London: Private Black Cab Tour of Landmarks & Hidden Stories

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.99 (172 reviews) 99% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellation

1/39

Duration3h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

See Big Ben, Tower of London, Westminster & more from a black cab with a true Londoner guiding you

You’ll ride in a classic black cab with a born-and-bred Londoner who knows every shortcut and story behind landmarks like Big Ben, Tower of London, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Expect spontaneous stops for coffee or photos, plenty of local color, and moments you won’t find in any guidebook.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour London's iconic landmarks by cab

See the Royal Palace of London
Visit the Tower of London
Pass by St. Paul's Cathedral
Drive past Westminster Abbey
See the London Eye from the cab
View Big Ben and Houses of Parliament

The Experience

I didn’t expect Simon to know every shortcut in London — or for the city to feel so different from the backseat of a black cab. The first thing I noticed was how he weaved through traffic like he’d been doing it since birth (he probably has). We rolled past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben just as the bells chimed eleven. The sound echoed off the stone, and Simon grinned, “That’s your official welcome.” He pointed out tiny details on Westminster Abbey’s façade that I’d never have seen from the street. My coffee was still warm in my hands — he’d insisted we stop at his favorite spot before starting. Honestly, best flat white I’ve had in ages.

The private black cab tour felt nothing like those big bus tours. It was just us — me peppering Simon with questions about London Eye (he told me it’s not as old as it looks), or why St. Paul’s Cathedral always seems to catch the light differently depending on where you stand. At one point near the Tower of London, he told this story about ravens and executions that made me shiver a bit. There’s something about hearing 1,000 years of history while you’re literally driving over cobblestones that have seen it all. He even managed to get us close enough for photos without feeling rushed or watched.

We caught part of the Changing of the Guard by pure luck — or maybe Simon just knows when to time these things (he winked but wouldn’t say). The guards’ boots scraped against the pavement; there was this faint smell of wet grass from the park nearby, and a little kid waved at us through the window. I’m not usually into royal stuff, but it felt oddly moving in person. By then I’d stopped checking my phone for directions; Simon had everything handled. He even had bottled water ready when I started coughing from laughing too much at one of his taxi stories.

I guess what stuck with me most wasn’t any single landmark but how personal it all felt — like seeing London through someone else’s eyes for a few hours. If you want to see all those famous places but also hear which alley has the best curry or where Dickens used to walk his dog (apparently true?), this is probably your tour. I still think about that view across the Thames at St. Paul’s — gray sky, bit of drizzle on the window, but somehow perfect.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup in a classic black cab with an experienced local driver-guide at the wheel.
air conditioning for comfort.
bottled water along the way.
flexibility for photo stops.
and accessibility features for wheelchairs or strollers throughout central London’s iconic sights.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Go London Taxi Tours