Guided tours of London

See the best that this amazing city has to offer, in the company of a qualified Blue Badge Tourist Guide

About me

Grace Barrett, London tour guide

Hi, I’m Grace, and I’m an official London tour guide. Born in London and raised in Somerset, I moved back to the city to attend university, and have lived in London for 20 years. For me, this is the greatest city on earth, and I am proud to call it my home.

London is full of fascinating stories, beautiful places, and wonderful culture: I love sharing these wonders with visitors from all over the world, and I specialise in bringing the city to life in a unique and engaging way.

"Grace is a phenomenal guide!" - Angelique

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“Grace is a font of knowledge!” - Jill F

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"Grace was an incredible tour guide" - Jordan A

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“London with Grace is a true gift” - M Zakarian

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“Amazing experience for my daughter and me!” - JR

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“Grace is a wonderful Blue Badge Guide” - Alecia Teel

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"Grace is a phenomenal guide!" - Angelique • “Grace is a font of knowledge!” - Jill F • "Grace was an incredible tour guide" - Jordan A • “London with Grace is a true gift” - M Zakarian • “Amazing experience for my daughter and me!” - JR • “Grace is a wonderful Blue Badge Guide” - Alecia Teel •

Tours

I offer tours on a variety of themes to suit any age group and interest. Check out the main tours page for more information - and remember, every private tour is custom-designed for you!

The Tower of London

London Highlights

See the highlights of London, including majestic Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, site of royal coronations since 1066.

The Tower of London, standing strong for almost 1,000 years, has been a royal palace, a fortress, a prison, the Home of the Royal Mint, and the execution site of three queens of England. Visitors today thrill at the Crown Jewels and love meeting the “Beefeaters” in their traditional Yeoman livery.

Westminster Abbey is the final resting place of 17 kings and queens of England, and has memorials to over 3,000 other famous Britons, including Charles Dickens and Sir Isaac Newton.

A road sign saying "Art"

Art tours

Explore the many world-class art museums in London, such as the National Gallery, Tate Modern, and the Wallace Collection.

The National Gallery is one of Europe’s most prestigious Fine Art collections, and houses masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, JMW Turner, Claude Monet, and Vincent van Gogh, among many other treasures.

The Tate Modern opened in 2000, and quickly became one of the country’s most popular visitor attractions. It hosts works by Picasso, Matisse, Jackson Pollock, and other giants of the contemporary art world - as well as the epic Turbine Hall with its immersive installations.

A family on tour

Family tours

From museum treasure hunts and outdoor activities to child-friendly shows, exploring London with kids is so much fun!

Kids of all ages love visiting the famous Tower of London, to marvel at the jewels, meet the Beefeaters and ravens, and try their hand at battle simulators with the medieval longbow and jousting lance. You can even dress King Henry VIII in his battle armour.

The Science Museum offers an unparalleled wonderland of learning and play, with many interactive exhibits and fascinating displays, from steam engines to space flight, and dinosaurs to diamonds. Explore the universe, all in one place.

 

