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Last Updated on October 3, 2020
One of the best ways to discover London is on foot and what better way to do that than to take a walking tour of London.
We love walking tours and always start out exploration of a new city by booking at least one. It is a great way to orientate yourself, see a lot of the sights and also learn interesting information about the area from the guide.
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How do you choose the best walking tour of London England that is right for you?
There are so many London walking tours to choose from that it can feel a little overwhelming deciding which walking tour to choose. Especially in a city like London where there so many different types of walking tours on offer which can appeal to everyone’s interests and tastes.
If you are visiting London in winter do check out the availability as there do seem to be less to choose from during the colder months and of course if you are visiting during the high seasons and months do make sure you book your tour in advance as they can be fully booked if you leave it to late.
In this post you will find a comparison of different London tours to help you decide which one is the best fit for your needs.
I have divided the post into 2 sections with the first section looking at the best THEMED walking tours of London and the second section the best SIGHTSEEING walking tours of London.
Obviously if you take a themed tour you will also no doubt see some of the sights but the tour will be more focused on showing you various places connected with the theme rather than the main tourist highlights of the city.
I would suggest always wearing comfortable shoes and checking the weather forecast the day before your London walking tour to ensure you are fully prepared.
My packing list for London in winter provides suggestions for essential items or if you are visiting during other times of the year my general UK packing list for all seasons is a useful resource.
15 BEST WALKING TOURS OF LONDON ENGLAND WITH A THEME
In this section I will compare 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 | LIVE TOUR GUIDE | BOOK HERE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magical London - Harry Potter Guided Tour | 2.5 hours | Platform 9 3/4 Diagon Alley The Leaky Cauldron | YES | BOOK HERE |
| Mary Poppins Walking Tour | 2 hours | St Paul's Cathedral, Bank of England | YES | BOOK HERE |
| Charles Dickens Walking Tour | 3 hours | Borough Market, Dickens House Museum | YES | BOOK HERE |
| Killing Eve Walking Tour | 3 hours | 10 filming locations including London Bridge and Southwark | YES | BOOK HERE |
| The Crown Walking Tour | 2.5 hours | Trafalgar Square, Admiralty Arch, Buckingham Palace and more | YES | BOOK HERE |
| Shakespeare in London Tour | 3 hours | The Globe Theatre, Clink Prison and Southwark Cathedral | YES | BOOK HERE |
| Notting Hill Rom-Com Tour | 1 hour 40 mins | Portobello Market | YES | BOOK HERE |
| Movie Hot Spots Tour | 2 hours | James Bond, Harry Potter, Brigid Jones and more locations | YES | BOOK HERE |
| Doctor Who Tour | 2.5 hours | London streets featured in the legendary TV series Doctor Who | YES | BOOK HERE |
| Paddington Bear (TM) Walking Tour | 2.5 hours | Visit London landmarks from 2 films and 20 books | YES | BOOK HERE |
| Sherlock Holmes Tour | 2 hours | Visit locations from the book, TV series and films | YES | BOOK HERE |
| Bridget Jones Tour | 2.5 hours | Visit locations seen in all 3 movies. | YES | BOOK HERE |
| James Bond Walking Tour | 2 hours | Visit locations used in "Skyfall", "SPECTRE" and other Bond movies | YES | BOOK HERE |
| Jack the Ripper | 2 hours | Visit Whitechapel and walk in the footsteps of Jack the Ripper | YES | BOOK HERE |
| Grim Reaper Tour | 2 hours | Tower of London, Plague Pits, the East End | YES | 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.
BEST WALKING TOURS OF LONDON ENGLAND – SIGHTSEEING
If you would prefer to take a walking sightseeing tour of London England where you can see the main highlights of the city in a few hours, this selection is for you.
I have listed to best walking tours rather than hop-on hop-off bus tours/boat tours or one of the many tours by private cab or car as I will be including those in a separate guide.
| NAME OF TOUR | LENGTH OF TOUR | HIGHLIGHTS OF TOUR | LIVE TOUR GUIDE | 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 | YES | BOOK HERE |
| London: Old City Walking Tour | 3 hours | Millennium Bridge, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral and more | YES | 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 | YES | 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. | YES | 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 | YES | 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! | YES | 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 | YES | BOOK HERE |
| London: Top 20 Sights Walking Tour and The Shard Entry | 2 hours | Includes a skip the line ticket to the Shard | YES | 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.
ENJOY YOUR WALKING TOUR OF LONDON!
I am sure you will have found some great walking tours of London England to choose from in this article. I have selected these best London tours from Get Your Guide which is my tour company of choice.
I believe there are many advantages to booking a tour with a company such as Get Your Guide.
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.
If you are planning a trip to the UK or if you live in the UK and want to explore more of the country why not join my UK Travel Planning Group on Facebook? You will find lots of tips, resources and ideas to help plan your trip whether it is for a day or a month!
→ CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE FREE UK TRAVEL PLANNING GROUP ON FACEBOOK
Related Reading
Complete Packing List for London in Winter
12 most beautiful villages in England you have to visit (includes map)
Online Jigsaw Puzzles UK Landmarks & Countryside (8 to do!)
This post may contain compensated links. Please read our disclosure for additional information. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.