Lonely Planet Audio Walking Tours: The Royal Tour of London
Anna Lea Audio Book

A special audio walking tour where you can follow the footsteps of legendary kings and queens, discover the heart of Britain’s democracy and see the home of the Monarch.

In the company of Clare Corbett you will travel from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace and experience many must-see historical locations, along with some fascinating archive material.

The tour starts at Westminster Abbey, which is an important commemoration site for British royalty. As well as hosting royal weddings, every English sovereign has been crowned here since 1066 (with the exception of just two kings). From there you move on to the House of Commons and House of Lords, which are housed in the sumptuous Palace of Westminster and where you can see the iconic Clock Tower, commonly known as Big Ben.

Take a moment’s reflection at the Cenotaph (Greek for ‘empty tomb’) that commemorates the deaths of British servicemen in war before moving on to Number 10 Downing Street and one of the most famous front doors in the world. It’s been the official office of British leaders since 1732.

The Banqueting House is the only surviving part of the Tudor Whitehall Palace, and was designed by Inigo Jones. It features nine ceiling panels by Rubens and, although peaceful now, it was the scene of Charles I’s execution by Oliver Cromwell after the Civil War.

Next is Horse Guards Parade, where the Trooping of the Colour is staged on the Queen’s official birthday each year before heading on to the Mall. It was built by Charles II as a lawn for playing ‘paille-maille’, a popular lawn game. But did you know the ground beneath it is filled with tunnels?

The striking Tudor gatehouse of St James’s Palace was the official residence of kings and queens for more than three centuries. Princess Diana famously disliked this place, but she lived here before her divorce from Prince Charles.

The tour ends at the magisterial Buckingham Palace, the traditional home of the British monarch. So keep your eyes peeled and you might just catch a glimpse of a famous resident...