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The Best London Walking Tours,
13 Incredible Routes

  • CityDays brings an immersive new way to have a walking tour in London
  • Discover London's historic landmarks, secret sights & hidden gems
  • Solve fun challenges & puzzling clues to unlock your way
  • Optional breaks at top-rated pubs, bars and cafes
  • Interactive private tour, you and your team, at your own pace
  • Full money back guarantee. We know you'll love it
Talk to us about team building options

What to expect on a CityDays Walking Tour

Messages sent to your phones - we'll send your walking tour to any international phone number.
Clues, challenges, & puzzles - interact with the city to unravel obscured directions and find your way.
The perfect difficulty - just the right amount, inclusive for all, with help available should you need it.
Landmarks & hidden gems - see London in a new light, a tour showing off quirks too!
Full money back guarantee

Don't have a great time?
Simply let us know why and we'll refund you in full.

Find Your Perfect Walking Tour

Each walking tour explores a different area of London, find the route that suits you best or work your way through! All bookings are fully flexible, alter your booking freely.

Festive Lights Hunt
  • New release
  • Story

Festive Lights Hunt

An interactive festive adventure through London… more

Start any time between 9am-9pm (Mon-Sun)
2 hours across 4.5 km / 2.7 miles
It's a secret!
£17.50
per person
Search For Shoreditch

Search For Shoreditch

Puzzling towards painted streets… more

Start anytime.
2 to 2.5 hours across 4.6 km / 2.8 miles
Old Street to Rivington Street
£17.50
per person
The City

The City

From London to Londinium, back to where it all began… more

Start anytime, but if possible between 08:00 to 15:15 Mon-Sun
2.5 - 3 hours across 4.7 km / 2.9 miles
St Paul's to the Tower of London
£15
per person
A Rift In Time
  • Story

A Rift In Time

A ghost of Victorian London, will they be saved or scorned, you decide!… more

Start any time between 9am-9pm (Mon-Sun)
2 - 2.5 hours across 5.2 km / 3.2 miles
Oxford Circus to Covent Garden
£15
per person
A Forbidden Fayre

A Forbidden Fayre

Mayfair, more than a Monopoly square… more

Autumn/Winter: Start any time between 9am-2:30pm (Mon-Sat) and 10.45am-2.10pm (Sun) Spring/Summer: Start any time between 9am-6pm (Mon-Sat) and 10.45am-4.10pm (Sun)
2 - 2.5 hours across 4.5 km / 2.8 miles
Piccadilly Circus to Shepherd's Market
£15
per person
Mysterious Mews

Mysterious Mews

Twist through Kensington's hidden gardens and cobbled backstreets… more

There are no start time restrictions, start whenever, although we do recommend some daylight!
1.5 - 2.5 hrs across 5.0 km / 3.1 miles
Kensington High St to South Kensington
£15
per person
East End Mystery Picnic
  • Food Included

East End Mystery Picnic

Unlock a picnic of delicious treats… more

10.30-16.30 Mon-Fri, 10.30-15.30 Sat, 11.30-15.30 Sun
2-3 hours across 4.7 km / 2.9 miles
Liverpool St to Spitalfields
£40
per person
Secrets of the Squares

Secrets of the Squares

Drink with Dickens then journey to the heart of Soho… more

There are no start time restrictions, start whenever!
2.5 - 3.5 hours across 4.5 km / 2.8 miles
Piccadilly Circus to central SoHo
£15
per person
Return of Jack the Ripper
  • Story

Return of Jack the Ripper

A body has been found in Whitechapel. Has he returned… more

Start at anytime.
2 to 3 hours across 3.4 km / 2.1 miles
Aldgate to Aldgate East
£15
per person
All Gone South

All Gone South

The underbelly of medieval London… more

Start between 7.30am-8pm (Mon-Fri) or 8.30am-7.30pm (weekends)
1.5 to 2 hours across 4.0 km / 2.5 miles
St Paul's to London Bridge
£17.50
per person
Greenwich Guile

Greenwich Guile

Glorious gardens, fantastic cityscapes and the origins of time itself… more

9am to 3pm each day.
2 - 2.5 hours across 4.9 km / 3.0 miles
Cutty Sark to the Royal Naval College
£15
per person
West End Mystery Picnic
  • Food Included

West End Mystery Picnic

Unlock a picnic of delicious treats… more

9.45-16.00 (Tue-Fri) , 9.45-15.00 (Sat), CLOSED (Sun-Mon)
2-3 hours across 3.2 km / 2.0 miles
Leicester Sq Station to Phoenix Garden
£40
per person
Humanity's Last
  • Story

Humanity's Last

How far are you willing to go to survive… more

6.30am - 7.45pm
1.5 - 2 hours across 4.0 km / 2.5 miles
Victoria Station to Waterloo Station
£17.50
per person
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Rated 4.9/5 on Google
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Rated 4.7/5 on TripAdvisor

How the London walking tours work

Clues & Puzzles

Clues don't require any prior knowledge and are made up of two parts:

1) Obscured directions that make reference to the city around you. Unravel their meaning and be guided by your surroundings.

