• Westminster and Big Ben
  • Tower of London, England
    Tower of London
  • Buckingham Palace, London, England
    Buckingham Palace
  • Marching guards, London, England
    Royal Guards
  • Photographing St. Paul's from the Millennium Bridge, London, England
    St. Paul's Cathedral
  • Windsor Castle
  • Borough Market
  • Tower Bridge, London, England
    Tower Bridge

Tour Questions? See our FAQ | Email [email protected]

Best of London in 7 Days Tour

from $2,895 per person + air

Single Supplement $975

See Dates & Prices

London has just what you need for a quick escape: direct flights, the best live theater scene on the planet, an inviting pub on every corner, and the simple pleasure of conversing with Europeans with (almost) no language barrier. During your week-long stay in London, your Rick Steves guide will lead you on a magical history tour along the Thames and through the Tower, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, historic neighborhoods, and plenty of priceless art — and even take you on a train trip to Windsor Castle. Join us for the Best of London in 7 Days!

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Dates & Prices

2024

What's Included

You'll get at least 16 group sightseeing events — at no extra cost!

Here's what you'll see and do on our Best of London tour:

  • London neighborhood walk and Tube orientation
  • Visitor Oyster Card for Underground (Tube) and bus transportation
  • Westminster Abbey
  • Whitehall walking tour
  • Churchill War Rooms
  • Opening ceremony at the Tower of London
  • Tower of London "Beefeater" tour
  • "City" walking tour
  • Afternoon tea
  • British Museum
  • Windsor day trip
  • Windsor Castle
  • East End food tour
  • St. Paul's Cathedral
  • Globe Theatre
  • South Bank walk
  • Borough Market

Plus you'll get all this, too.

  • A small, friendly group of 24–28 people — half the size of most tour groups
  • Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of London come alive for you
  • All group transportation during the week in London
  • 6 nights' accommodations in a memorable, centrally located hotel
  • All breakfasts and 3 other meals
  • All tips for guides
  • A tour kit including a guidebook (when available) and a moneybelt
  • Guaranteed tour price, locked in the moment you make your deposit
  • Tour alum discount of $50 for each tour you've taken with us
  • Flexibility should you need to transfer or cancel your tour

Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing. See our Tour Conditions for important details regarding everything listed above.

Group sightseeing events subject to change.

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to London

We'll meet at our hotel in central London at 4 p.m. to get acquainted. Then we'll set off on a neighborhood walk before finishing the evening with a "Welcome to London" dinner together.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain.

Day 2: St. Paul's, The City and the British Museum

After an Underground/Tube orientation, we'll visit England's national church — Christopher Wren's majestically domed St. Paul's Cathedral — and hear how local "fire watcher" volunteers saved this symbol of British resolve during the bombing raids of World War II. Next, we'll take a walking tour of The City, the oldest part of London and today one of the world's key financial centers. After a busy morning, we'll rest our feet while enjoying that quintessentially English experience: afternoon tea. Then you'll be ready to explore the treasure-packed British Museum.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain.

Day 3: The Tower and East London

This morning we'll head out early to witness the opening ceremony at the medieval Tower of London. We'll join a Yeoman Warder "Beefeater" for an entertaining tour and a close-up look at the UK's magnificent collection of Crown Jewels. Next, we'll venture out to the culturally diverse East End of London, where we'll find our lunch on a food tour. The tour will guide us through the history of the East End, tasting the influence of cultures along the way — from Indian curries to the beloved London takeaway fish and chips. This evening is free and perfect for the theater (book a popular show in advance online or pick up a ticket in London).

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain.

Day 4: Westminster and the Churchill War Rooms

This morning we'll wander through the City of Westminster. Our walk will take us down Whitehall and through St. James Park, a favorite for its resident pelicans, on our way to the majestic Westminster Abbey. We'll enjoy a guided tour of the abbey, where England's kings and queens have been crowned and buried since 1066. Later this afternoon, we'll visit the Churchill War Rooms, where we'll get the inside story on the London Blitz and Britain's leadership during World War II. Your evening is free. This is another good night for the theater.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain.

Day 5: The South Bank and Borough Market

We'll begin our morning with a tour of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the half-timbered and thatched-roofed replica of the original theater that was home to the playwright's productions in the late 1500s. Then we'll take a walking tour along the South Bank of the Thames. We'll see the Tower Bridge and Southwark Cathedral, and learn how this side of the river has evolved since Roman times. We'll end our tour at Borough Market, one of the oldest and largest food markets in London, with colorful produce and the wafting scents of grilled-cheese and duck-confit sandwiches. The afternoon is yours to enjoy lunch at the market, visit the Tate Modern, hop on a Thames River cruise, or take a ride on the London Eye. This is another good night for the theater.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Train: 2 hours.

Day 6: Historic Windsor Castle

Today we'll catch a train and head out of town to Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest castle residence in the world. We'll spend the morning touring the Royal Family's castle, ornate St. George's Chapel, and the surrounding park. The remainder of the afternoon is yours for poking around the quaint town of Windsor or for more sightseeing back in London. Tonight, we'll meet for our "last supper" and raise a toast to London and new friends. Cheers!

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs.

Day 7: Tour Over After Breakfast

Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Heathrow and Gatwick airports can be easily reached by Tube, train, or taxi from our London neighborhood. For those not ready to return home yet, London is a great jumping off point to Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, and many other exciting destinations. Cheerio!

Itinerary specifics subject to change.

Physical Demands

Our tours are physically active! It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. On our Best of London in 7 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily…

  1. Carry your luggage up several flights of stairs to reach your hotel room.
  2. Be on your feet, walking and standing, for up to three hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions.
  3. Sleep with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning.
  4. After orientation and transportation lessons, be able to navigate around the city on your own.
  5. Be able to climb many flights of stairs in and out of the London Underground system.

Reviews

Mark

Tour: 02/18/24

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very enjoyable. Jeannie was a great guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of it. "

Joseph

Tour: 02/18/24

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Roger

Tour: 02/18/24

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great group and a good variety of sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to Westminster and going through the buildings and grounds"

Michael

Tour: 02/18/24

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Had a great time! Learned so much about England and it’s culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tower of London and the Crown Jewels were amazing. "

Aurora

Tour: 02/18/24

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything was great"

Juliet

Tour: 02/18/24

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We are RSE alumni! We appreciate all the detailed information for before, during, and after our tour. Our guide, Jeanne was warm, welcoming, helpful, extremely knowledgeable (from riding The Tube to history to places to shop), engaging, and fun! The Washington Mayfair was centrally located - easy to get from Heathrow & to access London on Tube or buses. We loved that it was so close to attractions we wanted to see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Houses of Parliament, Churchill War Rooms, Buckingham Palace, Crown Jewels, and Windsor Castle. LOTS OF WOWS FOR US!!"

Shannon

Tour: 12/26/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jeanie was a fantastic guide, I thoroughly enjoyed listening while she shared her knowledge of London and its history with an edge of wit, warmth and humor. Our fellow travelers were all wonderfully easy companions and it was simply great fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lots! Seeing the crown jewels was pretty spectacular and all things food related were my favorites! Especially the Market Tavern! "

Brenda

Tour: 12/26/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jeannie is an amazing guide. The tours were nice and informative.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking in the Royal family's dining room where they walk and have meals."

David

Tour: 12/26/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour! Jeannie is a great guide!! The itinerary was excellent. I enjoyed being with the other travelers. This was consistent with my previous Ricke Steves tours. I have already signed up for another tour. Thanks!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many WOW moments. I liked going to Windsor, where I had never been. I also liked the food tour of East London, another area where I had never been."

Jodi

Tour: 12/26/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first time in London, it could have been so overwhelming, but Jeanie was ready to answer any and all questions plus make suggestions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is always so hard to answer because I think I said 'wow' a hundred times a day... Perhaps learning about the history of Windsor Castle and seeing all the opulence inside."

David

Tour: 12/26/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jeanie was awesome. Moved quickly. Walking was strenuous but not overly so.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St Pauls"

William

Tour: 12/26/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting to see the crown jewels up close."

Jennifer

Tour: 12/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great experience top to bottom. The guide was engaging and entertaining, gave a great feel for the city peppered with great historical information.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each day had an outstanding highlight from the ravens at the tower, to the salt beef with no wait. A great way to get a feel for the city and it's history."

Jane

Tour: 12/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was truly a wonderful experience. I have to admit that I had some hestitation booking a tour versus planning out a trip on my own and I am so glad I picked a tour, especially a Rick Steves tour. All the planning was done for me and I saw many sights while having plenty of "on my own" time to do other things. I also met some great people in my tour group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was at Windsor Castle. particularly when I visited the final resting place of Queen Elizabeth II."

Nancy

Tour: 12/03/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Visiting London during the holidays was amazing. The decorations, people and sights provided a wonderful atmosphere for the tour. Our guide, Tom Cooper was the best, with information and humor that made the experience even better.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The food! From the afternoon tea at the Montague, to the food tour of east end London and Old Spitalfields market to Borough Market…what a gastronomical adventure! A wonderful tour of the neighborhoods of London and great food!"

Heather

Tour: 12/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A fantastic tour guide and great group of people. The only thing I’d warn people about for the London tour is be prepared to walk and walk some more. One day we did 20,000 steps and 49 stories of stairs, some of those stairs were optional climbing to the top of St Paul’s Cathedral. We experienced the key stops with lots of additional suggestions and bonus we just had to show up.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Honestly realizing we never left a 5 mile radius and saw so many things! "

Ian

Tour: 12/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tom was a terrific guide and host. The historical context he provided to the sites we visited really brought the history to life. I enjoyed the free time provided to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey was very impressive. "

Brittany

Tour: 12/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The hotel chosen was very comfortable and perfectly located in a safe and central neighborhood. My fellow tour mates were kind, excited, and made the tour even more fun. Tom was an outstanding host and I feel lucky to have seen the best of London under his clever and insightful guidance.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being in the presence of history I had only known from textbooks and movies was mind blowing and awe-inspiring. It brought to life the humans I had only known as characters before. "

Leah

Tour: 12/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic-the tour was well organized with a great balance of group activities and free time, and visiting during the holidays made it even more special. Our guide (Tom Hooper) was knowledgeable, organized, and really enjoyed his British humor!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to report, but loved the museums and the food tour in Spitalfields and Borough Market were fantastic, so much good food!"

