London · HISTORICAL TOURS

15 History Tours in London to Build a Day Around

32 tours  ·  from $18

The 15 best history tours you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.

London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs - Starting near Newgate Street and St. Paul’s
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London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs

1.London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10,422 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $40Our pick

Walk from Newgate Street through the City, Fleet Street, and legal London, stopping at four historic pubs. Guides such as Tim, Chris, Freddie, Mark, and Dave mix pub lore with stories of Dickens, Shakespeare, churches, journalists, and local characters. Drinks cost extra, and groups are capped at 14.

“A delightful afternoon learning about English history, public houses and the City of London going back 500 years.”

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Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour - The music stories are the main event
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Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour

2.Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,993 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $44

Walk from Piccadilly Circus through Soho with an English-speaking guide, stopping at four historic pubs linked to music legends and London nightlife. Hear stories about The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Ella Fitzgerald, Mozart, and Soho’s colorful past. Drinks cost extra, and groups are capped at 15.

“Such a fun tour. Gherto was awesome and we learned a ton. Top notch experience and well run. Would highly recommend.”

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London: Historic Pubs of Central London Walking Tour - From St Paul’s to the oldest drinking streets
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London: Historic Pubs of Central London Walking Tour

3.Historic Pubs of Central London Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,065 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $39

Spend 3.5 hours walking from St Paul’s toward the West End, stopping at four historic pubs, including a Victorian gin palace. English-speaking guides such as Dave, Tim, Shadow, and Lachlan mix London history, pub lore, humour, and local tips. Drinks cost extra, and the tour suits adults who can walk two miles.

“We loved Annabelle she was an entertaining and informed guide!”

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London: Soho Music and Historic Pubs Walking Tour - Starting beside Eros at Piccadilly Circus
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London: Soho Music and Historic Pubs Walking Tour

4.Soho Music and Historic Pubs Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 836 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $39

Follow an English-speaking guide from Piccadilly Circus through Soho’s music-packed streets. Visit four historic pubs, hear stories about Lennon, Hendrix, Bowie, Mozart, and The Who, and buy drinks as you go. Guides including Gherto, Henry, Ben, Sy, and Tom are praised for humor and strong storytelling.

“Calum is a Great tour guide!!! Fun, entertaining, informative! Book your tour with him you won't regret it! ✌️🇬🇧😃”

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Royal Historic Pubs Walking Guided Tour in London - St. James’s Palace and the royal setting
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Royal Historic Pubs Walking Guided Tour in London

5.Royal Historic Pubs Walking Guided Tour in London

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 803 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $44

Walk from Piccadilly Circus through St. James’s and nearby streets with a local guide such as Ben, Luke, Henry, or Tom. Expect royal tales, celebrity stories, around four historic pubs, beer and gin suggestions, and a small group capped at 12 people. Drinks and food cost extra.

“Family and college-age children attended this great tour. The group celebrated my daughter's first legal drink! Luke is the best! Highly recommend this tour to all.”

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Private Group: Historical Pub Walking Tour of London - Starting beside Cheapside and St. Paul’s
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Private Group: Historical Pub Walking Tour of London

6.Private Group: Historical Pub Walking Tour of London

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 660 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $173

Walk from Cheapside to Holborn with guides such as Lyndon, Lachlan, Adam, John, or Ricky. Visit historic pubs including Black Friar, the Old Bank of England, and Princess Louise, while hearing stories of wartime London, Dickens, the RAF, and old legal inns.

“Adam did a phenomenal job keeping me up to date ahead of the tour. The girls were off on another adventure and I needed to book something the guys would be interested in doing. It was a perfect fit! My dad and brothers enjoyed seeing a part of London I had not taken them to, the friendly conversation and the knowledge that Adam shared. It was the only activity they agreed they all would want to do again on the trip.”

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London: Rock 'n' Roll History Tour - King’s Road and Chelsea’s rock years
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London: Rock ‘n’ Roll History Tour

7.Rock ‘n’ Roll History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 645 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $74

Spend 3.5 hours tracing London’s rock story through Chelsea, Kensington, Notting Hill, St John’s Wood, and Abbey Road. English-speaking guides such as Clive, Colin, and Ian bring the sites to life from an air-conditioned bus, with time to cross Abbey Road for your own Beatles photo.

“We had such a good time. Our driver was so so knowledgeable and funny and had amazing inside stories. It went a little fast but overall so much fun for music lovers”

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London: Royal Historic Pubs Walking Tour - Royal streets away from the palace crowds
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London: Royal Historic Pubs Walking Tour

8.Royal Historic Pubs Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 536 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $39

Meet your English-speaking guide at Piccadilly Circus for a 2.5-hour walk through London’s royal quarter. Visit four tucked-away historic pubs, hear stories of Churchill, royalty, James Bond, and Charlie Chaplin, and buy drinks as you go. Guides include Tom, Danny, Henry, Luke, Ben, and Carlos.

