London: Morning Bike Tour Past Big Ben & Changing Guard

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.99 (353 reviews) 99% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/23

Duration3h 30m

GroupUp to 8

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Cycle Hyde Park, watch the Guards, see Big Ben up close

You’ll pedal through Hyde Park’s morning quiet, catch Big Ben gleaming above busy streets, and watch the Changing of the Guard with a local guide who knows every shortcut and story. Expect laughter, close-up views of London icons, and that odd feeling when history suddenly feels personal.

3h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Morning tour of London landmarks

Meet at the starting point
Cycle in the park and see Kensington Palace
Cycle in Hyde Park
See Royal Albert Hall and learn history
Visit St. James's Palace and hear history
Watch Changing of the Guard ceremony
Learn about coronations and burials at Westminster
See Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
Explore Parliament Square statues and history
Learn about the Battle of Trafalgar at Trafalgar Square
Cycle along the River Thames and see London Eye

The Experience

The first thing I remember is that cold metal handlebar under my gloves—Hyde Park was still a little misty when we set off, and there were more pigeons than people. Our guide, Tom (who sounded like he’d biked every street in London), waved us into a line. I nearly crashed into a jogger at first—guess I forgot how narrow some of those paths are. We passed Kensington Palace and Tom pointed out some windows where, apparently, Queen Victoria used to sneak glances at the gardens. It’s funny how you can feel history just hanging in the air here.

By the time we reached Parliament Square, traffic had picked up—taxis honking, someone shouting about football near Big Ben. The Houses of Parliament looked even taller from a bike seat than I expected. Tom kept tossing out these odd facts (did you know Westminster Abbey has hosted 16 royal weddings? I didn’t) and somehow made it all sound like gossip instead of a lecture. We stopped for a minute at Trafalgar Square; pigeons everywhere again, one almost landed on my helmet. I tried to repeat “St. James’s Palace” in my best British accent and got laughed at by another rider—fair enough.

The highlight was definitely the Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace—there’s this strange hush right before the band starts up, and then suddenly everyone’s craning their necks for a glimpse of those red coats. The horses’ hooves on the pavement echo way louder than you’d think. After that, we cycled along the Thames past the London Eye—the river looked grey but somehow cheerful with all those boats going by. My legs were tired but honestly, I didn’t want it to end just yet.

What’s included

Your morning includes use of a standard bike (not electric), an optional helmet if you want one, and guidance from a local expert as you cycle between Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, St. James’s Palace and more—all starting from a central meeting point in London.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Notting Hill Bike tours