The 7 Best Private Guided Tours of London [2024 Reviews]

London truly is a city that has it all: from sports and entertainment to history and culture, there really is something for everyone.

However, because the bustling metropolis has so much to offer, it can be downright intimidating trying to figure out where to start. One of the best ways to start your trip is to do a tour that will get you acquainted with the capital and show you some of the biggest tourist attractions.

There are endless tours here, so we’ve done the hard part for you! We’re here to bring you the top  London city tours, that are actually worth your time and money!


Have a look at our reviews of for other things to do in London: Windsor Castle Tours, Stonehenge Day Trips, Thames River Dinner Cruises.

Best Private Tours of London

Private Tour: Black Taxi Tour of LondonLondon Monuments & Back Streets Guided Tour in Black TaxiFull Day London Private Classic Tour

Best Private Tour

Best Half-Day Tour

Best Full-Day Tour

editors choice
Departure:Hotel pickup and drop-offHotel pickup and drop-offVilliers St, London WC2N 6NS
Start:Between 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM9:00 AMBetween 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Duration:2 hours4 hours6 hours
Includes:A personalized private tour, transport by private London Black Taxi, local guideProfessional and registered guide, tour in an electric taxi with panoramic sunroof, photo stopsDriver/guide, transport by private vehicle, all taxes, fees and handling charges

Tour Information & Booking

Tour Information & Booking

Tour Information & Booking


Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated Tours of London for 2024

  1. Private Tour: Black Taxi Tour of London
  2. London Monuments & Back Streets Guided Tour in Black Taxi
  3. Full Day London Private Classic Tour
  4. Private Tour of London in a Classic Car
  5. London Full-Day Tour by Black Cab
  6. Private Guided Tour London
  7. Full Day London Private Tour

Private Guided Tours of London Reviews

1. Private Tour: Black Taxi Tour of London

Tour Highlights:

  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Departure Time: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Includes: A personalized private tour, transport by private London Black Taxi, local guide

Let’s kick things off with the Private Tour: Black Taxi Tour of London. This private custom tour will take you through the spots that interest you and your group most, so you make the most of your time.

It’s a fantastic way of getting acquainted with the city so you can decide what to explore further later on. Lasting 2 hours, it’s easy to fit into even the busiest of schedules.

Select the time that works best for you, and they’ll be there to pick you up right from your hotel lobby in a traditional black taxi! Your personal driver/guide will aid you in curating the ideal itinerary for you or create one for you, if you prefer.

No matter where you go, your guide will provide an entertaining and educational commentary about each location and along the way. In addition, you can request stops to take some photos, if you’d like.

You’re completely in control with your guide there to teach you about each place and make sure everything goes smoothly.

As your guide is a local, they have some fantastic anecdotes and insider knowledge that you can’t get from a history book. As they know London’s every nook and cranny, you’ll even be able to see things that most other tourists haven’t.

While you get to design your tour, here are some of the most popular stops: Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. James, and the Tower of London.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience


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2. London Monuments & Back Streets Guided Tour in Black Taxi

Tour Highlights:

  • Duration: 4 hours
  • Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Departure Time: 9:00 AM
  • Includes: Professional and registered guide, tour in an electric taxi with panoramic sunroof, photo stops

If you thought the previous tour sounded interesting but want something a bit lengthier, we have just the tour for you.

The London: Monuments & Back Streets Guided Tour in Black Taxi is a 4-hour tour that also takes place in a black taxi with a transparent glass roof so you can see the best sights of the city with unobstructed views!

The tour combines the typical tourist hot spots along with fascinating spots that are typically known to just locals!

There’s quite a lot of flexibility with this one, including start time and itinerary. You can give input to your guide so they can create a tour that focuses on you and your group’s personal interests.

They’ll start out by picking you up from your hotel in central London so you don’t even have to worry about finding a meet up point.

The guides are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, making it feel like a good local friend is taking you around town to show you the best sights.