Tom

Tour: 12/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Susan

Tour: 12/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The 7-day London tour delivered on expectations - thanks to our stellar tour guide Tom, who was very British, very witty and kind and patient. I saw, learned and experienced so much of London and the different boroughs, plus the train trip to Windsor. We always had sufficient free time. During the week we were treated to group dinners, pubs and food tours/markets. The only drawback was our tour hotel, Washington Mayfair, which is rundown, service issues, problems in the rooms, etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to choose but the Tower of London visit was spectacular. And I thoroughly enjoyed the Spitalfields tour and Borough Market days. Just wonderful - excellent guides throughout the week. "

Dean

Tour: 11/19/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything went smoothly and was well planned out. Good collegial group and excellent guides. I was left wanting to return to London someday for more on my own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably going to the "tower". I had always thought of it as just being a dungeon/prison, but it's so much more."

Scott

Tour: 11/19/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Awesome guide, saw everything on my list, plus had time to explore on my own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"British museum "

Daryl

Tour: 11/19/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Friendly people, knowledgeable tour guide, great city.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The first time seeing the Holiday lights above the streets in London's west-end. "

Amelia

Tour: 11/19/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tom, our guide, was very knowledgeable and friendly. He took into consideration that my husband had a sore leg and often asked about his condition. The group was friendly and fun to tour with each day. The activities showed us many places in London. It was well organized and helped us learn the underground rail System.The hotel was comfortable and in a great location. We enjoyed exploring the area.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Thames and Big Ben was a wow! Being a retired Literature Teacher, seeing the Globe warmed my heart."

Barry

Tour: 11/19/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First RS tour and it exceeded our expectations. Small group size and a super excellent guide, Tom.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St. Pauls' Cathedral was incredibly impressive, in size and in content. You could never appreciate this from looking at a picture or reading an article. "

Mya

Tour: 11/19/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Amazing experience!

Michael

Tour: 10/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour guide was amazing very nice group

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tower of London "

Shirley

Tour: 10/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was incredible. She was very knowledgeable, well prepared, approachable, and funny. The group was able to see so much in a short term and we learned a great deal about London, England, and the UK. I highly recommend this tour and hopefully you will have Jeanie as your guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Elizabeth I’s tomb in Westminster Abbey and there were many other candidates. "

Stephen

Tour: 10/15/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our third Rick Steves tour and they all have been great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I just love the fact that the tours are the perfect blend of guided tours and free time. Plus all the tickets and entrances to venues are taken care of."

Linda

Tour: 10/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

London is a beautiful city! So much to see and do. Jeanie, our tour guide, was simply the BEST! She was so engaging! Her knowledge of London and UK history was astounding! We were able to visit many sites and because of being with a knowledgeable guide, were at the right place at the right time to get the most of the experience. Our hotel was very nice, centrally located, a brief walk to beautiful parks, Buckingham Palace and the Tube. I would recommend this tour to anyone!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into Westminster Abbey, any words you use to describe it would not do it justice."

Carolyn

Tour: 10/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour is a wonderful introduction to London. We saw so many amazing sights, buildings and attractions. Our tour guide Jeanie was amazing. Jeanie's in-depth knowledge and her love for the city made me appreciate and enjoy the tour even more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved visiting St. Paul's Cathedral. But there were so many "wow" moments like The British Museum and Westminster Abbey."

Judy

Tour: 10/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We learned about London is all its gore and glory - both the present and the past. We saw all the top spots in an organized, efficient manner. What a joy to visit!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many - probably seeing the Crown Jewels followed closely by the British Museum highlights."

Lesi

Tour: 10/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a great way to be introduced to London or to see it again. Jeanie, the tour guide, was a wealth of knowledge and added a depth to the tour I wasn't expecting. She really made the tour! Everyday was full of adventures with a good mix of group activities and free time. I highly recommend this trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many...Evensong at St. Paul's...Westminster Abbey...the town of Windsor."

Kristin

Tour: 10/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was amazing! A lifelong dream come true! I saw all the sites I wanted to see in a well planned, even paced tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey-just the history there was overwhelming!"

Gayle

Tour: 10/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As a tour guide Jeannie was fantastic. Our hotel was great, great food and informative tours

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Windsor Castle, Big Ben"

Annette

Tour: 10/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great balance of perfectly planned events with free time for exciting and adventurous activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hotel. The cost was phenomenal especially based on location. I read reviews online and was pretty nervous. The hotel was perfect for our adventure. So easy to get to so many cool areas and the Tube."

Rebecca

Tour: 10/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a busy week of memorable sights, good food, great people. The hotel and location were very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of the sights were amazing, but our guide Tom provided the history and context to bring it all to life. The first evening ride on the old double decker red bus was a great introduction to the city. "

Mark

Tour: 10/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Saw all the sites in London that we wanted to see. Had enough free time to add a few more that were close to our hearts.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our "wow" moment was the tour of St Paul' Cathedral with its rich history and magical resistance to the WWII bombings. "

Elizabeth

Tour: 10/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a fast paced and incredibly informative tour. I feel like it covered all of the major highlights of London and taught us how to maneuver the city on our own if we ever came back. Our guide, Tom, was fantastic! He was a wealth of knowledge and had a great sense of humor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Charles Darwin's grave at Westminster Abbey and riding the vintage double decker bus to see the major London monuments for the first time. I also really enjoyed the National History Museum and the food tour of Spitalfields Market."

Francie

Tour: 10/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wow! London was fantastic! If there was a thing to do or see in London, we did it. We had a fabulous time. Our guide, Tom, was wonderful. He planned so many adventures and sites for us, we were worn out! My husband and I have done another city tour (Rome) and remember how exhausting it was. The London City Tour wasn’t quite as exhausting but almost. But, we lived Tom and everything on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think the WOW moment was the Windsor Castle. Seeing where Queen Elizabeth was placed in her final gravesite took my breath away. It was real. "

Karel

Tour: 10/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time. Just the right amount of group activities with plenty of of time on our own to explore or attend a theatre show.

Frances

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, a good trip. Great excursions, good leader, ok hotel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Windsor Castle"

Peggy

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I had taken the Best of London tour in 2022. I was a fairly new widow wanting to travel. It was good. I was a different person on this Best of London 2023 tour (yes, went again!) and it was wonderful. Great group, great leader, great weather.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The train ride to Windsor, the town of Windsor, the tour of Windsor castle. Seeing the resting place of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip; simple and touching. "

Allen

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceptional local guide! Tom was knowledgeable, well organized, and entertaining. The tour provided a great first-time introduction to London.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Catching a parade of the palace guards with the band and horses."

Susan

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my second Rick Steves tour. London was great and we loved Tom as our guide . He brought wit and charm to all of us . The sights were phenomenal ! Highly recommend this tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably Windsor castle and also the tower with the Crown Jewels."

Katia

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tom our tour guide was very knowledgeable, friendly and funny "

June K

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tom Hooper is a perfect guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ginger Pig sausage roll - best! Thank you Tom for recommending. "

Rachel

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The overall tour experience was quite nice. A good balance of group and independent time. Our guide and the other tour members were fun, friendly, and interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Tower of London and the Food Tour in the East End"

John

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very organized. Guide was with us every step of the way. Location of the hotel was great, and a four-minute walk to the nearest "tube" station.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St. Paul's Cathedral was fantastic, and our blue badge guide was excellent. The guide at Westminster Abby (Tom) was also very well-versed on everything at Westminster-Abby and answered every question we had to our satisfaction. Tour guide "Matt" on the food tour of the Spidalfields area was so awesome and made us feel like locals as we tried various foods along the route. "

Peter

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I am thankful that the tour wasn’t cancelled and that Sharon could capably step in on short notice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the long walk from a window in Windsor Castle. The spitalsfield food tour and Humble crumble. "

Claire

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A well chosen number of sites to visits. Greatly appreciated the "Blue Badge" guides chosen for specific sites

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Food Tour, particularly the Humble Crumble's apple crumble."

Kathleen

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This my third Best of London tour and it was excellent. Great hotel location, outstanding activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminister Abbey tour."

Jaime

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, a good/very good experience. There were a few disappointments, but more positives than negatives.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Churchill War Rooms"

Linda

Tour: 09/17/23

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The actual tour was organized well, we saw tons of great stuff in London. Our tour guide was a jewel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The food tour was a big surprise . .great stuff!"

Lynn

Tour: 09/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jennifer was very knowledgeable. The tour gives a wonderful overview of English history and present. We hit some touristy highlights (changing of the guard) and had a wonderful, informative tour of the East End. Thank you to Jennifer for checking in with each one of us on our last night, making sure we had arrangements to the airport and offering suggestions for which tube line would be quietest and most relaxing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Shakespeare's Globe. So good we went back and saw a show."

Susan

Tour: 09/17/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed all the places selected on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Westminster Abbey"

Chad

Tour: 09/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jennifer is a wonderful guide. She definitely made the trip what it was between her knowledge of the locations to her personality. It was nice to have a list and times of the next day’s itinerary available the day prior so we knew what the plans were. I enjoyed the mix of scheduled items and free time so that you could see some of the other stuff not included on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me it was having an image of London with the castles and historical buildings. But once we started exploring and seeing the old and new right next to each other. "

Sharon

Tour: 09/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first professional tour. After years of trying to do everything myself, I wanted someone to do it for me. This tour was everything I pictured. Small friendly group, knowledgeable friendly guide and every site I wanted to see, along with substantial free time to see more or to rest. Highly recommend.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Churchill War Rooms. It really put you into the time period. What an amazing thing to run a war from underground with bombs landing everywhere in the city. But I loved every bit of the tour."

