Insider Insights: Our Favourite London Walks Tours and VIP Experiences

In episode 85 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast, hosts Tracy and Doug Collins share their experiences of Walks Tours in London. 

They delve into the special access and insider experiences the tours provide, highlighting their favourite moments from the Tower of London, including the Opening Ceremony and the Ceremony of the Keys. 

They also discuss their tours of Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, emphasizing the value of having knowledgeable guides and the unforgettable memories created during these experiences. 

Join them as they reminisce about these incredible adventures and provide tips for anyone interested in similar tours. If you're considering UK travel planning, this episode is a must-listen!

Show notes - Episode 85

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:03

Welcome to the UK Travel Planning Podcast. Your host is the founder of the UK Travel Planning website, tracey Collins. In this podcast, tracey shares destination guides, travel tips and itinerary ideas, as well as interviews with a variety of guests who share their knowledge and experience of UK travel to help you plan your perfect UK vacation. Join us as we explore the UK from cosmopolitan cities to quaint villages, from historic castles to beautiful islands, and from the picturesque countryside to seaside towns.

Speaker 2: 0:42

Hi and welcome to episode 85 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast. This week I'm here with Doug Hello to chat about our experiences of walks tours in London. So now this follows on with the last week's episode where I chatted to Walks Ground Operation Manager in London, charlie Bennett, which was a fabulous episode, and if you haven't managed to catch up with that, I highly recommend you go back to episode 84 and take a listen to that. We have had some fabulous times on walks tours in London, so I kind of wanted to talk about those experiences in this episode, and Doug has joined me on some of those, haven't you?

Speaker 3: 1:20

Yeah, I have that's right.

Speaker 2: 1:21

Yeah, and I know if you've listened to episode 54 of the podcast which I recorded last year after I'd spent some time in London. I talk about my top 10 experiences in London, over Canada I think it was sort of May-June time last year, and walks tours featured heavily in my favorite experiences. So this episode we thought we would talk about why we enjoy walks tours and what it is that we particularly like about them, and also just our experiences of the tours themselves, really. So we're going to be talking about a number of tours that we've taken. I will say that we have been guests of walks for these tours, but our views and opinions are completely our own. So what is it that we like about walks tours? So basically, for me it's the fact that you get privileged VIP access to some events, don't you? For example, the ceremony, the keys.

Speaker 3: 2:13

Yeah, that's right, and the size of the groups are important, aren't they?

Speaker 2: 2:16

Yeah, that's for sure. Yeah, the small groups, so I think maximum of 20. We've been in smaller groups when we've done some tours as well.

Speaker 3: 2:24

And what I really enjoy is the guard takes the time to introduce themselves properly to the group before you walk straight off. Very quickly introduce yourself to the other members of the party as well, which is important.

Speaker 2: 2:36

Yeah, that's true, yes, and we find that the guides are passionate, they're knowledgeable, they're friendly and they're engaging storytellers, which is what you remember, because you know we can all go on tours where we just get endless historical fact after fact after fact, but how much of that do you actually remember afterwards? Is you know, probably of a mute point?

Speaker 3: 2:54

because probably not a whole lot that's right, and the way that they can sort of engage on a personal level, which was, I find, it astounding for every one of the guys that we've had.

Speaker 2: 3:04

Yeah, absolutely so. Yeah, I mean really the ability as well to skip the queue, escape the crowd. So you know I've taken tours before. Well, the Tower of London. I guess opening ceremony is a kind of obvious one, because you actually are in the Tower of London as it's open, so you're in there before anybody else.

Speaker 3: 3:23

That's right and it's really important because the people think I know where I want to go. I know a little bit about this but and it felt following every single stage but there's one eye on those crown jewels and that and that queue outside yes, that's absolutely true, and if you're there for the opening ceremony, you're obviously in there before everybody else.

Speaker 2: 3:41

I remember doing a tour of Westminster Abbey last year and we could skip the queue, so we went in via a side entrance and therefore we didn't have to stand in the huge long queue, which which you can get over the summer months and over public holidays and over, obviously, christmas time, where it gets incredibly busy in London. So I don't want to really spend my vacation standing in line. It's not something that I really want to do with my time. So should we talk about some of our favorite tours that we've had with Walks? So I guess, I guess really, we should probably start with the Tower of London, because I say it's like my enthusiasm for how much I absolutely love the ceremony of the keys is it's starting to become a bit legendary, I think but anyway let's talk about the opening ceremony.

