Go Up The Shard & London Landmark Walking Tour

The best part of this six-hour outing is the way it links London’s major sights into one clear route, from Buckingham Palace to The Shard. You get royal ceremony, Parliament, Shakespeare’s Globe, Borough Market, and a high view of the city without spending the day puzzling over maps.

I like the small group of up to 20 and the guide’s personal touch. A good guide can explain why each place matters, point out small details, and take photos for you. I also like the included Shard admission and priority entry, which can save up to an hour in line. The catch is the pace: five hours of walking, plus the Underground, will be a lot for tired legs.

Key points to know before you book

• Buckingham Palace starts the day with royal London, including a chance to see Changing of the Guard on selected days.
• The route covers about 30 sights, but most stops are exterior visits rather than museum or monument admissions.
• The Underground ride is not included, so bring a contactless bank card, Oyster Card, or Travelcard.
• Borough Market adds a useful food break, though food and drinks are your own expense.
• The Shard ticket is included, with access to the indoor viewing floors and the open-air level 72 platform.
• You finish on your own at The Shard, since the guide gives directions and tickets before leaving you.

From The Ritz to Buckingham Palace

Meet at 10:00 a.m. outside The Ritz London at 150 Piccadilly. The opening walk through Green Park is a pleasant way to ease into the day. You are not dropped beside the palace door, but brought through one of central London’s most elegant public spaces.

Buckingham Palace is the first major stop, with about an hour here. Your guide explains its role as the official home of the King and adds stories from British royal life. The palace itself is the visual prize, but the setting matters too: the route continues along the Royal Mall, the grand ceremonial road leading away from the palace.

On selected days, you may see the Changing of the Guard. This is one of London’s most popular public ceremonies, and your guide aims to find a good viewing position. Timing is never guaranteed by the tour details, so you should think of the ceremony as a welcome possibility rather than the main reason to book.

You will not enter Buckingham Palace on this tour. The admission ticket is not included, and the stop is for viewing, explanation, and photographs. That keeps the day moving, but it also means you need a separate visit if palace interiors are high on your list.

Trafalgar Square and the royal route through Whitehall

From the Mall, the tour reaches Trafalgar Square for about 20 minutes. Nelson’s Column, the fountains, the National Gallery, and the surrounding buildings make this one of London’s best places to get your bearings. You can take in a lot from one square, but the stop is short, so do not expect time for the National Gallery.

The next pause is Horse Guards Parade, near St. James’s Park. You will see the famous arch and its clock, both useful landmarks and good photo subjects. The square has a formal military feel, and it helps connect the royal district with the government quarter.

At Whitehall, your guide points out grand buildings, monuments, and Downing Street. The famous residence and workplace of British prime ministers has been used since 1735. You view it from outside, and security arrangements mean this is a quick stop rather than a chance to wander in.

The tour gives you a useful sequence here: palace, ceremonial road, public square, military gate, and seat of government. It is much easier to understand central London when these places are presented together instead of visited as scattered points on a map.

Big Ben, Parliament, and Westminster Abbey

Parliament Square allows about 40 minutes, making it one of the longer stops. Here you see the Palace of Westminster, home of the Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben up close. The square also provides views of the London Eye and the Churchill Statue.

This is a strong part of the walking route because several famous sights gather in one compact area. Your guide can help you separate the clock tower, the wider palace complex, and the political meaning of Parliament. You get time for photographs, but not an interior visit to the Houses of Parliament.

Westminster Abbey follows, with about 20 minutes outside the building. The abbey has more than 1,000 years of history and is the church where British kings and queens are crowned. It is one of London’s most important buildings, so even a brief explanation adds context to the view.

The abbey admission is not included. That is worth noting if you want to see coronation chairs, memorials, and the interior spaces. For a first look at London, the exterior stop works well. For a serious Westminster Abbey visit, plan another day or expect to pay separately.

Crossing to Southbank by Underground

After Westminster, you take a short London Underground journey to Southbank. The fare is not part of the tour, so bring a contactless bank card, Oyster Card, or Travelcard. This is a small practical detail, but missing it can slow down the whole group.

Southbank gives the tour a different mood. The route includes views of Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, two major cultural landmarks beside the Thames. You have about 40 minutes in this area, enough to take photographs and hear why the riverfront matters to London’s arts scene.

The tour does not include entry to Tate Modern or the Globe. That is both a limit and a benefit. You can see two major sights without using up hours inside, which keeps the day focused on the city as a whole. If either attraction is a top priority, save it for a separate visit.

Millennium Bridge and the view toward St. Paul’s

The walk continues across Millennium Bridge, known locally as Wobbly Bridge. From here, you get one of the clearest outward views of St. Paul’s Cathedral and its large dome. The bridge is a useful photo stop because it frames the cathedral across the river.

The stop lasts about 20 minutes. It is not a cathedral visit, and the tour does not include admission to St. Paul’s. Still, this is a good example of the tour’s purpose: you get a strong city view and a short explanation, then keep moving toward the next district.

You should expect regular walking on pavements and across the bridge. Comfortable shoes are more important here than dressing for a formal palace visit. The day combines parks, squares, bridges, market lanes, and busy city streets, so practical footwear will serve you well.

