May 2023 Family Trip

do you want to see the outside of Buckingham Palace or do you want to go inside on a tour?

how many days have you got, and will you be here for the Coronation or want to miss it?

No to the coronation—& we have 5 nights. Is it worth it to go inside the palace?

You don't need a private tour for the Tower of London. As you enter there are Yeomen there that take parties around.

Hi -

Buckingham Palace is only open July - September as I understand it. There appear to be some guided tours at the weekend on specific dates outside that. Not sure what the costs are there, but a quick search will bring up information on say, oooh, Google for instance!

At Westminster Abbey you can book on the Verger Tour or you can just pay the standard entry and wander about. There are volunteer guides (docents?) dotted throughout the building if you choose the latter option - it’s not cheap to get in - and who, in my experience, are very knowledgeable and only too happy to answer any questions you might have. The Verger Tour is more expensive but takes you to bits of the Abbey that standard entry doesn’t (Edward l’s - I think - tomb for instance in the high altar area). You need to book the Verger Tour well ahead of time. We last visited Westminster Abbey on an evening opening and it got dark while we were there (it was pretty early in the year) and it was really ‘atmospheric’!

Tower of London - once you’ve paid the Entry fee you could join a free - I believe - tour given by one of the Yeoman Warders (they aren’t keen on the term ‘Beefeater’ it would seem!) which are extensive and amusing.

You can walk comfortably between all three locations if the weather is cooperating as they are are all close together.

Ian

Thank you - :)

You should also review www.walks.com to see if any of them are of interest to your family.

Over the years have enjoyed taking at least 1 walk on each trip to London.

In July it was Inns of The Court.

Guides are great, can’t beat the group size or the price.