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Sandemans New London Tours offer a free, daily walking tour all year round.

I've tried the free 2.5 hour walk around London called the 'Royal London Tour' which used to meet at Wellington Arch twice a day but now starts at Covent Garden (see below).

About Sandemans

Sandemans New Europe have free walking tours in many European cities. Their Guides work on a tip-only basis so truly work for their money and giving a tip is voluntary.

Royal London Tour Review

I tried this tour on a cold winter's day but there was still a good-sized group of around 20 of us from a variety of countries around the world.

Our Guide gave us a good introduction to what we could expect on the tour and she was witty, educated and entertaining and we laughed from the start.

From Wellington Arch we walked to Buckingham Palace where the Guide regaled us with tales of the break-ins at the Palace over the years with some stories well suited to the group.

At the Victoria Memorial (in front of Buckingham Palace) I learned that Queen Victoria was only 4ft 11in, and nearby at St James Palace I was told this Palace, commissioned by Henry VIII, was built on the site of a former leper hospital.

The tour continued to Trafalgar Square with tales about Nelson's Column, before heading round to St. James's Park where we were heard about the park pelicans eating pigeons! Not something I'd ever seen happen before.

We stood outside the Cabinet War Rooms & Churchill Museum before moving on to Parliament Square and ending outside the Houses of Parliament.

There is no time to take photos on this walking tour as there's so much to see in the 2.5 hours. Obviously many of the group wanted to take photos so we were often waiting for stragglers to catch up so it may be better for the Guides to plan some good photo opportunities and not fight it.

About The Tour

No need to book, just turn up. The tour runs in all weather.

Meet at Covent Garden Piazza between the Apple store and Laduree at 11am and 1pm, and look for the Guides wearing red T-shirts. (2013 update)

The free tour ends at the Houses of Parliament and your Guide can offer directions and suggestions on where to go next.

Official Website:www.newlondon-tours.com