St James' Exclusive Private Walking Tour
An outdoor tour which follows in the footsteps of the Royals!
St James' has entertained both Royalty and the gentry for hundreds of years and exploring this historic neighbourhood is a delight. Everything for which St James' is famous is included on this tour: wandering past the outside of St James' and Buckingham Palaces, meandering through St James' and Green parks, looking at the outside of the gentlemen's clubs and the exclusive shops which served royalty and the gents alike, not to mention the possibility of pageantry. If you're looking for a right royal extravaganza, you have come to the right place!
The palaces have been the splendid setting for some of the most important events in Royal history. Royal baptisms and marriages have taken place at St James' together with announcements of the death of one monarch and the accession of the next; Buckingham Palace has the world famous balcony where the royals stand to mark special occasions.
The parks are the cumulative result of the creativity of four monarchs with St James', arguably, being the most beautiful of the eight Royal parks in and around the capital.
Our tour passes half a dozen historic gentlemen's clubs, some of which still do not admit women as members,
and we meander past shops, some centuries old, set up to provide the gentlemen with everything they could possibly want.
The Changing of the Guard ceremony is Royal pageantry at its very best but is scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings so, if you're interested in catching this impressive event, you will need to book a tour on the morning of one of those days. We watch this extraordinary event from two or three different places - the timings don't always work but it is fun trying to move quickly from one spot to another!! But do bear in mind that the ceremony can get cancelled at the last moment so can't be guaranteed!
Our tour also passes Clarence House, home to King Charles and Queen Camilla when in London.
As we follow in the footsteps of the royals, the gentlemen and the politicians, you will hear some fun facts about them all from across the centuries.
London's history is evident wherever you look on this tour so don't miss out!
The meeting place for St James' private walking tours is Le Cafe Robuchon on the corner of Piccadilly and Bolton Street, close to Green Park underground station. If you would like a coffee before the tour starts, please meet me inside Le Cafe Robuchon at 9.15. If you want to pass on the coffee, I'll meet you outside the cafe at 9.40.
If you would like to see more of London's iconic buildings, why not link the St James' tour with Westminster? This will allow you to enjoy three of the most iconic buildings in London, all with Royal connections: Westminster Abbey, Westminster Hall and the Houses of Parliament; this tour lasts about 4 hours.
The outside of St James' and Buckingham Palaces
A meander through St James' Park
Gentlemen's Clubs
Royal Warrants
Exclusive shops
Great Tours for children to see Changing of the Guard
This is a two and a half to three hour tour.
I guide small groups of up to 6 family or friends, including me.
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If you would like to book a tour, please click the button below.