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.
In our comparison: #111 of 159 in Private Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (see the comparison).
Children from €112 (ages 10 to 14). Option texts and prices come from the operator's listing; prices checked on Viator on 1 October 2026.
Reviews
4.9
42 ratings Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor
98% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4★ or 5★: 41 of 42
Star breakdown of all 42 ratings
5 stars
41 · 98%
4 stars
0 · 0%
3 stars
0 · 0%
2 stars
1 · 2%
1 star
0 · 0%
What reviewers say
Reviewers praise the history and unfamiliar gardens; an isolated complaint reports unmet expectations of private garden access.
Praised
Knowledgeable guides explain the history of the gardens and the City
Quiet green spaces that even repeat visitors had never found
Engaging stories delivered with enthusiasm and a friendly manner
Stops and commentary adapted to personal interests
Complaints
No complaint recurs across the supplied reviews
Written by Guidekin from the 42 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (26 November 2017 to 26 August 2026). Refreshed as new reviews arrive; last checked 3 October 2026.
Latest reviews
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Ratings collected from Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.
Meeting point and route
Meeting point
Where
The tour starts just outside Caffe Nero outside St Pauls Underground Station · Open in Google Maps
Departure
09:30 daily; scheduled through December 2027 (operator schedule, seats confirmed at checkout)
Return
This activity ends back at the meeting point
Pickup
Hotel pickup from 194 pickup points (194 pickup points listed by the operator, 194 of them hotels)
Operator
Ye Olde England Tours; booking and payment are completed on Viator
Itinerary
1
St. Paul's Cathedral
The tour starts under the majestic gaze of one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.
5 min · Admission not included
2
Explore the beautiful landscaped gardens of St Pauls Cathedral10 min
3
Festival Gardens
Delightfully colourful gardens with an incredible backdrop.
5 min
4
This beautiful garden was redeveloped during Covid and features a water feature and view not to be missed5 min
5
Beautiful shady garden, a haven for silver birch with a cooling water feature at the rear amongst other things5 min
6
Cleary Garden
Beautiful gardens with an Italian inspiration due to the Roman ruins that lay beneath.
5 min
7
This secret garden is dedicated to one of the most famous Lord Mayors of London who amongst other things built the nearby church5 min
8
Almost completely hidden from view, this beautiful garden has a definitive Welsh theme with a sad history behind it5 min
9
The Monument to the Great Fire of London
See the incredible monument to the Great Fire of London
5 min · Admission not included
10
St. Dunstan In The East
Visit the most beautiful ruin in the old City of London.
10 min · Admission included
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
12
St Olave's Church
This historic church and garden has been through Great Fires, Plagues, World Wars and as such as some incredible history.
10 min
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 ago5 min · Admission not included
14
Garden at 120
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
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 destruction5 min
16
Leadenhall Market
A stunning Victorian market built on top of a Roman market, beautiful and iconic, seen in many shows and movies.
5 min
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 alleys5 min
18
St. Michael's Cornhill
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
19
Guildhall
Right in the middle of London we will stand on top of the old Roman amphitheatre
5 min · Admission included
20
St. Lawrence Jewry
This little space in the heart of the old Jewish district of London and almost entirely rebuilt after WW2.
10 min · Admission included
21
This sunken garden has a history both ancient and the merely old10 min · Admission included
22
These unusual gardens hold an ancient secret uncovered in WW2, ruins of the old Roman City Wall5 min
23
St Mary Aldermanbury Garden
This little garden has strong associations to William Shakespeare and even Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.
10 min · Admission included
24
A magnificent old tree steels the show here with incredible modern architecture all around5 min
25
Postman's Park
Visit this beautiful but rarely visited park with its touching memorial to everyday heroes.
10 min · Admission included
About this tour, from the operator
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.
Walking, children and accessibility
The operator's own notes, grouped by topic. Nothing here is added by Guidekin.
Walking and health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible
Strollers OK
Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
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.
Good to know
Min. 2 to book not for solo travellers
Children from €112 ages 10 to 14
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days: Full refund
0-1 days: No refund
Compared with other Private Tours
Tour
Price
Duration
Rating
Group
This tour · #111 of 159
€226
3h
4.93 (42)
private
London Sightseeing Private Black Cab Tour with Hotel Pick Up
€380 per group
4h
5.0 (1613)
private
Rock Cab Tours presents Music Legends Private Taxi Tour of London
€237
3h
5.0 (695)
private
Private Group: Historical Pub Walking Tour of London
€149
3h
4.99 (717)
private
Ranked #111 of 159 in Private Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €36 to €1135, median €224; typical length 3h. 159 of 159 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Compare all 159 Private Tours