This company was the first to offer walking tours around London, and they're still one of the most popular, thanks to a list of 200 customized walks. Treasure hunts, lectures, Explorer Days out of town, and tours in various languages are available, along with excursions tailored to kids. The information-packed events let you get a closer look at some of London's most historic and interesting structures and attractions. Meeting times vary by tour so check out the website. But you can do Harry Potter tours, a trip to Bletchley park, where the British cracked the Nazi codes in the second world war, and in the autumn, foodie walks will be available. Also, if you like archeology, you can even become a mudlark on the banks of the river thames, and hunt for hidden treasure from Roman times onwards.
Recommended for Tours and Excursions because: London walks are original, great exercise and informative and fun. Perfect to get to know the city.
Emma's expert tip: Walks start at just 9 pounds per adult, and you don't need to book, just turn up.
At dusk, meet your guide at the Bank tube station to tour through London's spookiest courtyards and alleyways. Host Richard Jones is an accomplished magician with a vast knowledge of the supernatural and of London history. He has guided more than 5000 tours and boasts meticulous research backing up what he tells you. With him, you can traverse Devil's Passage and hear stories that will stay with you for some time. A unique, entertaining tour. Be sure to book in advance. And wrap up warm, this one will send shivers down your spine, and nothing will look the same again. TUBE: Bank
Recommended for Tours and Excursions because: London ghost walks and tours is meticulously researched, and Richard Jones is a great performer.
Emma's expert tip: There are lots of different ghost walks and tours so shop around, but this one comes highly recommended.
Golden Tours offer the broadest variety of tours and is sure to offer something in an available time frame that covers the sights and attractions you want to see. Day tours include The Total London Experience and Historic and Modern London, not to mention romantic river cruises and trips out of London to Windsor Castle, Shakespeare's Stratford upon Avon, and more. Multi-lingual guides are available. And an American number to call, so you can check out the website and easily book before you arrive. Any tour you find cheaper than theirs, they will refund the difference if what is offered is the same. TUBE: Victoria Station and 30 additional stops.
Recommended for Tours and Excursions because: Golden tours promise that their are no hidden costs, and any tour that you can find cheaper elsewhere, you will be refunded.
Emma's expert tip: Golden tours has a US number too so you can book up before you leave, and if you find the same tour cheaper they will refund the difference.
Evan Evans Tours was formed in 1930 and has since become known as Britain's premier provider of luxury tours, and claims to be the oldest. Tours take place in plush, air-conditioned coaches and feature professional guides. The diverse array of options includes a full day London sightseeing trip, a hop on-hop off London sightseeing tour, luncheon cruise, nightclub tour, and Bus Trip to Murder, which plays on Agatha Christie's and other famous writers detective novels. Many of the tours also include evening entertainment and meals, and if shopping is more your thing, you can even hop on a bus to Bicester outlet village near Oxford and grab some bargains whilst seeing the very pretty English countryside. TUBE: Victoria Station or one of 30 other stops.
Recommended for Tours and Excursions because: Evan Evans is the oldest and one of the most prestigious tours in London.
Emma's expert tip: There is such a range with this company, that almost everyone will find something to suit their taste.
See London from a unique vantage point - high in the sky. This helicopter tour grants views of the historic Thames and London's dramatic skyline from a windowed seat in a helicopter and lets you take in more square miles than any land-bound tour. An ideal tour for the adventurer or flying enthusiast. Cabair takes off from their base at Elstree airfield north of London. You need to take a Thameslink train to get there, and you can charter a whole helicopter, take it like a cab to get to another air field, or take their VIP London tour which includes a four course lunch in an 18th century manor house near the airfield as well as the above birds eye view of London.
Recommended for Tours and Excursions because: Cabair gives you a birds eye view of one of the world's mega cities. For the adventurous.
Emma's expert tip: Lunch for four is included in the London tour from the skies, great for a special day to treat the people you love.