Karen

Tour: 09/17/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a wonderful tour guide. Jennifer was fantastic. She was charming, energetic and very knowledgeable. She really shared her love of London and made our tour memorable and very enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The East End food tour was wonderful. Sampled some really excellent foods and toured a very interesting area I had not been to before."

Karen

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very organized, inclusive, and on time. The group got along well and best of all the guide was wonderful.

Kerryn

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our second RS tour and we enjoyed tour guide Gillian's knowledge and the pace of this tour. The hotel location was very convenient and appreciated the Oyster card that was provided at beginning of tour. Made it easy to get around in our free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything is a wow moment when you let yourself fully relax and take it all in. Going inside of all the Cathederals where royal weddings, burials, events and recent corination took place. The private double decker bus ride through all the London neighborhoods was a great way to start our tour & welcome dinner."

Robert

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Doreen

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was beyond my expectations.We experienced so much history and had such wonderful guides at the sites as well as Michael, our tour guide. The group as a whole got on very well and everyone had great attitudes. Our orientation to the Tube system was spot on and enabled us to maneuver around the city independently.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St Paul's Cathedral was a wow moment and the Evensong was so beautiful."

Sandra

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our first trip to Europe and I couldn’t imagine doing all this planning on our own. Rick Steves tours are the only way to go!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Big Ben for the very first time as well as the entire Tower of London"

Cheryl

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Hotel location was amazing. Very organized and a fun group of people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey"

Rodolfo

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great experience !

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Windsor Castle "

John

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well planned and well executed. Michael did a fantastic job!

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Visiting the British Museum. Rosetta Stone. "

Victoria

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an amazing time on our first Rick Steves tour. We had so much fun seeing all the sights of London as well as meeting so many wonderful fellow travelmates on our tour. The weather was unseasonably hot for our tour - but we all still made the best of it and enjoyed our time together. Our guide MIchael was a great resource and we had fun listening to his stories of his time living in London. We were lucky to also have Alex along as assistant and she had lots of good tips.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was probably seeing Windsor Castle and just imagining actually living there! "

Thomas

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Your choice of hotels was perfect! Not only was the staff the most professional I have seen in a long time (I was in hospitality for 20+ years) but the location of the hotel in the small square of Mayfair was like being in your own small hometown. The quaint restaurants, the charming little pharmacies, the locals all so friendly, and the fact that you can buy alcohol in the neighborhood post office! Really!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many! I was there 24 years ago and climbed to the very top of St. Paul's Cathedral. Here I was, 24 years later, huffing and puffing, a senior citizen, and dripping with sweat, I made it! I had every intention. It was by far a "personal best"! Another favorite for me was being in Shakespeare's Globe Theater. I know it is a replica, but an EXACT replica. I was actor for 15 years. I was brought to silent tears being there. I so wanted to join the actors rehearsing on the stage that day."

Dennis

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Found it to be a great experience. Michael did a great job - especially with being brought in at a moments notice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had a random encounter with one of the British guards . Michael managed to chat the guy up and got us a group photo."

Nicole

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

London is amazing and the tour organized wonderful activities and locations to visit that we wouldn't have thought of or sought out on our own. It was great sharing these experiences with our fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved riding in the old double decker bus for great pictures and better vantage points of the city. Our tour guide was very informative and the driver did an amazing job of navigating narrow streets to get us to the correct locations despite road closures."

Donald

Tour: 08/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, participants, experiences. The trip prep materials were thorough, and we especially liked that they told us what we would see on the tour, and what we might see but was not. That helped us decide what to do with our free time, including three additional days we stayed in the city.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved how close our hotel was to everything: the underground, Buckingham Palace, Green Park, and on and on. It made the huge city within our grasp."

Anna

Tour: 08/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Lisa was a great tour leader! Very knowledgeable and informative. The people in the group were fun to be with and very welcoming to me as a solo traveler. I made new friends, which was wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lots of "wow" moments! One was the tour of St. Paul's Cathedral and hearing how many times it had been rebuilt after fires and bombings, and how local people worked to save it during WWII."

Diane

Tour: 08/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

terrific leader, group members and experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying in hotel so close to the tube and walkable to scores of key London sites"

Kathy

Tour: 08/20/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I have visited London in the past, usually for just a few days. Decided a guided tour would be more informative, and it was. And we went to a few places I had not been before. Our RS guide, Roy was excellent, and very patient with those taking the Tube for the first time. Giving everyone their own Oyster Card was brilliant. As we could use it during our free time. All of our guides at the different sites were fantastic too. You couldn't have asked for better weather, sunny and no rain!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster is always a WOW! That ceiling!! And having a guide really helped me appreciate what I was seeing. I could spend hours there. St Paul's and going back for evensong was a great suggestion. And the "Beefeater" tour was fun."

Patrick

Tour: 08/20/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I liked the tour a lot. There was a manageable schedule with free time penciled in. There is a lot of walking which we liked but may be tough for those not used to it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A single “wow” moment? No. If I had to pick one it would be Westminster Abbey. "

Kimberly

Tour: 08/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was wonderful. The tour was informative, organized and delightful. I just couldn't "see" enough. Everywhere there was history and our guide was able to tell us all about it. I could have stayed another week.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was so many. I felt like my expression the entire trip was "wow." I think the views at the tower of London, the bus trip around the city on the first day and the food tour through the east end and Windsor... Just so many moments..."

Mary Ellen

Tour: 08/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Matthew

Tour: 07/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The daily structure/schedule, knowledgeable guide, early access & overall experience were just amazing. Can’t recommend this tour enough!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Climbing to the top of St. Paul’s was my favorite part. The 500 stairs were well worth it once you reach the top & get the amazing London views!"

Brenda

Tour: 07/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was fast paced but with plenty of time to do your own thing. Learning very quickly about how to use public transportation made it much easier to plan additional visits. Our tour guide Roy was helpful, informative and funny.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each event has its own Wow quality, but the Churchill War Rooms were remarkable for their frozen in time quality. "

Barbara

Tour: 07/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

we saw a good number of sites, we did a fair number of activities. there was a good balance between planned activities and free time to do what we wanted

Favorite "WOW" moment

"not one particular one - there were many outstanding historical-based experiences"

Nancy

Tour: 07/16/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was our first time exploring with a formal tour group so we didn't know what to expect - overall, very well organized with a good mix of sightseeing and downtime

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to pick just one - enjoyed all the group meals and socializing. The open-top double-decker bus ride on the first night was a blast and afternoon tea at The Montague was great fun. "

James

Tour: 07/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely loved it. The guide, the hotel and its' location, could not have been better.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our hotel was a five-minute walk to Buckingham Palace!"

Laurie

Tour: 07/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was excellent! Our guide, Roy, was so friendly and knowledgeable. The group size was just right. We enjoyed all the scheduled stops but really appreciated how much “free time” was available to pursue our own interests each day as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral!"

Edwin

Tour: 07/09/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I had a great time in London with the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment from the tour was seeing Windsor Castle and just exploring London in our free time."

Jane

Tour: 07/09/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The extra knowledge and wonderful personality of our guide. Jeanie was simply brilliant"

Sylvia

Tour: 07/09/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The entire tour was an incredible journey, filled with captivating sights and wonderful memories. From the historical landmarks to the charming neighborhoods, every moment was a delight.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of the highlights of the tour was undoubtedly the opportunity to meet and connect with so many incredible people."

Katherine

Tour: 07/02/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My family consisted of all females from high school to their seventies. We all had different wants and needs from this tour. Our guide Tom was amazing at ensuring we saw all the hot spots as well as some new fresh spots. The tour was a good mix of guided and self-paced activities. Our guide Tom made daily transportation easy and painless. We all left leaving feeling like each had accomplished what they wanted and wonderful family memories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My whole family loved the food tour. Our guide gave us great history and background at each spot. My favorite was the corned beef bagel."

Leslie

Tour: 07/02/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Tom Hopper was fantastic! All of the activities were fun and engaging. The food was delicious and hotel was clean and well located.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every. Single. Day! "

Erica

Tour: 07/02/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed the tour. Our guide, Tom, was excellent and made an effort to connect with all the participants. I enjoyed both learning the history of London as well as learning how to navigate the area on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed seeing Westminster Abbey. I also really liked the bus tour on the first day."

Christine

Tour: 07/02/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beyond my expectations!!! I brought my daughter and 2 granddaughters (15 and 13) on this tour. The girls said that the tour was fantaastic and think it would be fun to live in London!! Though I have done multiple visits myself, I had a number of experiences on the tour I have not had. This was my 4th RS tour and thus far my favorite!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My daughter loved the traditional tea we attended. the oldest granddaughter was in awe of Windsor Castle; she said she could live there. The youngest granddaughter enjoyed the maneuverings of the bus, the tube, and the train to Windsor; she thought it would be an adventure to ride those daily. Myself, there was not one thing - there was a WOW around every corner seeing London through the eyes of my family; truly a memory to cherish."

Robert

Tour: 07/02/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was well planned out by our guide, Tom, who made sure we were seeing the sights but also giving us behind the scenes/ uncommon information about what we were doing and seeing. While it ended up being a lot of walking, it didn't really seem like it at the time. Tom was very personable and entertaining throughout the tour.

Karen

Tour: 06/25/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed the tour and the flexibility. We had several afternoons and most evenings to go off on our own. Jeannie was great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Churchill War Rooms and Westminster Abbey!"

Trina

Tour: 06/25/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jeanie Carmichael is the best tour guide ever! She gave us enough history, personal history, but not too much that our heads hurt. She gave us insight and funny reasons why things are as they are, but not too much. It was perfect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My Wow moment was Westminster Abbey and seeing the burial sites of both Alfred Lord Tennyson and Handel. Walking where Queens and Kings have walked was divine!"

Terri

Tour: 06/25/23

Fabulous tour. I felt privileged to have Jeanie as our Blue Badge guide. She is very knowledgeable, personable, and has a great sense of humor. It was a busy tour and I feel like we saw a lot in one week.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the changing of the guards at Windsor Castle and Windsor Castle itself."

