Go Up The Shard & London Landmark Walking Tour

The best feature here is the route: in about six hours, you move from Buckingham Palace and royal London to Westminster, the South Bank, Borough Market, and The Shard. It is a useful way to get your bearings fast, especially on a first visit when the city’s landmarks can feel scattered.

I like two things in particular. You get a guide to connect the monuments with British history, and the tour finishes with 360-degree views from The Shard, including the option to step onto the open-air level 72 platform. The guide also takes photos for you when asked, a small kindness that matters when you are traveling light.

The trade-off is pace. Five hours of walking, one Underground ride, and around eleven stops leave little room for long museum visits or a leisurely meal. The guide leaves you at The Shard, so you must follow the directions and enter on your own.

Key points to know before booking

• The route covers royal, political, riverside, and food-market London in one continuous day.
• The Shard ticket is included, with priority entry designed to save up to an hour in line.
• The tour begins at The Ritz London at 10:00 am and ends at The Shard, not back at the starting point.
• The Underground fare is extra, so bring a contactless bank card, Oyster card, or Travelcard.
• Children only pay for The Shard admission ticket, making this a particularly appealing family option.
• The group can reach 20 people, small enough for a personal guide but not a private tour.

From The Ritz to Buckingham Palace

Meet at The Ritz London, 150 Piccadilly, at 10:00 am. The first stretch leads through Green Park toward Buckingham Palace, the official London home of the King.

This opening walk gives you a calm start before the day grows busier. Your guide sets the scene with stories of British royal history while you look across the palace frontage. The scheduled stop lasts about an hour, but the palace admission ticket is not included, so the experience here is an exterior visit rather than an indoor tour.

On selected days, the group may see the Changing of the Guard. This ceremony is one of London’s most sought-after public spectacles, and the guide will choose a viewing spot when it takes place. Do not book this tour solely for the ceremony, since the schedule depends on the day, but it is a welcome bonus when available.

After Buckingham Palace, you continue along The Mall, the broad ceremonial road leading toward the heart of Westminster. I like this start because it gives you a clear link between the monarchy, royal parks, and the government district that follows.

Trafalgar Square and the royal route through Whitehall

Trafalgar Square is a compact but important stop. You will see Nelson’s Column, fountains, the National Gallery, and the grand buildings around the square. The allotted 20 minutes is enough for orientation and photographs, though not for a proper visit inside the gallery.

The route then reaches Horse Guards Parade, near St James’s Park. The arch and clock make a good photo stop, and the guide can explain the ceremonial role of this part of London. At 20 minutes, expect a quick look rather than time to linger.

Whitehall follows, with another 20-minute stop. This is the government district, lined with formal buildings and monuments. You will see Downing Street, where British prime ministers have lived and worked since 1735, although the famous street itself is protected from ordinary walk-in access.

These stops work best as a connected story. You begin with the Crown at Buckingham Palace, pass through a national square, then reach the institutions of government. If you already know central London well, the pace may feel brisk. If you are still learning the city, the sequence is useful.

Big Ben, Parliament Square, and Westminster Abbey

At Parliament Square, the focus shifts to the Palace of Westminster, home to the Houses of Parliament. Big Ben is close enough here to appreciate its clock face and tower, while views also open toward the London Eye and the statue of Winston Churchill.

You get about 40 minutes in this area. That is enough time to see the main sights from outside, take photographs, and hear the guide explain the setting. It is not enough for a full parliamentary visit, so you should think of this as an orientation stop.

Westminster Abbey comes next, with about 20 minutes outside the building. The abbey has more than 1,000 years of history and is the place where British kings and queens are crowned. Its interior contains far more than this walking tour can cover, but seeing it in context adds weight to the royal story that began in Green Park.

I appreciate that the route does not treat Big Ben, Parliament, and the abbey as unrelated photo stops. Together, they show how London’s religious, royal, and political life meet in one small part of the city. The limitation is simple: admission to the abbey is not part of the tour, so plan another visit if you want to go inside.

Crossing to South Bank by Underground

After Westminster, you take a short London Underground journey to South Bank. Your transport ticket is not included, so use a contactless bank card, Oyster card, or Travelcard. This is a small but important cost to remember when comparing the $115.92 price.

South Bank brings a change of mood. You will see Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, with about 40 minutes for the area. The route lets you connect London’s cultural life with the river, rather than spending the whole morning among palaces and government offices.

The Underground ride also saves time and keeps the route practical. Without it, the day would require an even longer walk. Still, you should be comfortable using public transport and walking at a steady pace. The tour is not designed for stopping at every gallery, theater, or riverside café.

Millennium Bridge and the view of St Paul’s

From South Bank, the walk crosses Millennium Bridge, known locally as Wobbly Bridge. The bridge gives you a strong view toward St Paul’s Cathedral and its famous dome.

The stop lasts around 20 minutes. That is enough for the view and photographs, but not for a cathedral visit. The bridge is one of the tour’s better visual moments because it frames the dome across the river and shows how modern London sits beside older landmarks.

