Best tours in London - International Traveller Magazine

London is one of the world’s most majestic cities – and not just because it’s home to the Royal Family.

It’s a sprawling capital that has it all: world-class art, music, culture and shopping plus it boasts a grand history from times past while also being a modern metropolis that leads the international pack.

So, understandably, it can be overwhelming to navigate.

This is where a tour comes in. Whether you’re pressed for time or have days to explore, you can find the right one for you. From discovering the Elizabethan era to the secrets behind modern movie-making, there’s a London tour for every taste.

For first timers

The Classic Tour

Perfect for those on a short stopover or squeezing in some time on a packed itinerary, this tour in a restored, open-top, 1960’s Routemaster bus will show you the city’s top sights in just 75 minutes. Start at Trafalgar Square and take in everything from Downing Street to the Tower of London and more in record time, while the informative guide entertains you with insider info on the Capital.

The Routemaster bus will show you the city’s top sights in just 75 minutes

The Original Tour

There’s a reason you’ll find hop-on-hop-off buses in most major cities – they’re a great way to navigate unfamiliar roads and get to the major attractions while providing you with as much time as you need to enjoy them. Stay a little at the Tower of London, skip the London Eye or vice versa and create your own itinerary.

The London Pass

Not strictly a tour as such, but a handy way to enjoy the city. This all-inclusive pass gives you access to over 80 attractions, including entry to sites such as The Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, plus skip-the-line privileges at places such as St Paul’s Cathedral as well as additional discounts. There are five options, spanning from 1-10 days.

For film and movie fans

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter

If you’ve always wanted to visit platform 9 ¾, then a studio tour to see the making of the magical Harry Potter movies is a must. The behind-the-scenes tour includes the Great Hall, Dumbledore’s office, the cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley and the mysterious depths of the Forbidden Forest.

London as-seen-on -screen tours

Whether your favourite movie is Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’ Diary or James Bond or you prefer binge-watching The Crown, Killing Eve or Downtown Abbey, you can see your favourite stories come to life by visiting the streets and landmarks where they were filmed. Brit Movie Tours offers a range of London walking tours that take you to the places where beloved shows and films are set.

For fans of the monarchy

The British Royal Private Tour

As The Crown shows, the Monarchy rivals some of the more salacious reality TV dramas and audiences can’t get enough of it. If you want a taste of the royal life, this is for you. Meet up at St Mary’s hospital in Paddington where many of the royals give birth, check out their abode at Kensington Palace, stop at Westminster Abbey and finish at the Queen’s royal residence, Buckingham Palace.

If you want a taste of the royal life, this is for you

Tower of London see the Crown Jewels

Its official name is Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London. Built by William the Conqueror its bloody history is tied to the monarchy. What started out as a royal palace became a prison – even Elizabeth I was thrown in before she became queen, thanks to her half-sister Mary. A Beefeater will take you on a tour to fill you in on the royal gossip and intrigue over the centuries and also take you to see the Crown Jewels.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is open to the public for 10 weeks each summer, so if you want to peek into the Queen’s residence you need to time your trip. You can simply purchase a ticket to enter, but if you want to explore deeper a tour is the way to go and gives you access to the State Rooms which include items from the Royal Collection, the Throne Room and more.

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For history buffs

Jack the Ripper Tour with ‘Ripper-Vision’

Let history come alive, and potentially scare you in the process, with a new take on the classic Jack the Ripper tour. Ripper-Vision is a fancy name for hand held projectors which make the sinister alleyways the notorious predator hunted on come alive with two-metre high images and film clips of the period so you feel like you were really there. Minus the threat of being gruesomely murdered.

Historical London Walking Tour in Westminster & Entry to Churchill War Rooms

Those fascinated by what goes on during wartime will be hard pressed to skip the sights of the Second World War around Westminster. As well as taking in Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, you’ll also discover the Churchill War Rooms. This underground network of bunkers was protected from the Blitz bombings, which is why they served as the government’s offices during wartime. Wander the halls and learn more about Winston Churchill, the leader who led Britain throughout the war.

London’s Rock & Roll Legends Tour

London isn’t short of walking tours, but music fans would find it hard to go past the London Rock and Roll Legends tour that takes you around Soho and Covent Garden to the alley where Bob Dylan shot Subterranean Homesick Blues, the red phone box just off Piccadilly Circus where David Bowie posed as Ziggy Stardust for the back cover of his album and the rooftop where The Beatles gave their last live performance for Let It Be.

William Shakespeare Tour

The Bard’s influence on literature is incomparable and this will take you back to his Elizabethan London. As well as the site of the original Globe Theatre and the new Globe, which is an accurate reconstruction of the original, visit The Guildhall Library where you can see a surviving copy of the First Folio, dubbed the most important work in the English language – a collection of 36 of his plays. It was published in 1683, eight years after his death.

Why is it so hot in Europe?

Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.

France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.

In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.

The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.

Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.

How travel is impacted

A pharmacy sign displaying 40 degrees Celcius

A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)

During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.

If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.

Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?

People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)

With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.

Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.

How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave

Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.

Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.

Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.

Your definitive list of the best tours in London