Best of London Tour with Westminster Abbey and the National Gallery

Breathtaking Westminster Abbey is England’s most important church, and a visit to this gem of Gothic architecture is a must when in London. Join us to discover the millennial history of this magnificent house of worship, built during the reign of King Henry III in the 13th century to replace Edward the Confessor’s earlier church, and admire the abbey’s soaring vaults and delicately carved sculptures as we make our way inside.

Discover how Westminster Abbey has been the site of royal coronations, weddings and funerals for centuries, and drink in the special atmosphere of a place where history seems to be alive. It’s easy to lose your bearings in the vast interior, which is why our expert guide will be on hand to lead you towards the masterpieces lying in wait.

As we make our way into the vast nave, you’ll be astounded by the elaborately vaulted ceiling over 100 feet above the abbey’s beautiful mosaic floor. We’ll admire the stunning quire screen at the centre of the church, final resting place of Sir Isaac Newton, before entering the majestic Quire itself, where daily services have taken place for the pat 900 years – if you’re lucky you’ll hear the choristers filling the air with the haunting sound of their hymns on our Westminster Abbey tour.

Other highlights on our tour will include the shrine to Edward the Confessor himself and the awe-inspiring fan-vaulted Lady Chapel, a masterpiece of medieval artistry described with some justification as a ‘wonder of the world’ in the 16th century. Here you’ll learn the dramatic tale of queenly cousins Elizabeth 1st and Mary Queen of Scots – divided by faith and implacable enemies in life, they are buried beside one another in magnificent tombs to either side of this beautiful chapel.

We’ll also have a peek into Poet’s Corner, an essential pilgrimage destination for literature lovers where some of the greatest poets and writers in English history are buried. Learn the fascinating stories of Chaucer and Spenser, Dickens, Kipling and others who call Westminster Abbey their eternal home.

Guarding the eastern route to the city of London from its hilltop position overlooking the river Thames, the Tower of London has been a forbidding symbol of royal power and infamous dungeon for nearly 1,000 years. A Tower of London tour is a must for anyone who wants to understand the history of the English capital, and on our itinerary we’ll explore the sprawling complex in detail. With pre-booked skip the lines access and all ticket and reservation fees included on our tour, we’ll take the stress out of visiting this often crowded landmark.

From its origins as William the Conqueror’s first foothold in the city during his successful invasion in 1066, in the company of our expert guide you’ll trace the dramatic tale of the Tower of London through the centuries. Learn about the all-powerful monarchs who ruled here and the bloody court intrigues and betrayals that are etched into the tower’s very architecture; Henry VIII’s unfortunate wives Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were beheaded outside the Chapel Royal, whilst the scheming Richard III had his nephew Edward V and his brother Richard secretly murdered in the so-called Bloody Tower, a notorious crime that has echoed down the annals of English history.

On our tour of the Tower of London we’ll meet the splendidly-dressed Yeoman Warders (widely known as Beefeaters) whose sworn duty it is to defend the Tower and its ruling monarch, as well as the sinister jet-black ravens who guard the grounds (fed a daily diet of meat and blood to keep them fighting fit) – according to legend, if the birds abandon their posts, ‘great disasters’ for the Kingdom will be sure to follow.

Our best of London tour will continue through London’s government quarter in Whitehall, passing the Cenotaph war memorial, 10 Downing Street and Horse Guards Parade before arriving at Trafalgar Square, the iconic beating heart of the city since the start of the 19th century. We’ll get to grips with the story of this beautiful sweeping square and learn all about its most famous landmarks, including Nelson’s Column, a tribute to England’s greatest naval commander, and the four lion sculptures cast from the captured cannons of French and Spanish warships. Don’t forget to look out for the Fourth Plinth, home to a changing display of contemporary artworks.