Tours

Private London guided walking tours from Westminster to Hackney Wick.

First time in London or just want to maximise your time? Need to feel sure you’ll have a great experience? Want to pack in a lot without feeling rushed but also feel like you want to explore the city like a local? Check out This is London! either half or full-day.

“We had a terrific half day and saw so much!” (Stacey NYC)

Want to go deeper, or perhaps you are local? Check out the markets and street food/art tours or choose a pub tour? Can’t choose? Contact me to organise a combo!

“Simon was very personable and attentive to our requests throughout our walk. He has a vast store of London knowledge as well as many other European sites. His observational skills are phenomenal and made me more aware of my surroundings just being with him.“ (Ron, Texas)

This is London! A Huge Half-Day (10am or 2pm) £220 3.5hrs

Starting at Buckingham Palace, we’ll go via Westminster Abbey, Parliament and Whitehall to Trafalgar Square. On the way we can see the Changing of the Guard (Mo, We, Fr, Su) and horseback soldiers – iconic London scenes.

Then we’ll see some of Soho, Chinatown and/or Covent Garden and usually jump a bus east to locations like St Paul’s, Shakespeare’s Globe, Borough Market* and the Tower of London.

In the afternoon I usually run this in reverse, starting at Borough Market* so you have already feasted in this foodie heaven. Then we work our way back to Westminster for a military ceremony at 4pm at Horseguards where the cavalry are inspected.

* Borough Market is closed Mondays, but there are other great places to eat 🙂

This is London! One Big Day (10am) £390 7hrs

We’ll do all the above then in the afternoon we go where you like. Fancy a market? A pub? Or maybe you want to see more of Westminster at a slower pace? Perhaps you’d like to hang out with the cool kids in the hip happening area of Shoreditch and buy some cool clothes to show off in London? The city is our oyster!

“We had just landed and were very jet-lagged, but Simon somehow kept everyone engaged and energized. He was interesting, knowledgeable, and genuinely funny.” (Daniela, US)

London Pub Tours £120 plus drinks 3hrs

London pub culture is the best. I know, I know, I’m biased. But our historic boozers are the home of history and bonhomie 🙂 Choose the buzzing West End with its combination of gorgeously glamorous ‘gin palaces’ or olde worlde timber-beamed pubs. Where did the jet-set and the famous actors ‘refresh’ themselves between scenes? Who ran the clubs and how did they get away with all the scandal?

Or go gritty and check out ‘sailor town’ Wapping with its atmospheric cobbled streets and history of pirates, pressgangs and smugglers. Here the alleyways and warehouses pay testament to the nautical history of our little island – good and bad. Where were people hanged? Why was everyone engaged in the ‘free trade’ and dodging the duty? Clue: some countries had entire revolutions because of tax 😉

NB these tours are available most times but bear in mind how thirsty London gets on a Fri and Sat so be prepared to stand in the West End on those nights.

“Simon was a wonderful tour guide. He was so personable and kept us all (two teenagers included!) entertained. We covered so much ground on our tour and also hit some of Simon’s favorite hot spots. We rode the tube, the double decker bus and walked a ton. It was the perfect way to see all the London landmarks- history included. We loved our time with Simon!” (Mary Marshall, US)

London Markets – Street Food and Fashion £180 3hrs

London’s markets are busy and buzzing. This is where you’ll see trends and do some shopping for souvenirs that you want to keep and wear at home. Borough Market is foodie heaven. Camden Market is crazy for kids of all ages. Portobello has cute houses and great antiques. Brick Lane is for the studiously cool on a Sunday. Columbia Road is flowers on a Sunday morning. Spitalfields is funky and easily combined with the others.

See how the old custom of buying your meat and veg’ in the street has morphed into some of London’s coolest spots. Like vinyl? Vintage? The latest food trends? Buckle up and step in!

“He was able to take us through several neighbourhoods we had chosen because we are staying here and we wanted to know about this vibrant community. Everywhere we went, Simon ran into people who knew him and who were willing to stop and share bits of their day with us. We met volunteers, artists, gallery owners and market traders.” (Laura W, Vancouver)

Cool East London 3hrs £180

This is where I really excel. I’ve lived in the best part of London (think Brooklyn) since 2009. I’ve experienced the warehouses, the bars, the street art and galleries, the cafes and underground culture. I’ve even had a go at some street art myself (spoiler: I’m not Banksy).

Maybe you’re a savvy New Yorker, a Canadian culture-hunter, or a European who loves Berlin; this is where you can find your joy 🙂

Wearing my other hat as Hackney Tours, I’ve been exploring the radical history of East London since 2012 and watching the unique Hackney Wick artist colony give way to post-Olympic new neighbourhoods. That’s been my back yard, since 2009. I’ve written about this endlessly fascinating area for various publications including the local newspaper.