Speaker 2: 4:23

So both myself and Doug have taken the open ceremony tour, which has been. It's really interesting as in to be in the Tower of London at that time.

Speaker 3: 4:32

It is. It's a privilege things about, I think, getting there so early as well. You know there's so much, there's something for everybody at the Tower of London and to be there. What a lovely summer's day it wasn't it. Yes, it was and so, already said, you meet everybody else in the party as well, and you're walking through there when it's quiet and empty and and everybody else is looking at you going.

Speaker 2: 4:52

How are they going in?

Speaker 3: 4:53

the Tower of.

Speaker 2: 4:53

London. So you go in the Tower of London and you actually get to witness the opening ceremony, which is as it sounds, is that getting the keys and actually unlocking the Tower of London and letting everybody else in? So you get to see that ceremony. You can take pictures of that and I have got pictures and videos of that ceremony. I actually have got an article which I wrote about our experiences of that, that particular tour.

Speaker 2: 5:16

And then after that, because you're in first, you get in before the crowds and you know there's thousands of people at the Tower of London. You go as a saint to see the Crown Jewels before anybody else. So you get to. And I was joking with Charlie actually last week is that we went on the travel later a couple of times because you're on a move and walk, we're past the Crown Jewels and because we're there with before anybody else, we could go round and round, which a lot of us did, went round and round and had a really good look at these amazing jewels and the the crowd when we came out queuing up to see the Crown Jewels was incredible.

Speaker 2: 5:49

Yeah, it was already starting to get long. So it's. You know people want to see the Crown Jewels and so the fact that you are in there, you've already seen this amazing ceremony. You've had some time to chat to a human order and then you go and see the Crown Jewels and then afterwards your tour guide will will take you on a tour of the Tower of London, so you get to learn a little bit about the Tower of London. You can't see everything, so the advantage is actually at the end of the tour which I think was about 11, 11 ish you finish, um, you stay in the Tower of London so you can explore more, because we didn't go into the white Tower during that tour. But you basically can stay in the Tower of London and explore your heart's content. But you've obviously had, if they're opening a ceremony, you've seen the Crown Jewels and you've had the guided tour.

Speaker 3: 6:31

It's actually so much to say and so much to take in, but the knowledge of the the Yoma Waters is astounding as well.

Speaker 2: 6:38

Oh, absolutely well, they've got a Paso kind of exam don't they? And, and obviously the tour guides as well, they know this stuff, so that's really good, um, and then, I guess. So that's the opening ceremony, which is very special, and then, obviously my favorite is the ceremony of the keys, which I've now done twice, and Doug was lucky enough before Christmas to help the join me on a tour as well.

Speaker 3: 6:56

That's right. I thoroughly enjoyed that it's such contrast, and to be there on a separate occasion for the opening and then a separate occasion for the closing was very special.

Speaker 2: 7:06

It is and you've really feel that you're taken part in a historic event, which it is. It happened to, I think so, at 700 years now. Every single night that ceremony takes place. As it is now that ceremony. You cannot take photos, you cannot take video, but you go into the Tower of London around about 830ish, I think it was, and I know you meet at 830 and then you meet your Yeoman awardor, who is a different Yeoman awardor each time. So I mean I've had been twice and had two Yeoman awardors. I'd like to go, as I was saying, charlie, last week, I'd like to go enough times that I can meet all of them, because they're fascinating to talk to and they're very different, obviously got very different backgrounds and they've got very different personalities and they all have to learn a huge amount of information about the Tower of London. But it's just the fact that you can spend that time just talking to them, asking questions.

Speaker 3: 7:53

That's right, and you can see it's something special to them as well. You can see that it's. They say there's a privilege to be part of that ceremony themselves.

Speaker 2: 8:02

Oh, absolutely 100%. And and just the fact, you know, I think it was only about 10 or 11 of us before Christmas on the show it was very small. So can you imagine you've got an hour and a half with a Yeoman awardor to ask them about their life in the Tower of London so you can ask them about the history. But you know what it was. Things like finding out that the Yeoman awardor that we had is Pete and he owns the new kitten that is at the Tower of London. So he was telling us all these stories about the kitten and she'd got locked in a tower and they had to find her and yeah, she's been a bit naughty, I think, and so it was just really interesting to find out about that and about the pub and just like just their normal life of living. Can you imagine living in the Tower of London? Well, these guys do, with their families.

Speaker 3: 8:44

That's right with the families. That was, that's the important thing. Who is sharing his story as well? Yeah, it's just incredible.