Instagram feed

For the first time in history, a foreign regiment will take part in the iconic Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace. To mark the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Entente Cordiale between Britain and France on the 8th of April 1908, the French armed services have been invited to attend the ceremony alongside British troops from the Household Division on Monday. Today, the French gendarmes were practising the march from Wellington Barracks. I never thought I’d see the French tricolour flag flying outside Buckingham Palace! #toursbygrace #royal #london #toursbygrace #tourguide #tours #tourguidelife #travelinspiration #bluebadge #bluebagdeguide #britishgenius #buckinghampalace #france #changingoftheguard
St James’s Park in Westminster - one of the loveliest parks in London. But something in this picture is not as it seems… Situated between Buckingham Palace and Downing Street, St James’s Park is picture-perfect, especially the cha
St James’s Park in Westminster - one of the loveliest parks in London. But something in this picture is not as it seems… Situated between Buckingham Palace and Downing Street, St James’s Park is picture-perfect, especially the charming lake at its centre, where pelicans often pose for photos on the rocks at the eastern end. You can see those rocks in the photo, next to the picturesque park-keeper’s cottage. But there’s some stony subterfuge going on here - those aren’t rocks. They are in fact made of something called Pulhamite, a realistic fake rock created by James Pulham in the 19th century. It was all the rage in England for decades, with many stately home owners commissioning fake stone grottoes, rockeries, and waterfalls for their gardens - and Queen Victoria was no exception. She had Pulhamite formations installed in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, and here in the lake of St James’s Park. So next time you visit an English garden, beware - any rocks you see may not be what they seem! #toursbygrace #riverthames #london #toursbygrace #tourguide #England #tours #tourguidelife #travelinspiration #bluebadge #bluebagdeguide #britishgenius #westminster #stjames #buckinghampalace #gardening
I know I’ve posted about Flaming June before, but there is some exciting news - for the first time in 125 years, she is back at the Royal Academy in London! Usually the painting is held at an art museum in Puerto Rico, so if you’d like to
I know I’ve posted about Flaming June before, but there is some exciting news - for the first time in 125 years, she is back at the Royal Academy in London! Usually the painting is held at an art museum in Puerto Rico, so if you’d like to see it here in her home city, now is the chance! I also can’t emphasise quite how much more beautiful and richly-coloured the painting is in person. Having only ever seen it reproduced in print and online, I was stunned by how vivid the colours and details are in the flesh. #toursbygrace #riverthames #london #toursbygrace #tourguide #art #tours #tourguidelife #travelinspiration #bluebadge #bluebagdeguide #britishgenius #royalacademy #flamingjune #arthistory #frederickleighton
Yesterday I visited one of my favourite little museums in London - the home of Dr Samuel Johnson, on Gough Place near Fleet Street. Samuel Johnson wrote the first definitive dictionary of the English language in 1755, while living in this house. He
Yesterday I visited one of my favourite little museums in London - the home of Dr Samuel Johnson, on Gough Place near Fleet Street. Samuel Johnson wrote the first definitive dictionary of the English language in 1755, while living in this house. He also coined the famous phrase, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”. The house is a charming 17th-century building with lots of period features, and inside you can see early editions of Johnson’s dictionary, as well as two facsimiles to leaf through. They also have a selection of lovely 18th-century costumes for you to try on! #london #toursbygrace #tourguide #England #tours #tourguidelife #travelinspiration #bluebadge #bluebagdeguide #britishgenius #royalty #dictionary
Happy International Women’s Day! Throwback to a couple of years ago when I was helping out at @sheltercharity #internationalwomensday #women #womensrights #rosietheriveter
Happy International Women’s Day! Throwback to a couple of years ago when I was helping out at @sheltercharity #internationalwomensday #women #womensrights #rosietheriveter
On This Day... 8th March 1859, Kenneth Grahame was born. He went on to write one of my favourite children’s books, The Wind in the Willows, which follows the adventures of Mole, Rat, Badger, and of course the irrepressible Mr Toad. With its be
On This Day... 8th March 1859, Kenneth Grahame was born. He went on to write one of my favourite children’s books, The Wind in the Willows, which follows the adventures of Mole, Rat, Badger, and of course the irrepressible Mr Toad. With its beautiful descriptions of the English countryside and sense of mischief and wonder, The Wind in the Willows has captured the hearts of generations of children. #toursbygrace #riverthames #london #toursbygrace #tourguide #England #tours #tourguidelife #travelinspiration #bluebadge #bluebagdeguide #britishgenius #literature #kennethgrahame #thewindinthewillows
Collecting clients this morning from the beautiful Dorchester hotel. With its pink and eau-de-nil colour scheme and gilded details, this is one of London’s most elegant hotels, and is also home to the newly-renovated Vesper bar, perfect for la
Collecting clients this morning from the beautiful Dorchester hotel. With its pink and eau-de-nil colour scheme and gilded details, this is one of London’s most elegant hotels, and is also home to the newly-renovated Vesper bar, perfect for late-night cocktails. Which would have delighted Prince Philip, who had his raucous stag do (bachelor party) at the Dorchester the night before his wedding to Queen Elizabeth II. #toursbygrace #riverthames #london #toursbygrace #tourguide #England #tours #tourguidelife #travelinspiration #bluebadge #bluebagdeguide #britishgenius #hotel #dorchester
One of the most important features of London is its river - the mighty Thames. At 215 miles/346 km long, it is the United Kingdom’s second-longest river, and for millennia it has connected London to the rest of England, and, via the ocean, to t
One of the most important features of London is its river - the mighty Thames. At 215 miles/346 km long, it is the United Kingdom’s second-longest river, and for millennia it has connected London to the rest of England, and, via the ocean, to the rest of the world. It is so important to the city’s history that it even has a deity - Old Father Thames - who personifies the river. This magnificent statue of the river god graces the front of the old Port of London Authority building beside the Tower of London, that now houses the Four Seasons hotel. If you’d like to hear more stories of London’s gods and goddesses, I heartily recommend the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch! #toursbygrace #riverthames #london #toursbygrace #tourguide #England #tours #tourguidelife #travelinspiration #bluebadge #bluebagdeguide #britishgenius #riversoflondon #thames #oldfatherthames
Happy Leap Year!
Happy Leap Year!
For the first time in history, a foreign regiment will take part in the iconic Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace. To mark the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Entente Cordiale between Britain and France on the 8th of April 1
St James’s Park in Westminster - one of the loveliest parks in London. But something in this picture is not as it seems… Situated between Buckingham Palace and Downing Street, St James’s Park is picture-perfect, especially the cha I know I’ve posted about Flaming June before, but there is some exciting news - for the first time in 125 years, she is back at the Royal Academy in London! Usually the painting is held at an art museum in Puerto Rico, so if you’d like to Yesterday I visited one of my favourite little museums in London - the home of Dr Samuel Johnson, on Gough Place near Fleet Street. Samuel Johnson wrote the first definitive dictionary of the English language in 1755, while living in this house. He Happy International Women’s Day! Throwback to a couple of years ago when I was helping out at @sheltercharity #internationalwomensday #women #womensrights #rosietheriveter On This Day... 8th March 1859, Kenneth Grahame was born. He went on to write one of my favourite children’s books, The Wind in the Willows, which follows the adventures of Mole, Rat, Badger, and of course the irrepressible Mr Toad. With its be Collecting clients this morning from the beautiful Dorchester hotel. With its pink and eau-de-nil colour scheme and gilded details, this is one of London’s most elegant hotels, and is also home to the newly-renovated Vesper bar, perfect for la One of the most important features of London is its river - the mighty Thames. At 215 miles/346 km long, it is the United Kingdom’s second-longest river, and for millennia it has connected London to the rest of England, and, via the ocean, to t Happy Leap Year!

