England is a fascinating country when it comes to history and architecture, but did you also know it’s known for its musical legends? Sure, you could head over to Abbey Road to take some photos at the iconic zebra crossing, but if you’re a Beatles fan, you deserve more than that.
You’ll get to follow in the band members’ footsteps, from their beginnings to after they became some of the biggest superstars in history.
I’ve carefully crafted a list of the 5 top Beatles tours in London, where you’ll get to learn from experts and see plenty of hidden gems that most don’t get to access. Let’s jump right in!
Be sure to see our reviews of Stonehenge Day Trips, Thames Dinner Cruises and Windsor Castle Tours.
Best Beatles Tours in London
Liverpool & The Beatles Rail Day Trip from London | Beatles Tour of London by Private Black Taxi | Beatles Evening Tour of Central London | |
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Best Full-Day Tour | Best Private Tour | Best Value Tour | |
Location: | Euston Rd., London NW1 2RT | Sloane Square Station, Sloane square, London SW1W 8BB | Duke of York Monument, St. James's, London |
Start: | 7:30 AM | 2:30 PM | 6:00 PM |
Duration: | 13 hours | 3 hours | 2.5 hours |
Includes: | 2-hour guided tour, roundtrip train tickets, entrance to Beatles Story Exhibition, entry to Cavern Club | Live commentary on board, local guide, transportation | Professional local guide, transport by air-conditioned coach |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Beatles Tours in London For 2024
- Liverpool & The Beatles Rail Day Trip from London
- Beatles Tour of London by Private Black Taxi
- Beatles Evening Tour of Central London
- The Beatles in London Private Taxi Tour
- The Best Beatles tour with celebrity tour guide + 60s bar
London Beatles Tour Reviews
1. Liverpool & The Beatles Rail Day Trip from London
- Duration: 13 hours
- Departure: Euston Rd., London NW1 2RT
- Departure Time: 7:30 AM
- Includes: 2-hour guided Magical Mystery tour, Liverpool map and info pack, roundtrip train tickets, entrance to Beatles Story Exhibition, entry to Cavern Club
Kicking things off, we have the Liverpool & The Beatles Rail Day Trip from London Tour which is one of my absolute favorites! You’ll get to see plenty of fascinating spots around the historical city of Liverpool, with not one moment of boredom to worry about!
Even if you’re not necessarily a huge fan of the Beatles, I know you’ll find this to be a great way to spend a day outside of London. Starting off bright and early in the morning, you’ll meet your guide at the rail station, where you’ll get to select either a standard or first-class seat on the train.
Enjoy the fantastic views of the charming English countryside as you zoom along, before arriving in Liverpool and heading straight into the guided ‘Magical Mystery’ tour.
I was actually surprised at just how beautiful Liverpool was, starting out with the gorgeous UNESCO site: Albert Dock complex which sits right on the Mersey River, which kind of reminded me of Venice!
Enjoy a casual stroll along the waterfront before entering The Beatles Story exhibition where you’ll learn about how the band rose to an insane level of fame, starting from their childhoods in Liverpool.
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Take a look inside a replica of the Cavern Club that was crucial to their success before enjoying a kind of “backstage pass” to the Abbey Road studios, and then fuel up at one of the local eateries or pubs. I found the food here to be surprisingly good, and of course I had to wash it down with a pint.
After having your fill, head on over to Strawberry Field, Penny Lane, and St. Peter’s Church, where you’ll make the connections between the relevance of each place and the song titles.
There certainly is a lot to see on this full-day tour, but everything was expertly organized and the guide was extremely knowledgeable and professional. I know you’ll appreciate this exciting excursion just as much as I did!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Other Experiences You May Enjoy:
2. Beatles Tour of London by Private Black Taxi
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: Sloane Square Station, Sloane square, London SW1W 8BB
- Departure Time: 2:30 PM
- Includes: Live commentary on board, local guide, transportation
Perhaps a full-day tour just won’t work with your schedule, or you don’t want to dedicate that much time to a tour of this kind. If that’s the case for you, there’s no need to worry, because many people prefer a smaller, bite-sized tour of the Beatles’ history.
The Beatles Tour of London by Private Black Taxi lasts just 3 hours, but packs in a whole bunch of information and fun which makes it a fun option for the whole family!
The thing about these kinds of tours is that they require a small group size to really appreciate everything it has to offer. After all, you don’t want to be traversing through the busy intersections of London in a huge herd of people!
Rather than traveling in a coach, you have a private driver to take you to over 30 landmarks in your own black taxi. You get to choose between either a morning or afternoon start time – each of which including a convenient pickup right from your hotel!
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Work together with your guide by telling them what interests you specifically, so they can help customize a tour made exactly for you and your party. At each stop made, you’ll have plenty of time to take photos and walk around if you choose.