Speaker 2: 8:52

It was. It's just, it's brilliant to learn about that. So you know you're learning about the past history, but you're listening, learning about what's what this living history is, what is happening there today, and then you get to actually see this amazing ceremony. So obviously the Yeoman awardor talks you through what you're going to see so you understand it.

Speaker 3: 9:08

That's right, and I have to say the hairs on the back of my neck still. You know doing the, you know the back of the keys and the the challenges.

Speaker 2: 9:17

Yes, yes, yes. Well, we can't tell you too much.

Speaker 3: 9:20

No, we can't tell you too much.

Speaker 2: 9:21

But yes, what you see it's, it's fantastic. And this is really a VIP too. You know you are in there with the Yeoman awardor. So I went in the summer where it was daylight, it was light, and I also went in the winter where it was dark and it was very atmospheric, I have to say, to be in the the grounds of Tower London with not very many other people, it's a real privilege.

Speaker 2: 9:45

That's right, yeah and it's completely different to experience of going during the day. So now, if you do the ceremony of the keys, it's different in that you don't get to a tour of the Tower of London itself. So I do recommend that, if people want to want to do the ceremony of the keys, that they also consider just getting a ticket and going in the Tower of London during the day as well, so they get that experience. But the ceremony of the keys is something, believe me, that you'll never forget. It really is historic your name gets written in a book.

Speaker 3: 10:13

You are part of history.

Speaker 2: 10:14

Yeah, you are part of history. This is just a fantastic experience that you can give yourself and your family. And you know I just love it. I know I can talk about it for ages because for me there were so many special moments to it. But you know, I was really proud of Brittany, I was proud of the history, proud of being part of it and just listening to it. And Pete Yeoman award for Christmas was from the same part of the world as me, so that was really nice as well, talking to him. So really I can't just really kind of just say how much I just loved it.

Speaker 3: 10:45

No, I don't think we could undersell it, it was just fantastic.

Speaker 2: 10:48

So that's the Tower of London, and then some other tours that we've done have involved Westminster Abbey and also the House of Parliament. So Doug and I did the Westminster Abbey with the House of Parliament, so we did that in 2023, 2022. Actually, we did that one. Yeah, that was in about June-July time. So, again, that's a fantastic tour to do, isn't it?

Speaker 3: 11:12

It really is. It was again part of history. I mean, we know the Westminster Abbey, we know a little bit about it. I thought I knew a little bit about it, obviously not very much. And then the House of Parliament, which is obviously being British, is part of our life as well. And to actually walk in and walk through where you know so many great people have been.

Speaker 2: 11:34

Yeah, absolutely so. Think about the first part, that you have the tour guide that takes you around Westminster Abbey and explains a lot of the history, because there is so much at Westminster Abbey. I mean, I've been on a few tours in Westminster Abbey and I learned something new every single time that I go. And after that tour you get taken over to the House of Parliament and then handed over to a tour guide from the House of Parliament, so they actually give you the official tour, unlike Doug Sayon, you know, actually standing in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. It was quite incredible.

Speaker 3: 12:08

It was, and the knowledge that both separate tour guides had is just astounding. I wish I'd read a little bit more about Westminster. I'll be honest, I wish I read up a little bit more to expect when I was there.

Speaker 2: 12:23

That was in the Abbey.

Speaker 3: 12:25

That's right. And then for the House of Parliament. There's so much about it. You've seen on TV anything, oh yes, I've seen that and I recognise it. The different benches and the different colours, the different colours.

Speaker 2: 12:39

Yeah, like you can't sit on the seats, I'd say that you can sit on the seats and pretend that you're an MP or Prime Minister. You're not allowed to do that.

Speaker 3: 12:46

You just feel history in both the Abbey and the houses. You just feel part of history.

Speaker 2: 12:51

Yeah, absolutely, and I did a Westminster Abbey to last summer and again, that was interesting. So skip the line. So it was brilliant. So we got in early, I had the guide take us around Westminster Abbey and, as I say, there's so much to Westminster Abbey I really you really need a guide. I highly recommend, if you go to Westminster Abbey, that you have a guide, that you take a tour, because you will learn far, far more.

Speaker 2: 13:15

So much there to see, so much there to learn about. You know, for example, poets Corner just looking at all the gravestones on the ground, do you want to see who's there or who's being recognised there, the Jubilee Gallery. So the tour that I did last year was Westman's Abbey with the Jubilee Gallery. So access to Jubilee Galleries is via Poets Corner, so you can go upstairs or you can take lift up. But we again had the guide who was able to explain. You know, give us some time to have a look around the Jubilee Galleries, but answer all questions again and explain to us the importance of a lot of the artefacts that are actually up in that gallery. Now, you'll not like to take photos up there, we'll see.