Wayne

Tour: 06/25/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour guide (Jeanie Carmichael) was excellent. Itinerary was well thought out. Considering the limited time and number of things to see, we were very pleased. This was our grandson's first overseas trip and it went very well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This was my fourth Rick Steves experience and my biggest "wow" is that I have never been disappointed yet. "

Cecilie

Tour: 06/25/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

While I’ve been to London several times, this was the first time I really got to know London. It was by far my best visit of the city and I’m so glad I had this experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching the key ceremony at The Tower was extra special. Being in such a small group and seeing the ceremony up close was quite a treat."

Theresa

Tour: 06/25/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall a really great experience! We arrived a few days earlier and had time to adjust to the time change and environment. Great location with the hotel and easy access to underground tube stations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Big Ben in all its glory recently renovated "

Hamid

Tour: 06/18/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic

Favorite "WOW" moment

"London- house of the parliament Paris- Eiffel Tower "

David

Tour: 06/18/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

GREAT!...From the start our Guide did his best to provide whatever information might be needed for our group to get the most out of our tour. Jamie filled in for our scheduled guide, but he made good efforts to take us all over some of the best sites in London. He guided us with plenty of specific historical knowledge giving everyone a chance to experience the city from the past to present. The group moved smoothly thru all manner of traffic. Group safety was important as we moved about.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our time visiting Windsor Castle because of its historic military weapon collections; swords, pole arms, axes etc. Actually, every museum visit were big WOWS to me. Historical sites are a must-see."

Katrina

Tour: 06/18/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved having a local guide that knew so much about London’s history.

Thomas

Tour: 06/18/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour guide was amazing and we had a great group of people on our tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abby "

Mary

Tour: 06/18/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was so well structured that I didn't miss a thing. The guide (Jamie Gould) was impressively knowledgeable. It was really remarkable. He was fun as well. Giving us a special look into the history, architecture, story behind the stories. He made the tour exciting and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey. I was brought to tears by the magnificence. I was in awe of the history and touched by the reverence."

John

Tour: 06/18/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best of London tour is a very good introduction to the Rick Steves tour experience. The itinerary was as advertised. The pace was really good. The main tour guide Jamie was great to spend a week with. We loved that our group included only 26 people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was seeing with my own eyes, in person, Windsor Castle. I can read about it in books or see photos or even watch Rick's tv program. But, I wanted to see this in person. It was really overwhelming. A close second was visiting the British Museum and seeing the Elgin Marbles. It is simply awesome that this history has been preserved."

Kim

Tour: 06/18/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great time on this tour. The activities were diverse and interesting, and there was enough free time to see other sights and walk around the city. Our guide Jamie was very knowledgeable and personable as well. We combined this tour with the 7 day best of Paris tour, it was very easy to do both.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! Seeing the Houses of Parliament from across the Thames. We also went to the Battersea Power Station on our own, very impressive and unexpected. "

Blair

Tour: 06/18/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour met every expectation. Thanks to our guide, we saw more of London and learned more of its history and culture than we could have on our own. The hotel was great, the food was wonderful, and we made lifelong friends with the other people on our tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our "food" walking tour. Our guide was so entertaining, and the food was wonderful."

Celia

Tour: 06/18/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Plenty of free time is built into this busy week to see things on your own. Rick Steve tours are known for great guides and fun smaller groups. This was no exception!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tom Hooper led my London tour in 2016 and I was delighted to have him be our guide at Westminster. He is a gentleman and a character... just a bonus to see him again in his element."

Patty

Tour: 06/11/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was really interesting to understand the history of London and the background of everything. Tom did a amazing job on explaining things well, but he did go a bit too fast on things. Other than that, I really loved the entire tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was when we saw the Westminster Abbey because all the architecture was flawless and so gorgeous. "

Fern

Tour: 06/11/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed that the tour took us everyday to a new area of London, which included the main attractions in that particular area. The dining choices were excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to Windsor Castle and The Tower of London "

Linda

Tour: 06/11/23

Tanis

Tour: 06/11/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I feel it was a highly well-planned and considered experience that transcended the physical. It brought to life London in a way that I had only read about in books. The tour made London a place that felt like home. And I originate from the bush of northern Saskatchewan. My earliest memory with my dad and brother is them showing me how to make my way out of the bush/woods by bending tree branches so that I can follow that path back to my place of origin. Rick Steves’ tour guide did this.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Connecting with a stressed child in the tube, and helping her dad by distracting her. It felt like a soul to soul connection. Other than that, the overall tour was wow. "

Elaine

Tour: 06/11/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall the trip was very good in that it was not bad physically. I could easily walk and orientation to the tube was easy . Our guide did his best to help us whenever possible

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Difficult to say I enjoyed everything, the most moving was seeing QE II crypt, and St. Paul's cathedral"

Jeannie

Tour: 06/11/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my second time on the 'Best of London' tour and it was just as fantastic as the first. Our guide Tom Hooper was informative, funny and showed so much care and consideration with the tour members. While I knew there were going to be some similar things from the first tour (Tower, Windsor, Churchill War Rooms) in 2016, there was plenty of new things that they incorporated (double decker bus ride, afternoon tea, food tour, Globe Theater, Borough Market, new walks).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The day at Windsor was a 'wow' moment. We were fortunate enough that Tom had timed our arrival perfectly so we were lucky enough to watch a group of troop of bagpipers and drummers accompanied by military guards march along the main road in Windsor (The policeman riding on horses waving to the crowds was quite charming). Walking around the grounds at Windsor Castle this time had a whole new significance and visiting St. George's Chapel to pay our respects to Queen Elizabeth II was very special."

Scott

Tour: 06/11/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was well organized. We were able to see many of the top sites in London in a very short period of time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many: Westminster Abby(surprised how many non-royals are buried there, Tower of London( I could have looked at the Crown Jewels for hours), and my favorite, Windsor Castle and the town of Windsor. It was special to see the final resting place of Queen Elizabeth. The town of Windsor was great to explore after seeing the castle."

Steven

Tour: 06/11/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized tour and the guide was very knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing all the major historic sites "

Tamara

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour is very fast paced, so you see a lot of London in just a few days. Really appreciated the Oystercard that was provided which made riding the Tube very convenient and easy to use. Loved the Washington Mayfair hotel, great location and very charming.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The afternoon tea was very fun and had lots of great food! Also enjoyed the opening ceremony for the Tower of London with the Beefeaters and seeing the Crown Jewels."

Don

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The Tour itself was excellent. It was extremely helpful to be on the RS Tour to get into sites as London is very crowded. The hotel and Mayfair neighborhood was nice and easy to get to the Tube from and navigate wherever we wanted to go

Debra

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was an excellent overview of what I concluded is a challenging city to explore. Why challenging? Because accommodation is expensive, the number of sites to see is large, and in June the crowds are huge!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I thoroughly enjoyed the vintage double decker tour that began the tour. It happened to ba lovely, dry day and it was so fun to see iconic sights for the first time from the upper level of our bus."

Steven

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well designed tour of London. My wife and I enjoyed the sites we visited with our tour guides and were grateful for the free time scheduled so we could pursue our own interests. We took advantage of the free evenings to see a couple of shows in the theater district and spent an afternoon at the Globe Theater to see Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Tower of London. To be able to actually view the crown jewels was phenomenal."

Sherry

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was exceptional. We saw famous must-see landmarks, but also experienced things the average traveler's itinerary would not include. Our guide was phenomenal, expertly steering our group thru the tube system and through very crowded areas at times, with no one ever getting lost. The tour schedule had some ebb and flow, enough to feel you had experienced everything but without feeling exhausted, so we could actually ENJOY every experience. I felt it was such great value for the price.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The very first thing we did was take an overview tour atop our own private red double-decker bus. It was so awesome that our senses were over-stimulated. That was pure WOW for me!!"

Sharon

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Washington Hotel treated us very well. Gillian, our tour guide, was wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had six whole days of wow moments and fantastic weather. "

Lori

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful tour with Gillian. She was a great guide. This tour was fast-paced but expected in a city tour if you want to get the most out of it. We saw a LOT of London under the guidance of Gillian and also on our own. We became very good at maneuvering the tube.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The food walk in Spitalfields was excellent!we got to sample a variety of ethnic food from the neighborhood. It was a lot of fun to try the different foods and to experience the diversity of the area."

Patricia

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my second Rick Steves 7 day tour. I like the emphasis on the history of the area. What we are seeing would mean nothing if we didn't know the history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey. I watched some of the coronation on TV, so it was fun to see exactly where it all happened"

Cheryl

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed the London tour very much. Gillian was a fantastic guide and her knowledge of London was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St. Paul's Cathedral was beautiful. The view of the city from the tower was awesome."

Bruce

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Gillian was an excellent guide. She was very attentive to both the group's needs and individual member's needs. She always made sure we knew what we were doing each day and where we were going. I really enjoyed her sense of humor. Our hotel was fabulous: it was centrally located, which made it very easy to get around. We were Tube veterans by the second day of the tour. Like all the RS tours we've been on, there was a good mix of daily activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"London itself: its vibrancy, energy, pace, diversity, and mix of old and new. A very close second was Westminster Abbey. And, of course, who could forget the cheese toastie at Kappacasein Dairy in the Borough Market? Gillian did not undersell it!"

David

Tour: 05/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tom Hooper made this tour my BEST vacation. All was well planned and great! Tom also provided advice on things to see in London after hours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Tower of London tour. There is a great amount of history concentrated in a small area."

Ann

Tour: 05/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We saw the sites like museums, Windsor CastleI had on my list. Our wonderful guide Tom shared information along the way, and we learned to navigate our way around London. Our tour family was great as we have always found in our Rick Steves tours. Our dinners with our group were delicious and fun. We had an English tea which was really a treat and breakfast at our hotel was great. There was time to explore on our own so I was able to visit Liberty of London and buy some fabulous material!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had extra guides at the globe theater and a food tour where we went from restaurant to restaurant. We sampled a variety of food in a different part of town. We found the British people friendly and helpful. Picking a restaurant and eating on our own was very nice too. Our hotel was in a great location so we were able to walk everywhere. Theaters were close by and there was a large selection of plays to see in the evening. We didn’t see many but heard glowing reviews from our tour family"

Diane

Tour: 05/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic super organized tour! We experienced the historical to the present of what London has to offer, led by our fantastic, knowledgeable, funny, and patient tour guide Tom. (A special shout out to the guide at the Globe theatre who impressed us with is knowledge and passion for the Globe and its history.) We will definitely consider another Rick Steve’s tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wow moments we had were not from visiting all the historical sites, but the group experience we had during and after those visits. We met and made new friends with our twenty plus fellow tourists, all of whom were eager to have a good time. Also, and most important, the tour gave us a chance to interact with the people of London, all of whom helped answer our touristy questions and point us in the right direction. They have obviously dealt with clueless Americans before!"