2) A puzzle to be solved once you've followed the directions, search nearby to find your answers.

CityDays aim for an enjoyable, just-the-right-amount, level of difficulty that is inclusive for all! Help messages are available should you need a bit of support.

A mix of clues, puzzles and photo challenges

Guided by clues sent to your phone

  • Receive snippets of history, quirky facts and intriguing stories about the areas you visit.
  • Pub/cafe breaks along your hunt, all totally optional and some with discounts on food & drinks.
  • Make memories at locations along the way, get inspiration from previous teams and share a clever snap!
  • Go at your own speed, or go for top spot on the game leaderboard.
Learn snippets of history, optional breaks in pubs/cafes and a leaderboard for each game.

London Walking Tour Reviews

The great things you say about CityDays Walking Tours

Read all our customer reviews

Ready? Book your Walking Tour today

The Best Self-Guided Walking Tours in London

As all explorers know, the best self-guided walking tours in London (or anywhere else in the world!) show you all the famous sites as well as some of the lesser-known landmarks that often go unnoticed, otherwise known as hidden gems

The good news is that London is absolutely full of them. They could be historical pubs, building quirks, lampposts, statues or even anomalies in the pavement. We’re not picky about the form our secrets come in: but we are very fussy about choosing the best hidden gems in London to show you. 

Our self-guided London walking tours deliver these fascinating secrets as well as leading you around London’s most famous boroughs. The only way to uncover them is by solving our puzzles and experiencing a trail for yourselves. Here’s more info about which trail might suit you best…



10 Top London Walking Tours

Central London Walking Tour

1. Central London Walking Tour - Secrets of the Squares

A blend of iconic landmarks and tucked away treasures, Secrets of the Squares is one of our most sought-after London walking tours. Navigate Central London’s most well-trodden streets while discovering its best-kept secrets. 

Even if you think you’ve seen Piccadilly Circus, The Mall, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Soho and Chinatown before – prepare to be amazed at the many curiosities concealed within Central London.

Perfect for:

  • First-time tourists in London
  • Returning tourists who missed key sights
  • Newly-arrived residents in Central London
  • People looking for unique things to do in Central London

Mayfair Walking Tour

2. Mayfair Walking Tour - A Forbidden Fayre

Put your posh pants on and explore one of the world’s most expensive districts, Mayfair.
A Forbidden Fayre is a London walking tour that takes you through the high-class haunts of Mayfair, packed with puzzles and tantalising tales about some of the district's biggest characters. 

Add your footprints to the plush pavements that have graced no less than Hendrix and Handel, an American president and even a Victorian dandy who used to wash his boots with champagne. Mayfair - more than just a Monopoly square!

Perfect for:

  • First-time and returning tourists to London
  • Trivia fanatics
  • Exploring secret places in London
  • Venturing through London’s ritziest neighbourhoods

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3. Dickens Themed Walking Tour - A Rift in Time

One of the best secret London walks for armchair detectives and Victorian history enthusiasts, A Rift in Time is a London walking tour that allows you to experience time travel as well as a Dickensian adventure of your very own through Covent Garden

Tiptoe through a narrative walking tour packed with puzzles and clues, all the while pursuing a mysterious stranger. Who is he – a victim or a villain? You decide, all the while soaking up enigmatic passages, historic arcades and, of course, plenty of charming pubs along the way.

Perfect for:

  • Fans of Dickens and Victorian London
  • Team-building activities
  • Amateur sleuths who love a gripping storyline
  • Families and friends looking for unique things to do in London
  • Exploring secret places in London

St Pauls, The City of London Walking Tour

4. City of London Walking Tour - The City

Ah, Londinium! This City of London Walking Tour absorbs 2000 years’ worth of London history into just a few hours (2.5 - 3.5 hrs). The City of London is the original core of the UK’s capital and received its nickname, The Square Mile, from the Romans. 

Fun fact: The Roman word for “mile” derives from “mille passus” or “one thousand paces”. 