“The Royal Historic Pub Tour was outstanding from start to finish. Tom, our guide, was enthusiastic, energetic, and full of fascinating stories. His passion for history and local culture made every stop come alive. The pubs were charming, the pace was perfect, and the whole experience felt both fun and authentic. I’d highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a lively, memorable way to explore parts of the city that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.”

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Historic Pub Walking Tour of London - Drink advice without a forced tasting menu
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Historic Pub Walking Tour of London

9.Historic Pub Walking Tour of London

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 484 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $19

Meet your guide at Embankment Station for a four-hour walk through London’s pub past. Visit four historic pubs around Covent Garden, including an 800-year-old tavern, hear stories from guides such as Rachel, Mike, and Carolina, and buy your own drinks along the way.

“An amazing time and the guide for out tour was so engaging and fun to listen to. We got to visit these really cool pubs and taste a few pints. I'm not much of a drinker but even I had a few drinks I want to try again. I got to talk to strangers on this tour who by the end, got to really connect with about the experience. The instructions were really clear on how to get there and all pubs were good distances from each other, I would recommend this to anyone!”

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White Cliffs of Dover & Historic Canterbury Day Tour from London - Choosing between cliffs and Dover Castle
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White Cliffs of Dover & Historic Canterbury Day Tour from London

10.White Cliffs of Dover & Historic Canterbury Day Tour from London

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 373 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $109

Leave London at 7:30 a.m. for the White Cliffs of Dover, a coastal walk, and time on Dover seafront. Then explore Canterbury with a short guided walk, lunch, shopping, and an optional Canterbury Cathedral visit. Expect a friendly guide, air-conditioned coach, and plenty of walking.

“Frye was very informative guide with lots of good detail and Angela an impressive driver! Recommend this tour. It is balanced with narrated tour and personal time.”

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London: Medieval History Walking Tour from The Tower - Starting at Tower Hill and the Tower of London
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London: Medieval History Walking Tour from The Tower

11.Medieval History Walking Tour from The Tower

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 318 reviews · 2 hours · from $24

Join historian Mick Priestley, or another expert English-speaking guide, for a two-hour walk from Tower Hill to St Paul’s. Cross Tower Bridge, follow Shakespeare’s riverside world, see Winchester Palace and HMS Belfast, and learn the stories behind London’s famous and overlooked sites.

“Mike was our guide. Informative, inclusive and humorous. It really is a great way to take in some of the historic landmarks with details that you don’t get from an audio guide. If you are physically able to walk or stand for two hours. It’s well worth it.”

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London: Witches and History Bankside Walking Tour - Meeting your guide at Southwark Viewpoint
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London: Witches and History Bankside Walking Tour

12.Witches and History Bankside Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 223 reviews · 1h 15m · from $24

Follow a costumed guide such as Gary the Grey, Beatrix, or Veronica from London Bridge through Bankside. Hear true stories of suspected witches, see Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market, the Golden Hinde, Shakespeare’s Globe, and St Paul’s Cathedral, and finish near Queen Victoria Street.

“We really appreciated Gary the greys enthusiasm and passion as great guide . He really gave us a sense of the Bankside History and the life’s of local witches .”

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London: Natural History Museum Entry Ticket and Guided Tour - Central Hall and the Diplodocus
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London: Natural History Museum Entry Ticket and Guided Tour

13.Natural History Museum Entry Ticket and Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 212 reviews · 1 hour · from $76

Spend one hour with an English-speaking guide at London’s Natural History Museum. See the Diplodocus, 82-foot blue whale, minerals, butterflies, Earth galleries, and Wildlife Garden, while learning how scientists study the collection. Paul is one guide praised for making the visit work for adults and children.

“Our tourguide Paul was excellent, very nice and friendly, and he taught us a lit of interesting details in the museum. He even managed to integrate our nine year old son, who don’t speak english. I would recommand 100%, we had such a good time!”

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Natural History Museum London - Exclusive Guided Museum Tour - Entering on Cromwell Road
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Natural History Museum London – Exclusive Guided Museum Tour

14.Natural History Museum London – Exclusive Guided Museum Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 153 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $108

Spend two focused hours with a guide such as Ivo, Becky, Matilda, or Sacha, following the Natural History Museum’s essential exhibits. See Sophie the Stegosaurus, Archaeopteryx, the Dodo, Pompeii casts, gemstones, and giant sequoia wood without getting lost in this huge museum.

“Becky was the best! Very knowledgeable and fun. Knew how to get around the crowd and show you the important displays. Totally recommend her to anyone.”

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London: 2-Hour Historic Pub Tour - Dickens, Dylan Thomas, and the writers behind the pints
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London: 2-Hour Historic Pub Tour

15.2-Hour Historic Pub Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 133 reviews · 2 hours · from $53

Meet George or another English-speaking guide at Chancery Lane Underground Station for a two-hour walk through old London pubs and back streets. Hear tales of Dylan Thomas, Victorian gin, and a poet’s duel, then enjoy a complimentary half pint at a Dickens favorite.

“Awesome experience! Our guide George really made sure we had the best time :) We went into 3 different Pubs, saw a couple more from the outside and had 3 different drinks. Also a non-alkoholic Option was not a problem. Would 100% recommend!”

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