William

Tour: 05/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

With a professional and honored tour guide (Tom Hooper), we experienced London on foot, by bus and tube, and leaned many details of life and culture in this major world city. The free time and provided Oyster Card were great for pursuing our individual interests. Tom's sense of humour and his up-to-date knowledge (and awareness of current transportation issues) helped make a very enjoyable tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"To pick just one: standing amid the the mix of traditional and contemporary architecture in The City, in front of the Lloyd's building. "

Jenifer

Tour: 05/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tom was the absolute best tour guide of any trip I’ve taken. So knowledgeable, funny and helpful! Never a dull moment!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day of this tour was a wow moment! At the end of every day I would laugh to myself about how many times I said wow that day!"

Anne

Tour: 05/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I very much enjoyed revisiting London after so many years. The tour guide we had was great. A wry sense of humour and he knew his stuff. The tour was well organized and the directions for where we were going and how to get there were very clear. I liked the way the group was kept together. I appreciated visiting what I call the big four, Westminster Abbey, St, Pauls, The Tower of London and Windsor. There was enough free time that we could also do our own thing, see a show etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My Wow moment was being able to see the Crown Jewels without a crush of people, as we had got there early and were in before the general public."

David

Tour: 05/28/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My wife and I spent our 38th wedding anniversary in London, and shared the experience with new friends! The weather was outstanding, and better was the incredible attention to detail and planning that went into our tour. As all the venues we visited were expecting the group, so we never waited in a line! Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s, the British Museum, the Tower of London, Churchill’s War Rooms, the list goes on. Thank you for helping make this wonderful memory!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s. So much rich history in these places. The scale and scope of these churches are hard to describe. Pictures cannot do them justice. As standing at the rim of the Grand Canyon can take your breath away, so can the first step into one of these grand buildings!"

Sarah

Tour: 05/28/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Churchill War Rooms"

Carol

Tour: 05/28/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour. It exceeded our expectations! We enjoyed every minute.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into Westminster Abby just a few weeks after seeing the Coronation was very special. We were able to see the Coronation chair along with the many historical monuments and the stunning detail in the building itself. It was truly a "wow" moment."

Ann

Tour: 05/28/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We really enjoyed immersing ourselves in pockets of London usually frequented with locals. We enjoyed the Underground and walking to the various attractions, through parks and parts of the city.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was in Westminster Abbey, taking in all the artists, writers and musicians who are memorialized there. Handel blew me away!"

Elizabeth

Tour: 05/28/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful time in London! Lots of walking to keep off the calories from the great food. History galore.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Changing of the guard at Windsor Castle….such pomp!!!"

Sherrie

Tour: 05/28/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My daughter and I did the Best of London tour, and it is the most amazing thing I have ever been part of. Firstly, our tour guide Steven Back absolutely is the reason this tour is such a success. Then there’s all the places we visited—London Tower, Westminster Abbey, Churchill War Rooms, Windsor Castle, etc. My daughter and I are vegetarian and there was always a vegetarian selection available at each of our group meals—that meant so much to me. The Washington-Mayfair is in a great location.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We visited so many amazing places and saw so many treasures that I thought I would never get to see, but the most wow moment was having Mr. Back as our tour guide. From his showing us our tube rides for the day and making sure we knew what our stops were, his making sure everyone had his/her orders at group meals, his patience, his kindness, to his extensive knowledge of London history-this is what made the trip for us so amazing"

Mark

Tour: 05/28/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Simply awesome. Stephen our tour guide was informative, attentive, and very friendly. I loved it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Witnessing the wow of Westminster Abbey. It was all wow. "

Michael

Tour: 05/28/23

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Very good tour, but exhausting. 14,000+ steps a day is to many for this 73 year old.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having been to London twice before, the “wow” moment wasn’t there. London continues to amaze me with it’s deep history. The underground Roman ruins was quite an eye opener for me."

Gil

Tour: 05/28/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Lots of history, lots of monarchy, lots of walking and lots of people! London was beautiful, clean and home to wonderful people. Steven Back, our guide, was 'fabulous' (a walking encyclopedia).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Tower of London"

James

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Just the right amount of organized activities and time on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably when we toured the downtown buildings. London has become a fascinating blend of old and new and sets a new standard for other major cities."

Deanna

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We saw more than we could on our own every day! All organized with minimum wait times at attractions and restaurants. Our guide took us seamlessly through the city and added so much to our experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking up out of the London Underground Tube and seeing the vast and historic Tower of London before my eyes. The old and the new coincided. "

Mary

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First of all, little did we know or expect to stay in such a wonderful setting: Mayfair right next to Green Park and Buckingham Palace! What a treat! And with the Underground only a few blocks away we were quickly transported everywhere. Secondly, our guide: Gillian Chadwick was incredibly helpful--after seeing Rick Steves and his guides on TV we had high expectations--and guess what? They were exceeded by our dear guide. And finally, the tour was amazing (again we had high expectations!)

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Whew! Favorite? There were so many: the "inside out" building in the city, the "Star Trek Transporter" effect of the Underground, Windsor Castle . . . what a fantasy place (the Doll House!), and finally, yes, the "Crown Jewels." I could go on about the abbeys and cathedrals and the food we feasted on, but I've only scratched the surface. OK, one more thing: the incredible service we received at the Washington Mayfair Hotel and one very dear soul we had assisting us at breakfast each morning."

Susan

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was very happy with the tour. Well organized, good quality experiences. Great guide. The hotel was beautiful and staff were very helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Windsor Castle was really beautiful and interesting. The rooms are beautifully maintained and the audio guides are good. Gillian took us on the train so we got to see some country out of London. The little town is charming. I loved the "long walk." Then we used our oyster cards to come back on our own and took a Thames boat ride. "

Katie

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide and fellow travelers were all wonderful! It was a perfect combination of scheduled group activities and free time to explore on our own. We learned so much from Gillian and the other guides who met us when out and about. If we had visited all the same sights on our own, we would have missed learning so much history and it would have taken a lot more time. Two thumbs up!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Exploring the variety of food and the hidden markets. "

Manjula

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was great, the guide was knowledgeable and helpful. The itinerary may need a little bit of tweaking so that all the strenuous walking is not on the first two days but a bit distributed to other days.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tower beefeaters presentation and Crown Jewels."

Carolyn

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an amazing time on the tour! All of the things we saw and did exceeded our expectations! Getting around on public transportation was easy, our hotel location was great and our group was quite amiable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments! The moment that is standing out to me is when we took our double decker bus tour on the first evening; driving around London and it's neighborhoods. I remembered when we went through Trafalgar Square, I was able to look out of the window up the Mall, lined with Union Jacks on both sides, to Buckingham Palace. I had seen that view on TV for the Queen's funeral, and the King's coronation, but seeing it in person, that's when the trip became "real" to me."

Jessica

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour guide, interesting sites, but a lot of walking. I enjoyed London more than I thought I would. So much history everywhere. What a great city with a diverse amount of things to do!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Windsor Castle "

Frank

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fabulous. Just enough activities and free time. You definitely see the city! Our guide Jillian knows London thoroughly and has a wonderful sense of humor. The Mayfair hotel is perfectly located. We learned how heavily bombed London was in WW2, more than we had understood. And yet the city and architecture prevailed! Our group was convivial. Londoners are super friendly, which adds to the enjoyment.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Tower of London was amazing- More the building and history than the jewels. It is itself a jewel. The walking and eating tour of East London was great fun and great food, perhaps my personal favorite experience. Evensong at St Paul’s being part of a live BBC radio broadcast was one of those special “right place right time” moments. Many special memories. "

Carla M

Tour: 05/21/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Jeanie, is smart, kind, thoughtful, witty and passionate! It was wonderful....and inspirational. BUT BUT a 5.5 day tour, in essence, is WAY too short.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"there's a favorite wow moment? I don't think so. So many, around each corner..Windsor was a treat, castle and town...also the borough market was a fun....yummy.. "

Frances

Tour: 05/21/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great. So glad I chose this tour group. Our guide Jeannie Carmichael was the best. Truly a joy and well versed in all things London.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It started with the intro to the city on the double decker bus tour.... but I really love the food tour around Spitalfields Market."

Anthony

Tour: 05/21/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jeanie Carmichael led our group on a wonderful and rich tour through London. She is an expert tour guide, enlightening us each day with her extensive knowledge of the city's history and obscure details. One of the key benefits was learning how to zip around the city using the underground. Once you understand that, the city is super easy to navigate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tough question, there were so many. The British Museum was an amazing experience."

Deniese

Tour: 05/21/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Riding the old Double Decker bus and Crown Jewels"

Shawn

Tour: 05/21/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Jeanie Carmichael was excellent, knowledgeable, and made the trip even better.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey"

Stephanie

Tour: 05/21/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guide was very knowledgeable. The the tour details were always taken care of each day. I had a fabulous time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Windsor Castle and being up close to where the Royal’s still live today."

