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Secret Gardens of the City of London Private Tour

4.9 Excellent 42 reviews
|
3h
|
English
Free cancellation · up to 24 hours before Private tour Instant confirmation Likely to sell out Live guide

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
42 reviews
5
41
4
0
3
0
2
1
1
0
Ratings collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor
Recommended by 98% of travellers: 41 four- and five-star reviews

Overview

Guidekin summary

Explore the City of London's pocket gardens, churchyards and medieval ruins on a private tour for your party. A guided walk and hotel pickup are listed as included, but transport to and from the attractions is excluded. 4.93 from 42 reviews at €226 per person for 3h.

From the guide

This private walking tour takes us to many hidden, silent, sacred and secret gardens and ruins in the City of London. Even Londoners don't know about most of these sites and that is why they are such wonderful and historic places. Beautiful old gothic church yard gardens, each a peaceful, historic oasis in busy London.

This is an immersive historical and architectural walking tour of the City of London's public pocket gardens, ancient churchyards, and medieval ruins. It does not enter private residential squares or domestic backyards.

Secret Gardens of the City of London is also a #1 ranking travel book and has been the travel feature in the Independent Newspaper.

Schedule & Availability

Runs daily
Departs: 09:30
Scheduled through December 2027

This tour runs daily, departing at 09:30. Scheduled through December 2027. These are the operator’s scheduled departures, not a live seat count: availability is confirmed at checkout. Schedule last checked October 1, 2026.

What's Included

Local guide
Private tour
Professional guide
Tour escort/host
Hotel pickup

What's Not Included

Transportation to/from attractions

Itinerary

St. Paul's Cathedral Stop 1
The tour starts under the majestic gaze of one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.
5 min
Explore the beautiful landscaped gardens of St Pauls Cathedral Stop 2
10 min
Festival Gardens Stop 3
Delightfully colourful gardens with an incredible backdrop.
5 min
This beautiful garden was redeveloped during Covid and features a water featu... Stop 4
This beautiful garden was redeveloped during Covid and features a water feature and view not to be missed.
5 min
Beautiful shady garden, a haven for silver birch with a cooling water feature... Stop 5
Beautiful shady garden, a haven for silver birch with a cooling water feature at the rear amongst other things.
5 min
Cleary Garden Stop 6
Beautiful gardens with an Italian inspiration due to the Roman ruins that lay beneath.
5 min
This secret garden is dedicated to one of the most famous Lord Mayors of Lond... Stop 7
This secret garden is dedicated to one of the most famous Lord Mayors of London who amongst other things built the nearby church.
5 min
Almost completely hidden from view, this beautiful garden has a definitive We... Stop 8
Almost completely hidden from view, this beautiful garden has a definitive Welsh theme with a sad history behind it.
5 min
The Monument to the Great Fire of London Stop 9
See the incredible monument to the Great Fire of London
5 min
St. Dunstan In The East Stop 10
Visit the most beautiful ruin in the old City of London.
10 min
Admission included
One time home of the most famous diarist in history, Samuel Pepys, the garden... Stop 11
One time home of the most famous diarist in history, Samuel Pepys, the garden has some incredible decorative stones illustrating the unique and memorable life of this fascinating man,
5 min
St Olave's Church Stop 12
This historic church and garden has been through Great Fires, Plagues, World Wars and as such as some incredible history.
10 min
80 years after The Blitz this garden is finally being redeveloped but its tru... Stop 13
80 years after The Blitz this garden is finally being redeveloped but its true secret is why it is hear at all and for that we have to go back to one of the darkest moments in Londons history, many centuries ago.
5 min
Garden at 120 Stop 14
Visit London's newest sky garden which offers a fantastic view of where we have been and where we will be going. The garden has a capacity of 207 people so it is possible that on rare occasions we cannot get in. So far so good though!
15 min
A beautiful modern garden with a poignant work of art regarding the slave tra... Stop 15
A beautiful modern garden with a poignant work of art regarding the slave trade on the spot where two men campaigned tirelessly for its destruction.
5 min
Leadenhall Market Stop 16
A stunning Victorian market built on top of a Roman market, beautiful and iconic, seen in many shows and movies.
5 min
The garden of this ancient church is relatively plain but it has a grave with... Stop 17
The garden of this ancient church is relatively plain but it has a grave within it that is possibly the most famous grave in English literature, set as it is amongst ancient lanes and alleys.
5 min
St. Michael's Cornhill Stop 18
No cars or any vehicles can get close to this secret garden, huddled away in the medieval passageways. A beautiful garden with a nice sun trap too. Surrounded by old churches, pubs and the oldest coffee shop too.
5 min
Guildhall Stop 19
Right in the middle of London we will stand on top of the old Roman amphitheatre
5 min
Admission included
St. Lawrence Jewry Stop 20
This little space in the heart of the old Jewish district of London and almost entirely rebuilt after WW2.
10 min
Admission included
This sunken garden has a history both ancient and the merely old Stop 21
10 min
Admission included
These unusual gardens hold an ancient secret uncovered in WW2, ruins of the o... Stop 22
These unusual gardens hold an ancient secret uncovered in WW2, ruins of the old Roman City Wall.
5 min
St Mary Aldermanbury Garden Stop 23
This little garden has strong associations to William Shakespeare and even Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.
10 min
Admission included
A magnificent old tree steels the show here with incredible modern architectu... Stop 24
A magnificent old tree steels the show here with incredible modern architecture all around.
5 min
Postman's Park Stop 25
Visit this beautiful but rarely visited park with its touching memorial to everyday heroes.
10 min
Admission included

Departure & Return

Pickup included

We can meet you at any Central London hotel (not just those listed) and then go by tube to the starting point at St Pauls.

194 pickup points listed by the operator, 194 of them hotels

Start point

The tour starts just outside Caffe Nero outside St Pauls Underground Station

Open in Google Maps
End point

The tour starts just outside Caffe Nero outside St Pauls Underground Station, We finish just yards from St Pauls Underground Station

Additional Information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Dress code is smart casual
  • We have earmarked this tour as especially safe during the Coronavirus outbreak due to generally quiet places that we visit where social distancing is generally not a problem. All of our tours are private so it is just you/your family and your guide.  To make it easier and safer for all concerned we would suggest starting this tour a little later than the usual time, perhaps around 10.30-11am which allows us all to miss rush-hour. We are happy to still come to your hotel to meet you but for the moment we would suggest meeting us at the tour starting point.  This allows you to arrive by a taxi or uber rather than public transport. Please feel free to wear masks throughout or at times during the tour.  Your guide will also have a mask with them.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

1+ daysFull refund
0-1 daysNo refund

Compared with other Private Tours

TourPriceDurationRatingGroup
This tour · #111 of 160€2263h4.93 (42)private
Rock Cab Tours presents Music Legends Private Taxi Tour of London€2373h5.0 (695)private
London Sightseeing Private Black Cab Tour with Hotel Pick Up€378 per group4h4.99 (1580)private
Private Group: Historical Pub Walking Tour of London€1493h4.99 (717)private

Ranked #111 of 160 in Private Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €36 to €1129, median €220; typical length 3h. 160 of 160 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Compare all 160 Private Tours

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