Across London

With your bowler hat and leather boots, you’re all set for adventure! The London Crossing is an expedition through the heart of four of the capital’s must-see districts. Just a stone’s throw from the political and royal districts of Westminster and Buckingham, let yourself be tempted by the West End, the realm of entertainment of all kinds. Continue the investigation and unravel the mystery of London’s origins in the City, now the world’s financial capital. Cross the Thames and stroll along the south bank: in the dark, enigmatic streets around London Bridge, you’ll discover the romantic soul of a majestic city without equal.

Yeah, Mister? West, Minister? Westminster, the western monastery

Follow in the footsteps of Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher in the very heart of the nation’s political life, in front of the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben, the world’s most famous clock! Just a stone’s throw away, discover Westminster Abbey, the setting for the most majestic coronations and weddings in history, where the presence of the Queen and monarchs of yesteryear still lingers. Barring a stroke of luck, you might just catch a glimpse of the Queen or Prince Charles in person at Buckingham Palace – you never know.

The West End: time flies when you’re having fun!

In the realm of entertainment, the wide-eyed and wonder-struck are king. Between Trafalgar Square, Soho and Chinatown, your heart will be racing – and that’s only to be expected. Let yourself be transported back in time alongside Admiral Lord Nelson, feel the thrill of the fast-paced world of popular culture at Piccadilly Circus, fall under the spell of the magical worlds of Harry Potter and Mary Poppins, or, why not, shed a tear with Hamlet, The Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King.

Once upon a time, there was the City

Once a Roman forum, now the world’s most powerful financial hub, the tiny enclave known as the City harbours more than a few secrets. Unlock the mystery at the foot of St Paul’s Cathedral, a symbol of the city’s ancient past. Or, paradoxically, by admiring the Gherkin and the most modern skyscrapers rising into the London sky. Walk fearlessly across the swaying bridge: the Millennium Bridge is a masterpiece of modern architecture rooted in a solid past.

London Bridge, straight out of a Dickens novel

A favourite haunt for Sunday strollers, this former red-light district still draws in the crowds! It’s hardly surprising: from London’s oldest pubs to Shakespeare’s Elizabethan theatre, via medieval prisons turned torture museums, London Bridge embodies the London of yesteryear and inspires the cinema of today. Let your newly acquired English instinct guide you, and you’ll stumble upon some of the best fish and chips at Borough Market, the city’s oldest and most beautiful market.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Flexible meeting point, or let’s meet at Parliament Square (SW1P 3BD), in front of the statue of Winston Churchill
Underground: Westminster station (Jubilee, District or Circle lines) in Zone 1, central London
Arrival at Borough Market
Underground: London Bridge station (Jubilee, Northern lines)
Walking tour of approximately 2½ hours
Please allow for an underground pass for this tour.