The 15 Best Westminster Abbey & Parliament Tours

1.Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,969 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $22Our pick

Sail east from Westminster Pier to Greenwich in about an hour, passing Big Ben, the London Eye, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge. Live commentary adds history and humor, while a return ticket lets you explore the Cutty Sark, Greenwich Park, the Royal Observatory, and Greenwich Market before sailing back.

“Excellent guide He gave over the sights in an enjoyable way with good knowledge of sights we passed by”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.London’s Palaces & Parliament Tour (See Over 20+ London Top Sights)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,609 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $30Top rated

This three-hour Westminster walking tour links Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, Parliament, Big Ben, and the London Eye. Guides such as Ash, Mark, Tanya, Christopher, and Adrian mix history with humor. The 10 a.m. route includes the Changing of the Guard on selected days, but schedules can change.

“Our guide, Nicholas, was beyond great. Obviously loves his country, knew enough about every site to give expository lectures and was full of wit, wisdom and provided crazy details on every single site we stopped at. He even had us within 5 feet of the Queen as she entered the gate at Windsor! Amazing. I’ve never written one of these but the trip was truly great”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Westminster Guided Walking Tour with Abbey Entry

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,282 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $122

Spend about five hours walking from The Ritz through Green Park, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Parliament Square, and Westminster Abbey. Guides such as Ash, Will, Ashley, Mark, and Adrian bring royal and political history to life. The Abbey entry is self-guided with a multilingual audio guide.

“Our guide Chris was very knowledgeable and funny. He got us to the right spots on time to see the activities around the palaces including the royal military horse parade.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Walking Tour of London Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,213 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $95

Spend three or four hours walking through Westminster with a Blue Badge Guide. See Big Ben, Parliament, St. James’s Park, Buckingham Palace, and St. James’s Palace. The four-hour option includes skip-the-line entry and a guided visit inside Westminster Abbey. The three-hour option includes self-entry for an organ recital, evensong, or mass, subject to the Abbey schedule.

“Richard was a fantastic guide! Very knowledgeable, great personality and enjoyable. I really appreciated the stories and insight shared, and especially glad I took the 4 hour tour so I could enjoy the guided Westminster Abbey tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Downton Abbey Village, Blenheim Palace and Cotswolds Day Trip from London

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,139 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $109

Travel from London Victoria by comfortable coach to Blenheim Palace, Bourton-on-the-Water or Bibury, and Bampton, the Downton Abbey village. Guides such as Kevin, Simon, Angela, and James are praised for lively commentary. Expect a scenic but tightly timed 10-hour day, with palace admission available when selected.

“There needs to be more time at Blenheim. Start that part of the tour first, not last. Many of the Blenheim exhibits closed at 4;00 PM”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Westminster 3 Hour Walking Tour and Visit of Churchill War Rooms

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 967 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $135

Start at The Ritz with a guide such as Will, Ashley, Tanya, or Brandon for a three-hour Westminster walk covering Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. Finish independently at Churchill’s War Rooms, where an audio guide leads you through the wartime command center.

“Will was an entertaining and informative tour guide. The walking tour was very worthwhile. Quite a bit of new and fun information. The Winston Churchill War Museum was an audio-tour, but a fascinating place. Could spend a day there alone.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Speedboat Cruise Tour: Embankment OR Westminster Pier -70 minutes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 777 reviews · 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.) · from $102

Take a 70-minute Thames RIB ride from Embankment or Westminster, with a small group of up to 12 people. Your guide points out Parliament, Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, Greenwich, and the Thames Barrier before the skipper opens the throttle. Expect life jackets, ponchos if needed, lively commentary, music, and a fast, bumpy run toward the O2 Arena.

“The whole experience was amazing, a great crew giving interesting information regarding London, the music was brilliant. It’s was a day to remember”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.London Rock Legends Tour including Abbey Road

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 739 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $76

See Abbey Road, Savile Row, Beatles homes, Jimi Hendrix’s former address, and London music sites by air-conditioned coach. Guides such as Clive and Ian bring strong personal stories, while the short walks and afternoon departure suit most visitors. Allow extra time for traffic.

