The “Big Six” of London and a Pub – 5 Hour Tour

London is a big city with a long list of headline sights, and this tour tackles them at pedal speed. In about five and a half hours, you move from St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, and Tower Bridge. You cover a lot of ground without spending the day underground or on a bus.

I like two things right away: the group is capped at eight, and the bike and helmet are provided. That makes the ride feel more personal and keeps the day moving. Guide Ola has also shown a knack for making a small group feel relaxed and fun, with one five-person outing praised for seeing a great deal while still enjoying the day. The catch is simple: you need to be ready to cycle about 25 kilometres at a moderate pace, and the tour runs in all weather.

Key points at a glance

• About 25 kilometres by bike: This is a serious sightseeing ride, not a short spin around one neighborhood.
• Eight riders maximum: A small group gives the guide a better chance to manage the pace and answer questions.
• Big sights in one outing: St. Paul’s, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Tower Bridge, and the Monument all appear on the route.
• Changing of the Guard may be included: The guide tries to time the Buckingham Palace visit with the ceremony when it is scheduled.
• Bike and helmet included: You do not need to bring your own cycling equipment.
• No attraction entry or food included: This is an outside sightseeing tour, with admission tickets and drinks paid separately.

Why a bike is a smart way to see London

Central London can feel scattered on a map. St. Paul’s sits east of the city center, Buckingham Palace lies west of Westminster, and the Tower of London is farther east again. On foot, seeing all of these in one day would mean a great deal of walking. By bike, the distance becomes manageable.

I like this format for a first day in London, especially if you want a broad view before choosing which places deserve a longer visit. You get the grand outline of the city: royal palaces, churches, government buildings, parks, a famous bridge, and the old City of London. You also see how these districts connect, which is harder to grasp from a Tube carriage.

The pace is not casual. The guidance says you should be able to cycle 25 kilometres at a moderate speed. That is roughly 15.5 miles, so you should be comfortable riding for several hours, even if the route includes stops. The tour is recommended for people around 13 years old and above, or at least 150 centimetres tall.

The bike helps, but it does not remove the physical demand. Wear comfortable clothes and plan for London’s changeable weather. The tour operates in all conditions, so rain or cool temperatures are not automatic reasons for cancellation.

Starting in Bayswater with Notting Hill Bike Tours

The meeting point is at 129 Bayswater Road, London W2 4RJ, with a 10:00 am start. The area is near public transportation, which makes the beginning practical if you are staying in central London or nearby.

You meet the local guide there, receive a hybrid bike and helmet, and set off with a group of no more than eight. The small size matters more on a city ride than it might on a walking tour. London streets require attention, and a compact group is easier to keep together than a large line of cyclists.

The experience is offered in English. The listed price is $82.32 per person. I see that as reasonable if you want a guide, bike, helmet, and a full half-day of sightseeing. It is less attractive if you plan to enter several major attractions, since admission tickets are not included and can add to the day’s cost.

Food and drinks are also separate. Since the route lasts about five and a half hours and includes a pub element in its title, bring enough money for anything you want to buy along the way. The supplied details do not promise a meal or a drink, so treat the pub reference as part of the experience rather than an included refreshment.

St. Paul’s Cathedral and the City of London

The first major stop is St. Paul’s Cathedral, one of London’s most recognizable buildings. You have about 10 minutes here, with time for the guide to point out the architecture and explain its place in the city.

That short stop is useful for orientation, not a full visit. Admission is not included, and the itinerary does not provide time to explore the interior. If you want to climb to the galleries, see the dome from inside, or spend time with the cathedral’s memorials and artwork, plan a separate visit.

From St. Paul’s, the ride moves through a part of London shaped by commerce, government, and centuries of rebuilding. The tour gives you a quick look at the city rather than a long indoor history lesson. I like that balance for a first introduction, but you should not book this expecting extended time at each landmark.

Buckingham Palace and a chance to see the guards

Buckingham Palace gets about 15 minutes, making it one of the longer landmark stops. The guide tries to see the Changing of the Guard when it is scheduled, which can add a memorable bit of ceremony to the visit.

The important word is when. The ceremony is not guaranteed on every tour date, and the time of day matters. The itinerary says the guide always tries to arrange the stop around it when scheduled, but you should not treat it as a fixed part of every departure.

You will view the palace from outside. Entry is not included, and the short stop is designed for sightseeing and explanation rather than a palace tour. If the guards are on, expect the area to be more crowded and the timing to be less flexible. The small group should help the guide keep everyone together, but this remains a public city setting.

Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster

The route then reaches Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster. Each receives about 10 minutes.

Westminster Abbey is the major church beside Parliament Square, while the Palace of Westminster is the seat of the Houses of Parliament and the home of the famous clock tower commonly associated with Big Ben. The tour gives you a chance to take in both from the outside and understand how close London’s religious and political centers sit to one another.

Neither admission ticket is included. Ten minutes is enough for a look, photographs, and a short explanation, but not enough for an indoor visit. I recommend thinking of this portion as a preview. If the Abbey is high on your list, reserve another block of time for it rather than expecting this bike stop to cover the experience.

