Free Walking Tour in London

We are careful with free tours. Generally you tend to get what you pay for. The free tours are not necessarily free since the tour guide will be hustling for a tip. And free tours tend to have large crowds that can impact the experience.

Yes I get that. But with a family of five, it’s a great and less expensive way to learn about what we are looking at.

A free tour subsidized by a museum, attraction, etc means the guide is paid by that venue.

A free walking tour like the ones you mention means the guide gets paid by gratuities. Unless you feel that you don't care if you give the guide makes any money for their time nor care about the quality, I would suggest taking one by London Walks which are 10 GBP each for adults/ 8 GBP for seniors over 65 and kids under 15 go free. The guides are highly trained and knowledgable.

Rick has pointed out (perhaps in a blog post, perhaps in one or more of his books--I don't remember) that the guides working for "free"-tour companies actually have to pay the company for each person who shows up, irrespective of the tips they receive. I think the amount mentioned (for a euro country) was either 3 or 3.50 euros. So if you have an idea of handing a guide something like 15 pounds for your family, you should understand that you are expecting that guide to work practically for free.

I prefer regular paid walking tours; if I take a "free" tour, I tip the guide an equivalent amount, no less than 10 euros or 10 pounds. I wouldn't have a problem tipping less if I had an incompetent guide, but I have not run into one of those.

I appreciate a tour that focuses on what I am seeing for the full time, rather than devoting (often) quite a few minutes to explaining the concept of a "free" tour at both the beginning and end of the tour.

No it is not great. If you cannot afford it, then don't do it. Just adds to the concept of the Ugly American.

Regarding "I understand some of the Westminster Walks take you to see the Changing of the Guard" -- it's not as if the free tour will guarantee you an advantageous spot from which to observe the ceremony.

Even at the other end of the changing of the guard (St. James' Palace), spectators arrive at least half an hour ahead of time to stake out their spots. When a tour group arrives a couple of minutes before the ceremony begins, they have to stand behind or out at the sides -- the mounted police enforce this. So if you are really keen to see the Changing of the Guard from a good vantage point, go on your own (for free) and stake out your spot well ahead. In any case, be prepared for a certain amount of jostling as the crowd grows around you.

Oh we DEFINITELY tip the guides! It’s just beats the $20-40 pp tours. I agree London Walks is a great way to go in that city!

The tours that are “free” in my experience expect a tip equating to the same price as a paid tour, as many just rely on tips, so just take one of the London Walks with decent guides. If you can’t afford this, just do your own research on the internet and guide yourselves.

To get decent views of the Changing of the Guard, you need to be there well in advance.

We have found the walking tours offered by RS are very nice. You and your family will set the schedule and pace. If your kids get bored you can just end the walk. Check out the RS London book for a list of his recommendations. There is also a chapter of seeing London with kids. My personal experience of traveling with kids is to make it fun for them otherwise it’s nothing more than one endless field trip.

I’d also suggest avoiding ‘free’ walking tours. London walks for £10 per person is clearly the best, and I believe they have discounts for children, seniors, and maybe students.

A free walking tour comes with a very strong obligation to tip. Maybe you’ll get a good guide, maybe you’ll get someone reading a script. Also, you’re strongly encouraged to not leave until the end for that so-called optional tip. It seems too much like a time share presentation for me.

We had a great time in three separate "free" walking tours in Paris, but we paid the same as the 15-20 or so Euros fee because the guide earned it. I can't imagine not paying the guides a fair price for a great job, free or not. This is how some of them pay the rent.

Having said that we are doing London Walks in May. 10 pounds can't beat that.

We've been quite pleased with free walking tours, and for a family of 5 I'm sure you can save some money going that route.

We used London Walks to tour Westminster Abbey; it was a great way to get the history of the building with an amazing guide.

Yes, London Walks is quite a bargain at 10 gdp per person. You can’t take a “free” walking tour for less than that!! (However it seems most other conpanies charge 20gdp per person and up.)

We love to help out the kids trying to make it in some of these big cities though. (Looks like I should’ve explained that upfront .) After our “free” walk of Old Town in Barcelona, my son was ready to give up his job in corporate America and join the Tour Company! ;) Our kids (mid-20s) love meeting the young people who work these “free” tours; they are usually close in age.

If it helps, London Walks is free for kids under 15 as long as they are accompanied by an adult.