You’ll get to see Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, the River Thames, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, and much more.

Make stops at each one to take photos and hear historical accounts and personal anecdotes, which only add to the intrigue!

You’ll even get to walk on an ancient Roman pavement, see a “Dead House”, head up to the top of a medieval tower, and visit the most haunted pub in London. If you want to get well-acquainted with London quickly, this is a fantastic way to go about it!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience


3. Full Day London Private Classic Tour

Tour Highlights:

  • Duration: 6 hours
  • Departure: Villiers St, London WC2N 6NS
  • Departure Time: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Includes: Driver/guide, transport by private vehicle, all taxes, fees and handling charges

While the first couple of tours are some of the most popular, if you want an even more extensive tour you know we have you covered!

The Full Day London Private Classic Tour is one of the most comprehensive of its kind, with a VIP twist for your comfort! Lasting 6 hours, you’ll be able to see over 50 of the most iconic highlights the city has to offer and learn about them all!

Just like with the other tours, this one also comes with a convenient hotel pickup, so transportation is seamless from the very beginning. If you’re only going to be in London for a short period of time or want to do an overview of the city before exploring further, this tour is amazing.

The black cab is not only iconic to the capital, but is comfortable and navigates much easier than a bus can. As the group can only fit in the cab, this is ideal for solo travelers, couples, or small groups of people.

This offers a customized, personal tour where you develop more of a relationship with your tour guide. Feel free to ask them any questions you may have – they are great at answering them and have a ton of knowledge to share.

You get to see the sights comfortably, without having to navigate crowds or get lost amongst a larger tour.

Although, if you’d like, your guide will introduce you to locals at some of the locations to offer even more knowledge about the areas. No matter your age or interests, you’re sure to love this tour as much as us!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience


4. Private Tour of London in a Classic Car

Tour Highlights:

  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Departure Time: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
  • Includes:Private guide, private transportation

London is a city with quite the history combined with plenty of interesting modern-day offerings. This can make for a ton of fun, once you actually figure where to start. Let your expert local guide lead the way with the Private Tour of London in a Classic Car!

This 2-hour tour is an excellent way to quickly get acquainted with the city, without leaving any part out. They’ll start out by picking you right up from your hotel, and we recommend booking it for the first day you arrive.

That way, you can learn and see plenty and have an idea of what areas you’d like to explore further, later on. Your ride for the tour is a classic (and gorgeous!) Mini Cooper, which is perfect for weaving in-and-out of the busting streets as well as for small groups.

You don’t have to worry about not being able to hear your guide amongst large tour groups and can feel comfortable posing any questions that come to mind.

The guides do a fantastic job of catering to your likes and designing the tour around them, making sure everyone is pleased.

We do recommend at least adding some of the major sites to your tour, though. St. Paul’s Cathedral, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and the London Eye are all fantastic!

Your guide will offer an educational and intriguing commentary about each as you pass by. You can choose to take photo stops as well, whenever you so choose.

It’s hard to get a more personalized look with this much comfort and convenience. Not to mention, you’ll look cooler doing it in your snazzy Mini Cooper!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience


5. London Full-Day Tour by Black Cab

Tour Highlights:

  • Duration: 8 hours
  • Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Departure Time: 9:00 AM
  • Includes: Transportation in an iconic London taxi, professional tour guide, photo stops at all the major attractions, complimentary water

Have you ever wanted to go on a personalized, private tour of London? Maybe take some photos and learn in-depth about the city’s history? If that sounds like fun and you want to pack in as much as possible, check out the London Full-Day Tour by Black Cab!

This 8-hour adventure takes you through the heart of London all the way to the lesser-known areas. Your guide and your group will all travel back in time, with more than an impressive 2,000 years of history to consider. No need to shuffle through crowds or deal with a large bus, either, as your tour takes place from the inside of an iconic black London cab!

