We are going to London at the end of the month. I have not been for 50 years. My husband has never been. We will be there for 5 days.
I prefer to not hire a blue badge private guide for the two of us, as it is expensive. The hop on hop off bus may get stuck in traffic. Are there public walking tours? Do the well known sites have audio tours?
Any recommendations?
I was there last year and arranged a very reasonable walking tour (I found on a Huguenot website that I was researching for family history). I met Julie in Spitalfields and heard about the time the French came and settled in the area. They were lace makers and trades of that sort.
I would visit Spitalfields again and make sure I spent time shopping at the giant Spitalfield Market.
I am sorry I can not find the tour guide's phone number but if you shop around looking for Huguenot history you may get lucky.
Good luck.
Check out London Walks: https://www.walks.com . As to the sights, yes, many do have audio tours. The Rick Steves app has walking tours for St. Paul's and the British Museum. Many other sights, like Westminster Abbey and the National Gallery, have guides available to rent.
Check the London Walks website; www.walks.com
I take one every trip. Last one was Inns of the Court.
Do not use the hop on hop off bus. Will definitely get stuck in traffic.
London Walks is a fantastic suggestion. We’ve taken several over the years. Some are only held once in a while, like just on Thursdays. Others are more frequent, as you’ll see in the schedule. The guides take payment at the meeting-up starting location, before the tour begins. They also take credit card payments, which used to be cash only.
And the London Walks guides are credentialed, blue-badge guides. It's just that you're sharing the tour with some other folks, so the cost is very reasonable.
Another vote for London Walks.
I do 1 or more every trip to London.
Here's another vote for London Walks. I've done several, including one day trip to Stonehenge and Salisbury, and the guides have all been wonderful.
London Walks, without a doubt. I learned about their tours here on the forum, and I’ve done several. Looking forward to another this summer. The tough part is deciding which ones.