“It’s a great time and our guide Ian was great saw things never expected to see and the stories will be remembered and repeated for a life time. A day in our life that will never be forgotten”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Skip the Line Tower of London & Westminster Tour and River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 730 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $165

Walk through London’s royal and political heart, enter Westminster Abbey on the 9 AM tour, cruise to Tower Bridge, and explore the Tower of London. English-speaking guides such as Geoff, Matthew, Alison, Patrick, and Dominic bring the stories to life. Expect a brisk pace, lots of walking, and a well-planned first look at London.

“This tour is absolutely worth every penny! Our guide Toby F. was so knowledgeable and we were so impressed with the details he provided during the tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Downton Abbey & Highclere Castle Tour from London, with Oxford

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 716 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $201

Travel from London to Oxford, Bampton, and Highclere Castle with a professional guide such as Eva, Andrew, or Carol. Walk Oxford’s old streets, spot Downton Abbey locations, enter Highclere’s State Rooms, and explore its grounds. The 10-hour trip includes transport and castle entry, but not meals or hotel pickup.

“Quick all in one tour. The time in Oxford goes super fast. You have tops 2 hrs total there. The stop in Bampton is really quite boring and you have to buy your picnic lunch in Oxford to eat there because there’s nowhere to buy there and then you have to eat at a random bench. Highclere castle is great. They have an Egyptian collection that you can see for an extra ticket if you’re interested. The tour guide and driver were good.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Westminster Abbey Entrance Ticket Including Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 661 reviews · from $41

Enter Westminster Abbey with a timed mobile ticket, pass security, and explore independently with a multimedia guide in 14 languages. See the coronation site, royal tombs, Poet’s Corner, and remarkable Gothic architecture. Allow two to three hours, and check opening arrangements before you go because this working church can close at short notice.

“Easy to follow with headphones. When we couldn’t find our location, there were plenty of staff to point us to the right location”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Guided Tour Westminster Abbey + Optional Parliament Entry

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 571 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $81

Meet your English-speaking guide at 9:15 AM outside Westminster Abbey for a small-group visit to Britain’s coronation church. Add the Parliament option for a panoramic introduction, security assistance, and self-guided access with a multilingual audio guide. Guides such as Jane, Nick, and Pauline are praised for clear stories and personal help.

“Of all the tours this is the one we loved the most. My husband told Nick M. Our tour guide that he could listen to him describe the inside of a bathroom. His tone was soothing and he was so knowledgeable. And with my husband in a wheelchair he was so helpful making sure he was comfortable and could see as much of the Abbey as possible. Taking us to Parliament and making sure the guards were able to help with all of the searches required, Nick was fantastic. I highly recommend this tour of Westminster Abbey and the London Parliament -so interesting, but especially with Nick.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Buckingham Palace & Big Ben (& Westminster Abbey entry)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 506 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $135

Join a guide such as Ash, Ashley, Will, or Christopher for a five-hour London walk from The Ritz to Westminster Abbey. See Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Big Ben, Parliament, and 20 major sights, then enter the Abbey with a pre-booked ticket and explore at your own pace.

“This is a wonderful walking tour where you really get a chance to appreciate London's beautiful history and architecture. The tour guide, Ashley was funny, considerate, and extremely knowledgeable. He made the experience memorable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Tower Bridge River Sightseeing Cruise from Westminster

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 457 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $18Best value

Cruise from Westminster Pier toward Tower Bridge aboard a modern Thames River Sightseeing boat. Choose a one-way ride to Butler’s Wharf or a return ticket, enjoy open-top views, and hear live commentary or use the multilingual audio app. It is a short, affordable way to see Parliament, St Paul’s, the Globe, the Tower of London, and more from the water.

“We enjoyed every moment , easy to follow instructions. Well informed tour guides and friendly staff.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Guided Tour of London

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 451 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $113

See Westminster Abbey inside with a Blue Badge guide, then walk past Big Ben, Parliament, St. James’s Palace, and Buckingham Palace. Guides such as Paul, Lucy, Dan, and Sean add history, humor, photo help, and local tips. The four-hour tour includes Abbey entry, but palace and Big Ben interiors are not included.

“Tour guides definitely make a difference, and Dan is what set this tour apart. He delivered information with enthusiasm and passion that made it memorable”

Check availability →Read our full review