These taxis aren’t like any other chauffeur – they’ve had to sit through the hardest taxi exam on the planet! That means that they’ll not only be able to take you through streets that large tour vehicles, but know the city like the back of their hand. The amount of knowledge they possess never fails to impress, offering a historical background at each location.

After seeing hot spots like Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Covent Garden, Houses of Parliament, and more, you’ll take a welcome pub lunch. The eatery is over 300 years old, with plenty of history, itself! Not to mention tasty eats accompanied by a refreshing pint.

After resting and refueling, hit the road again while exploring some more obscure sights. Lost graveyards, ancient Roman temples, roman pavement of mosaics, and so much more.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience


6. Private Guided Tour London

Tour Highlights:

  • Duration: 9 hours
  • Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Departure Time: 8:00 AM
  • Includes: WiFi, snacks, drinks, all taxes, private guide/driver

Here’s yet another full-day of adventuring, with the Private Guided Tour London. Designed for small groups, you’ll have your guide/driver all to yourselves for a customized tour curated purely based off of your interests.

Lasting 9 hours, it’s a great way to get to know the city and have more appreciation for its history and offerings.

Your tour starts off with your guide picking you up at 8:00 am, from any London airport, hotel, apartment, or port. This makes it one of the most convenient excursions currently offered, as they’re willing to drive just about anywhere in the city to get you.

Once you board your comfortable transportation, they’ll offer you Wi-Fi on board, snacks, and soft drinks.

As we just mentioned, this tour is personalized, so feel free to share with them your interests and they’ll adjust the itinerary and commentary, accordingly.

The sprawling city has something for everyone, though we do recommend seeing some of the top sights like the London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey.

The chauffeur/guide is very talented, and always takes you into consideration throughout. This includes plenty of photo breaks, up-close stops, and more.

We also recommend stopping into Harrods, so you can see the largest department store in the world! Borough Market was another highlight, with delicious and fresh food from so many different cultures.

We have to say that this tour is worth every penny, and is a must-do for those who are in the city for the first time or simply would like to learn more about it.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience


7. Full Day London Private Tour

Tour Highlights:

  • Duration: 8 hours
  • Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Departure Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Includes: Air-conditioned vehicle, parking fees, private transportation, WiFi on board

With over 300 languages spoken, over 170 museums, and virtually countless tourist attractions, London is certainly a magnificent city.

It’s no wonder why it’s one of the most visited cities, with over 2000 years of history. However, it can be overwhelming to try and see everything on your own – thankfully, there exists the Full Day London Private Tour!

Clocking in at 8 hours long and perfect for small groups, this is one of those “best bang for your buck” tours. You’ll cruise around the city streets in a private vehicle designated for your party, only.

Your personal chauffeur/guide is very knowledgeable, from the streets themselves, to the history and culture of the capital. We love this tour for families with children or older travelers, as you don’t have to deal with crowds and getting up and down large buses.

Your guide will come pick you up in the morning at virtually any location within London, so long as you let them know where 24 hours or more beforehand.

The air-conditioned vehicle offers plenty of space and great views, complete with Wi-Fi onboard! They’ll ask you about any special interests any of you may have, so you can maximize the experience!

Explore the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Royal Parks, Tower of London, Olde Curiosity Shop, Old Bailey, and Buckingham Palace are all typical stops on the adventure.

However, you’re more than welcome to skip any of them, take photos there, or add on other stops that may draw your attention more.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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The Black Taxi Tour of London is our Editors Choice for the best private guided tour of London

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Robert Baker

Robert is a content writer and editor at World Guides to Travel where he shares his love for the great outdoors. He also writes in-depth travel blogs for other websites around the world. Robert is passionate about the environment and uses his writing to educate people about the advantages and importance of sustainable living. Robert enjoys creative writing. In 2009, his children’s novel Sally Hemings & the Good Associates won the Children’s Fiction section of the You Write On Book of the Year Award.
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