Ellen

Tour: 05/21/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Learned SO much! Loved Jeanie.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow. So many. Westminster took my breath away. I loved the food tour mixed with history- as a Jewish American, it was wonderful to learn about about the origins of English Jewery. "

Ellen

Tour: 05/21/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a wonderful time. Lovely hotel in London, guide that knew the city well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We joke that it was the grilled cheese at the Borough Market! We loved the history and tradition we got to witness but we were particularly wowed by the theater (huge theater fans!) and visits we made to the Kyoto and Kew gardens. "

Nivia

Tour: 05/14/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best of the Best

Favorite "WOW" moment

"MI6 and the fact my guide easily pointed out the building from the train to Windsor. "

Phillip

Tour: 05/14/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized and while the pace was quick it never felt rushed. Our guide Jeanie was a wealth of information and made sure we all were included. Highly recommend this tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment of the tour was going underground to see Churchill’s War rooms. This was a fascinating experience to see where the pivotal decisions of WWII were made. "

David

Tour: 05/14/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized itinerary with knowledgeable guide. Good amount of time spent at highlights.

Thomas

Tour: 05/14/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall tour was outstanding. Loved London (our first time there) but hopefully not our last., Our tour guide, Jeanie, was knowledgable, organized and kept the tour moving along. Funny too. The amount of walking was just right and the list of sites and dinners was great. Hotel was perfectly located, clean and the staff was friendly and professional. The hotel itself was a bit worn and tired looking though. Could use a serious refresh of physical building.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many...Tower of London. Loved the Underground! "

Nancy

Tour: 05/14/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First time to London, first Rick Steves tour for me and my daughter. I'm so grateful we had Jeannie as our tour guide, she was perfect. So knowledgeable, personable and love, loved her sense of humor! We learned how to take the "tube". We did and saw so much but never felt rushed. Every day we had free time to explore on our own, Jeannie would give recommendations and let us know the best way to get back to the hotel. The location was the best, situated close to all the sites. Jeannie is a gem!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to say, considering everything we did. The Tower was amazing, so much history. Westminster and the British Museum. Riding the double decker and the food tour around Spitalfields Market is so memorable. Can't wait to go back!"

Ellen

Tour: 05/07/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St Paul tour"

Steve

Tour: 05/07/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour.....saw lots in London and our guide was fantastic!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really enjoyed seeing the London Theatre district."

Ken

Tour: 05/07/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Blair

Tour: 05/07/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Due to the coronation occurring the day prior to the start of the tour, the itinerary was changed slightly but we did not miss out on anything. Jeanie was wonderful and through her expert guidance we were able to see everything we wanted to see when on our own time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are too many “wow” moments to choose just one. Due to the coronation, all of London was decorated and sparkling for our visit. Store fronts were covered with flowers and other decorations and the monuments were all shining with their newly applied gold leaf. "

Tom

Tour: 05/07/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved it, wish I had more time in London, plenty to see. 10+ miles a day for seven straight days. Need new feet.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Brian leading the tour through Saint Paul’s. Also enjoyed the food tour of the East End"

Marcia

Tour: 05/07/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I so much appreciated having Jeanie Carmichael as our tour guide. She was ever so helpful, informative and enjoyable. I very much liked having the history of sites explained to us as well as details I never knew about in London.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of my favorites was being introduced to areas I hadn't known about - East End, on the food tour, and Borough Market which I loved. You are right about the grilled cheese sandwiches, and I suggest you add the lavender lemonade across from Kappacasein Dairy, at Marche du Quartier."

Alison

Tour: 05/07/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

London was spectacular! It was so much fun being in London during the Coronation. The city was decorated and there was a celebratory atmosphere. Our tour guide was wonderful and very knowledgeable. A lot was packed into 7 days. It was easy to get around the city on the Tube. I wish we had more time when visiting the British Museum. Took a day trip to Cambridge and Oxford the day before our tour started and really enjoyed both locations. Also, the hotel was in a very good location.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the Tower of London! Seeing the Crown Jewels up close (especially after watching the Coronation) was exciting. I also thoroughly enjoyed our English Tea. "

Jessica

Tour: 04/23/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We have been talking about going to London for years. The Rick Steves trip was perfect! We simply showed up and the rest was planned for us. We saw everything with a great guide and wonderful group of people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many! We were there one week before the coronation so that was exciting. Gillian was able to adapt our tour as needed and it all worked!"

Martha

Tour: 04/23/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour and wonderful way to see and experience London.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey so full of history."

Raymond

Tour: 04/23/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First and foremost, it starts with Gillian Chadwick our guide, she was amazing!!! Rick Steves' has a gem with Gillian as a representative of the tours. Thank you!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Again, I don't know where to start, everything on the tour was a "Wow" moment for us. I would have to say Westminster Abbey knowing that the Coronation was going to happen a week after we departed London."

Nora

Tour: 04/23/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My week in London was fabulous! It was my second time to take this tour and I enjoyed it even more the second time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The food! We had the best time on the local East End food walk learning about the history and culture and the food stops were amazing!"

Kathleen

Tour: 04/23/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fun, fast paced tour of London. We got loaded Oyster cards & traveled on the Underground, trains, buses & walking. Loved the pace & exploring this great city.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My WoW was my independent time. Met up with a friend from the past. Also loved exploring the street art. There is so much creativity."

Jacki

Tour: 04/23/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were one week ahead of the coronation, and our tour could not have been better organized. Our guide did an amazing juggling act, and it all went very well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was personally able to pay my respects to the Queen and her Prince at St. Georges, Windsor Castle. It was a very busy site, and folks were doing a great job moving through the chapel in an orderly manner."

John

Tour: 04/23/23

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Good but pace each day could have been slower. I run and carry my golf bag each day and I struggled to keep up

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Own air market, buying Stilton cheese."

Thomas

Tour: 04/23/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was interesting, fun and informative. At times the public transportation was a bit intimidating, but that was part of the learning experience. It prepared me for future visits on my own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking along the river Thames and seeing the Parliament Building. "

James

Tour: 04/23/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Richard

Tour: 04/23/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful time on this tour and would highly recommend it. The tour had a good mix of planned activities and free time. I saw everything I wanted to see in London. The tour guide, Gillian, was fabulous and my fellow travelers were so nice and very fun to be with. Everything was well organized and we were able to make some itinerary adjustments because of the preparation for the King's coronation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment in the tour was seeing St. Paul's cathedral. "

Steven

Tour: 04/23/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

After participating in the tour we were very glad that we did it. It provided a great introduction to London and we are looking forward to coming back.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the bright and beautiful Great Clock of Westminster."

Carol

Tour: 04/23/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Michelle

Tour: 04/23/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide, Gillian, was fantastic! She made every part of the country and city come alive with her wonderful knowledge.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tower of London.....wow, the history! It was truly amazing to see the Crown Jewels (some items weren't available due to preparation for the coronation). The grounds were beautiful as was the church and seeing the ravens interaction with a Beefeater. The multiple steps up the tower were well worth it! Also loved the opening ceremony and the Beefeater history presentation. "

Rhonda

Tour: 04/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great first tour!! Our guide, Tom, was fantastic and the activities were wonderful. I had been to London a few times before but there were plenty of new things to see and learn.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The day spent in Windsor was fantastic. I really appreciated the flexibility within the day to wither stay longer or head home with the tour guide."

Peggy

Tour: 04/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a gorgeous city, and so much fun! Very active, still managed to get in pre and post activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have to say, Tom Hooper was my wow moment! He is an incredible guide, brought so much to the tour. He is so knowledgeable, personable, and loves to share. He made the culture and history come alive for us."

Randall

Tour: 04/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour. Our tour guide, Tom was exceptional. He has great sense of humor, in addition to his incredible fund of knowledge of history and culture of London . Fellow tour group members were all interesting and fun. Most were RS tour veterans and we seemed to get on really well. Hotel was really good with great location near tube stop and close to Green Park and Buckingham palace , which would be our daily morning walk path. Great laundry really close as were pubs and restaurants

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Overall Wow was being in London just before coronation of King Charles III. Seeing all the flags and grandstands assembled around Buckingham palace, the 1000 year old coronation throne being worked on at Westminster Abbey, visiting the Tower Castle with Crown Jewels a few of which were missing ,replaced with small signs “currently in use”"

Steve

Tour: 04/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Tom Hooper was by far the best tour guide we’ve ever had!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting started a little early to see the changing of the guard at the Tower of London, and then on another day, seeing the changing of the guard at Windsor Palace. "

Laura

Tour: 04/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tom made our first tour experience outstanding. He was kind, funny, and so interesting to talk with. Thank you Tom!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Crown Jewels! "

Jennifer

Tour: 04/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Such a wonderful way to visit London especially for the first time!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Windsor Castle was amazing"

Wayne

Tour: 04/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It has been twenty years since I was last in London. This city is exciting as ever. Spending an entire week here is a bonus. The tour took us into areas and sights that you might not normally see. We were fortunate to be in London just prior to the coronation as most sights were open. Staying in the same hotel for all seven nights is a bonus as not having to pack and unpack is priceless. Overall I had a great time on this tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St James park, the Tower of London and The British Museum are all great places to visit but without a doubt my WOW moment was to tour St George’s Chapel in Windsor. The history of this Chapel is endless and to be able to pay our respects to Queen Elizabeth is a moment I will always remember."

Griffith

Tour: 04/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

London in 7 days was a whirl wind of a tour. We jam packed a tremendous amount into the 7 day tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a few wow moments....Tower of London and Windsor Castle."

Susan

Tour: 04/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved this tour - my first Rick Steves tour! I can see why other attendees were on their 4th or 5th tour. I found the pace just right for me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Highlights were Windsor Castle, St Paul's Cathedral and the Globe theater. Actually, I loved everything!"

Robert

Tour: 04/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Rick Steves tours are well organized and prepared to give us an exceptional vacation experience. I admire the depth of preparation involved that the experience smooth and enjoyable..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A standout was our hotel in Mayfair London. Safe, quiet, polite and easy access to the underground to visit the great sites .... West Minster Abbey, St Pauls, Tower of London, Windsor Castle, Globe Theater, West End Shows, famour museums, Harrods, and East End. Also, very easy access to a wide variety of restaurants just across the street."

Margaret

Tour: 04/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First time taking a week long city tour and it was wonderful. London was at its finest (except for the cooler weather) and it was nice to unpack and use the Hotel as a base for walking and exploring. The itinerary was brilliant with lots of teaching moments, the right amount of museums and cathedrals and the nicest group of tour members.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having been to London before, I was used to the glamour and buzz of the city. My Wow moment was seeing St. George's Chapel in Windsor. Being Canadian, I got a bit emotional seeing the resting spot of Queen Elizabeth. Loved Windsor Palace and the surrounding countryside."

