St James' & Mayfair - Private Tour of London's Royal & Aristocratic Villages
London, GB
100% of travellers recommend this
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Duration 3.5-4 hours
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Private Tour
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English-speaking guide
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Accredited local expert
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Walk 2-3 miles
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Meeting at Ritz Hotel
Explore London's Royal & Aristocratic Villages in a private, immersive tour of St James' and Mayfair, led by an expert local guide.
Featured Reviews
Included
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A fun & experienced professional, local guide, accredited by itg & the university of westminster.
Excluded
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Food and drinks -
Food sampling
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Gratuities - optional
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Transportation to/from the start and end points of the walk
Explore London's Royal & Aristocratic Villages in a private, immersive tour of St James' and Mayfair, led by an expert local guide.
Highlights
- Private Tour of London's Royal & Aristocratic Villages
- Explore St James' and Mayfair, two iconic areas of London
- Visit Fortnum & Mason, one of London's most sophisticated department stores
- See the Royal Academy of Arts, with its famous summer exhibition
- Discover the history and charm of Burlington Arcade
Meeting Point
We meet under the Colonnade of the Ritz Hotel at 9.45 a.m. beside the sign on the wall which reads ‘Ritz Club’.
150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR , United Kingdom
End Point
We meet under the Colonnade of the Ritz Hotel at 9.45 a.m. beside the sign on the wall which reads ‘Ritz Club’.
150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR , United Kingdom
What to expect
Fortnum & Mason
One of London's most sophisticated department stores, it's hard to believe it started life as a market stall! We will wander around the ground floor so I can point out what the store invented 300 years ago which is still in demand today and explain what intriguing structures are on its roof. I guarantee you will want to return at a later date for a more leisurely browse of the entire store to do some serious shopping!
10 minutes
Royal Academy of Arts
Built by the Earl of Burlington in the mid-1660s, I doubt he would recognise it today as at least 9 architects have worked on the building since then! Currently occupied by the Royal Academy, its summer exhibition is a firm fixture in London's 'Social' calendar.
5 minutes
Burlington Arcade
The Burlington arcade has just celebrated its 200th anniversary and was built by one of the Earls of Burlington, George Cavendish. As we wander through and enjoy window shopping some of the 45 retailers who occupy the arcade today, we will see the Beadles who have guarded the arcade since day 1!
10 minutes
Berkeley Square
Most famous for its nightingales which are, in all probability completely fictional, this is one of London's most historically interesting squares. With a forgotten river flowing beneath it, the square is home to many plane trees and a collection of grade 1 listed buildings around its edges one of which is home to the world famous Annabel's night club.
10 minutes
Mount Street Gardens
An oasis of peace and tranquility, it is hard to imagine you are only 5 minutes walk away from one of the busiest shopping streets in London. But life has not always been so calm here - in the 10 minutes we'll take to wander through these gardens, I'll tell you what lies beneath our feet and what gruesome secret one of the buildings at the side of the gardens holds.
10 minutes
Shepherd Market
A leafy retreat nowadays, it used to be the centre of Mayfair's red light district where the aristocrats of old, with too much time and money on their hands, went for their entertainment. It was also the downfall of one MP - but which one?! I'll fill you in on the tour!
10 minutes
Green Park
As we cross Piccadilly and move from Mayfair in the north to St James' in the south, we leave the aristocrats behind and concentrate on the royals. Hear the legend of how Green Park gets it name and learn about the Royal dynasties who will feature during this part of our tour.
10 minutes
St. James's Palace
Built by Henry VIII on the site of what used to be a woman's leper hospital, this was intended to be the palace for Henry's son promised to him by Anne Boleyn. But as the son turned out to be a daughter, Henry used the palace as a hunting lodge instead. The palace has been at the centre of many a Royal event so I will tell you many interesting stories from its past. If it's a day the ancient ceremony of the Changing of the Guard is scheduled to take place, we'll be able to enjoy pageantry at its best.
20 minutes
Buckingham Palace
One of London's most iconic and recognisable buildings, Buckingham Palace is the office of the monarchy. The late Queen Elizabeth II used it on weekdays and Charles III has yet to decide where he will make his London home. This is a chance to see the world famous palace balcony which has been the focal point of many Royal celebrations including the late Queen's 50th, 60th and 70th jubilees and William and Kate's wedding celebrations. This stop is all about the Royals!
15 minutes
St. James's Park
One of eight Royal parks in the capital, St James' is one of my favourites with its ornamental lake and wildlife frolicking in its waters. With luck we'll catch a glimpse of the resident pelicans, a pair of which were gifted to Charles II in 1664 by a Russian ambassador - there have been pelicans on the water ever since!"
10 minutes
Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall
Originally Henry VIII's tiltyard for jousting, it is best known today for its ancient ceremonies of the Changing of the Guard and the Trooping of the Colour. Horse Guards was home to a gigantic sandpit during the 2012 London Olympics - the question is, though, which sport was it for?! .
10 minutes
St. James' Square
Built by Henry Jermyn as a reward for his loyalty to Charles II during the English Civil War, this was the place to live in the 17 and early 1800s. A pretty square, there are still remnants of the days of old with Nancy Astor's former home and one of Sir Christopher Wren's churches gracing its edge.
10 minutes
Jermyn Street
How better to end the tour than a wander along one of the most historic and sophisticated shopping streets in London. With a cheese shop which used to be a market stall and a perfumery dating back to the 1700s, this street has many stories to tell.
15 minutes
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
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Public transportation options are available nearby -
Not recommended for participants with spinal injuries
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Not recommended for participants with poor cardiovascular health
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Participants should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
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When your booking is confirmed, you will receive contact 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.
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The tour will last between 3.5-4 hours depending on what walking pace you set and the number of questions you ask.
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The tour will cover roughly 2 - 3 miles in total.
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The tour will go ahead come rain or shine so please don't be put off by the weather. Do wear comfortable shoes and clothing and, if needs be, bring waterproofs and an umbrella.
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Due to the distances involved, and the speed with which we need to travel between events, this tour is not recommended for those with serious medical conditions including walking difficulties and back problems.
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Tours start at 9.45 under the Colonnade of the Ritz Hotel on Piccadilly.
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If you need directions from your hotel to the Ritz Hotel, do contact me on sandyrhodes@live.co.uk.
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Unlike some other guides, I specialise in just five areas of London, St James' and Mayfair being two of them. This means I have detailed knowledge of the areas which I pass on to my clients in a fun and interesting way.
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100% of my Trip Advisor/Viator reviews are graded 'excellent' and as I now have over 100 reviews in total, I must be doing something right!
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I prefer to guide small groups of up to five family or friends so everyone can hear what I am saying above the usual street noises of a busy city. Also, everyone can ask as many questions as they like.
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I ALWAYS contact my clients before a tour so if you have not heard from me one week before the tour is due to go ahead, please make contact with me.
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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
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Wear comfortable shoes for walking. -
Consider visiting nearby Fortnum & Mason.
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Plan to stop at a café in Shepherd Market.
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Check the schedule for Changing of the Guard.
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Bring an umbrella; it might rain!
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