Itinerary

1. Tour Meeting Point

   • The tour will start at Piccadilly Circus outside the Criterion Theatre. 
   • Here, your guide will explain the tour itinerary, what you will see as part of the tour and some of the history of Piccadilly Circus. They will also reveal one of the best-known mistakes in London, which is right before your eyes!

2. Burlington House

   • As we stroll down Piccadilly, we’ll pause to admire Burlington House—the grand home of the Royal Academy of Arts and several prestigious royal societies, including the Royal Society of Chemistry. Did you know they have a truly unexpected honorary member?

3. Hatchards

   • Steeped in regal prestige, Hatchards has held multiple Royal Warrants, having supplied books to the British monarchy for over two centuries—from Queen Charlotte to King Charles III. 
   • Walking through its hallowed halls, you tread the same floorboards as literary legends like Oscar Wilde and Lord Byron, who once perused its shelves alongside members of the British Royal Family. 
   • Whether you’re drawn by its gilt-edged heritage, the thrill of holding a first edition fit for a palace library, or simply the aroma of aged leather and parchment, Hatchards offers a slice of living history. 
   • For book lovers, it’s less a shop than a pilgrimage—where every spine on the shelf whispers a story, and even a quick visit feels like stepping into a novel’s most enchanting chapter

4. Fortnum and Mason

   • A visit to Fortnum & Mason isn’t just a shopping trip—it’s a masterclass in British sophistication. This legendary Piccadilly institution, with its gilded clocks and liveried doormen, has been the epitome of refined taste since 1707. 
   • Its royal pedigree is undeniable: as purveyors of fine foods to the Crown, Fortnum’s holds multiple Royal Warrants, and whispers linger of royals browsing its halls both in disguise and with much fanfare! A favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, as well as King Edward VII, Fortnum and Mason is still one of the places in London where even a commoner is treated like a Countess!

   Today, its legendary Food Hall remains a sensory delight—a treasure trove of velvety Stilton, jewel-like preserves, and the rarest teas in the world. Though our time here is fleeting, even a whirlwind visit offers a taste of its magic. After all, where else can you leave with a hamper fit for a king… or at least feel like one for ten glorious minutes

5. St James's Street

   • As we walk down St James's Street you will have the chance to see some of the independent shops that have been a staple of Royal shopping for over three hundred years. 
   • As you wander past the shop that inspired the character of the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, you can stop and admire the stunning window displays. 
   • If you're quick, you might also have time to stop in Sir Winston Churchill's favourite Cigar Shop and the wineshop where King Charles buys his booze!

6. St James's Palace

   • Though often overlooked by visitors rushing to Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace remains one of London’s most fascinating royal secrets. 
   • As the only surviving Tudor palace in the city, its striking red-brick façade transports you back to the era of Henry VIII, who built it as a lavish hunting lodge in the 1530s. 
   • Beyond its picturesque courtyards lies a powerhouse of royal tradition—it’s here that the Accession Council proclaims new monarchs and where every coronation and state funeral has been planned for centuries. 
   • Peek through its gates to spot the Tudor-era Chapel Royal, still used by the Royal Family today.  From here, we will catch the start of the iconic Changing of the Guard ceremony in its quieter, more intimate setting. 
   • For history lovers, St James’s offers something rare: a chance to stand where kings and queens have shaped Britain’s destiny—without the crowds, but with all the grandeur.

7. Buckingham Palace

   • No visit to London is complete without beholding the magnificent Buckingham Palace—the iconic residence of Britain’s monarch and the backdrop to centuries of royal history. 
   • As you approach its grand façade, you’ll be struck by the palace’s gleaming gold-tipped gates, the famous balcony where the Royal Family waves to crowds during historic moments, and the meticulously polished Queen’s Guard standing motionless in their scarlet tunics and bearskin hats. 
   • From your viewing point at the bottom of the Mall, you can witness the world-famous Changing of the Guard ceremony—a dazzling spectacle of precision marching and military tradition set to rousing brass bands. 
   • As the ceremony happens your guide will explain the history of the scarlet uniforms, the bearskins caps, and why this historic ceremony has changed over the years. 

8. St James's Park

   • Nestled in the heart of royal London, St James’s Park offers an enchanting escape where nature, history, and pageantry intertwine. 
   • As the oldest of the capital’s eight Royal Parks, it boasts a uniquely picturesque landscape with its shimmering lake—home to pelicans gifted by a Russian ambassador in 1664—and vibrant flower beds that change with the seasons. 
   • The park serves as a living postcard of British heritage, framed by iconic landmarks like Buckingham Palace, the Horse Guards Parade, and St James’s Palace. 
   • As we stroll along tree-lined paths once trodden by Tudor monarchs, you might want to see if you can spot some of the park’s 15 species of waterfowl or the wild parrots now calling this park their home.  

9. Whitehall

   • A stroll down Whitehall is like walking through the living heart of British power and history—where the past and present of the United Kingdom’s government, military, and monarchy collide. 
   • This iconic street, lined with grand neoclassical buildings, serves as the nerve centre of the nation, housing the Prime Minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street, the Horse Guards Parade, and the Cabinet Office. 
   • History echoes at every turn: you’ll pass the Cenotaph, the nation’s solemn memorial to fallen soldiers, and the Banqueting House, the last surviving part of the Palace of Whitehall, where King Charles I was executed in 1649. The street comes alive with ceremonial splendour—from the Household Cavalry’s daily mounted guard changes to the annual Trooping the Colour parade. 
   • For those intrigued by politics, Whitehall offers a front-row seat to democracy in action, while history buffs can trace the footsteps of monarchs, revolutionaries, and statesmen. 
   • Whether you come for the architecture, the pageantry, or the thrill of standing where world-changing decisions are made, Whitehall delivers an unforgettable slice of British heritage in just half a mile.

10. Parliament Square

    • Parliament Square is London’s ultimate open-air museum of democracy, history, and protest – where the past 1,000 years of British power unfolds before your eyes. 
    • This UNESCO-listed square puts you at the crossroads of British civilization, surrounded by four iconic institutions: the Houses of Parliament with Big Ben’s towering clockface, Westminster Abbey’s Gothic spires where monarchs are crowned, the Supreme Court’s modern justice, and the medieval Westminster Hall that survived the Blitz. 
    • The square itself is a who’s who of British history, with statues of Churchill standing defiant, Mandela facing Parliament in permanent protest, and Suffragette Millicent Fawcett holding her “Courage Calls” banner. 
    • As we walk through the square, your guide will explain the importance of the buildings that surround you and the statues that line the square, and you can literally walk through constitutional history – from seeing Magna Carta-inspired motifs on the pavement to standing where the Gunpowder Plot conspirators were executed. At the end of the tour, you should be able to hear Big Ben’s chimes echo across the square. 

    Before your guide departs please feel free to ask them for directions to the place you plan to visit next.