Speaker 3: 13:58

That's right, and it's one thing that impressed me with the Westman's Abbey part was the fine balance that the tour guide had between time to explain and walk and also time for you to be able to explore.

Speaker 2: 14:11

Yeah, absolutely, and I think that that is important, and also because the questions that you come up with is why you think, oh, I didn't know that or I want to know that and you know things that you don't think about. And also I remember seeing there's a couple of things, just seeing the coronation chair after the coronation. It was because it was in June, so the chair was back there. And obviously the year before, when Doug and I had been, the coronation chair was there. But just knowing that there's graffiti on the coronation chair and stuff like that, it's quite interesting.

Speaker 3: 14:37

That's right, it really was. One other point I'd like to add about the tour guide was how easy it was to ask questions because the tour guide was amongst us. So when we were walking, I was happy to talk to everyone. You know, because not everybody wants to ask questions in front of the group.

Speaker 2: 14:55

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3: 14:56

So he was amongst us when we were looking around on our own. So he was actually coming over to individual people and just saying you know how are you going and where you're from, and you know that sort of thing, any questions, because it's sometimes easy to ask questions on your own. Yeah, that's true.

Speaker 2: 15:13

That's true, yeah, so, so that's really good, so so that they're both really good. So whether if you've got, if you haven't got an interest in the House of Parliament, then obviously just doing something like the Westminster Abbey with the Jubilee Galleries, I'd highly recommend including that you can do that If you have got an interest in the House of Parliament. We were actually talking before this recording saying actually there were quite a lot of British people in that tour as well who did Westminster Abbey and then wanted to go over to the House of Parliament to kind of learn a little bit about the Parliament and seeing the House of Commons, and I was a lot of oh, yes, and also, yeah, the Great Hall. So yeah, it's a great way to immerse yourself in history. I always recommend anyway that you know. Having a guide just gives you so much more information and knowledge, but also can share stories that you wouldn't necessarily get if you use it Headphones. I'm not a great fan of having those headphones when you go around places.

Speaker 3: 16:12

Just totally enhances your whole experience by being part of the group.

Speaker 2: 16:16

Yeah, and I think so. And the thing is, you know, what walks the livers on them?

Speaker 3: 16:18

Yeah, they do 100%.

Speaker 2: 16:20

And you know, those are the things that leave you with memories. And actually a friend of mine came on the Walkster for the summary of the keys last June and Terry is still talking about that tour. She's talking to all the friends about that tour because you know, and she wasn't aware about that ceremony and absolutely loved it, absolutely loved it. This is the sort of thing that you look back on in years past after a trip, after a vacation and go. You know those are things that you remember, those are the special moments and so you know that is what we enjoy doing. So that is why this week I kind of wanted to follow up with interview with Charlie last week to just kind of say that these are the things that we enjoy, we will remember. You know, standout moment for me is always going to be the summary of the keys and actually the privilege of going into the chapel with the human order and just spending time in the chapel. I'll never, ever forget that. And what about you?

Speaker 3: 17:14

I just find it mind blowing that you're part of a ceremony that's been going on for so many hundreds of years.

Speaker 2: 17:20

Yeah, yeah, and also I guess, like we've just mentioned, the Great Hall at Westminster, because we were there a few months before the Queen passed away and obviously you know she was laid in state there, so we were able to kind of, you know, we remembered that we'd been there and it just, it just meant such a lot because we weren't in the country after she passed away, so it was just really touching that we could kind of remember would actually stood in that hall.

Speaker 3: 17:43

And we could relate to. When you saw the pictures and the videos on the news broadcast, you know we were in that hall. We can sort of visualize.

Speaker 2: 17:51

Absolutely so. Yeah, so I will put links to the Walks Chairs in this week's show notes. So if you're interested in a book, and do pop over to the show notes, which will be at uktravelplanetcom, forward, slash episode 85. And then you can use those links to book any of the tours and I will definitely 100% recommend Walks.

Speaker 2: 18:11

Absolutely so, really, I guess that just needs me to say for this week, you know, continue to listen to the podcast, continue with your UK travel planning. Check out the websites UK travel planning and London travel planning for lots of resources.

Speaker 3: 18:25

So yeah, happy UK travel planning.

Speaker 2: 18:26

Yeah, and also for me. As always, we end the podcast with the words happy UK travel planning.