Hidden London Tour

Introduction

Time: All Year

Accommodation: 5 Star Hotels

Start Date: 3 Nights / 4 Days

Group Size: Singles, Couples, Families and Small Groups

It includes an eclectic range of lesser known sights and attractions which will appeal to many visitors to London. With over 2,000 years of history, London has developed distinct villages and each neighbourhood has its own characters, museums and galleries to entice the visitor.

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Profile

The aim of this tour is to show both new visitors and seasoned travellers to London a taste of the hidden sights which even locals are often not aware of. It covers a much larger area of the metropolis than standard tours and introduces you to some exciting and rewarding locations over a four day period. As with all our tours, it can be adapted to meet your requirements and interests in terms of the attractions visited and the overall length of the tour.

Why not create your own tour? As with all our tours the attractions you see will take account of your interests and can be adapted to what you want to see. So, if you want to see places not on the list below, just let us know. Complete our enquiry form to find out more »

Itinerary

Day 1: Hampstead Heath - Highgate - RAF Hendon

KENWOOD HOUSE is a wonderful Robert Adam mansion with artworks by Turner and Rembrandt. The house was built in 1764 for the Earl of Mansfield and has beautiful grounds in HAMPSTEAD HEATH which has a panoramic view over London. After lunch at the Spaniards Inn, frequented by Dick Turpin the notorious C18th Highwayman we visit HIGHGATE CEMETARY, a Victorian gem with the opulent tombs of many famous people from Charles Dickens’ parents to Michael Faraday and Karl Marx. RAF HENDON is an enormous museum containing one of the finest collections of aircraft in the world.

Day 2: Chelsea - Battle of Britain - Mayflower

CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN was founded by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London in 1673 for its apprentices to study the medicinal qualities of plants. It is London’s oldest botanic garden and a unique living museum. The GARDEN MUSEUM is one of the smallest museums in London and gives a glimpse into the uniquely British love affair with gardens. The BATTLE OF BRITAIN BUNKER in Uxbridge is an extensive underground bunker from where the Battle of Britain was co-ordinated. Finally, THE MAYFLOWER pub and the landing steps nearby was where the Pilgrim Fathers set off for America.

Day 3: Artillery Museum - Eltham - Red House

THE ARTILLERY MUSEUM in Woolwich, known as “Firepower” is the oldest military museum in Britain. Within the Royal Arsenal, it contains exhibits covering 700 years of history. ELTHAM PALACE was originally a C14th building and was used by the Tudors for deer hunting. In 1935, Stephen Courtauld built a magnificent house to a glamourous Art Deco design complete with a moat. The RED HOUSE is the only house commissioned, created and lived in by William Morris, founder of the Arts and Crafts movement. Completed in 1860, it was described as 'the beautifullest place on earth'.

Day 4: Bell Foundry - Smithfield - Temple - Bank

WHITECHAPEL BELL FOUNDRY is the oldest manufacturing company in Britain and has been in continuous use since 1570. The two most famous bells in the world were made here - The Liberty Bell and Big Ben. SMITHFIELD MARKET is the main meat market in London and has the monument to William Wallace who was executed here. MIDDLE TEMPLE HALL is the finest Tudor Hall in Britain and Elizabeth I dined here on many occasions. The BANK OF ENGLAND was created in 1694 to help pay for foreign wars. Exhibits include gold bars, silver plated decorations and a Roman mosaic floor, discovered in the 1930s.