Borough Market, Southwark Cathedral, and London Bridge

Borough Market is the most tempting stop for food. Your guide takes you inside this famous market, where you can see local food stalls and some secret Harry Potter filming locations. You have about 30 minutes, which is enough to look around and perhaps buy something, but not enough for a leisurely meal.

Food and drinks are not included. I suggest treating Borough Market as your best chance to choose your own snack during the tour, while keeping an eye on the clock. A market stop can easily turn into a long pause if you are sampling several things.

Nearby Southwark Cathedral adds another historic building to the route. The tour presents it from the outside, alongside the market district. This pairing is useful because it shows two sides of the area: an active food market and a centuries-old place of worship.

The final walking section reaches London Bridge, with about 30 minutes for views across the river. From here, you can see Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, HMS Belfast, The Shard, and the Square Mile. This is one of the best points for understanding London’s changing skyline.

Do not confuse London Bridge with Tower Bridge. The tour helps you see both, but they are different structures with different stories. From London Bridge, you get a broad view of the river corridor and several headline sights at once.

Ending high above London at The Shard

At the end of the walking tour, your guide gives you directions and your Shard tickets. The guide does not accompany you into The Shard, so you finish the final part independently. This arrangement is simple, but pay attention to the directions and allow enough time to reach the entrance.

The high-speed elevator takes you to the 68th floor. The included viewing gallery offers 360-degree views that can reach up to 40 miles on a clear day. You can look across the Thames and back over many of the places covered earlier, which gives the whole day a satisfying visual finish.

If you are feeling adventurous, continue to the open-air viewing platform on level 72. The indoor gallery provides shelter and broad views, while the open-air level adds a stronger sense of height. Conditions can affect how enjoyable that upper platform feels, so you can decide once you are there.

Priority admission can save up to an hour of waiting. That matters after a long walking day, especially if your schedule is tight. The Shard ticket is the tour’s main included admission, while most other major stops remain exterior visits.

What the $115.92 price really covers

At $115.92 per person, this is not a cheap way to see London. You are paying for a five-hour guided walk, a small group, local guiding, the Shard viewing ticket, and a route that connects roughly 30 sights. The value depends on how much you want explained as you go.

The price makes more sense if you are in London for a short visit and want a structured first day. You avoid planning the route yourself, receive help with orientation, and finish with a ticketed attraction that could otherwise require a separate booking. The included priority entry adds practical value.

The calculation changes if you already know London well or prefer long visits inside museums and historic buildings. Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s, Tate Modern, the Globe, Parliament, and the Tower of London are not included as interior admissions. You would need separate time and tickets for those.

Families may find the pricing especially appealing because children only pay for The Shard admission ticket. The tour still requires children to be accompanied by an adult, and the full walking distance is worth considering before you book.

Who will enjoy this six-hour route

I would choose this tour for a first visit, a short London stay, or a day when you want a clear introduction before exploring on your own. It is also useful if you want the city’s royal, political, cultural, food, and modern sides in one outing.

The tour suits you if you enjoy hearing stories while walking and do not want to manage every connection yourself. A good guide can point out details you might miss, explain the purpose of each landmark, and help with group photos. The guide on this experience has been praised for explaining the history of each stop, allowing time to explore, and taking photographs when requested.

I would be cautious if you have mobility limits, dislike crowds, or want a relaxed pace. The tour lasts about six hours, includes roughly five hours on foot, and adds an Underground journey. Most travelers can participate, and service animals are allowed, but the schedule is active.

The maximum group size is 20. That is small enough for a guide to keep the group together and answer questions, though it is not a private tour. You should expect to share the guide’s attention.

Meeting point, timing, and useful preparation

Arrive at The Ritz London, 150 Piccadilly, before the 10:00 a.m. start. The tour ends at The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, SE1 9SG. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you need to reach the starting point and make your own way back afterward.

Wear shoes suited to a long day on foot. Bring a contactless bank card, Oyster Card, or Travelcard for the Underground, since that journey is not included. Also bring money for food and drinks at Borough Market or elsewhere along the route.

The experience is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Confirmation arrives when you book. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time; changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book this London tour?

Book it if you want efficient orientation, a friendly local guide, and a long list of famous sights without building the route yourself. The strongest features are the carefully linked walk, the guide’s attention to individual guests, and the included Shard admission with priority entry.

Skip it if you want deep interior visits, a slow food tour, or plenty of time at each landmark. This is a brisk overview with a rewarding high viewpoint at the end, not a series of full museum visits. For a first day in London, though, it gives you a useful map in your head and a memorable view to match.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at The Ritz London, 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR, at 10:00 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The walking tour ends at The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG. The guide gives you directions and tickets before leaving you at The Shard.

Is admission to The Shard included?

Yes. The Shard Viewing Gallery entrance ticket is included, with access to the viewing areas reached by the high-speed elevator.

Is the Underground fare included?

No. You need to bring a contactless bank card, Oyster Card, or Travelcard for the Underground journey.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. Borough Market is included as a stop, so you can choose to buy food there.

How far in advance can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel for a full refund at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.