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London · Greater London · England
London In A Day: Tower of London Tour, Westminster Abbey & River Cruise
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From $331.19 per person
Current Project Expedition rate
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Project Expedition
The Experience
What your day looks like
Join us for London's can't-miss walking tour of the city’s most popular attractions. Visit the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, cruise the Thames in a comfortable riverboat, and so much more We thrive on river life, embarking every 20 to 40 minutes depending on the season, ensuring you experience London's landmarks like never before. Our Sightseeing Cruise begins from four prime Thames locations: Westminster Pier, London Eye Pier, Tower Pier, and Greenwich Pier. We've strategically chosen these four piers to strike the perfect balance between easy access to main attractions and maximizing your sightseeing cruise time. From the majestic Tower of London to the iconic Houses of Parliament, the lively South Bank, and historic Greenwich, soak in the beauty of London's riverside from a unique perspective. Our aim? To elevate your river cruise into something extraordinary. Picture panoramic views from our riverboats, offering both an open-air upper deck for basking in the scenery or a cosy, heated indoor saloon. Plus, there's a café-bar and restrooms onboard for your refreshment needs and onboard activities including engaging activity books to keep the little ones entertained throughout the journey. Our expert captains narrate the journey and provide commentary in English, offering insights into the city's history and sights, and providing a fresh perspective on London's rich story. For our overseas guests, we also provide commentary in 14 different languages via City Experiences app. Our sightseeing ticket is perfect for those who like to plan their day as they go. Pre-book your ticket and arrive at any of our piers at any time to hop on board. Sites Visited*: Westminster Abbey (9AM tour only)** Tower of London Tower Bridge (exterior) Buckingham Palace (exterior) Trafalgar Square Nelson's Column Changing of the Guard (if running) Horse Guards Parade St. James's Park Houses of Parliament (exterior) *Please note that some of the above will be viewed from the river cruise. **Please Note: The 10 AM tour does not include entry to the Abbey. Instead, your guide will provide an introduction to the Abbey from the exterior.
At a Glance
The experience, in brief
- Check all of London's top sights off your list in one day.
- Witness the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony.
- Marvel at the breathtaking Royal Crown Jewels.
- Sit back and relax on a Thames river cruise.
- Skip the line at the Tower of London.
Detailed Itinerary
The journey, in full
Experience the quintessential sights of one of the world's most fascinating and dynamic cities on this full-day London walking tour. From Westminster Abbey to the Tower of London and even the River Thames, this London city tour is proof that limited time doesn't have to mean a limited view of the UK capital. Soak up London's key attractions in just one action-packed day, with all the logistics handled for you as you explore in the company of a knowledgeable Blue Badge guide. See London from every angle on this complete, full-day tour, exploring on foot, by water & even from above. This tour covers more ground than any other. Your morning starts near Westminster Abbey, where you'll catch a glimpse of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, before entering the Abbey at opening time to go directly to the Coronation Chair. Learn about the history of the building—England’s most important church—and visit the final resting places of a few of the countless monarchs and luminaries buried inside, from kings and queens to great writers and scientists. It’s a short dash from there to Buckingham Palace, where you'll catch the Changing of the Guard if it's taking place on the day of your tour. The area in front of the Palace is mobbed, but you'll have a great alternative viewpoint. You’ll also swing by the Horse Guards Parade—home to the lesser-known but arguably more impressive King's Life Guard—before visiting Trafalgar Square. After a break for lunch, you’ll board a Thames sightseeing cruise complete with lively and entertaining commentary from the crew. It's a fun and relaxing way to journey to your last visit of the day, one that's sure to be a highlight: the Tower of London. With pre-reserved tickets, you’ll get inside quickly to enjoy a tour of its fascinating (and sometimes gruesome) history. Your full-day London tour comes to an end at the Jewel House inside the Tower. While your guide can't accompany you inside to see the Crown Jewels, they'll give you a primer on the top pieces to look out for and their significance so you can check them out on your own.
Your Itinerary
Your day, step by step
Day 1
London
Sightseeing at Westminster Abbey.
Continued
London
Sightseeing at Big Ben (London).
Continued
London
Sightseeing at Buckingham Palace.
Continued
London
Sightseeing at Trafalgar Square.
Continued
London
Boating at River Thames.
Continued
London
Sightseeing at Tower of London.
Continued
London
Sightseeing at St Paul's Cathedral - London.
Continued
London
Sightseeing at Palace of Westminster.
Continued
London
Sightseeing at St James's Palace.
Before You Go
What to know before booking
Included
Skip-the-line Tower of London tour and tickets Skip-the-line Westminster Abbey tickets (9AM tour only) Thames River boat ride with City Cruises Expert local guide Headsets Highlights
Not Included
Food & Beverages Gratuities to guides are appreciated but never obligatory Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
What to Bring
Comfortable walking shoes (approx 20,000 steps although plenty of stops and breaks)
Restrictions
Our group tour utilizes multiple areas that are not wheelchair accessible/mobility friendly. Photographs are not permitted inside Westminster Abbey. We ask that all guests (including children) bring ID on the day of their tour. All guests must pass through security. Please note that for security reasons bag searches will take place at Westminster Abbey and at the Tower of London.
Meeting & Pickup
Parliament Square, Viscount Palmerston Statue, London, England, SW1P 3JX, GB Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets at the Viscount Palmerston Statue in Parliament Square. End at Greater London, Tower of London, London, England, EC3N 4AB, GB
Languages Offered
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Planning Notes
Hotel pickup offered: No Confirmation: Automatic
Traveler Impressions
What travelers are saying
2026-06-01
5.00 / 5
Dominic was an excellent tour guide. Incredibly knowledgeable and patient. He made adjustments to our itinerary so we could watch the Royal troops/guards practice marching in preparation for the King's birthday celebration in June. We were very fortunate that it happened to occur on the day we were touring. We had a few health issues with other customers and he able handled those. I would sign up again for the same tour.
2026-04-01
5.00 / 5
Nigel and this tour were amazing. So much covered in one day, but Nigel made everything interesting and fun, even for teenagers. This shouldn’t be missed.
2025-08-24
5.00 / 5
Great tour with a very knowledgable guide. She was able to get us to all of the best places at just the right time to see the pageantry of London. I highly recommend this if you only have a few days and want to see a lot.
2025-08-10
5.00 / 5
Our tour guide was great, very knowledgeable and she timed everything perfectly so we got to see a lot in one day. I highly recommend this tour.
2025-07-08
4.00 / 5
Loved Mary
2025-05-31
5.00 / 5
This was a fantastic tour with an incredibly knowledgeable tour guide. It was a wonderful day and we saw and learned so much. It was my fourth time to London and I still learn new things.
2025-05-25
5.00 / 5
Great walking tour. Lots of sites easy pace 8500 steps with lots of breaks stops photo oops
2024-10-06
5.00 / 5
It was a wonderful small group tour( 12)! We covered so much history, saw so many iconic sites and experienced all that London had to offer with the limited time we had in this wonderful city! Highly recommend this tour!
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