This part also gives your feet a short change from pavement-level streets. The route remains active, though, so wear shoes that can handle several hours of walking. The schedule includes roughly five hours on foot overall.

Borough Market and Southwark Cathedral

Borough Market is one of the more distinctive stops. Rather than simply passing it from the outside, the guide takes you inside the market, where you can look at local food stalls and the busy trading atmosphere. Food and drinks are not included, but this is the natural place to buy something if the group schedule allows.

The visit lasts about 30 minutes. That is enough to see the market and perhaps pick up a snack, but it is not a relaxed food tour. If you want a full lunch here, the schedule may not leave enough time.

The guide also points out some lesser-known Harry Potter filming locations. This detail can make the stop especially appealing to families and film fans, while the nearby Southwark Cathedral adds a quieter historic contrast.

I like this section because it feels less formal than the palace and Parliament stops. You see a working food market, then a centuries-old church, before returning to the modern city skyline. It adds local texture to a day otherwise packed with famous monuments.

London Bridge and the city skyline

The walk continues to London Bridge for about 30 minutes. From here, you can see a remarkable run of London landmarks: Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, HMS Belfast, The Shard, and the Square Mile.

This is a useful place to understand the city’s geography. Tower Bridge and the Tower of London sit farther east, St Paul’s rises nearby, and The Shard dominates the southern side of the river. The guide helps connect these separate sights before you go up to the highest viewpoint of the day.

Do not confuse London Bridge with Tower Bridge. The former is the crossing used for this viewpoint, while the ornate Tower Bridge is the landmark you look toward. This stop is about the panorama, not entry into the Tower of London or HMS Belfast.

Rising to The Shard

The walking portion ends at The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street. Your guide provides tickets and directions before leaving, and the guide does not accompany you into the building.

The included admission takes you to The View from The Shard, where a high-speed elevator carries you to level 68. The viewing gallery offers 360-degree views that can reach up to 40 miles on a clear day. You can also go up to level 72, the open-air viewing platform, if you want more exposure to the height and weather.

Priority admission is a real part of the tour’s value. Waiting in line for a major London attraction can eat up a large part of an afternoon, and the ticket is intended to save up to an hour. It also makes sense as the final stop because you can take in the city from above after seeing many of its major landmarks at street level.

The one logistical point to note is the handoff. You must read the directions, enter independently, and manage your own time at The Shard. Some people will enjoy having freedom at the final attraction. Others may prefer a guide to stay with them from start to finish.

What the $115.92 price buys you

At $115.92 per person, the price is not simply paying for a view from The Shard. It covers a local guide, a small-group walking tour of about 30 major sights, the Shard Viewing Gallery ticket, and priority entry.

The value depends on how you would otherwise arrange the day. If you plan to visit The Shard and pay for a separate city tour, this combination can save planning time and may be competitive once admission and guiding are added together. If you prefer to explore slowly, eat a long lunch, or enter several museums, you may get more from separate visits.

Families should look closely at the pricing structure. Children only pay for The Shard admission ticket, which can make the tour more attractive than the adult price first suggests. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the route still demands a full day of walking, so age and energy matter.

The maximum group size is 20. That is not an intimate private walk, but it is small enough for the guide to explain landmarks, answer questions, and help with photographs. One useful personal touch is that the guide will take pictures for you if you ask.

Who will enjoy this London route most

I would choose this tour for a first visit, a short stay, or a family that wants a clear introduction to central London. It gives you a broad view of the city without requiring you to plan connections between far-flung landmarks.

It also suits anyone who likes history explained on the street rather than read from a guidebook. You move through royal, political, religious, cultural, commercial, and financial parts of London, with each area adding something different.

I would think twice if you dislike long walks, need lots of free time, or want to explore the National Gallery, Westminster Abbey, Tate Modern, Borough Market, or The Shard at a slow pace. The tour shows you many places, but it does not provide extended interior visits.

The English-only format is clear, and most people can participate. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting points are near public transport. You need to handle your own hotel transport, food, drinks, and Underground fare.

Should you book Go Up The Shard and London Landmark Walking Tour?

Book it if you want one well-organized day of London highlights and a strong city view at the end. The route is especially useful for first-time visitors, families, and anyone who would rather follow a guide than work out the Underground and sightseeing order alone.

Skip it if your priority is depth over coverage. The tour moves quickly, the guide leaves you at The Shard, and most landmarks are exterior visits. For the right pace, though, the combination of a royal walk, Westminster, South Bank, Borough Market, and The Shard makes good practical sense.

Free cancellation is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. The experience is commonly booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of about 40 days, so I would reserve early if your London dates are fixed.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at The Ritz London, 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR, at 10:00 am.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG.

Is admission to The Shard included?

Yes. The Shard Viewing Gallery entrance ticket is included, with access to the viewing levels described for the experience.

Does the guide go inside The Shard?

No. The guide gives you the ticket and directions at the end of the walking tour, then you enter The Shard independently.

Is public transport included?

No. You need to bring a contactless bank card, Oyster card, or Travelcard for the London Underground journey.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. Borough Market is included as a stop, where you can see the food stalls and may have an opportunity to buy something.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.