Forget about crowds, schedules or lines! With this self-guided tour experience, your smartphone is your new private guide.
Tag along with Daniel to hear the fascinating story of London's Westminster area.
This self-guided tour of Westminster will show you some of the highlights of London and will concentrate on government, history and the Crown. We start at the Houses of Parliament, and walk along Westminster Abbey, where all monarchs are crowned and many are buried; the Banqueting House, the UK’s first classical building; Downing Street, home to Prime Ministers for 200 years; St James’s Park and Palace, a royal playground and home; to finish at Buckingham Palace, home of the current monarch. If you’re new to London this tour will tell you almost 1,000 years of history and cover many of the key events in that time.
PS: when booking, you will get an email with instructions on how to download our app and redeem your unique code (a different code than your booking reference number!)
What's included
- You will get an email with instructions to activate your tour (booking reference isn't the code!)
- Daniel audio guide will guide you through the tour (real tour guide voice!)
- Audio guide, pictures, videos, recommendations, stories and all the info you need
- 3 weeks unlimited access to this Self-Guided Tour on the app
- Map, directions, GPS route and stops of each tour
What's not included
- In-person Guide
- Any entrance fee for the attractions mentioned during the tour
Additional information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
You must download the app once your booking is confirmed for you to enjoy the tour.
Please bring your ticket with you to the attraction.
Be aware that operators may cancel for unforeseen reasons.
You need to be 18 years or older to book or be accompanied by an adult.
Operated by Pandemic Tours
Itinerary information
Pass by: Houses of Parliament
You are looking at the Houses of Parliament. This building is also known as the Palace of Westminster and is the seat of the UK’s parliamentary democracy. The building has two chambers; an elected lower house (the House of Commons) and an appointed upper house (the House of Lords). Together they write UK laws.
Stop at: Parliament Square
Free admission
Parliament Square is the green space in front of the Houses of Parliament. This is a public space and is often used as a place of political protest due to its location next to Parliament. Today the green is the home to various statues of historically important people.
10 minutes
Pass by: Winston Churchill Statue
Our first statue is the one right next to you marked Churchill in large letters. This is Winston Churchill who was a Member of Parliament and Prime Minister twice (1940 – 45 and again 1951 -55).
Pass by: Millicent Fawcett Statue
We have only one woman depicted in Parliament Square. This is Millicent Fawcett, who was a campaigner for women’s suffrage. Dame Millicent led Britain's largest women's rights association, the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, from 1897 to 1919.
Pass by: Nelson Mandela Statue
Nelson Mandela was a politician and first President of South Africa from 1994 – 1999. In South Africa, he is often called the Father of the Nation.
Pass by: Saint Margaret's Church on Parliament Square
The Church of St Margaret is called the Church on Parliament Square. It is known as the church of members of the House of Commons.
Stop at: Westminster Abbey
What's not included
Admission ticket not included
Along with St Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London; this is the most famous church in London. You may know this church from some of the most famous ceremonies including the funeral of Diana or the wedding of William to Kate Middleton in 2011. It is also known as the burial place of kings and queens as well as some of the country’s most accomplished citizens.
10 minutes
Pass by: 1 Horse Guards Rd
On Great George Street, you will see four red telephone boxes. These are all K6 telephone kiosks. In fact, there are eight different designs of kiosks all introduced by the General Post Office between 1926 and 1989.
Pass by: Cenotaph
In the middle of the road, you will see a large stone monument. This is the Cenotaph and it is the focus of remembrance for souls lost in war. The design is by the architect Edwin Lutyens.
Pass by: Downing Street
The street is home to several key houses and offices supporting the British Government. The most famous of these is number 10, which is the office and home of the British Prime Minister.
Pass by: Banqueting House
On the opposite side of the road, you will see a neoclassical building in white stone. This is the Banqueting House. King James I was in need of a new banqueting house to replace a disappointing one that burned in 1619. The architect and Surveyor of the King's Works, Inigo Jones, was given the commission to build a replacement.
Stop at: Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall
Free admission
If you are here at the right time of day, you can see two mounted cavalry soldiers guarding a gatehouse and the parade grounds behind. This is the Horse Guards and the building includes a museum that is open to the public. These soldiers are part of the Household Cavalry and are part of the Queen’s official bodyguard.
10 minutes
Stop at: St. James's
Free admission
This green space is today a public park but for most of its history, it was part of a royal hunting ground. London holds eight royal parks of which this 57-acre park is just one.
15 minutes
Stop at: Duke Of York Column
Free admission
This is the statue of Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany. He was the second son of King George III and Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz and rumoured to be his father’s favourite son.
5 minutes
Pass by: Commonwealth Secretariat
Across the road, you can see a fine red brick and white stone house with many flags in the garden. This is Marlborough House and today is the international home of the Commonwealth Secretariat. The flags represent each member nation.
Pass by: St. James's Palace
You are now standing in front of the official residence of the Queen, Elizabeth II. This is St James’s Palace and it has been the home of British monarchs since the 1530s.
Pass by: Clarence House
The next house that you will see from the Mall is Clarence House. It is the white house with stucco decoration set back from the road. This home was designed by the great Regency architect, John Nash, in 1827 for Prince William Henry, Duke of Clarence.
Stop at: Buckingham Palace
Free admission
We have reached the final stop on our tour today. This is Buckingham Palace and it has been the London home to British Kings and Queens since Queen Victoria moved here in 1837.
2 hours
Location
Departure point
Westminster, Underground Ltd, Westminster Station, Bridge St, London, SW1A 2JR
All Tours are self-guided. You will be led by the GPS in the app and you will need to give permission to the app to access your location for getting instructions while walking. The tour starts at Westminster Station where you can buy drinks or snacks.
End point
Buckingham Palace, London, SW1A 1AA
You will finish the tour at Buckingham Palace after a two-hour walk from Westminster.
