ll catch more references if it’s fresh in your mind. |
5. Sherlock Holmes-themed Walking Tour in London
– Media credits: travelherstory
Duration: 2 hours
Operating hours:
- Monday to Tuesday: unavailable
- Wednesday: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Thursday to Friday: unavailable
- Saturday: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Sunday: unavailable
Departure point: Outside 224 Piccadilly (‘Criterion Est 1874. Restaurant’ in the blue sign above the entrance)
Price: ££
The Sherlock Holmes Walking Tour is like stepping into the detective’s world. Starting at the spot where Holmes and Watson first meet, the walk takes you through grand hotels and old clubs.
You’ll also see the same London streets that inspired Arthur Conan Doyle and later appeared in films and TV with Benedict Cumberbatch, Jeremy Brett, and Robert Downey Jr.
This tour combines it all—stories from the books, behind-the-scenes film details, and little slices of London history. Even if you’re not a Sherlock expert, the way it’s told keeps things fun and easy to follow.
| Pro tip: Once the tour ends, it’s worth heading to the Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street. It’s not included in the tour, but it makes a fitting follow-up if you’re still in detective mode. |
6. Jack the Ripper Walking Tour in London
– Media credits: pretty.little.london
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Operating hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Departure point: St Mary’s Whitechapel Church Memorial, Altab Ali Park
Price: ££
Jack the Ripper Walking Tour isn’t a family-friendly outing. It’s more for adults who can handle the darker side of history. But if you’re a true crime fan or curious about London’s infamous mystery, this is one of the most atmospheric ways to experience the East End.
Unlike other tours that focus on grisly details, this one unfolds in chronological order. It follows the story victim by victim, starting with Polly Nichols in Altab Ali Park and ending with Mary Jane Kelly.
The guides themselves also make the tour compelling. They really bring the story to life in a way that’s both immersive and respectful. The focus on the women’s lives, rather than simply their deaths, gives the tour an unusual depth.
| Pro tip: We suggest booking an evening slot when the East End’s narrow streets feel eerier under the streetlamps. This will make your tour more exciting. |
Food and drink walking tours in London
7. Cheese Walking Tour with Tastings in London
– Media credits: visitlondon
Duration: 2 hours
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: unavailable
- Saturday to Sunday: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Departure point: Statue of Goddess Diana, Green Park exit
Price: ££
Who knew cheese could be the key to discovering London? On this walking tour, you’ll get to spend your afternoon tasting everything from rich Stilton to Italian “drunk cheese” while strolling through Mayfair, Little Italy, and Covent Garden.
We started at Fortnum & Mason, where the royal family still gets its dairy fix. There were even fun stories about Winston Churchill’s favourite cheeses.
Along the way, the guide kept things lively with a trivia quiz and plenty of cheesy jokes. It made the group feel more like friends than strangers.
This isn’t the right fit if you’re lactose-intolerant or looking for a sit-down meal, though. But if you love cheese, history, and a good laugh, it’s a nice way to see London from a different angle.
| Pro tip: Bring a small water bottle. Cheese and wine can be rich, and water helps keep your palate fresh between tastings. |
8. London Borough Market & London Bridge Food Tour
– Media credits: debbyschuh
Duration: 3 hours
Operating hours:
- Monday: unavailable
- Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Departure point: The Market Porter, 9 Stoney St
End point: The Boot & Flogger, 10-20 Redcross Way
Price: £££
Borough Market can be a sensory overload, but joining a tasting tour turns it into pure delight.
Our team slipped through the crowds with a guide who knew exactly where to take us—sausages from The Ginger Pig, Neal’s Yard cheese, and even sticky toffee pudding.
The food was fantastic, but what surprised us most was how much we loved the walking itself. Between tastings, we wandered past Southward Cathedral and the ruins of Winchester Palace. We heard great stories that made the neighbourhood come alive.
| Pro tip: Go on a weekday if possible. Saturdays can feel so crowded in Borough Market. Weekdays are still lively but less overwhelming, making it easier to enjoy the stops. |
9. Historical Pubs Walking Tour in London
– Media credits: amanda_0811151823
Duration: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Operating hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM, 7:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Departure point: 30 Newgate St (Outside St. Paul’s Underground Station, Exit 2)
End point: Underground Ltd, Holborn Station, Kingsway
Price: ££
If you want to see a side of London that most visitors miss, consider a walking tour through the city’s historic pubs.
The guides are what make it special. They share great stories about famous writers, old-time journalists, and even the hidden gin houses tucked away on the side streets.
At each stop, you can grab a pint (or cider, if that’s more your thing) and soak up the atmosphere of pubs that have been around for centuries.
The groups are small, so it feels relaxed and social. You’ll probably even leave with a couple of new friends as well as a list of recommendations for where to go next.
| Pro tip: Eat before you go. This tour focuses on drinks and history, not food, so grab a hearty lunch beforehand. |
10. London East End Food Walking Tour
– Media credits: makindayscount and secretfoodtours
Duration: 3 hours
Operating hours:
- Monday to Wednesday: 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
- Thursday: unavailable
- Friday to Sunday: 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Departure point: Shoreditch High Street, Braithwaite St
End point: Old Spitalfields Market, 43 Brushfield St
Price: £££
It may not be a fine-dining experience, but this London walking tour is perfect if you want to explore the East End’s flavours and culture in just a few hours.
You’ll sample bagels fresh from Brick Lane, Indian sweets, and even a traditional English pudding. The route also passes by markets, pubs, and street art spots that bring the area’s immigrant history to life.
The guides are what make it special. They’re funny, welcoming, and full of stories that you honestly feel like you’re exploring with a friend.
The pace is easy with plenty of stops, so it works for most people.
| Pro tip: Choose Sunday if you can. Brick Lane is at its liveliest on Sundays with the street market in full swing. Beyond the guided stops, you can explore vintage stalls, music, and even more street food once the tour ends. |