Select a morning or afternoon tour, and join up with your art historian guide near Westminster Abbey. Pose for photos outside this early Gothic building, perhaps one of England’s most splendid, and hear about its rich history and royal connections.
Head inside with your guide and learn how the abbey has served as a royal burial place, coronation site and wedding stage for centuries. All England’s monarchs since 1066 have been crowned here, and the church has presided over many royal weddings, including the union of the now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
As you look around, inspect the memorials to artists, soldiers, writers and statesmen; and glimpse the College Garden, believed to be around 1,000 years old.
Having explored Westminster Abbey, stroll along Whitehall, where the British Prime Minister is based, to Banqueting House, the only remaining building of what was once the Palace of Whitehall, a royal residence destroyed by fire in 1698.
Stand on the exact spot where Charles I was beheaded in 1649 for supposedly committing high treason, and then follow your guide into the 17th-century building. Explore the richly gilded rooms, and admire the decorative banqueting hall, once used for banquets and grand ceremonies. Here, take time to appreciate the glorious ceiling murals commissioned by Charles I and painted by Sir Peter Paul Rubens in 1636.
Your tour concludes when you leave Banqueting House and say goodbye to your guide, leaving you free to continue exploring independently or head back to your hotel.
Please note: Banqueting House is closed during the afternoons. If you select an afternoon tour, your visit will be replaced by a longer visit to Westminster Abbey.
