London History Tours: Our Top 15

1.London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10,422 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $40Our pick

Walk from the City of London to Covent Garden, visiting four historic pubs with a guide such as Tim, Chris, Freddy, or Mark. Hear tales of Dickens, Fleet Street, churches, lawyers, and London beer culture. The group is capped at 14, and drinks are purchased separately.

“This was a fun activity. Our guide had lived in the area 40 years and was knowledgeable about the pubs in the area and several of the landmarks we passed on the way. We went to 4 different pubs and each was unique and had different beers / aspects to them. The group was a lot of fun and I would highly recommend. We did walk a mile or so and there were several staircases to climb up or down. Not an issue for us but something to be aware of.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,993 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $44

Walk from Piccadilly Circus through Soho with an English-speaking guide, visiting four historic pubs linked to music legends and London culture. Hear stories about The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Ella Fitzgerald, Mozart, and Soho’s old sex trade. Drinks cost extra, and groups are limited to 15.

“Ben gives you a great 2:30 minutes of the history, the music and the pubs of SoHo. He is an awesome story teller and wonderful host. We had four pubs to visit which were all unique and Ben gave us great advice on best drinks in each one. Our group of 5 had a great time and got to know each other through the conversations over our 1/2 pints in each pub. I highly recommend Ben and this tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.London: Historic Pubs of Central London Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,065 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $39

Join an English-speaking guide such as Dave, Freddy, Tim, Shadow, or Lachlan for a 2-mile walk from St Paul's to the West End. Visit four historic pubs, including a Victorian gin palace and a tavern dating to 1549. Drinks cost extra, and the tour is for adults aged 18 and over.

“A great way to spend an afternoon in London. History, humour and beers. Tour Guide Dave was excellent.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.WW2 London Walking Tour & Churchill War Rooms Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 933 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $60

Begin near the Boadicea and Her Daughters statue for a 90-minute guided walk past Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, and Churchill’s statue. Then explore the Churchill War Rooms and Museum independently with an audio guide. Guides such as Jo, Louise, and Michael are praised for humor and strong historical detail.

“Short but great walking tour of key sites in westminister area-parliament , abbey, square , then a stroll by downing and to changing of the guard. Very knowledgeable guide -Louise. But the best was the Churchill war rooms tour and Churchill museum--a joint venture . the self audio tour device -comprehensive. -the war rooms fascinating. The Museum extensive -almost too much to take in!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.London: Westminster WW2 Tour & Churchill’s War Rooms Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 925 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $59

Start near Westminster Station with an English-speaking guide such as Paul, Maggie, Michael, or Lee. Walk past Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, and wartime memorials, then enter Churchill’s War Rooms for a self-guided visit with an audio guide.

“Our guide was so good. Very engaging and informative. He is passionate about what he does.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.London: Soho Music and Historic Pubs Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 836 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $39

Meet your English-speaking guide at Piccadilly Circus for a 2.5-hour walk through Soho’s music and pub history. Visit four historic pubs, hear stories about Lennon, Hendrix, Bowie, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones, and buy drinks as you go. Guides include Gherto, Henry, Ben, Sy, and Gary.

“This is an awesome tour and Sy is an excellent tour guide. I loved everything about this tour. There was a lot of good information and Sy’s storytelling kept it very exciting and interesting. I think it’s great value for the money. I highly recommend this tour. It’s a great way to understand some of the basics about Soho instead of simply meandering around it.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Royal Historic Pubs Walking Guided Tour in London

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 803 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $44

Walk from Piccadilly Circus through St James’s and nearby streets with a veteran local guide such as Ben, Luke, Henry, or Tom. Expect royal and celebrity stories, around four historic pubs, local drink suggestions, and a relaxed group of no more than 12 people.

“Thoroughly enjoyed our tour. Luke was very knowledgeable and entertaining! Learnt a lot about the history of St James village. Definitely recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.London in WW2 Walking Tour with Churchill War Rooms Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 721 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $104

Follow a guide through Westminster Bridge, Parliament Square, Whitehall, and Horse Guards Parade before entering Churchill’s War Rooms. Expect about 90 minutes of walking, a self-guided museum visit with an audio guide, and a group of 15 or fewer. Guides may include Nathan, Babs, Jeremy, Paul, or Francis.

