10 unique London tours

Great view of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge

Looking for something different to do on your London layover?

If you want to avoid the crowds, or have simply seen the big sights, it's easy to get off the beaten track in the city.

Here are some unique London tour options to consider:
1. Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Dining Experience in London
2. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour and Exhibition with Optional Afternoon Tea
3. Discover East End of London with a Londoner
4. Downton Abbey and Highclere Castle Tour from London
5. Private Tour: London Photography Private Lesson Walking Tour
6. Law in London Walking Tour
7. Quiz Tour in the Square Mile of London
8. Independent Shopping Tour of London with Private Driver
9. Couples Dance Experience with Choreographer
10. Private Tour: Pokemon Go Tour in London


Plus 3 great freebies!
101 FREE things to London - Visit London
FREE museums in London - Timeout
FREE London walking tours - Free Tours by Foot


Related reources
10 Unique Paris Tours
10 Unique NYC Tours
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Layover Ideas and Things to Do in London
London Heathrow International Airport (LHR) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
London Gatwick International Airport (LGW) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
London City International Airport (LCY) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
London Stansted International Airport (STN) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
London Luton International Airport (LTN) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
London Southend International Airport (SEN) transportation guide - IHateTaxis

Luxury Layover: London

Afternoon tea at the historic Maison Bertaux in SoHo
Wikicommons image

Do you crave a day of luxury in London? Or perhaps a whole weekend?

There are lots of possibilities. We've sourced the following to give you some ideas.

• 3 luxury boutique hotels for a casual chic weekend in London - A Luxury Travel Blog
• How to Experience a Luxury Weekend in London Like a Local - Forbes
• A Luxurious Weekend in London - Bitten by the Travel Bug
• 5 Luxury Shopping Destinations in London - A Luxury Travel Blog
• Luxury Layover with Gerald Bodmer - Four Magazine
• Luxury Date Night - The Lifestyle Diaries
• Largest Gin Bar Now Open At London Luxury Hotel - Travel Food Guy, for Forbes

Here are some luxury London tour and transfer options you might consider:
1. Luxury Rolls Royce at Your Disposal in London Including a Chauffeur
2. Private Tour: Chauffeur Driven London Shopping Trip
3. London Eye: Romantic Private Capsule for Two with Champagne
4. Private Chauffeured Vehicle to Stonehenge from London
5. Secret Gardens Tour of London with Afternoon Tea
6. Private Tour: London Photography Walking Tour from Trafalgar Square to Covent Garden
7. Emerging Artist Art Buying Tour in London
8. Portsmouth Historic Dockyards and HMS Victory Tour from London
9. Private Tour: National Gallery Tour in London with Art Historian Guide
10. Private Tour: Explore London Off the Beaten Track with an Insider


A London treat to remember your layover: a few luxury shopping ideas:
Top Luxury Shopping Destinations - Visit London
London luxury boutiques - Far Fetch
21 of the Best London Souvenir Gifts - Global Blue
Shopping in London - Like a Local Guide


Related reources
10 Unique NYC Tours
A London layover: 3 stories
Bucketlist: Downton Abbey
Layover Ideas and Things to Do in London
London Heathrow International Airport (LHR) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
London Gatwick International Airport (LGW) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
London City International Airport (LCY) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
London Luton International Airport (LTN) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
London Stansted International Airport (STN) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
London Southend International Airport (SEN) transportation guide - IHateTaxis

A London layover - 3 stories

Get yourself a real selfie on Tower Bridge!
creativecommons image ironypoisoning on Flickr

3 hours in London: the Layover - Rick Loves It
Rick (aka Erica) has been to London before, so she knew what she was doing when she squeezed in a quick trip into the city centre. Here's what she managed to see and do:

Everyone loves a layover! Not always – but in a city like London it isn’t so bad! When I traveled from Barcelona to Orlando, we had a 6 hour layover in London. By the time we got through the slowest customs line of my life at LHR, that turned into about 3 hours. Here is how I got to see some of the main tourist attractions in the city of London, in a tiny window of time. 4:20 PM : We’re off! Hop on the Heathrow Express > Paddington Station... [read Erica's story]

Layover with the Queen - Married with Luggage
In this layover story, travelingbrunette shares her 12 hour London layover, including seeking out and finding the famous 'Platform 9 and 3/4' (with hints for you to find it too!).

I was real excited when I, once again, saw a 12hr layover in London, England, on my flight itinerary. There is absolutely nothing better than a relaxed stroll through chaotic London. For me personally, that is a perfectly scheduled itinerary... [read travelingbrunette's story]

My 24 hour London layover - Miss Wanderlust
World traveller Katie did some careful planning to maximize her sightseeing in London, and shares her results.

We navigated through the airport to the Underground desk, purchasing two unlimited travel cards for £18 that lasted until the next morning. We planned our 25 hours very carefully to take full advantage of our time, choosing a hotel on the Picadilly Line, which runs directly from Heathrow and connects with many of the main tourist sights. From the time we got off of the plane to the time we walked into our hotel, only an hour had passed. We gave ourselves a pat on the back for that one... [read Karlie's story]

Related resources
Layover ideas and things to do in London
London Pass Including Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Independent Layover Tour to Windsor from London Gatwick or Heathrow Airport
Heathrow's slick new transport screens
London: closest airports to LHR Heathrow Airport