Marcia

Tour: 04/16/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed our guide, Tom Hooper, immensely. He was especially kind when I lost my train ticket and was entertaining and attentive to us all, individually and as a group. And he was knowledgeable and interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That's too difficult to answer. Churchill's war room was a highlight. The food tour on the East End was a welcome change from the glitz of historic buildings...but they were interesting also."

Dixie

Tour: 02/19/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved Jeanie. She is the perfect tour guide. She’s caring, knowledgeable, and doesn’t take herself too seriously. It was a great group of people on the tour. We did just enough each day with plenty of free time. I appreciated how well organized everything was for the tour. The hotel was in a great location. I loved using the underground and the buses.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would say the best moments were being able to see four West End shows, two musicals and two plays, during our time on the tour. I’m glad I wasn’t so exhausted from touring during the day to take advantage of what London has to offer. "

Terry

Tour: 02/19/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My daughter and I had fantastic trip. Jeanne, our tour guide was so delightful and knowledgeable. She had the best stories and kept everyone engaged. We definitely left wanted to visit again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many “Wow” moments. If I had to chose one, it would be our afternoon tea. So much fun."

Leslie

Tour: 02/19/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The hotel was comfortable and in a great location. The tour group was the perfect size and our tour leader did a great job. Every day was well-planned and interesting, the atmosphere was friendly, the level of activity was active but not overwhelming, and we had free time every day to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The trip to Windsor was beautiful."

Joni

Tour: 02/19/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every moment, every detail was well done and well handled. As a project manager, I was impressed at every turn and thank your company and especially our exemplary guide Jeanie for a wonderful trip I will treasure forever.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That is really hard to say - there are so many to pick from. Windsor and the Globe Tour are certainly at or near the top."

Patrick

Tour: 02/19/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our third Rick Steves tour and the best one yet. Our guide, Jeanie Carmichael, was brilliant: well organized, energetic, funny and absolutely loaded with information. We started the trip a bit concerned about the London weather in February but it wasn't an issue; my two umbrellas never left the room and daily temperatures in the low to mid-fifties were perfect for brisk walking. Spending the entire week in the same hotel was a nice change from wider-ranging tours with frequent moves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"On Day 1 we were 24 strangers, sitting quietly waiting or Jeanie to begin the kick-off meeting and looking like a bunch of nervous grade schoolers sitting outside the Principal's office. Six days later we were together in a local pub, having a drink and the chatter was loud enough to wake the dead. That was my "wow" moment: Rick Steves tours don't just show you around, they foster camaraderie, friendship, and memories that will last a lifetime. Our group photo is now my computer wallpaper! "

Jane

Tour: 02/19/23

Wonderful! Our guide Jeanie C was outstanding, making every activity fun and informative. The hotel was good, the group meals were good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I'm not sure about "wow," but I loved the East End walk and food tour. That's a part of London we'd never visited, and I loved the vibrancy and energy. I also particularly enjoyed the private tour of Shakespeare's Globe. "

Jean

Tour: 10/09/22

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

It was exhausting! I’ve been on a Rick Steves tour in the past and thought this one was very rigorous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Windsor Castle "

Linda

Tour: 10/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Phenomenal! Our first visit to London and we definitely learned the "tube" thanks to the Oyster Card provided by the tour. The Tower of London was terrific. Jeanie our tour guide was very informative and had a wonderful sense of humor, just loved her commentary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My daughter and I totally enjoyed the Windsor Castle day of the tour. It was a perfect excursion out of London which gave us the independence to dine on our own and return on the train whenever we desired."

Susan

Tour: 10/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

There was such a great variety of places to see and so much information from Jeanie it was all wonderful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey was my "wow" moment. Such history and beauty all in one place!"

Marilyn

Tour: 10/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoying it very much. The company was good and our guide was outstanding! I learned so much!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St. Paul’s Cathedral."

Karen

Tour: 10/09/22

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

A very experienced & knowledgeable & good humored tour guide with the ability to provide a "Plan B" when events prevented Plan A. A lot of walking; guide very helpful in teaching to use the subway & buses. Good variety of places to visit & experience. Hotel was very good & good location. With only 1 week, it is more difficult to become friends & create a cohesive group than during longer tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That London police were allowing the dozen "Just Stop Oil" protesters (each day in different spots) to create enormous traffic snarls & also very serious emergency ambulance preventions. There were more police than protesters each time. "

Jeffrey

Tour: 10/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We found the tour to be well organized and easy to navigate. The guides were excellent. I event think the guests were wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was just blown away by Windsor Castle. But I also loved the Churchill bunker and the Tower and St. Paul's and Westminster."

Susan

Tour: 10/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The people were great, the place was great, and our guide, Jeannie, was spectacular.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tower of London was epic."

Adam

Tour: 10/02/22

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

It was a nice trip. Great guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Out on our own, we went to a jazz club, theater, different restaurants. Just the city and the ease of getting around was very nice. "

Suzanne

Tour: 10/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So informative, saw beautiful things every day and so many historical sites! Our tour guide, Robert Halkett was terrific! He was very organized, you felt like we all were his top priority and he navigated changes that had to be made seamlessly. Love the group, all interesting and very nice people! This tour covered a lot of ground in a week!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So hard to pick just one! St. Paul’s is huge and has such a presence in the city. Windsor and seeing Queen Elizabeth’s gravesite, but I esp. was surprised at how cool The Globe Theatre was. London is such a beautiful city, it Wowed me!"

Yvonne

Tour: 10/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very relaxing after just completing another Rick Steves tour. Provided a much needed “step down” experience before heading home. Tour allowed for a lot of free time to explore London independently if desired or with the tour group. Staying in one hotel was nice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Trip to Windsor. I enjoyed the town and the castle. "

David

Tour: 10/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nice accommodations. Great tour guide - knowledgeable, concerned with health and safety.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey, Windsor, the Jewels."

Colleen S

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide was Gillian Chadwick and she was excellent. We appreciated her foodie expertise, patience, efficiency, and friendliness. As we had been on an RS tour to England in 2018, we were familiar with the tube & trains; however this time we noted (a) more mental fatigue from dealing with the crowds and loud mechanical noises on the tube and (b) nonavailability of Houses of Parliament tours because tours weren't restarting until Oct 15 (after our departure) following the queens funeral.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the British museum was my favorite tour activity -- so much history from multiple cultures so well displayed. My favorite "wow" events outside of the tour were (a) exploring Cambridge by foot and learning more history/seeing architecture from a Scudamore punting tour and (b) seeing a Shakespeare play at the Globe."

Sam

Tour: 09/18/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our overall experience was as positive as we hoped it would be. Jeanie, our tour guide, was excellent in every way. She even managed to deliver perfect weather for the week.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey was the most impressive place, among a week of visiting impressive places."

Gery

Tour: 09/18/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fabulous tour of London. Because we were there during the queen's funeral, we got to experience the event firsthand! Our tour guide, Jeannie, was terrific in making adjustments to our itinerary, so we didn't miss a thing. Her positive attitude made it quite an adventure for all of us as we battled the crowds and closed venues. We had a wonderful group of fellow travelers. The tour guides at the museums, Westminster Abbey, the food tour and the Globe theater were terrific.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick just one--Loved the entire tour: Churchill war rooms were outstanding. Loved the food courts we visited and the eating tour of East London. We even had Tea on the day of the funeral which was wonderful. We visited Henry VIII's Hampton court instead of Windsor and it was remarkable. But I think the attitude that our guide, Jeannie, presented to all of us in this trying week due to the country shutting down for the funeral, made it so much fun for all of us. She is a "gem". "

Dana

Tour: 09/18/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was the 7 day best of London. We knew it was going to get interesting quickly since our itinerary had us scheduled at Westminister Abbey during the Queen's funeral. In addition, Windsor Castle was closed to visitors. Our tour guide, Jeannie, did a wonderful job of adjusting our rescheduling and adding additional stops. We were still able to tour Westminister Abbey and replaced Windsor Castle with Hampton Court. We had a very friendly group that all shared the love of travel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day there were "wow" moments, it is hard to pick a favorite. Westminister Abbey was probably my favorite due to the blend or beauty, history, and variety of things to see. Our guide definitely added to the experience with her knowledge."

Kim

Tour: 09/18/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a phenomenal tour! We toured London during the most historic of time as Queen Elizabeth II funeral occurred on Day 2. Being amongst the British people during that time of mourning will forever be etched in memory. Our tour guide was outstanding in her knowledge, story telling and sense of humor. London is a special place and we were blessed to experience it with an outstanding Rick Steves Tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Tower of London and seeing the Crown Jewels were unforgettable. The Crown, orb and sceptre had been on the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II during her funeral ceremony just 24 hours prior and we thought they may not yet had been returned BUT they were there on display! It seemed a special moment for us to view those priceless historic sympbols. "

Glenn

Tour: 09/18/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our second Rick Steves tour, and we scheduled the London tour because of recommendations from other members of our first tour. It was everything we hoped for.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were two: The Tower of London and the Globe Theater."