The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and the Monument

The Tower of London receives another 10-minute stop. Despite the simple palace label used in the schedule, the Tower is far more than a royal residence. It has served as a fortress, palace, prison, and place of execution, and it remains one of London’s strongest historical sights.

Again, entry is not included. Ten minutes lets you see the exterior and hear the basic story, but it cannot replace a proper visit inside. You may want a separate ticket if you care about the Crown Jewels, the exhibitions, or the Tower’s many layers of history.

Tower Bridge follows with a five-minute stop. That is brief, but the bridge is easy to recognize and makes a strong photo stop. The tour does not include admission to the bridge’s upper walkways or engine rooms.

The Monument to the Great Fire of London also receives five minutes. Built to mark the devastating fire of 1666, it gives the City of London another historical anchor. The stop is quick, so expect an exterior look rather than a climb or extended visit. Admission is not included.

This eastern section is where the bike format earns its keep. The sights are close enough to connect in a single outing, but far enough apart that walking between all of them would take real effort.

Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, and Kensington Gardens

Kensington Palace receives 10 minutes, followed by Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. These western stops shift the mood from royal ceremony and city monuments to open parkland.

Kensington Palace is another outside viewing stop, and entry is not included. If you want to tour the state rooms or exhibitions, you will need a separate visit. The quick stop still helps you place the palace within the larger royal district.

Hyde Park gets 15 minutes, the longest park stop in the schedule. That gives you a little more breathing room than the five-minute bridge and Monument stops. You can expect a short pause in one of London’s major public parks rather than a full park walk.

Kensington Gardens receives 10 minutes. The two green spaces sit beside each other but have different identities, and seeing both helps you understand the western side of central London. These stops also break up the architecture-heavy parts of the route. After several palaces and civic buildings, a stretch of open space is welcome.

The schedule includes an additional park stop without a clear name or duration. Do not build your expectations around a specific attraction there. Think of it as another outdoor pause within the broader park section.

What the small group changes

A maximum of eight people is one of the tour’s strongest features. A guide can usually keep a small group closer together, make directions easier to hear, and adjust explanations to the people present. You also avoid the slow shuffle that often comes with a large sightseeing group.

The small group does not turn London’s roads into quiet country lanes. You still need to pay attention, follow the guide, and be comfortable riding in an urban setting. The benefit is control and contact, not a completely private ride.

Ola is the guide named in the supplied details, and the account of a five-person outing describes a day with plenty of sights, sun, and fun. That points to a friendly, personal style rather than a stiff lecture. Guides can vary by date, so do not assume Ola will lead every departure, but the small-group structure remains the same.

The practical tradeoffs before you book

The biggest question is fitness. You should be able to cycle 25 kilometres at a moderate pace. This is not the right choice if you want a slow ride with only a few minutes of pedaling between photo stops.

The second question is depth. You see many major sights, but most stops last only five to 15 minutes. That is excellent for a broad overview and weaker for anyone hoping to tour the interiors of St. Paul’s, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, or a palace.

The third question is weather. The ride operates in all conditions. Comfortable clothing is recommended, and dressing appropriately means preparing for rain as well as sun. A helmet is provided, but the rest of your clothing is your responsibility.

The tour ends back at the original meeting point. That makes it easy to continue sightseeing from where you started, though the day’s total cycling and stops may leave you ready for a break.

Who will get the most from this London bike tour?

I would choose this tour if you want to see the city’s major landmarks in one organized half-day and do not mind trading interior visits for range. It is especially useful early in a London trip, when you want to learn how the main districts fit together.

It also suits active families with older children, couples, and small groups of friends who prefer moving outdoors to sitting on a sightseeing bus. The minimum suggested age is about 13, with a height guideline of 150 centimetres.

I would skip it if you dislike cycling, tire quickly, need a fully indoor plan, or want a deep visit at even one major attraction. The $82.32 price covers the guide, bike, and helmet, but not food or entry tickets. Add those costs before comparing it with a walking tour or bus tour.

Should you book the Big Six of London and a Pub?

Book it if your goal is to see a wide slice of London by bicycle, keep the group small, and get an English-speaking local guide for roughly five and a half hours. The route packs in an impressive number of landmarks, and the possible Changing of the Guard stop adds useful timing to the Buckingham Palace visit.

Do not book it as a substitute for visiting London’s interiors. The tour is a fast, well-organized overview, not a series of palace and cathedral admissions. If you can comfortably ride 25 kilometres, accept the weather, and value range over long stops, this is a strong way to get your bearings and see the city’s headline sights in one day.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately five hours and 30 minutes.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 10:00 am.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at 129 Bayswater Road, London W2 4RJ, UK.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of eight participants.

Is a bicycle provided?

Yes. A hybrid bicycle and helmet are included.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

Are attraction admission tickets included?

No. Admission tickets for places such as St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Tower Bridge, and the Monument are not included.

Do I need to be physically fit for the ride?

Yes. You should have a moderate fitness level and be able to cycle about 25 kilometres at a moderate pace.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour operates in all weather conditions, so you should dress appropriately and wear comfortable clothes.

Is food or drink included?

No. Food and drinks are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.