Free tours in London

London is discovered area by area, never in one push. The historic centre is concentrated in Westminster, by Big Ben, the abbey and Buckingham Palace, and from there the distances shoot up: reaching Camden or Brixton on foot means pairing the walk with the Tube or a bus. That is why a free walking tour works well here, because it makes sense of one specific neighbourhood in two hours or two and a half and leaves you placed to carry on by yourself. The city changes a lot from one area to another, so it is worth choosing your walk by theme: the official London of the Royal Guards has nothing to do with the Camden pubs or the lanes of East London.

Start with Westminster if it is your first time: the classic free tour ties together Big Ben, Parliament Square, Trafalgar Square and the changing of the guard in front of Buckingham. Camden Town is the other side of the coin, with its market, the live music and the canalside pubs, and there are walks that climb from Camden up to Primrose Hill for the city skyline from the park. If you want the less touristy London, Brixton reveals the Caribbean district and its covered market, while East London is walked by night in the footsteps of Jack the Ripper through Whitechapel and Spitalfields. Along the Thames there are routes that run from the Tower of London to Tower Bridge, telling the hidden history of the river.

The start is usually at very recognisable spots: the exit of Westminster Tube station, Camden Town station or the Brixton Tube entrance, and the guide tends to carry a sign or a coloured umbrella. The first rounds of the morning, around 10:00 or 11:00, are less crowded; the Jack the Ripper walks run after dark, which is when they gain their atmosphere. Book your place online at no charge and, at the end, you thank the guide with a voluntary contribution according to what you made of the tour. Bring comfortable shoes and something warm: the wind runs strong beside the Thames and the weather changes fast.