Free tours in London in Spanish: which ones exist and how to choose

The Spanish-language free tours in London cover eight clearly different themes. The classic walks past Big Ben, Buckingham and the Royal Guards, with the history of kings and ceremonies. A second, shorter walk focuses only on Westminster, the political and historic centre, and lasts about 90 minutes. Another goes down to the banks of the Thames to tell the story of the oldest London, from its origins. In the evening there is a night walk through the lit-up West End, and a Harry Potter walk that follows, in that same area, the corners that recall the wizard's world.

The last themes leave the centre. Camden Town brings together the market, the music and the pubs, and exists in a Spanish-only version of an hour and a half. Brixton shows the Caribbean district, its markets and the less touristy side of the city. Add to these a walk through the historic centre, from Westminster to the Abbey, the Second World War and Churchill, which is bilingual English and Spanish.

First visit and short on time: pick the classic of Big Ben, Buckingham and the Royal Guards. It gives you the postcard image and the history of the monarchy in a single walk. If that day you would rather have something shorter and focused on political power, the essential Westminster walk does the job in about 90 minutes.

If you are travelling with Harry Potter fans, the West End walk is the right one: it is not a studio visit, but a stroll through streets and corners that recall the universe of the books. If night is your thing, the evening walk shows a different London with its streets and monuments lit up. And if you have already done the usual or want something less touristy, aim for Camden and Brixton, which take you out of the centre.

Several walks are listed as English and Spanish, among them the classic, Westminster, Brixton and the historic centre one. That means the guide can run it in both languages, not that every slot runs in Spanish. Each time slot has its own language and the difference shows: a group in English with the odd translation is not the same as one guided entirely in Spanish.

When you book, look at the language of the exact slot you choose and, if in doubt, check it against the booking details. The Spanish-only ones, such as the Camden one in its Spanish-only version, the night walk, the Harry Potter one or the Thames one, do not have this problem. If two options fit you by theme, break the tie with the guaranteed language.

With three days, a sensible order is this. On day one, the classic of Big Ben, Buckingham and the Royal Guards, which places you in the centre. On day two, the Thames walk or the historic centre one, to understand the city from the river. On day three, a neighbourhood of your choice: Camden if you like markets and music, Brixton if you want something less touristy.

If you have a fourth day, keep it for the night walk or for Harry Potter. The night walk through the West End works well at the end of the day, when you already know the area by daylight, and the Harry Potter one pairs with a relaxed afternoon. A useful rule: do not put two walks from distant areas on the same day, because London is big and getting around by Tube or bus takes time.

Booking a free tour has no fixed price on the website: you pay at the end, according to what you thought of it. As a contribution to the guide, the usual reference is £13 to £18 per person. It is not a fixed price, but it is not a token gesture either: it is what the guide earns for the work, and the contribution is per person, not per group.

To book, choose the theme, the date and the slot in the language you need, say how many of you there are and keep the confirmation, which includes the meeting point. Arrive with ten minutes to spare. Bring some pounds to leave the contribution, or ask the guide whether they accept mobile payment.

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham is not daily and has no schedule that holds all year. If you want to see it, check the official calendar of the ceremony before deciding on the day, and do not assume the classic walk coincides with it. The walk tells you the history even on a day with no ceremony.

Other useful details. In winter it gets dark early, so the night walk starts earlier: confirm the exact time when you book. The walks are outdoors, so bring an umbrella or a waterproof, which in London is never wasted. And allow for travel time between areas: from Westminster to Camden or to Brixton you need to count on the Tube or a bus.