Top 5 West End Historical Tours: A Detailed Review

The West End, just teeming with stories etched into its very stones, almost seems to call to those who wander through it. To me, just having visited it myself, there really isn’t a better way to soak up what makes London so uniquely London than by walking its streets. What better way to get to know its stories, some whispered about, and some screamed from the rooftops for generations to come, than getting stuck into an amazing, fact filled, historical walking tour! I figured for you guys, that finding one can actually feel quite bewildering, as you just look into this mass of tour possibilities. What I’ve done here is picked the best historical West End tours out there. You might just be surprised as to what you discover!

1. The Westminster Walking Tour

The Westminster Walking Tour? It’s actually a great way to begin, in a way. Just because it’s really quite comprehensive! Lasting roughly three hours, it begins by giving you a view of not only twenty of London’s most notable attractions, but really focusing on the background stories, not easily learned, as you glance over them. The Houses of Parliament, I learned, hold way more secrets and intriguing info, than I actually realised! Very similar goes for Westminster Abbey, the stories of those that have laid at rest there, going way back when, it was all such a great surprise to find out about!

This walking tour also visits spots like Downing Street and Big Ben (well, what’s on show of it currently), with your host really knowing their stuff. Apparently they tailor the experience just so to your interests! Also, as a side note, it sets off no matter what the weather is, that you have booked on. Is that dedication or what! It might just depend what’s on the day’s weather forecast, as to what they make the tour actually include! Read our full review: Westminster Walking Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Westminster Walking Tour)

2. The Ghost Bus Tour

Fancy something with a very, very slight spin to it? Ghost Bus Tour may well be just up your street then! What you get with this isn’t your conventional type of history lesson, but it is for sure historical! It’s really quite quirky, a theatrical type experience, where you find yourself on a old, famous, Routemaster bus, the type that looks like it should star in movies about London itself! Just by climbing aboard this vehicle alone, I thought I had gone back to a sepia-toned version of London itself. It gave a wonderful taste to this unique experience.

Your actors take on personas that, apparently, have links back to the bus itself! So they proceed to whizz you round London, while dropping, literally dropping, scary facts! Stuff that is true (to some degree maybe!) relating to the grizzly goings on in London through it’s shadowy past. The stops involve Westminster Abbey and Fleet Street. But in reality it’s more about the things you get told whilst ON the bus. A truly different type of London trip! Read our full review: Ghost Bus Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Ghost Bus Tour)

3. The Jack the Ripper Walking Tour

Want something even more eerie, yet historical at the same time? Jack the Ripper Walking Tour should suit just right. Now, you may have to jump on the train, to actually get to the correct spot for this tour! As this takes place away from the West End, East towards Whitechapel and areas that have been very heavily regenerated in modern times. Back in the 1800’s, of course, what it was then, it certainly isn’t now! Back then, these areas held very strong ties to some brutal things happening back in the day.

The walk aims, almost, to bring you back in time! And it kind of actually does. Especially when it’s misty (of course)! Taking a walk around the lanes and dark, shadowed corners where the murders occurred. Even more fascinating, you get to grips with background stories regarding the poor victims of Jack the Ripper, that were actual women in hard times just trying to make it day-to-day. Getting into the gritty underbelly of London’s true history can make a fantastic evening tour, you know! It runs most evenings. Read our full review: Jack the Ripper Walking Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Jack the Ripper Walking Tour)

4. The Churchill War Rooms

Fancy finding out a little bit about the goings on during World War II? You should probably consider visiting the Churchill War Rooms. OK, so in theory this is not really a walking tour, as you might have presumed so far in this piece. Although, to see everything there, I tell you, it sure feels like one when you leave it! Basically, you have an almost unlimited chance to learn a large chunk about Winston Churchill’s life. Which includes the wartime stuff he oversaw down in this bunker, during those rather turbulent times. It is super gripping and worth taking your time over.

What’s pretty damn cool, you know, you get to see the actual bunker he used to, literally, plan some important movements to sort the whole war thing out. Everything in these rooms has, in a way, been preserved, just so as to give visitors like yourself a glimpse of what life was like then. You get the strong feeling that you are stepping back in time when down there. It might be what others call ‘interactive history’ but to me, the feel of the actual air down there, is something you cannot fake. I almost touched, at one point, the old telephone he used! That’s really how close it feels! It can be popular, too, that I found when visiting, so I would suggest, well in fact I would really advise, booking in advance before attending. Read our full review: Churchill War Rooms Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Churchill War Rooms)

5. Historic Pub Walking Tour of London

The Historic Pub Walking Tour of London: You might be thinking “Oh great, another walking tour” – but is that even remotely the full story? You walk around and take in all the stuff from previous tours here, obviously, but what really elevates this, it has to be said, is how very tied in the drinking establishments were during those times! It is almost unbelievable, you know, the level of events that occurred in certain pubs through time. What with famous people drinking, maybe even living there for small bits too!

I suppose it comes as very little surprise, just that they formed a focal point to that area’s existence. With some actually standing to this very day, this pub crawl really makes one hell of a unique day out! Stopping to sample what they provide, even just drinking a simple glass of tap water (some don’t drink!) will almost bring back a bit of a vibe from what might have been occurring on that very spot back in the past! Obviously what with there actually being ale back then (most likely!) In reality, this type of tour almost helps to take the edge off having to hear fact after fact from the others out there (that can actually be quite draining you know!) This just injects a tiny little bit of very-needed levity into your experience. So you will be leaving smiling and very happy, with a real sense of knowledge gained, too! It can only really be called a perfect combo, is that something? Read our full review: Historic Pub Walking Tour of London Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Historic Pub Walking Tour of London)