Tours
Below you'll find summary details of tours, walks and talks, all of which can be tailored for your group.
London Garden Tours
Take in seasonal highlights at historic gardens such as the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, Hampton Court Palace, or Chelsea Physic Garden, or discover parks, gardens and green spaces right in the heart of London. Examples of London garden tours include:
The City's Pocket Gardens
Stroll through 2000 years of history in the City of London. Nestled next to steel and glass office buildings, the City's green spaces support biodiversity, are havens for wildlife, and offer calm in the bustle. We’ll visit pocket gardens including a garden reflecting the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, a lush green churchyard where Shakespeare’s plays were first sold, a Victorian memorial garden commemorating stories of heroism, and sunken gardens created on bombsites after World War II.
(From 1 1/2 to 3 hours)
London Gardens, Old & New
Explore legal London’s hidden gardens at the Inns of Court, which date back to the 1300s. Once home to the Royal Horticultural Society’s flower shows, today these gardens are maintained by a small team taking a contemporary approach to planning and planting. Then head to King’s Cross to discover some of London’s newest gardens now blooming against a backdrop of industrial heritage, including a public fountain garden, an Islamic garden, a park in a gas holder, and a community nature reserve.
(Half day)
Hampstead's Green Havens
Escape to the green spaces of Hampstead, an area to the north of London that has long been home to artists, writers, and musicians. Explore scenic back streets, visit the walled garden at Fenton House and head on to Hill House Pergola for views across the treetops. After lunch at a pub we’ll walk through shady woods to Kenwood House, a grand C18 mansion set in parkland landscaped by Humphrey Repton. There'll be time to explore the house and its art collection, and to enjoy a fabulous view over London.
(Full day)
Gardens & Galleries
Start your tour at Tate Britain, stepping into the garden to explore 300 years of British art from a garden lover’s perspective. Then cross the Thames to visit the Garden Museum, which celebrates the art, history and design of gardens. This tour can be extended to include a visit to Chelsea Physic Garden or a walking tour through Westminster and The Royal Parks.
(Half day or Full day)
Parks & Palaces
Explore the hidden histories of London’s Royal parks. Options include a walk through Kensington Gardens to visit Kensintgon Palace, a ramble through the hidden gardens of The Regent’s Park, or a stroll through Hyde Park, Green Park and St James’s Park. These tours can be combined with visits to Kensington Palace, Westminster Abbey or the National Gallery.
(Half day or Full day)
Essential kit for
London garden tours
We'll be walking a lot, so comfy shoes are a must! The joy of London is that we can always find a place to retreat to if the weather turns, but please come prepared for four seasons in a day.
As British hill walker and author Alfred Wainwright said: 'There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.'
Galleries & Museums
All gallery and museum tours are generally around 60 to 90 minutes and can be tailored for the time that you have available. Along with highlights tours of London galleries and museums, such as the British Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, The Courtauld and the Garden Museum, examples of themed tours include:
A Floral Tour of the
National Gallery
Consider the symbolism of flowers in Renaissance art, the realism and exquisite detail of Dutch and Spanish still life painting, and the freeflowing expression of nature in paintings by Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists, including Monet, Gauguin, and Van Gogh.
Into the Garden
at Tate Britain
Explore gardens depicted across three hundred years of British art, from unique Tudor portraits, and idealised landscapes by C18 English artists Gainsborough, Reynolds and Stubbs, to the intense style and storytelling of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in the late C19.
British Museum
Time Travel Adventures
Travel back in time and across continents to meet fierce Assyrian kings, Greek gods, and ancient Egyptian pharaohs. Or discover British treasures, including a golden cape, a Viking ship, letters home from a Roman fort, and a room alive with ticks and tocks. What will you put into your time capsule?
The Art of Love
at the National Gallery
Top tips on love and marriage from painters through the centuries, including Van Eyck, Botticelli, Gainsborough and Hogarth. We consider domestic bliss, domestic boredom, a cautionary tale of why you should never marry for money or social standing, and how to keep the spark alive.
Women Who Rock at the National Portrait Gallery
Celebrate the many daring, often controversial women who rocked their worlds. We meet queens and courtesans, writers, politicians, activists and artists, all of whom left a vital legacy of social and cultural change. Who would you add to the list?
Festive tours for Christmas
We’ll scour the British Museum for unique presents, including games, jewellery, and must have fashion accessories from 2500 BCE to the present day.
Join amazed shepherds, dazzling kings, and a host of angels to celebrate Christmas at the National Gallery. Will you spot the Christmas pudding?
Walks & Talks
Themed walks and talks typically run for between 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the time you have available. Groups of between 6 to 12 work best. This means that everyone can hear and it's easier to get around. Examples include:
Putting on the Ritz
in Piccadilly & St James
High society, high finance and high fashion on the streets of Piccadilly and St James. Discover the history London's most exclusive clubs, explore hidden passageways and courtyards, and see where royalty shops.
Wellbeing Walks
We'll draw inspiration from the street life, history and heritage around us to consider practical, everyday ways to enhance our personal wellbeing and find pools of calm. Ideal for teams and community groups, wellbeing walks are available in South Kensington, Holborn, and Covent Garden.
Head & Heart
Philanthropy in the City
Discover ways in which charitable giving has shaped the City of London, from the medieval livery companies to social investment today. We'll consider the impact on social issues, including education, housing, prison reform, mental health and loneliness.
Talk:
London's Garden History
Discover London's garden history, from the City's Roman roots to the present day. We'll meet several horticultural heroes along the way, from Royal women who developed the gardens at Kew Palace, and adventurous plant hunters who brought seeds back from around the world, to public servants and philanthropists who championed green spaces yesterday and today.
Talk:
Great British Gardens
Take a whirlwind tour through great British gardens within easy reach of London. We'll explore gardens in areas including Kent and Sussex, Surrey and the Thames valley, Oxford and the Cotswolds, Constable country in Suffolk, and gardens near Bath in Somerset. Ideal for horticultural societies, gardening clubs, and other groups planning trips.
Talk:
Up on the Roof
Hear about the gardens and green spaces hidden high above the London's busy streets. Examples include a vegetable garden in the heart of the West End, a City twist on an English country garden, serene Islamic gardens in King’s Cross, vertical gardens created to cover hotels and office blocks, and several new public spaces currently in the planning.