🏨 St James', a Private Walking Tour of London's Royal Village Activity

St James', a Private Walking Tour of London's Royal Village

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From $172.71

3 reviews (5.00)

Price varies by group size

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Pricing Info:

Duration:

Departs: London, London

Ticket Type: Mobile or paper ticket accepted

Free cancellation

Up to 24 hours in advance.

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Overview

The area of St James' in the centre of London is known unofficially as London's Royal Village because of its many royal connections. Prepare to be amazed as the tour takes you past not one but two world famous palaces namely Buckingham Palace and St James' Palace. Both are surrounded by royal parks and included in this tour is a stroll through leafy Green Park before meandering beside the ornamental lake in St James' Park to watch the wild life frolicking at the water's edge. But St James' is also set in the midst of Gentlemen's London and this tour takes you past six clubs which flourish more than 200 years after they were established. These clubs are in the midst of exclusive shops, many set up to supply the gentlemen with everything they could possibly need from cheese and wine to shirts and shoes. If you're lucky, your tour date might coincide with an ancient ceremony called the Changing of the Guard, a chance to see royal pageantry at its best. This is a tour not to be missed

What's Included

A fun and experienced professional, local guide, accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding and the University of Westminster. Sandy is a member of the City of Westminster Guide Lecturer's Association.

What's Not Included

Food and drinks

Food sampling

Gratuities - optional

Transportation to/from the start and end points of the walk

Traveler Information

TRAVELER: Age: 0 - 99

Additional Info

Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Morning tours start at 09.45 under the Colonnade of the Ritz Hotel, Piccadilly
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Service animals allowed
The tour will go ahead come rain or shine so please don't be put off by the weather. Do wear comfortable shoes and clothing and, if needs be, bring waterproofs and an umbrella.
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Morning tours start at 09.45 under the Colonnade of the Ritz Hotel, Piccadilly
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Service animals allowed
The tour will go ahead come rain or shine so please don't be put off by the weather. Do wear comfortable shoes and clothing and, if needs be, bring waterproofs and an umbrella.
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

What To Expect

Green Park

Legend has it that the park is green because Charles II's wife Catherine do Braganza ordered all its flowers to be removed. why you might ask? You'll find out on the tour!

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

St. James's Palace

Built by Henry VIII on the site of a women's leper hospital, this palace was originally built for the son promised to Henry by his second wife, Anne Boleyn. But things didn't turn out quite as planned!

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Changing of the Guard

One of London's ancient ceremonies, this is pageantry not to be missed but we will need to check that the ceremony is scheduled for the day of your tour. If it is, you're in for a treat as we view different parts of the ceremony from three different places - we'll need to move fast to get from one to another!

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Clarence House

A chance to see where King Charles III and the Queen Consort, Camilla, call home.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Lancaster House

Built from beautiful Bath stone, this building stood in for Buckingham Palace during the filming of Downton Abbey.

2 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Buckingham Palace

One of the London's most iconic buildings, with its world famous balcony, Buckingham Palace is the office of the monarchy and one of the few working palaces in the world. Queen Elizabeth II lived here Monday - Friday but her son Charles has yet to decide where he is going to live. The palace is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment so we'll have to wait and see what he decides to do.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Wellington Barracks

Homes to the Queens' Life Guards, responsible for the security of the monarch since 1660.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

St. James's Park

One of the prettiest Royal parks with an abundance of wild life and a gorgeous ornamental lake, George IV one of England's most extravagant kings, made it what it is today. A few other monarchs before him had their say too - I will reveal all on our tour!

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall

Home to two of London's most ancient ceremonies dating back to the 1600s, the Changing of the Guard and Trooping the Colour. The parade ring was also used during the London Olympics in 2012 - I wonder if anyone can remember which sport took place here?

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Paxton & Whitfield

This shop began life centuries ago as a market stall; how it has changed wince then as it now displays over 90 artisan cheeses from all over Europe..

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Floris

Two new perfumes have just been released: one called Platinum 22 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee in June 2022 and a man's fragrance called 007 which surely needs no introduction - both well worth a sniff!

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Fortnum & Mason

The most sophisticated department store in London - the hamper began here! As we take a quick walk arund the ground floor of the store, you will find out what unusual feature is up on the roof as well as the nature of a competition sponsored by the store. Intriguing!

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Reviews

Excellent guide with tailored itinerary

Connector574105, 30-12-2019

Sandy provided our family of 7 (ages 14-75) with a great introductory tour of the St. James area. She was able to accomodate all of our requests and discuss our collective interests in the area on a wide range of topics from architecture to cuisine to the royal family. She was timely, efficient and pleasant to spend time with. I would highly recommend her.

Superb guide, great walking tour

1611Julie, 31-05-2019

I did a walking tour of the St James area with Sandy Rhodes that far exceeded my expectations. Sandy was considerate, knowledgeable and personable, providing a tour that was varied in content and rich (in cheese &) information ... do the tour ... you'll know what I mean.... I'll definitely do another of her tours when next in London.

Best Guide, Essential Tour

KeithAHall, 11-06-2018

My wife and I arrange for private tours on each of our foreign trips and Sandy Rhodes was one of the best. She is knowledgable and fun and her pacing of the tours is fantastic. This particular tour answered so many questions about the Royal Warrants and where the Royals shop, Gentlemen's Clubs, and St. James Park itself. We had the most fabulous perspective for the Changing of the Guard ceremony, watching the old guard march from the Friary and then catching the new Guard from Wellington Barracks. We stopped by several Royal Warrant holders, including Berry Brothers for King's Ginger, Floris, and then a cheese tasting at Paxton and Whitfield. It was the tour that brought everything together for us. The next time we come to London Sandy and Hobnob tours will be our first call.

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St James', a Private Walking Tour of London's Royal Village Activity - London Travel Guide

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