“Jeremy was fantastic! We loved the tour. Jeremy explained every little detail and was incredibly funny!”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.London: London in WW2 and Churchill War Rooms Entrance

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 669 reviews · 3 hours · from $96

Spend three hours tracing wartime Westminster with guides such as Babs, Nathan, and Richard, passing Big Ben, Downing Street, and the Cenotaph before entering Churchill’s War Rooms. The first part is guided and lively. The bunker visit is self-paced with an audio guide.

“Richard was funny and very engaging. We learned a lot while having a great time doing it.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Private Group: Historical Pub Walking Tour of London

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 660 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $173

Walk from Cheapside toward Holborn with a private guide such as Lyndon, Lachlan, Adam, John, or Ricky. Hear stories of London’s pubs, Dickensian streets, courts, churches, and wartime survival while stopping at Black Friar, the Old Bank of England, and Princess Louise for optional drinks.

“Despite the atrocious weather, we had a great time. Adam was a fantastic guide, good company and knowledgeable about the historical and alcoholic aspects of the tour. Would recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.London: Rock ‘n’ Roll History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 645 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $74

Spend 3.5 hours tracing London’s rock story by air-conditioned bus through Chelsea, Kensington, Notting Hill, and St John’s Wood. Your English-speaking guide may be Clive, Ian, Colin, or another music specialist. Expect packed stories about Queen, The Beatles, punk, Hendrix, reggae, and a photo stop at Abbey Road.

“Excellent tour! Richard was knowledgeable and entertaining. He also was patient and kind enough to take pictures of everyone who wanted their picture taken crossing Abby Road. Learned a lot, saw a lot of London and had a great time!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.London: Westminster Abbey Tour with a Royal Heritage Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 614 reviews · 2 hours · from $93

Enter Westminster Abbey with an English-speaking guide from Amigo Tours UK. Learn about coronations, royal weddings, state funerals, Poets’ Corner, and the Coronation Chair during a two-hour walk. Guides such as Jane, Nick, Richard, and Ollie are praised for clear stories, humor, and strong knowledge.

“Nick was great-informative without overwhelming us with too much information.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.London: Royal Historic Pubs Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 536 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $39

Meet your English-speaking guide at Piccadilly Circus for a 2.5-hour walk through royal London. Visit four historic pubs, hear stories of Churchill, Chaplin, Bond, and the royals, and explore alleyways near Buckingham Palace. Guides include Tom, Danny, Henry, Luke, Ben, Carlos, and Al.

“Very informative and fun tour! The tour guide Danny was very knowledgeable, pleasant and took his time diving into different details as we did the tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Historic Pub Walking Tour of London

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 484 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $19Best value

Meet your guide under a yellow umbrella at Embankment Station for a four-hour walk through London pub culture. Visit four historic pubs around Covent Garden, including an 800-year-old tavern, while guides such as Rachel, Mike, Carolina, and Connor share local tales and drink advice. Drinks and food cost extra.

“Rachel, our guide was excellent. Very knowledgeable about the area, historical and fun facts about the pubs and area. Great day out , excellent value and a drive by Princess Anne too 😁”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.London: Private Landmark Tour with Professional Photographer

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 91 reviews · 20 - 45 minutes

Meet a local photographer near the Queen Victoria Memorial for a private 20 to 45 minute shoot by the London Eye, Westminster, and Big Ben. You’ll get posing help, landmark photos, and a secure gallery of edited images within 48 hours. Photographer assignments vary, with Mehr, Srujan, Zac, and others praised for their friendly direction.

“My partner and I hardly have any good pics of the two of us so we decided this shoot would be a fun way to have some nice pics for our holiday. Our photographer Mehr was super communicative before and after our shoot. I like that she reached out after we booked to touch base. She was very friendly and took some lovely photos. All in all a great experience!!”

Check availability →Read our full review