Amy

Tour: 09/11/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We arrived the day after the Queen had passed. A sad, but exciting time to be in London. Our tour guide ensured a fun informative time was had - despite changes / closures due to the Queen's mourning.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"King Charles and the Queen Consort drove right by us on their way to Buckingham Palace! "

Gary

Tour: 09/11/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a week to be in London!! I arrived the day after The Queen's death. For obvious reasons, some of our plans were altered. We weren't able to sea Westminster Abbey and Windson Castle but our guide, Gillian, scrambled to find alternative activities like a boat ride on the Thames and a visit to Greenwich. She was working her phone franticly to see how events and places would be affected and to find other options. Otherwise, it was a truly historic time to be in London and just by chance.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was more than a moment. It was seeing how deeply emotional the people of England were to the Queen's death. I got a chance to talk to a couple of people who had traveled to London from around England to be a part of things and pay their respects. They would almost break down crying when talking about the Queen. I think their emotional reaction was something that we in American cannot fully appreciate. And that in spite of anyone's opinion on the concept of the monarchy itself. "

Jaclyn

Tour: 09/11/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very busy! Saw so much but did have a ton of time to really explore too in depth. We were able to see so much!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We saw the king! "

Christine

Tour: 09/11/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed the tour very much despite the unexpected changes on the itinerary due to Queen Elizabeth II passing. Gillian, our tour guide, did a remarkable job in filling in new activities for the ones that were canceled.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Tower Bridge wowed me! I saw the bridge in pictures only ever since I grew up in Hong Kong. I couldn't believe that it was in front of me, pitch pitch. Secondly, the crown jewels were amazing!! Again, pictures in my head for years came alive."

Diane

Tour: 09/04/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Tom was very knowledgeable. I learned a lot about the history of London.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring Windsor Castle"

Sandra

Tour: 09/04/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So much packed into one week! Tom's availability to explain things and answer questions was so appreciated by all of us. Thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sadly, the Queen died while we were there. We were overwhelmed by the country's response, especially the sea of flowers in Green Park. From the tour, perhaps the little details at Windsor: doorknobs in one room with St. George killing the dragon. The plasterwork? on the walls and over doorways. "

Dana

Tour: 09/04/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tom was a fantastic guide, so knowledgable. Saw the full range of anticipated sights and experiences and enjoyed them thoroughly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring Windsor Castle and finding out the Queen had passed on the train heading back to London."

Margaret

Tour: 09/04/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Tom Hooper, was fun and very knowledgeable. Seeing London was a breeze because of the tour. It was sad but so memorable to have been there during the Queen's passing. Tom was very moved by her death.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being at Windsor Castle as the Queen was passing and seeing the love of the London residents for her. My favorite part of the tour was Tower of London followed by the Churchill War Rooms. Funny side note: on the bus Tom was going over our upcoming itinerary. I heard him say we were going to the 'Church of Warrens' on Wednesday afternoon. I was so disappointed because I thought we weren't going to the Churchill War Rooms. We had fun with that for the rest of the the tour."

Scott

Tour: 09/04/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed our walking tour of London and our guide, Tom, was a major reason along with the overall itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several great moments but the Tower of London was especially interesting. However, being in London at the time of the passing of the Queen was historic. My wife and I were in a small restaurant and an older (80's) gentleman turned to the other diners and respectfully held out his cell phone for all to see a news bulletin on the screen; "the Queen has died", it was very moving."

David

Tour: 09/04/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

On balance, the tour met my expectations for a Rick Steve's city tour: an excellent guide (Tom), excellent local guides, and a well thought out set of activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although it was not part of the tour per se, my wow moment was definitely Queen Elizabeth's death and the British public's reaction to it. Nothing will ever match that experience."

Sheilah

Tour: 09/04/22

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The week before our Rick Steve's tour we went on a Viking River Cruise from Paris to Normandy and back to Paris. The following week we went on the Rick Steve's tour. Although we enjoyed our Viking River Cruise, we enjoyed the Rick Steve's tour more. We think that speaks for itself. We have been on Caravan and Globus bus tours and our Rick Steve's Tour Guide Tom was the BEST.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were at Windsor castle when we were notified that the Queen was not doing well and the family was on their way to Scotland. We were in London when Queen Elizabeth II passed away. Our hotel was 1/4 mile from Buckingham palace so many of us immediately walked to the palace to pay our respects. Throughout this process our Guide was Exemplary, to say the least."

Jay

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Felt as if we visited the top stops in this great city. Appreciated Tom’s effort and his attention to the needs of his guests.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We greatly enjoyed and appreciated our hotel’s proximity to Barkley Square, Shepherd Market, Green Park, Buckingham Palace, and a convenient tube station."

Susan

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour included many key sites and experiences of London. We loved our location in central London that was so close to Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly, and the parks. Our guide, Tom Hooper, was wonderful and helped to create a memorable experience while managing our group with humor and intelligence. He taught us so much! We also liked our walking culinary tour in the East End. Our visit has made the Queen’s funeral so much more real to us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s cathedral. Seeing Lincoln’s statue on Parliament Square was also great. My greatest surprise was the enormity and detail of the Prince Albert Memorial."

Patricia

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We saw everything that we expected to see and more. Loved our tour guide, Tom and others that we had.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved the Winston Churchill Museum and the walk in the financial district."

Mary Jane

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent. Interesting sites I had not previously experienced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Saint Paul’s Cathedral"

Jo

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized, rich in variety, and very full. I got my money's worth for sure. I liked the mixture of walking and public transportation, our tour guide and local guides, a mix of learning and experiences - learning about the history and people of London and experiencing the sights and sounds of this incredible city. I liked having a small tour group that was very pleasant and as a solo traveler, I appreciate being able to be part of a tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This was my second Rick Steves 7-day London tour, so I didn't have any "wow" moments that took me aback this time, but I'm totally okay with that. I enjoyed seeing sights for the second time - Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, and Windsor Castle to name a few. "

Addison

Tour: 08/14/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was amazing, we went to historical sites along with fun locations for tourists. The tour made sure to include many different locations and opportunities for our tour group to experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was when we stood under the beautiful dome of St. Paul’s cathedral, you could feel the history and power of the cathedral."

Jerry

Tour: 08/14/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First time taking a group tour and was a little hesitant however found the group, tour, and guide outstanding! Our guide, Gillian, was fantastic! She is funny, sweet, and efficient!!!! No long lines or wait times, she took care of all the tickets and got us where we were going and into the sights ahead of or without having to deal with the crowds! That alone was worth it, not to mention how great she was, super knowledgeable and funny!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Churchill War Rooms! and drinks with the group at the pub! We all hit it off and even spent personal time outside of the tour together!"

Jason

Tour: 08/14/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Gillian was fantastic, she helped with dinner reservations, knew so much about everything and made it a great time. I enjoyed every stop on the tour, I only wish I had 2 more weeks to take in everything.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abby, was my favorite site. All of the history, and art, but my favorite moment was the Globe Theater tour, our guide was so knowledgeable and made the theater come alive, and was so fun."

Colleen

Tour: 08/14/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved seeing London through the eyes of a professional. Gillian was marvelous and the tour hit all the highlights while still allowing us free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The food tour. It was great. I really loved the tour guide. "

Lisa

Tour: 08/14/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Dawn

Tour: 08/07/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was fantastic and we loved every minute of it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring St. Paul's Cathedral was probably a favorite highlight for me, and touring all of the cathedrals was a very moving experience."

Barbara

Tour: 08/07/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

All visits to points of interest on our Best of London in 7 days tour were well organized, and the meals we shared together were delightful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The day we had a tour of Westminster Abbey followed by afternoon tea fit for an English Lord. "

Mary

Tour: 08/07/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

John was the best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Crown Jewels"

Gretta

Tour: 08/07/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was absolutely fantastic. I loved seeing in person what I have studied for years.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Windsor Castle"

John

Tour: 07/24/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well paced. Enough activity to enjoy as well as free time to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Shepherd's Market. Half a block from the hotel. It was like walking into Diagon Ally in Harry Potter, except with restaurants and pubs. Ended almost every night at one of the pubs."

Ira

Tour: 07/24/22

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The tour provided a really good overview of London. The many destinations were well-chosen and gave us as good a sense of the city as we could hope for in the time we had. The only thing we were not satisfied with was our lead guide, John, who was not up to the standard we expect from Rick Steves. Our local guides, by contrast, were uniformly strong.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think the food tour of East London was probably our favorite event — the guide was outstanding and the tour itself was very interesting and tasty. We also loved the Globe Theater tour. The guide there was remarkably good. But more broadly, we really enjoyed just getting to know London better. The tour did an excellent job of that."

Teresa

Tour: 07/24/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour could best be described as most of London’s major sites in six days. Our tour guide was great and our companions were companionable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me the wow moment was the tour of the globe theater. It was lovely having one of the actors take us on a tour. A close second would be the tour of Saint Paul’s."

John

Tour: 07/24/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First time to London. Had a great time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Tower of London."

Robert

Tour: 07/24/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I've been on multiple Rick Steves' tours and all have been great. London had so many places to see and we were centrally located to almost all of them. Food was better than expected and the ethnic diversity within the city provided for many culturally diverse and unique dining experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I've been to London before so my "wow" was probably Windsor Castle. That said, if this were my first time I'm pretty sure my "wow" would have been the Tower of London or Westminster Abby. "

Linda

Tour: 07/17/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved it all! Well organized, fabulous guide, nice central hotel, great use of public transportation and a terrific group of traveling companions. All the sights and walks were very interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I especially loved the tour of Westminster Abbey. The tour was very thorough and the Abbey was beautiful inside and out. "

Sharon

Tour: 07/17/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Given we were in London during the historical heatwave, our guide, Tom Hooper, did an excellent job finding shade and cool spaces! Tom was most excellent and entertaining.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Believe it or not, the transportation system. I love learning the Tube and bus routes. I always enjoy the various tours, but in London it was the transportation system. 😆"

When To Go & Weather

Any time between April and December is a good time to visit London. However, the months of April, May, September, and October are best for combining the convenience of peak season with generally good weather and lighter crowds. Summer has its advantages, with long days and the best weather (though never guaranteed). November and December offer fewer crowds and the festive fun of the holiday season.

England/London

Hotels & Flights

Tour Hotels

In case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations, the contact information for the tour's hotel is included in your tour confirmation email as well as in the Itinerary section of your tour account. One month prior to the tour departure, you'll find the directions to your tour hotel in the Documents section of your tour account.

Flights

Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements and transfers are completely up to you.

Most tour members arrange to fly in and out of London's Heathrow (LHR) or Gatwick (LGW) airports.

We suggest arriving a day or two before your tour begins to allow ample time to get over jet lag and be well-rested for the first few days of your tour. For more information about transportation options for getting to and from your tour, see your Rick Steves London guidebook.