London's Hidden Gems and Secret History Private Guided Tour
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 8 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is London's Hidden Gems and Secret History Private Guided Tour worth booking?
London's Hidden Gems and Secret History Private Guided Tour is a 3-hour experience in London, United Kingdom, from $195 per person. It scores 57 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 8 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 57 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (8)
- Duration
- 3 hours
- From
- $195 per person
Leave the regular tourist trail behind and get immersed in the hidden secrets of the London's rich past with your own personal Guide. A private and bespoke walk through 2000 years of London's history at your pace. No st
What you get
About this experience
Leave the regular tourist trail behind and get immersed in the hidden secrets of the London's rich past with your own personal Guide. A private and bespoke walk through 2000 years of London's history at your pace. No strict schedules or herding about, a bespoke tour just for you. This tour is ideal for those who want to get off the usual visitor routes and discover the gems that many people miss - Ancients buildings, Dickensian Alleys, Hidden Courts, Church Crypts, Secret Routes, and of course London's most atmospheric Inn's, Taverns and Pubs, some dating back over 600 years! Go on an adventure with your own local guide, a sense of curiosity greatly encouraged!. Your guide is passionate about making this a truly personal and memorable tour. **Children under 16 Go FREE when accompanied by paying adults - (Max 4 Children)**
What's included
Included
- Private tour
- Professional guide
Not included
- Food and drinks
What you'll see and do
Starting at Temple Station let's get away from the main tourist routes and go in search of the hidden alleys, ancient taverns, church crypts, Roman pavements and places you would have a lot of difficulty finding on your own. Crossing over into the old City of London where the street layouts go back as far a Roman times, you will first be taken into the Inns of Court, a hidden world used by the legal profession, and a haven not usually visited by most tourists. Let me show you the place where Shakespeare first performed Twelfth Night, the Fountain that inspired Charles Dickens, and the English Headquarters of the Knights Templar. Do you like Tea? let me take you to a shop where they have sold Tea for over 300 years.
45 minutes here
St Bride's Church
The tour continues avoiding the main road and slipping through ancient passageways like Hanging Sword Alley until we arrive at St Bride's Church. Often called 'The Cathedral of The Press' due to its long association with the Fleet Street Newspapers. Damaged in The Great Fire of London and remodeled by Sir Christopher Wren, it suffered another blow in WW2 when a bomb destroyed the roof. However, this gave Archaeologists the chance to look deep into the crypts. What they found was amazing. Let me show you a hidden medieval chapel, charred remains from the Great fire of 1666, and Roman Pavements in this little known Crypt Museum. The Church has another claim to fame, I will tell you all about it on the tour.
20 minutes here · Admission included
This can definitely make a claim to being London's oldest Pub if you take in to account it's cellars that date back to the 13th Century. The upper rooms have barely changed since they were rebuilt in 1667. Once your eyes have adjusted to the wooden paneled candle lit interior, perhaps we can take a seat near the same fire place that Charles Dickens warmed his feet, and learn all about Polly the Parrot, the Hellfire Club and the rather naughty tiles found in the 1960's.
20 minutes here
Smithfield Market
Brace yourself, this part of the tour gets a little grisly. Smithfield Market is London's oldest market still used for its original purpose, -selling meat. The surrounding area is where the Great fire of London finally extinguished, where Bloody Mary burn't people at the stake, and where William Wallace, AKA Braveheart was executed. Also near here Fagin's Gang had their Den and Sherlock Holmes first met Doctor Watson at the nearby St Barts hospital. I will also show you two surviving buildings that escaped The Great Fire of 1666.
20 minutes here
Postman's Park
Located next to the Old General Post Office, this park became known as Postman's park because postal workers enjoyed their lunch here. Originally it is the burial ground for St Botolphs Church. I'm bringing you here to show you a very interesting memorial to the unsung heroes of London. Lets find a park bench and I will tell you the history of this extraordinary place.
10 minutes here
Guildhall is pretty much all of London's history on one spot. The Roman's had an Amphitheater on this site, the Saxons built a hall where people paid their taxes, and during the medieval period it was first recorded as a Guildhall. The present building was built around 1411, but the crypts are thought to date back to the 13th century. This is essentially the Town Hall of the City of London. The day-to-day administration of the City of London Corporation is now conducted from modern buildings immediately to the north. Lets admire one of London's oldest buildings and talk about some of the famous people who were put on trial here.
10 minutes here
This is the "Square Mile" ancient heart of London and home to the financial district. The Bank of England, the Royal Exchange, and the spooky Cornhill Devils are highlights on this point of the tour. The Royal Exchange is where the Ghost of Christmas yet to come to Ebeneezer Scrooge to see his colleagues discuss his funeral. But why is the Bank of England known as the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street? I will tell you!
10 minutes here
Charles Dickens favourite Chop House, and mentioned over 20 times in the Pickwick Papers. The interior is almost unchanged from Dickens time. He would even still be able to order his favouite food from the menu. The alleyways and courts in this area are some of the most atmospheric in London
10 minutes here
Leadenhall Market
One of London's oldest and prettiest markets on the site of a Roman cross road. It's no wonder that Leadenhall Market has featured in some of the worlds most famous movies and novels. Most recently as a filming location for the Harry Potter Films, and the market where Ebeneezer Scrooge sends the boy to get the biggest Turkey on Christmas morning.
