London: Westminster Walking Tour & Tower of London Entry

Twenty Sights in One Morning, Then a Thousand Years of History

You walk through Westminster's 20 most recognizable sights in three hours with a local guide, catching the Changing of the Guard ceremony if you book a 10am tour on the right day. After the walking tour, you enter the Tower of London at your own pace and can join a free Beefeater tour to hear the fortress's stories and see the Crown Jewels. The whole thing — walking tour, Tower entry, and optional Beefeater tour — is included in one booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Westminster walking tour and Tower visit

• Walk through Green Park
• See Buckingham Palace
• Watch Changing of the Guard
• Walk along the Royal Mall
• Visit Trafalgar Square
• Stop at Horse Guards Parade
• Explore Whitehall and Downing Street
• View Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
• Visit Westminster Abbey
• Enter and explore Tower of London

The Experience

Why does a three-hour walk through Westminster feel like you've seen the whole city? Because you're moving between places that actually matter — not just walking past them. The tour starts in Green Park and heads straight to Buckingham Palace, where on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 10am you can catch the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Your guide positions you in the crowd so you actually see it, then walks you through what you're watching — the history, the protocol, the stories behind the uniforms. After that it's Trafalgar Square, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall (where Downing Street sits, tucked away since 1735), Parliament Square with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament rising up in front of you, and Westminster Abbey, which has been standing for over a thousand years and is where British kings and queens get crowned.

The walking tour takes three hours and covers twenty sights total, which sounds like a lot until you realize they're all connected — you're not jumping between neighborhoods, you're threading through one part of London that tells a single story. Your guide does the talking; you just follow and listen. After the walking tour ends, you head to the Tower of London on your own (the guide points you there but doesn't go inside with you). This is where things shift. The Tower is a real fortress, over a thousand years old, and it's famous for the Beefeater guards and the ravens that live there. If you want, there's an optional 60-minute Beefeater tour included at no extra cost — they're the guards in the red uniforms and they know the place inside out, including all the ghost stories and the Crown Jewels.

The whole day is built around not having to figure anything out yourself. Entry to the Tower is included, your guide gets you there, and you decide how long to spend inside. If you're moderately fit and can handle three hours of walking, the tour works. Wheelchairs and strollers are fine on the route, and public transport is nearby if you need a break.

What’s included

• Your day includes a three-hour walking tour of Westminster's top 20 sights with a local guide, entry to the Tower of London, and the option to join a 60-minute Beefeater tour at no extra cost.
• The walking tour covers Buckingham Palace, the Changing of the Guard ceremony (if you book the 10am slot on Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun), Trafalgar Square, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey.
• After the walking tour, you make your own way to the Tower of London, where you have entry included and can explore at your own pace, or join the official Beefeater tour to learn the fortress's history and see the Crown Jewels.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Top Sights Tours Group LLC

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see Westminster's main sights without planning the route yourself, and want Tower of London entry included — the three-hour walk covers the geography and stories, then you decide how deep to go into the Tower's thousand-year history.

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Top questions

What time does the tour start?

The 10am tour includes the Changing of the Guard ceremony (available Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun only). Other departure times are available; check the booking page for options.

How long is the walking tour?

Three hours. After that, you enter the Tower of London on your own.

Is the Beefeater tour really free?

Yes, the 60-minute Beefeater tour is optional and included at no extra cost.

Do I need to be very fit?

You need at least a moderate level of fitness. The walking tour covers three hours on city streets and pavements, but there are no steep hills or long climbs.

Can I use a wheelchair or stroller?

Yes. All areas and surfaces on the route are wheelchair accessible, and strollers are fine.

Does the guide go inside the Tower of London with me?

No. Your guide directs you to the Tower entrance, but you explore it on your own. The optional Beefeater tour is led by the Tower's official guards.

What if I want to skip the Tower and just do the walking tour?

The Tower entry is included in the price, but you're free to skip it and end after the three-hour walk.

Is there time for lunch?

The walking tour is three hours. After that, you have the rest of the day. The Tower visit is self-paced, so you can spend as little or as much time there as you want.