And to see it with a great guide (Karen, for example, winner of the Guide of the Year Award, Travel & Leisure’s“World’s Greatest Guide,” Presenter of Discovery TV’s London Next Stop) is to have that past suddenly rise to the surface, like seeing a photographic print come up in a darkroom. You can hear Karen here – it’s a recent interview.
It doesn’t get any better than this. Embarras de richesse, we’ll also explore the private face of Westminster – the London equivalent of Georgetown.
Unlike the tourist hordes who never find them, we get to see the hidden and ever so picturesque Georgian back streets where all the political salons are! We end very near the Cabinet War Rooms, the fortified bunker that housed Winston Churchill’s centre of operations during the war. N.B. So, yes, the walk ends very near Parliament Square, just a stone’s throw from Westminster Tube. Want a preview of the walk? Click here to watch the video.
OLD WESTMINSTER – THE PRACTICALS
Old Westminster takes placeTuesday at 2 pm,Thursday at 2pm, andSaturday at 11 am.
The meeting point is just outside St James’ Park tube Station, the Broadway/Westminster Abbey opposite the Conrad Hotel
The Tuesday at 2 pm walk is guided by actor Oliver(the David Niven of London Walks) or Guide of the Year Award-winningJudyor Isobel (Isobel’s another award-winning Blue Badge guide). It’s Shaughan or David at the helm on the Thursdays at 2 pm walk. The Saturdays at 11 am walk is guided by Karen, recently crowned by Travel & Leisure as “the world’s greatest guide. You can hear Karen here, in this recent interview.
THE WEATHER – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
“In four decades of guiding I’ve never once taken an umbrella;* it doesn’t rain on my walks” – David, the Seigneur of this favoured realm [London Walks].
London Weather Facts: Jerusalem, Gibraltar, Rome, Rhodes, etc. all get more rainfall than London. Precipitation-wise, London is one of the driest cities on earth.
You want a European city that does get (just slightly) less rain than London, Sevilla’s your ciudad. The line on Sevilla and rain is: “rainfall in Sevilla isn’t abundant and it’s concentrated;” by the same token the line on London and the wet stuff should be “rainfall in London isn’t abundant and it isn’t concentrated.”
Bottom line: Don’t let the rain bogeyman call the shots. Send him packing. He’s all hat and no cattle, as they say in Texas.
Ok, we get the occasional mizzle but it’s easily seen off. A brolly – which I (David) refuse to carry – does the trick every time. And as long as you’re at it, always allow for the lost in translation factor: on the other side of the Atlantic the word ‘rain’ = rain; over here the word ‘rain’ = damp; or a mizzle.**
Cue tag team London Walks moment: “I divorced weather forecasts five years ago. It’s like being unchained from a lunatic. You might as well look at a horoscope as pay any heed to UK weather forecasts” (London Walks guide, Adam, Visit England Superstar Finalist 2022).
*Historically, the British public regarded the idea of not getting soaked when it’s pissing it down as ‘too French’, with accounts saying we called people a ‘mincing Frenchman’ if they were caught using an umbrella.
**A mizzle does not pleasure and pain make, let alone a downpour [‘pleasure and pain’ is Cockney rhyming slang for ‘rain’]
LONDON WALKS REVIEWS
“Best Tourism Experience in London” Gold Medal Winner, Visit London
“The best walks are conducted by London Walks” Toronto Globe & Mail
“The best walking tours are organized by London Walks” USA Today
“London Walks was acknowledged as the premier walking tour company in the entire world“American Tour Guides Convention
“The original and best – there are several companies offering walking tours of London but London Walks (London’s oldest) is easily the pick of the bunch” London, Cadogan Guide
If you can’t make one of the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, Old Westminster Walking Tour it can always be booked as a private tour. If you go private you can have the Old Westminster Walking Tour walk – or any other London Walk – on a day and at a time that suits your convenience. We’ll tailor it to your requirements. Ring Fiona or Mary on 020 7624 3978 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll set it up and make it happen for you. A private London Walk – they’re good value for an individual or couple and sensational value for a group – makes an ideal group or educational or birthday party or office (team-building) or club outing.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LONDON WALKS
A private London Walk makes a fab gift – be it a birthday or anniversary or Christmas present or whatever. Merchandise schmerchandise (gift wrapped or not) – but giving someone an experience, now that’s special. Memories make us rich.
This was our first tour with London Walks and we did it on our first day in London. It was the perfect introduction to some of the history and iconic buildings. David sent some preliminary information via email with helpful suggestions for lunching and getting acquainted with the area before the tour began. With an amazing knowledge of history, architecture, and obscure facts, David led a delightful tour. We were hooked on London Tours and participated in six more during our stay.