For an excursion with a taste of luxury, this company offers tours with plenty of time for lunch at some of the most popular locations which even includes the Eiffel Tower. See Stonehenge, Dover Castle, Leeds Castle; even take a Paris day trip and more. For a thrill try the Jack the Ripper tour which includes a Thames cruise and the possibility to retrace the steps of London's most famous serial killer. Or if Harry Potter is more up your street, then you can take the new Warner Brothers Studio tour, as well as passing by St Pancras station where that famous platform to get to Hogwarts just might still be. Check the website for details.
Recommended for Tours and Excursions because: Premium Tours has a bit of something for everyone, and will even take you to Paris if you're bored of London.
Emma's expert tip: Premium Tours will get you priority tickets to jump the queues and takes you to some of the top attractions in London and far beyond.
Imagine the fun of being transported all over London in a 1964 classic Mini-Cooper! Step back in time to when Twiggy was the "It-Girl" of the London fashion scene, Beatlemania was taking over the world and a little known rock-and-roll band released their debut album called "The Rolling Stones". The knowledgeable tour guides are dressed in hip sixties attire and are ready to take you to the most popular destinations in town while you listen to music of the era. These little cars can get on back roads that larger vehicles can't so you'll feel like a local instead of a tourist. A truly unique way to see - and be seen - because you will surely be noticed. The company has a new William and Kate tour, as well as The Great Escape which will take in every big attraction in the city.
Recommended for Tours and Excursions because: smallcarBIGCITY is a perfect combination of British nostalgia, fun and a tour of the capital. Great fun.
Emma's expert tip: Take the new William and Kate tour and get to know the world's most famous couple.
Built in the Eighteenth Century as a pleasure palace for the Prince Regent, George IV, the Brighton Pavillion makes a great focus for a family day out from London. Its elegant onion domes and carved exterior cuts a breathtaking dash in the heart of Brighton. Inside you can see the best Chinoiserei in the British Isles, and children will love learning about George IV and his predecessor's escapades. This is the cream of regency society, and it's worth stopping here first for a tour, before taking in the rest of this regency jewel in the South Coast's crown. Outside the Pavillion, there is plenty of fun to be had in Brighton itself, and if you have time, spend a few days here, chilling out at the beach and getting to know it's brilliant shopping streets, the Laines.
Recommended for Tours and Excursions because: Brighton Pavilion and the city itself is great for a day out from London or even a weekend. Royal connections too.
Emma's expert tip: Gives you an introduction to regency history before hitting the rest of Brighton. Before you go, watch the Madness of King George, and the building will be brought alive.
Located in the heart of the Marylebone neighbourhood is Baker Street. The street is perhaps most famous for its association with Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, and in this area, you can go on historical tours of some of the notable sites from Holmes' case history and the books themselves. There is a museum and shop located on the street providing lots of Sherlock Holmes memorabilia. Just around the corner is the famous waxwork's museum, Madame Tussauds, and the brilliant Planetarium. Queues often stretch around the block, so if you're not a big fan of big commercial museums, then take a walking tour instead and soak up Marylebone's rich history and elegant buildings.
Recommended for Tours and Excursions because: Baker Street is the home of perhaps the world's most famous detective. Take a walk through history and literature.
Emma's expert tip: For all lovers of Conan Doyle books, this corner of London provides a great way to stroll the streets and take yourself back in time.
The traditional way to see all of London's top attractions, these open-topped buses offer interesting commentary and plenty of opportunity to jump on and off when you reach an attraction that interests you. You can complete the tour in less than two hours and get a city overview, or you can spend all day at stops such as Speaker's Corner, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral. Reliable and informative. Buses run every 10-20 minutes. TUBE: Green Park (for stop #1, though tickets can be purchased at each of the 30 stops)There are also lots of other bus tours in London, including Ensign, so shop around to see which one best suits you.
Recommended for Tours and Excursions because: The Big Bus Company provides a traditional way to see London, and its main sites.
Emma's expert tip: You can buy tickets at any of the 30 stops by main attractions along the route.