London: Historic City Walking Tour(& Rooftop Garden Access*)

London’s oldest streets reveal a city built in layers: a 2,000-year-old Roman settlement, medieval lanes, grand churches, modern finance towers, and the sharp glass peak of The Shard. This tour links those eras on foot, finishing near the Tower of London and, on Sundays and Mondays, above the city at the Garden at 120.

I like the route’s variety and the way it clears up the difference between London Bridge and Tower Bridge. I also like the human details, from Dickens at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese to the damaged walls of St. Clement Danes. The main drawback is pace: three hours is a lot of walking, and you will see many places from outside rather than entering them.

Key points to know before you book