This post is a compilation of self-guided tours of London, including self-guided food and theme tours, such as Harry Potter film locations.
We've broken up these tours into a few categories.
- Neighbourhood
- Themed Tours
- Food Tours
- Bus Tours
- GPS-Guided Audio Tours
- Other Free Things to Do in London
And if you are considering a London hop-on-hop-off bus tour, then these self-guided tours will come in handy when you are off the bus. Read our reviews of the best London bus tours.
For more ways to save money, check out our London on a Budget Guide.
Self-Guided Neighbourhood Walking Tours
Though we love showing guests around London, we realize that not everyone has the time to take a guided walking tour.
If our tour schedule doesn't work for you, or if you would rather explore on your own, then take advantage of our totally free self-guided tours!
Self-Guided City of London Tour
This tour takes you through Old London. Classic sites include St Paul's Cathedral, London Bridge, the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge.
You can even watch a condensed virtual version of this tour right now.
Click on the map to enlarge it or download it to a smartphone
We also have a GPS-enabled audio tour version (sample below) and a pay-what-you-wish live guided tour option.
Royal London Self-Guided Walking Tour
You can't leave London without seeing many of the sites included in this list.
Some of our favorites are Buckingham Palace, St. James' Palace, Big Ben, Parliament, and Trafalgar Square.
Click on the map to enlarge it or download it to a smartphone.
We also offer a pay-what-you-like live-guided Royal London Tour option as well as a GPS-enabled audio tour version.
Camden Town
Once known as the Rock n' Roll capital of the world, Camden Town is now a popular tourist destination offering many great things to do.
Click on the map to enlarge it or download it to a smartphone.
This is a self-guided tour to show the visitor some of the many interesting things to see in Camden Town London.
Piccadilly and St. James Walking Tour
One of the most popular touristic areas located in London's West End, this self-guided tour will cover places like Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.
Click on the map to enlarge it or download it to a smartphone.
We also offer two guided walks that correspond to this self-guided tour, our guided tour of Soho and our Rock N Roll London Tour.
River Thames Self-Guided Walking Tour
The best tour for photography enthusiasts!
This picturesque tour takes you along the River Thames to see sites such as the Millennium Bridge, London Eye, and Shakespeare Globe Theatre.
Click on the map to enlarge it or download it to a smartphone.
This tour is a great option for an evening walk. In fact, we offer this as a guided tour, usually from April through October.
And check out our audio tour version. Here's a sample.
Be sure to check out our guide to things to do at night in London for even more ideas for nighttime activities.
Self-Guided Royal Borough of Greenwich Walking Tour
Enjoy a leisurely walk through this posh neighborhood that will take you to sites like Greenwich Park, the Queen's House, and the Trafalgar.
Click on the map to enlarge it or download it to a smartphone.
A great way to get to Greenwich is by boat cruise.
And check out our audio tour version. Here's a sample.
Hyde Park and Kensington Walking Tour
This will take you through beautiful Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, past a posh royal palace and picturesque art galleries and museums.
SELF-GUIDED THEMED TOURS
In this section, we list several tours based on individuals, bands, movies, or ghosts.
Harry Potter Self-Guided Walking Tour
Dive into the magical world of Harry Potter!
This particular tour will focus on film sites in the northern part of London, such as Leadenhall, Australia House, Platform 9 3/4 as well as many other famous sights.
Click on the map to enlarge or download to a smartphone
We also offer a guided Harry Potter Tour as well as a GPS-enabled audio tour version.
Guide to Beatles in London
Although John, Paul, George, and Ringo hailed from Liverpool, there are plenty of London landmarks for Beatles-lovers to get their fix.
From recording studios to concert venues, shops to roof-top performances, London is filled with hot-spots for fans of the Fab Four.
Click on the map to enlarge or download to a smartphone
There are many guided tours of Beatles sites with live tour guides and other fans. We offer a twice-weekly Rock N Roll London guided tour.
We also have a post on how to get to the Abbey Road Crosswalk.
Self-Guided Walking Tour of Jack the Ripper Sites
Try your hand at solving one of the most famous unsolved murder cases in history.
Our Jack the Ripper tour guides you through the area of London where the felon committed his most notorious crimes.
Click on the map to enlarge or download to a smartphone
We've even included a photo from that era to give you a sense of how the city looked.
We also offer a live-guided option for Jack the Ripper as well as a GPS-enabled audio tour version.
Downton Abbey London Sights
Downton Abbey exploded onto our screens in 2010 and people from all over the world watched the lives and exploits of the Crowley Family and all the characters surrounding them.
Although Downton Abbey has finished airing, it’s still as popular as ever.
For visitors who have traveled to the U.K. hoping to see some Downton Abbey locations and inspirations, here is our helpful guide to London’s Downton Abbey connections!
Roman London Walking Tour
Get a better sense of just how powerful the Roman Empire once was with this tour.
Sites include the Temple of Mithras and a piece of the Roman Wall, which dates back 2,000 years.
James Bond Tour
Use your feet and the London Underground to visit sights related to James Bond in London.
Literary Walking Tour - Hampstead Heath
Hampstead was the birthplace of big names in the literary industry.
Hampstead is considered one of the more beautiful London boroughs and it is full of places for true literature lovers to explore.
Jimi Hendrix Sights
London was an important city for this American rock legend. We offer a twice-weekly Rock N Roll London guided tour.
David Bowie Sights
Born in London, David Bowie left an indelible mark on this city. We offer a twice-weekly Rock N Roll London guided tour.
London Ghost Tour
Only for those bold enough to take a ghost tour on their own! Want some company? Join us for a guided ghost tour of London.
Wizards of London Game
This self-guided exploration game puts you in the shoes of a wizard to solve a mystery while discovering some of the most notable sites in the city.
Haunted London Game
Discover the more frightening side of London's history as you attempt to solve a mystery during this haunted self-guided exploration game.
Queen: The Quest Must Go On Game
Fans of the band Queen may want to consider taking part in this self-guided exploration game which will task them with solving a mystery based on their music.
Get a taste of London with our free self-guided food tour:
East London Food Tour
It is possible to eat from any of the world’s cuisines when you are in the East End of London, but here is a small DIY tour that will have you sampling some of the best the East End has to offer those with a hunger for delicious food.
Be sure to check out our pay-what-you-wish tour guide led version (watch video above).
Soho, Chinatown, and Piccadilly Food Tour
Explore culturally and culinarily diverse neighborhoods of Soho, Chinatown, and Piccadilly.
We've curated a list of the best restaurants in the area to give you a real taste of London!
Exmouth Market Food Tour
Venture out to Exmouth Market, the “real” London that's tucked just far enough away from other touristy parts with the best street food that London has to offer.
Covent Garden Food Tour
Try out the culinary delights in one of London's liveliest neighborhoods in the West End.
Borough Market
Discover the best eats you can find in Borough Market and get some ideas for what types of food you might want to get here.
