Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace, Hampton Court Palace Private Walking Tour
London, GB
-
Private tour
-
Duration 7-8 hours
-
Expert guide
-
Includes Changing of the Guard
-
Travel by train to Hampton Court
-
Moderate walking involved
Explore London's royal history on a private walking tour of Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace, and Hampton Court with an expert guide.
Included
-
Private tour -
Professional guide
Excluded
-
Gratuities -
Entry ticket to hampton court palace
-
Food and drinks
-
Lunch
-
Transportation to/from attractions and the return train from london waterloo station to hampton court
Explore London's royal history on a private walking tour of Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace, and Hampton Court with an expert guide.
Highlights
- Walking tour of Buckingham Palace
- Opportunity to witness Changing of the Guard ceremony
- Exploring the historic St James's Palace
- Visiting Henry VIII's Tudor palace at Hampton Court
- Admiring William III's Baroque palace at Hampton Court
Meeting Point
Underneath the Colonnade of the Ritz Hotel on Piccadilly at 9.45 a.m. I suggest you purchase your entry tickets for Hampton Court Palace, which are in addition to the cost of this tour, in advance online.
150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR , United Kingdom
End Point
The tour ends at Hampton Court Palace where there is a train station a 10 minute walk away with half hourly trains to take you back to the centre of London.
Hampton Ct Way, Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU , United Kingdom
What to expect
Green Park
One of the eight Royal Parks full of colour and life with an intriguing tale of how it got its name - the stuff of legends!
10 minutes
St. James's Palace
Built by Henry V111 on the site of a women's leper hospital, this palace has been at the centre of many important Royal events. WE DO NOT GO INSIDE THE PALACE but learn much about the Royals who lived here, were born her and married here, and why it is of such significance to both Elizabeth I and Charles I.
20 minutes
Changing of the Guard
A chance to see this ancient ceremony - but only if it is scheduled for the day of the tour! If we move quickly enough, we'll be able to see the ceremony from three different locations. If we're lucky, we'll also catch the mounted cavalry as they trot down the Mall on their way to Horse Guards for the Changing of the Guard ceremony there. This is pageantry at its best!
20 minutes
Clarence House
Built by the famous architect John Nash in the 1820s, Clarence House was home to the Queen Elizabeth II's mother when her husband George VI died in 1952 until her own death in 2002. After that, it became home to Charles and Camilla who, as King Charles III and the Queen Consort, continue to live when they are in London. Whether once that will continue to be the case once the refurbishment of Buckingham Palace is completed remains to be seen.
5 minutes
Lancaster House
Made from beautiful Bath stone, this building stood in for Buckingham Palace in Downton Abbey.
5 minutes
Buckingham Palace
We DO NOT GO INSIDE BUCKINGHAM PALACE but get a wonderful view of it from Victoria Gardens across the road. The palace has been the official residence of the UK's Kings and Queen's since 1837 and is one of London's most iconic and recognisable buildings. It is the monarchy's office and one of the few working palaces in the world. This is your chance to see the world famous balcony where the Royal family shares its celebrations with the nation including Queen Elizabeth II's gold, diamond and platinum jubilees.
15 minutes
Wellington Barracks
Home to the Queen's Life Guards - another chance to see a bit of pageantry if it's scheduled to go ahead on the day of the tour
5 minutes
St. James's Park
Arguably, the prettiest of London's Royal Parks with an abundance of wild life living on and around the gorgeous ornamental lake. One of the main attractions are the six pelicans so fingers crossed they put in an appearance during the tour! All in all, four kings have worked on St James' Park to make it what it is today. Standing on the Blue Bridge spanning the lake, we get another great view of Buckingham Palace together with a lot of interesting Royal facts.
20 minutes
Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall
Meander through what used to be Henry VIII's tiltyard for jousting and where 5000 tons of sand was imported for the 2012 London Olympics - but for which sport?! Two ancient ceremonies are practiced here nowadays: the Changing of the Guard which happens on a daily basis and the Trooping of the Colour which is an annual event - here all about them in this fascinating location.
10 minutes
Trafalgar Square
The largest square in London, it is home to the famous column with Admiral Nelson perched on top. It is also home to the smallest police station in Britain and one of the largest art museums, the National Gallery. A real contrast between the large and small!
10 minutes
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is, in fact, two royal palaces not one. Originally built in 1515 by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a favourite of King Henry VIII, he had always promised the King he could use it whenever he wanted to. In 1529, as Wolsey fell from favour, and Henry VIII took over the palace, money was no object and an eye watering sum of money was spent doing it up. When William III arrived from Holland in 1688, he commissioned the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren to build an alternative palace which was intended to rival the Palace of Versailles. In the event, Wren built a 'his' and a 'hers' suite of rooms and it is the 'his' set we look around on this tour. If time permits, there are a number of other gems to look round at Hampton Court including the Georgian rooms, the real tennis court and the wonderful gardens.
180 minutes
Admission Not Included
The experience can be subject to change due to bad weather or unforseen circumstances. We always endeavour to give you the best possible experience.
Additional Information
-
Not recommended for participants with spinal injuries -
Not recommended for participants with poor cardiovascular health
-
Service animals allowed
-
Public transportation options are available nearby
-
Participants should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
-
All my Trip Advisor reviews are graded 'Excellent' so I must be doing something right!
-
The tour will go ahead come rain or shine so please don't be put off by the weather! Please dress appropriately and bring an umbrella if rain is forecast
-
Meeting time is 09.45 under the Colonnade of the Ritz Hotel on Piccadilly. The tour will last between 7 - 8 hours depending on the walking pace you set, the number of questions you ask and whether or not there are train delays. The tour is flexible and do liaise with me about any specific things you would like included. The tour will cover about 4 - 5 miles in total.
-
A moderate amount of walking is involved, do wear comfortable footwear and clothing. All members of the party need to be mobile and able to cope with stairs and so this tour is not suitable for anyone with serious medical conditions and back problems.
-
Please message me to advise your mobile phone number in case I need to contact you on the day; also, if you are staying in central London and need directions to get from your hotel to the meeting point, let me know
-
When your booking is confirmed, you will receive details for me (Sandy) your guide for this tour. My aim is to give you the best experience you could possibly have so if you have any special requests be sure to tell me what they are! If you need to go at a slower pace, or stop for a break midway through the tour, that will be fine with me.
-
Due to uneven surfaces and an unreliable lift to take clients from the ground to the first floor of Hampton Court Palace, this tour is not recommended for those with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair.
-
It will be cheaper, and quicker on the day, if you purchase your entry tickets to Hampton Court Palace (which are in addition to the cost of my tour) in advance of arriving at Hampton Court. Go to www.hrp.org.uk, click on Hampton Court Palace and it should be easy to purchase your tickets. Let me know if you encounter any problems.
-
We do not go inside Buckingham Palace or St James' Palace
-
I prefer to guide small groups of up to five family or friends. This enables everyone to hear what I am saying above the usual street noises of a busy city and in the confined spaces of the narrow corridors of Henry's haunted palace. Also, it allows everyone to feel relaxed enough to ask whatever questions they like!
-
I only accept bookings directly from customers. Any bookings made by a travel agent on behalf of a customer will be cancelled.
What our experts say
-
Book Hampton Court tickets in advance. -
Wear comfortable shoes for walking.
-
Look for pelicans in St. James's Park!
-
Lunch at a café near Waterloo station.
-
Check the Changing of the Guard schedule.
This is a popular product and the date you are looking for just sold out. Next available date is