Private Tour: Westminster Abbey and Banqueting House Walking Tour in London
From $383.99
Price varies by group size
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
Safety measures
3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English and 4 more
Good for avoiding crowds
Overview
Visit two of London’s greatest historical treasures on this private 3.5-hour tour of Westminster Abbey and Banqueting House, with a specialist art history guide. Behold the splendor of Westminster Abbey, England's Royal Church and a royal coronation and wedding site since 1066, and then walk along Whitehall to Banqueting House, the last remnant of the former Palace of Whitehall. See where King Charles I was executed in 1649; admire the ceremonial and banquet chambers; see the murals by Sir Peter Paul Rubens; and learn all about the palace’s rich history.
- Private 3.5-hour morning or afternoon tour of Westminster Abbey and the Banqueting House in London
- Tour Westminster Abbey, one of the English capital’s most iconic sights
- Visit the banqueting hall, which hosted royal parties, and admire the ceiling frescoes by Flemish master Sir Peter Paul Rubens
- Receive the undivided attention of a professional guide, also a specialist in art history, on this private tour
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
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Select a morning or afternoon tour, and join up with your art historian guide near Westminster Abbey. Pose for photos outside this early Gothic building, perhaps one of England’s most splendid, and hear about its rich history and royal connections.
Head inside with your guide and learn how the abbey has served as a royal burial place, coronation site and wedding stage for centuries. All England’s monarchs since 1066 have been crowned here, and the church has presided over many royal weddings, including the union of the now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
As you look around, inspect the memorials to artists, soldiers, writers and statesmen; and glimpse the College Garden, believed to be around 1,000 years old.
Having explored Westminster Abbey, stroll along Whitehall, where the British Prime Minister is based, to Banqueting House, the only remaining building of what was once the Palace of Whitehall, a royal residence destroyed by fire in 1698.
Stand on the exact spot where Charles I was beheaded in 1649 for supposedly committing high treason, and then follow your guide into the 17th-century building. Explore the richly gilded rooms, and admire the decorative banqueting hall, once used for banquets and grand ceremonies. Here, take time to appreciate the glorious ceiling murals commissioned by Charles I and painted by Sir Peter Paul Rubens in 1636.
Your tour concludes when you leave Banqueting House and say goodbye to your guide, leaving you free to continue exploring independently or head back to your hotel.
Please note: Banqueting House is closed during the afternoons. If you select an afternoon tour, your visit will be replaced by a longer visit to Westminster Abbey.
Head inside with your guide and learn how the abbey has served as a royal burial place, coronation site and wedding stage for centuries. All England’s monarchs since 1066 have been crowned here, and the church has presided over many royal weddings, including the union of the now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
As you look around, inspect the memorials to artists, soldiers, writers and statesmen; and glimpse the College Garden, believed to be around 1,000 years old.
Having explored Westminster Abbey, stroll along Whitehall, where the British Prime Minister is based, to Banqueting House, the only remaining building of what was once the Palace of Whitehall, a royal residence destroyed by fire in 1698.
Stand on the exact spot where Charles I was beheaded in 1649 for supposedly committing high treason, and then follow your guide into the 17th-century building. Explore the richly gilded rooms, and admire the decorative banqueting hall, once used for banquets and grand ceremonies. Here, take time to appreciate the glorious ceiling murals commissioned by Charles I and painted by Sir Peter Paul Rubens in 1636.
Your tour concludes when you leave Banqueting House and say goodbye to your guide, leaving you free to continue exploring independently or head back to your hotel.
Please note: Banqueting House is closed during the afternoons. If you select an afternoon tour, your visit will be replaced by a longer visit to Westminster Abbey.
Itinerary
Choose from a morning or afternoon tour, and then meet your guide — an art history specialist — by Westminster Abbey. Snap photos of Gothic crowd pleaser, perhaps the most beautiful early Gothic building in the country, and hear about the abbey’s long, rich history.
As you step inside with your guide, discover how the abbey, a royal mausoleum for many centuries, has been used to crown all the kings and queens of England, except two, since William I’s coronation in 1066.
Learn about the royal weddings hosted here, including the weddings of Queen Elizabeth II to Prince Philip and Prince William to Kate Middleton, and admire the many artworks and monuments dedicated to soldiers, artists, statesman and writers. You’ll also see the College Garden. At some 1,000 years old, it is thought to be the oldest garden in England.
Duration: 2 hours
Admission Ticket Free
After touring Westminster Abbey, walk with your guide to Banqueting House, the only remaining part of the Palace of Whitehall, a vast royal complex that was burnt down in 1698. Before heading inside, stand on the spot where Charles I was beheaded in 1649 after being convicted of high treason. Then enter the 17th-century building with your guide.
Learn about Charles I and his father, James I Stuart, for who the Banqueting House was built, as you wander from room to room. See the impressive banqueting hall, which would have been used for balls, masques and other royal ceremonies, and admire the elaborate ceiling frescoes that were painted by Sir Peter Paul Rubens.
When the time comes, bid farewell to your guide outside Banqueting House and continue your sightseeing independently or make your own way back to your hotel.
Please note: The Banqueting House is open daily except on Thursdays when it is closed for private events. Should you opt for a Thursday tour, you will instead enjoy an extended visit to Westminster Abbey or Royal Horseguards Museum but please let us know your preference.
Duration: 2 hours
Admission Ticket Free
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Private Tour: Westminster Abbey and Banqueting House Walking Tour in London
3 hours
Free Cancellation
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$383.99
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