15 minutes here
The Monument to the Great Fire of London
One of the most devastating events in London's history took place just near Monument Underground Station. This is where the great Fire of London started in 1666 destroying 80% of the old city of London. Fortunately your guide knows some of the areas that survived. Your tour ends here, and if you still have energy why not climb the 311 steps to the top of the Monument and see the stunning views over London.
15 minutes here · Admission not included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
London
Outside the station next to the Coffee Stand called "Blues and Royals"
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Options you can book
Tour For TWO People
Private walking tour of London's hidden and secret history away from the regular tourist trail for Two People. Private, bespoke and at your pace.(**Children Under 16 Go Free When Accompanied** Max 2)
Tour For 4-6 People
Private walking tour of London's hidden and secret history away from the regular tourist trail for 4-6 People. Private, bespoke and at your pace.(**Children Under 16 Go Free When Accompanied** Max 2)
Tour For THREE People
Private walking tour of London's hidden and secret history away from the regular tourist trail for THREE people. Private, bespoke and at your pace **Children Under 16 Go Free When Accompanied** Max 4
Tour For ONE Person
Private walking tour of London's hidden and secret history away from the regular tourist trail for One Person. Private, bespoke and at your pace.(**Children Under 16 Go Free When Accompanied** Max 2)
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Richards Tours
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Moderate walking - Please inform if you have any mobility issues
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 8 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
4 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Traveler reviews
8 verified traveler reviews for London's Hidden Gems and Secret History Private Guided Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
We had an excellent tour...
We had an excellent tour guide and learned so much hidden history. I would highly recommend this tour.
Response from the operator: Great review! Thank you so much. A pleasure to show you old London. I hope to see you again on another tour.
via Viator
Enjoyed tour
Excellent tour of places of interest not commonly shown. Richard was Well informed and presented well.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for this great review. I am so glad you enjoyed the tour. Hope to see you again for one of my other tours.
via Viator
Fantastic tour with even better guide
Richard was incredibly knowledgeable of the history of London and the buildings and people who made up the history. It was the perfect tour if you are wanting to go deeper into the past and have seen the typical places. We learned so much more than just surface level history and were able to go to places we had never seen before. Richard was great about tailoring the content to our group as well. Only hitting the high points on things we were less interested in but going deeper on things we wanted to learn more about.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for this really lovely review. It was my pleasure to meet you and show you some of the interesting history and places here in London. I hope to see you on a future trip! Thank you once again.
via Viator
Amazing Old City of London and Dickens Stories Engagingly Revealed
Amazingly revelatory of London history most richly from Dickens, but inclusive of Conan Doyle's Holmes, Melville, Franklin, and Burr. Archeological insights into Roman Londinium afforded by German bombs dropped on a picturesque church in WWII, much insight into Dickens' sources for 'A Christmas Carol': plausibly, the corner where the massive turkey might have been hung on Christmas day, the door knocker where Marley appeared, the home where Scrooge was imagined to have dwelled, the counting house; autobiographical facts for 'David Copperfield,' Dickens' favorite tavern, Richard, the tour's guide, is simply a fountain of delightful information for any fan of mid 19th century English literature/life and old London city history. I've hardly ever spend a more engaging 3 hours than these and would do it again tomorrow! Again, Richard is a peerless tour guide. Highly, highly recommended.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much! This is such a lovely review and I really appreciate your kind words. I love London, and it's a real pleasure to be able to show enthusiastic and interesting people like you, around some of the cities hidden nooks that they may otherwise not see. I hope to see you again for another tour, and maybe we can seek out some further areas if interest. Thank you so much once again!
via Viator
Richard is Amazing!
Other couple canceled so we got Richard all to ourselves. He was marvelous and with our being fans of Dickens, Shakespeare and London's history, he wove for us our own tour personalizing it to what we were most interested in. Richard is incredible - very smart, great personality and sense of humor. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with him and are still raving about this experience to all our friends 5 months later! We are sending them all his way for their trips this year to London, and we ourselves shall book him again when we return this December! Having been born in London and lived there, then moved to USA I couldn't believe the things I never knew and had never seen -- he is a treasure trove and all his well-known subjects about literature, history, EVERYTHING all overlap and contribute to -- when the end of the tour arrives you literally don't want to say goodbye. What a fabulous experience! Cheers, Richard!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $195 to $385
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 3
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 57
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
London's Hidden Gems and Secret History Private Guided Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for London.
How much does London's Hidden Gems and Secret History Private Guided Tour cost?
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Prices start at $195 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in London usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does London's Hidden Gems and Secret History Private Guided Tour take?
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Plan for about 3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in London is not rushed.
Is London's Hidden Gems and Secret History Private Guided Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 57 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 8 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in London, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule London's Hidden Gems and Secret History Private Guided Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is London's Hidden Gems and Secret History Private Guided Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book London's Hidden Gems and Secret History Private Guided Tour?
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Around 3 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in London can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in London and add a light layer if any part of the 3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does London's Hidden Gems and Secret History Private Guided Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central London within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in London?
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London's best attractions split cleanly: the museums are free and need no booking, so the paid market is about views, theatre and getting out of the city for a day. That makes value scoring unusually important here, and the Outty Ranking penalises anything charging premium prices for access you could get for nothing. On Outty we rank every London experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour, London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs, The Great British Rock and Roll Walking Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit London?
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May to September for long evenings, December for the Christmas markets. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in London?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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