One of the best outdoor activities in London, this interactive walking tour takes you on a puzzle-filled adventure from St. Paul’s Cathedral to the Tower of London, past historic inns and even includes an Ancient Roman amphitheatre.

Perfect for:

  • First-time and returning tourists
  • Family and friend group activities in London
  • Exploring historic sites in a novel way
  • Seeing Central London’s major and hidden sites

Southwark Walking Tour

5. Southwark Walking Tour - All Gone South

For those looking to uncover London’s secrets south of the Thames, All Gone South is a walking tour that takes you through London’s Most Historic Borough (it was founded in 880 by the Anglo-Saxon King Alfred). Discover South London hidden gems tucked beside iconic landmarks such as the Tate Modern art gallery as you decipher clues to take you around Medieval London’s hedonist haven. 

All Gone South is a great way to experience alternative London attractions, taking in historical and arty points of interest. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, especially foodies who will appreciate the many eateries, food vendors and pubs dotted along the way.

Perfect for:

  • Getting to know South London’s hidden gems
  • People interested in Medieval history
  • Exploring historic sites in a novel way
  • Modern Art enthusiasts
  • Culinary connoisseurs

Greenwich Walking Tour

6. Greenwich Walking Tour - Greenwich Guile

Although it’s tucked away in south-east London, Greenwich should be at the top of your London walking tours list. Not only does it have Royal connections (both Henry VIII and his daughter Elizabeth I were born at Greenwich Palace, now the Old Royal Naval College), but it’s also home to time itself! 

Greenwich Guile is one of the best secret London walks for exploring an alternative area of London. It allows you to take a wander through London’s lesser-known attractions, picking up tidbits of maritime, Victorian and local history as you decipher cryptic clues in one of the capital’s greenest areas. There’s art, architecture and, of course, a visit to an excellent Victorian pub along the way.

Perfect for:

  • Tourists who want to expand their knowledge of London
  • Family and friend groups who love the outdoors
  • People who thrive in green spaces
  • Maritime history lovers
  • Getting acquainted with royal history

Kensington Mews Walking Tour

7. Kensington Walking Tour - Mysterious Mews

Popular with the rich and famous, Kensington is a ritzy suburb full of quirks and curios. Despite its fame for being home to some of London’s most iconic museums including the V&A, Sambourne House and the Natural History Museum, Kensington is crammed with hidden gardens, remarkable oddities like headless lampposts and stories of Cold War espionage.

Mysterious Mews is a must for anyone who enjoys going beyond the obvious and delving deeper into local intrigues while never being too far from London’s notorious hotspots. Ideal for small or large groups, this London walking tour will test your ability to crack puzzles and pay attention to the finer details of Kensington.

Perfect for:

  • Small or large groups
  • Tourists looking to expand their knowledge of London
  • Families (there are lots of great museums and child-friendly eateries along the trail)
  • Pub-lovers 
  • Residents of London
  • Celebrity spotters (Who knows who you’ll spot along the way!)

Shoreditch Walking Tour

8. Shoreditch Walking Tour - Shoreditch Shuffle

If your heart beats for art, there’s no better London walking tour than the Shoreditch Shuffle

Formerly known as one of London’s most debauched neighbourhoods, Shoreditch has undergone an incredible transformation. It’s hard to believe that just a hundred years ago, Shoreditch was one of the poorest neighbourhoods in London where many were living without basic amenities. 

This trail is an excellent balance of high and low brow: you’ll see incredible pieces of modern art, colourful murals and walk through the burial grounds of resting literary giants, as well as the chance to dip your toes into Shoreditch’s wartime secrets and experience some of the best eateries in London’s East end.

Perfect for:

  • First-time and returning tourists
  • Art lovers 
  • Fans of modern history
  • Residents of London
  • Sampling independently run pubs, cafés and street food

Jack-The-Ripper-Walking-Tours-London

9. Jack The Ripper London Walking Tour: Return of The Ripper

Good enough to make it onto our list of top Murder Mystery London Experiences, Return Of The Ripper is a London walking tour for crime fans and amateur sleuths alike.

This self-guided Jack The Ripper Tour takes you around the Ripper’s former haunts in Whitechapel, but unlike other similar tours - you play detective at the same time!

Faced with a series of bizarre clues, a (real!) historical murder and plenty of puzzling facts, it’s your job to work out whether this ‘new’ body is the work of the Ripper or another perpetrator. 