Blog

Featured
G is for… Galleries
G is for… Galleries

London has a world-class art scene, from the ancient to the modern, punk to kitsch, history paintings to immersive artworks, and everything in between.

As well as the pieces themselves, the galleries in which they are shown are some of the most beautiful in the world, and in this edition of my A to Z of London, we are exploring the letter G, for Galleries.

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F is for… Fire
F is for… Fire

London is many things: ancient, modern, beautiful, bustling, cultured, fascinating… and flammable. The nation’s capital city has suffered many fires since its founding by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago, and in this part of my A to Z of London, we are going to take a look at some of the most famous and disastrous.

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E is for… Executions
E is for… Executions

One of the parts of our history that I get asked about most often is also one of the darkest: the many executions that have taken place in London through the centuries. Until 1998, the United Kingdom had the death penalty (although the last state execution actually happened in August 1964); this means that, over the years, many hundreds if not thousands of people lost their lives in Britain to the hangman’s noose, the headsman’s axe, or, occasionally, more brutal methods such as being burned or boiled alive.

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D is for… Drink
D is for… Drink

For good or ill, we Brits have an international reputation for liking a drink or two, particularly in that quintessentially British institution, the pub. For this edition of the blog, I’m going to take a look at some of the drinks that we love, and some of the best places in London to sample them.

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