The tour typically starts out by seeing the famous Abbey Road Studios, where our guide explained which recordings the Beatles made here and why it’s so significant.
You’ll also get to see the home of John, Paul, and Ringo, along with some important locations where they held live gigs, as well as where many album covers and photoshoots took place. With a friendly, knowledgeable guide to lead the way, we felt this was a must for any Beatles fan in London! \
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Beatles Evening Tour of Central London
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Departure: Duke of York Monument, St. James’s, London
- Departure Time: 6:00 PM
- Includes: Professional local guide, transport by air-conditioned coach
Next up, we have not only one of the most condensed but also one of the most budget-friendly options out there. Clocking in around 2.5 hours, it’s perfect if you have a packed itinerary but still want to get lost in Beatlemania.
The Beatles Evening Tour of Central London is easy to plan around dinner time, enjoying an exciting excursion with an expert guide to lead you to the biggest Beatles gems in the capital.
Keep in mind that this is a walking tour, but it’s much more convenient to stroll around in the evening as there are fewer people in most of the areas.
This tour was a ton of fun not only due to the engaging, personable guide but also because we got to see so many sights I had no idea were so important to the band’s success and identity! I should also clarify that even though this is a shorter tour than most, it is in no way “less than” – you’re going to have a fabulous time!
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If you have a favorite band member, make sure to mention it to your guide, because they do a great job at showing you not only the band’s important sites, but spots that are specific to each band member.
Due to the incredible planning and organization, you’ll get to see around 35 landmarks that helped design the future and identity of the band and each member. It’s much more fun than just checking off each stop, as the guide offers funny and fascinating commentary at each one.
We of course got to see Abbey Road, but we also saw less-popular attractions like the White Cube, St. John’s Wood, Marylebone Station, Apple Studios, Baker Street, and so much more!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. The Beatles in London Private Taxi Tour
- Duration: 4 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: Varies
- Includes: Bottled water, air-conditioned vehicle, USB charging points
This one draws many similarities to the second tour on this guide, though The Beatles in London Private Taxi Tour is about twice as long, with a bit more immersion into different landscapes.
Clocking in at 4 hours, it’s a fantastic way to get to know more about Beatlemania and see many of the sites that forever changed the way the band operated. If that sounds like fun to you, don’t go anywhere, because we’re about to cover what you can expect.
First things first, you don’t have to worry about booking separate transportation or hopping on the tube to get to a meet-up point. Rather, your professional guide will be there to pick you up from your hotel at any time that’s convenient for you.
You can choose from various start times, depending on which works best for your schedule. You’ll head to Marylebone first, where you’ll get to see the homes of the Beatles, the Old Town Hall where two of them were married, locations from A Hard Days Night, The Apple Boutique, and many more.
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We can’t miss Abbey Road, where almost the entirety of their discography was recorded, and you’ll of course get the chance to take photos at the iconic zebra crossing.
Check out the former Apple HQ, St. James, and Soho, which is where you’ll see sites like where John Lennon met Yoko Ono, some of their regular haunts, the courthouse where one member spent a legendary night, and more.
Throughout the tour, the guide does a great job at offering info you won’t find anywhere else, as well as showing us some hidden gems. I also loved the trivia games that they incorporated, making for a wonderful time we’d love to repeat in the future.
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. The Best Beatles Tour with Celebrity Tour Guide + 60s bar
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: St. John’s Wood, London NW8 6DN
- Departure Time: Varies
- Includes: Professional, Blue Badge guide, alcoholic beverages
We found this next tour to be the best in terms of combining Beatles history with London culture and heritage. The Best Beatles Tour with Celebrity Tour Guide + 60s Bar experience was a fantastic time, with a guide who is fun and lively, setting the tone for a fun-filled adventure.
If you have a few hours to spare, I highly recommend checking this one out. There are various tour start times to choose from, and as it’s only around 3 hours long, it’s easy to fit into a packed schedule.
You’ll meet your guide and the rest of your group in front of the St. John’s Wood station, which is convenient and easy to access, no matter where you’re staying in London. Become acquainted and set off to the first stop of the day: Abbey Road.
This is a walking tour, so make sure to put on some comfortable footwear and always bring a jacket as London weather can be a bit unpredictable.
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When you get to Abbey Road, you’ll be able to take some photos to recreate the legendary zebra crossing cover. The guide did a great job at helping out when needed and even offered to take photos of the group members.
I loved relaxing and enjoying the beautiful natural scenery in the Paddington Street Garden, while learning about how the band loved it so much (I can see why!).
The London Palladium was next, where we gained insight into how the Beatles made their famous “mop-top” haircut and their clothing trendy with teenagers. You’ll also get to see where Beatlemania originated, see the location of their last live concert, and finish it up at a local pub for some drinks!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Sites Seen
Tour Guides
Value
The Liverpool & The Beatles Rail Day Trip is our Editors Choice for the best Beatles tour in London