Rated 5 out of 5
Janis bursford –
Ann did an amazing walk around Westminster. Not only did Ann give the normal history, but she would add little tit bits that only someone can know, because A….she loves what she does and goes that extra mile and B…..she does her homework. Despite the noise effect, we loved it. I would definitely recommend this walk, as I have lived in London and I never realised some streets around Westminster. Lose yourself with Ann in Westminster you will not be disappointed
Rated 5 out of 5
Christoph –
Simon is a historian, comedian and interpreter all in one. A fantastic mix. He knows interesting historical backgrounds or funny stories at each of his stops. Time flies by itself and you wish the walk would last much longer. Danke!
Rated 5 out of 5
Barbara Kemp –
Excellent Old Westminster tour with Simon. He was knowledgeable with excellent stories and great sense of humour. A fascinating two hours.
Rated 5 out of 5
Deborah –
Very interesting walk. We explored places I had never seen and probably wouldn’t have seen on my own. Thank you!!!!
Rated 5 out of 5
Caroline Jerram –
A big thank you to David for a fascinating Westminter walk on the 22 February. My goodness did it rain! We soldiered on despite that and were introduced to a whole new part of London we had never seen. It was brilliant and we highly recommend this tour.
Rated 5 out of 5
Zach Z and Cheryl Z –
We did our walk with Ann. She was a wealth of knowledge and the best guide I have experienced on a London Walk. She took us to places that I had no idea still existed in this fabulous city. We will take another walk next time we are in London!!
Rated 5 out of 5
Angie –
Fantastic tour this 3rd of February, Oliver is very knowledgeable and guided us through spots I would have never noticed myself. Would highly recommend!
Rated 5 out of 5
Seth Katz –
Oliver Beamish is a fabulous guide and a lovely person! My students got a lot out of his tour of Old Westminster, and I would recommend him to anyone and everyone!
Rated 5 out of 5
Pauline –
We did this walk yesterday – A rare cold and rainy London day which no one noticed because Ann kept pointing out really interesting parts of Westminster and sharing all sorts of snippets we had never heard before – she certainly knows her stuff! highly recommend.
Reserve your place on Old Westminster Walking Tour
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OKPrivacy policy
Jill A. –
This was our first tour with London Walks and we did it on our first day in London. It was the perfect introduction to some of the history and iconic buildings. David sent some preliminary information via email with helpful suggestions for lunching and getting acquainted with the area before the tour began. With an amazing knowledge of history, architecture, and obscure facts, David led a delightful tour. We were hooked on London Tours and participated in six more during our stay.
Janis bursford –
Ann did an amazing walk around Westminster. Not only did Ann give the normal history, but she would add little tit bits that only someone can know, because A….she loves what she does and goes that extra mile and B…..she does her homework. Despite the noise effect, we loved it. I would definitely recommend this walk, as I have lived in London and I never realised some streets around Westminster. Lose yourself with Ann in Westminster you will not be disappointed
Christoph –
Simon is a historian, comedian and interpreter all in one. A fantastic mix. He knows interesting historical backgrounds or funny stories at each of his stops. Time flies by itself and you wish the walk would last much longer. Danke!
Barbara Kemp –
Excellent Old Westminster tour with Simon. He was knowledgeable with excellent stories and great sense of humour. A fascinating two hours.
Deborah –
Very interesting walk. We explored places I had never seen and probably wouldn’t have seen on my own. Thank you!!!!
Caroline Jerram –
A big thank you to David for a fascinating Westminter walk on the 22 February. My goodness did it rain! We soldiered on despite that and were introduced to a whole new part of London we had never seen. It was brilliant and we highly recommend this tour.
Zach Z and Cheryl Z –
We did our walk with Ann. She was a wealth of knowledge and the best guide I have experienced on a London Walk. She took us to places that I had no idea still existed in this fabulous city. We will take another walk next time we are in London!!
Angie –
Fantastic tour this 3rd of February, Oliver is very knowledgeable and guided us through spots I would have never noticed myself. Would highly recommend!
Seth Katz –
Oliver Beamish is a fabulous guide and a lovely person! My students got a lot out of his tour of Old Westminster, and I would recommend him to anyone and everyone!
Pauline –
We did this walk yesterday – A rare cold and rainy London day which no one noticed because Ann kept pointing out really interesting parts of Westminster and sharing all sorts of snippets we had never heard before – she certainly knows her stuff! highly recommend.