London in Half a Day - Private Shore Excursion (from Waterloo)
- 3.5–4.5 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Explore all the very best London sights in just a few hours, with your own fun local guide to bring the city's stories to life. If you only have one day in England and want to see the highlights of London, this is the tour for you! Starting at Waterloo Station, it's ideal for Cruise passengers docking in Southampton (direct trains run to Southampton-Waterloo, taking around 90mins). You'll see Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower of London, Tower Bridge and so much more. We'll also pass through Borough Market around lunchtime, so you can buy some top British cuisine from local traders. We keep things fun and informative, and the tour can be tailored to your pace and interests. And if you need to catch a train back to Southampton, we'll make sure you get there!
Inclusions
What's included
- Comprehensive private walking tour with a top-rated local guide
- Stop for lunch at London's best food market (optional)
- Close-up views of all of Central London’s major landmarks!
- Meet and greet at Waterloo Station for direct trains from Southampton
What's not
- Train tickets from Southampton to London
- Food and drink during tour
- Entry to landmarks (the hike shows you the key sights from the outside only)
- Public transport ride (optional - if you don't want to walk the whole way - approx. £3 per person)))
Itinerary
Take the direct train from Southampton to London Waterloo (approx. 1.5hrs). Your tour guide will meet you in the grand main hall of the train station.
We'll start with a walk to the river through the "Banksy Tunnel" - an ever-changing graffiti-covered underpass that's a real secret London treat! This is where the city's top street artists do their work.
We'll pass by the iconic big wheel next the River Thames.
Cross the river the Westminster and stop for a photo with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
Pass through busy Parliament Square to see the famous statues and take a picture with beautiful Westminster Abbey
Walking up Britain's most famous political street, 'Whitehall', we see numerous grand government buildings and get a peek of Downing Street - home of the Prime Minister.
See the iconic King's Life Guard on horseback and walk through the impressive parade ground. This is the official headquarters of the British Army.
We stroll through beautiful St. James's Park on our way to the Palace. Here you'll see plants from around the world, surrounding a lake that's home to swans, various types of waterfowl, and even pelicans!
We'll make a quick photo stop at the home of the King!
We take a little-known walkway to Pall Mall - one of London's richest areas and home to Clarence House and St. James Palace (formerly the primary royal palace, and still a working royal residence today).
We'll walk through Britain's most famous public square to see Nelson's Column, National Gallery and the beautiful statues and fountains
We make our way back down to the river to see the 3000-year-old Egyptian obelisk. Most tourists miss this! Here, your guide will give you a choice - walk along the river, or take a quick ride on the Underground to our next stop.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Your guide will meet you at Waterloo Station (for trains from Southampton). We'll meet inside Waterloo Train Station, next to Boots Pharmacy (between the entrances to platforms 11 and 12). Your guide will be holding a flag, and will also be contactable by Whatsapp/E-mail.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Great London Tours
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Please be aware that this tour involves quite a lot of walking. It may not be suitable of you have very low fitness or mobility issues.
How it compares in London
- Its from-price is 48% above the median of the 809 city tours we list in London.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About London
London mixes royal ceremony, world-class museums and riverside landmarks with distinct neighbourhoods, markets and parks to explore on foot.
The Thames threads the city together. On its banks stand the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the Tower of London with the Crown Jewels, Tower Bridge and the long South Bank walk past the London Eye, Shakespeare's Globe and Tate Modern. St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey anchor the older skyline, while glass towers crowd the financial district.
Top-ranked sights in London: St. Paul's Cathedral, Stonehenge, Tower of London.
Special offers in London
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