Perfect for:

  • Amateur detectives and history fanatics
  • True crime podcast lovers
  • Residents and tourists interested in Jack The Ripper
  • Exploring Whitechapel’s murky history

London-walking-tours-Humanity's-Last

10. Westminster to Waterloo London Walking Tour: Humanity’s Last

Ever wondered how you’d react at the news of a zombie apocalypse? This is your chance to find out! 

One of the best London walking tours for getting your mind and heart racing, Humanity’s Last takes you on a whirlwind journey through West and Central London while “avoiding the spread” of a mysterious illness.

On this self-guided London walking tour, you and your teammates become the main characters in an interactive city game. Battle your way from Westminster to Waterloo where you can solve riddles, discern clues and make impactful decisions…

Perfect for:

  • London residents looking to explore the city through a fun game
  • Tourists who have already seen London’s major landmarks
  • Video game lovers
  • Big and small groups looking for an activity

Find Hidden Gems in London

If you’re on the hunt for the best hidden gems in London, you’ve come to the right place. Our walking tours of London divulge some of the best-kept secrets and hidden nooks in the city - even ones that are hiding in plain sight. 

Don’t believe us? Here are just three hidden gems in London that we’re willing to share…

Paternoster Square

“That’s not a secret, I walk past it every single day!” we hear you say. 

Hold your horses - you might have seen this particular London hidden gem many a time but did you know, for instance, that the first English novel (Robinson Crusoe) was published right here in Paternoster Square? It was first published in April 1719 by The Ship and Black Swan, one of the most famous publishing houses of the 18th century.

St Pauls Cathedral-2

Pelican Stairs

If you haven’t heard of this place before, it’s probably because you’re not a true crime fan. But here’s why it should be on your radar. Pelican Stairs is a hidden alleyway in East London that extends to an obscured London “beach” with a gruesome history - making this trip one of the spookiest London walks you can do in the city.

And not just any “beach” either. Once upon a time, over a hundred corpses washed up on the Thames shoreline right here - their identities and cause of deaths mostly unknown…

Leadenhall-Market-London

Leadenhall Market

Leadenhall Market is as almost as old as London itself - established in the 14th century, people have been buying wares on this very spot the same length of time as the Tower of London has dominated the capital’s skyline. 

Obviously, it’s been revamped a fair few times since its inception but over its long life, Leadenhall Market has collected quite a few historic London moments: to name a few, it was once home to a drunken goose called Tom, the first Harry Potter film was shot there and, last but not least, the historic market even featured as a circuit in Mario Kart 8. 

The Best Historical London Walks

CityDays-London-Walking-Tours

Exploring London history is a bit like trying to eat a buffet all on your own: there’s no way you’ll make it around the whole table without feeling defeated. 

That’s why we break down our trails into suburbs and attach themes to some of our routes. We find it’s the best way to curate historical London walks that teach you snippets of history - spanning from the Roman era to yesterday. 

Don’t just take our word for it, though. Here are some of our weirdest facts about London to give you a taste of the sort of thing to expect from us!

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Historical Facts About London: (1) A Situation in The Streets

In 1908, there were 24, 906 cars and 9, 782 motorcycles registered in London. Transport for London (TfL) estimates there are 2.8 million cars registered in London today, and 54% of households in the capital have at least one car.

Historical Facts About London: (2) Who’s Counting?

According to one newspaper published in 1885, London in 1884 had 101 hospitals and 407 newspapers. 

It seems the newly-formed Metropolitan Police had a job on their hands keeping the population’s blood alcohol content under control, too: that same year, 1884, 15,519 men and 9,618 women were arrested for drunkenness. 

Historical Facts About London: (3) Trams, Trains and Repair Costs

Although there’s barely a trace left of them today, Londoners were once great tram users. 

In 1907, London had 2, 151 miles of laid out streets to explore. Around 127 miles of them were covered by tramways, and an estimated 372,515, 754 users.

Summary: The Best Way to Join the Top Secret London walks

There you have it - 8 Top London walking tours to suit everyone. Whichever route you end up taking, you can be sure that you’ll be experiencing some of the best outdoor activities in London. Whether it’s a London history tour you’re after or you’re on a mission to discover secret places in London, you’re guaranteed to have a great time.

It takes less than two minutes to book your walking tour with us. Simply click the book tickets button at the top of our page, or any of the links in the article above.

And don’t forget, you’re in charge! You pick the day, time, who you play with and how you receive your messages. If you get stuck, you can always ask for a handy hint.

London Bridge-2

Answers to any questions you have can be found on our FAQ page or contact us to talk about a walking tour for corporate team building in London.

Finally, don’t forget you’ll find us in cities all over the world. Wherever you are, we’ve got places to take you.

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