The Old Palace Quarter

(14 customer reviews)

Green Park underground station, London (Green Park exit, by the fountain)

Guided by Claire or Jan or Karen or Peter

Walk Times

Day Walk Type Start Time End Time
Friday Weekly 2.30 pm 4.30 pm Winter Summer Reserve Online

Short read: “I’d put this one in the top three of the 59 different London Walks that I’m personally able to guide. It’s got everything I want in a walk” (David).

Long read: Okay, that’s the “opinion” – here’s what it’s based on. 1) It’s olde, vintage London. There are secret passageways that take you into the 16th-century. And the 18th-century is par for the course. It’s so well preserved it’s a miracle the whole neighbourhood hasn’t been sold off to a museum. 2) So, as you’d expect, visually it’s very appealing.

3) It’s storied. It’s storied because it’s full of character, full of characters, and marinated in history. 4) It’s nooked and crannied. Why is that important? “Well, maybe it’s just me, but I like to see things other people don’t get to see” (David again). 5) It’s got wonderful guides. Their names are Jan, Peter, Claire and Karen (winner of the big one –the Tourist Board’s Guide of the Year Award).

THE OLD PALACE QUARTER – PRACTICALS

The Old Palace Quarter walk takes place at 2.30 pm every* Friday. The meeting point is just outside the Green Park exit – by the fountain – of  Green Park Tube Stop. N.B. the walk ends at St. James’ Palace, a couple of minutes’ walk in the Park from Green Park Tube. Though putting it thus – “walk in the Park” – borders on lèse-majesté. Because it’s the most exclusive walk in the Park. It’s the Queen’s Walk – the royal promenade! *Not Dec. 25

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING

Don’t just take it from us…

LONDON WALKS REVIEWS

“The original and best – there are several companies offering walking tours of London but London Walks (London’s oldest) is easily the pick of the bunch”  London, Cadogan Guide

“award-winning London Walks are unrivalled for quality and range”  American in Britain Magazine

“Best Tourism Experience in London”  Gold Medal Winner, Visit London

“27th December 2.30 pm. Sunny afternoon. Jan led a wonderful tour which was easy to follow (in more ways than one), and full of historical and architectural facts. I’ve been on a few of these over the years and all have been well-researched, well-led and ideal for me and my three 20-something kids. We went to a walk the day before (Boxing Day) but the rainy weather was so horrendous that we bailed out 20 mins before it started. The ‘just turn up’ policy is ideal for such situations but I felt a bit guilty nevertheless. These walls take place whatever the weather.”  nigelw101, Lincolnshire UK, TripAdvisor, December 2019

LONDON WALKS PRIVATE WALKS

If you can’t make one of the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, public Old Palace Quarter walks do think about booking one as a private tour. If you go private you can have the Old Palace Quarter Walk – or any other London Walk – on a day and at a time that suits your convenience. We’ll tailor it to your requirements. And – always with private London Walks and tours – we go to great lengths to make sure the guide-walker(s) “fit” is well-nigh perfect. Ring Fiona or Peter or Niamh or Mary on 020 7624 3978 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll set it up and make it happen for you. A private London Walk – they’re good value for an individual or couple and sensational value for a group – makes an ideal group or educational or birthday party or office (team-building) or club outing.

GIVE THE GIFT OF LONDON WALKS

A private London Walk makes a fab present – be it a birthday or anniversary or get-to-know-your-new neighbourhood gift or Christmas present or whatever. Merchandise schmerchandise (gift wrapped or not) – but giving someone an experience, now that’s special. Memories make us rich.

LONDON WALKS SOUPÇON

“a world of clubby, oak-panelled rooms”

MIND THE GAP

It’s not even close

LONDON WALKS WILD CARD

You’ll see where God was killed.

LONDON WALKS – STREETS AHEAD!

Don’t just take it from us

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING

“If this were a golf tournament every name on the Leader Board would be a London Walks guide”

LONDON WALKS CODA

Want a racier description of the walk? Try this: if you’re prim and prudish better give this one a miss. Because this walk’s, well, juicy. This area’s 1660s Party Town. It’s the historical ‘Rock n’ Roll’ walk of the swinging 1660s and beyond. Real life ‘Game of Thrones’ stuff. Bedroom antics back then – and hey presto it’s Jon Snow the bastard today. Not to mention Samantha Cameron. So, yes, Hello Party Town! Welcome to Love Nests out West! The chapter headings are delicious and salacious – let alone dizzying, dazzling, sizzling, dumbfounding. Maiden Lepers. The Return of the King. Boots Washed in the Froth of the Finest Champagne. Duels in Pickering. Legover London & Mistresses off the Mall. Bowler Hats. Human Toilets. James Bond. Raindrops Keep Falling on My Bet. Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The Assassinated Racehorse. The American Bar Associations. The Man Who Laid Down His Wife for His Country. The Prime Minister and the Actress. ‘Well [Giggle] He Would, Wouldn’t He?’ And that’s just for starters.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

14 reviews for The Old Palace Quarter

  1. David Kennedy

    Claire was very friendly and informative, and clearly has a great love for London and its history. Her keen insight into the personalities and motivations of the people who shaped London’s home story and architecture, as well as her keen sense of humor, combined to make the walk a delightful experience!

  2. Nicole

    Claire was amazing and we were hooked immediately! An utterly enjoyable, educational, and lively way to learn about a part of London we weren’t familiar with before. If you have a chance to take this tour, grab it!

  3. Mark

    We did this tour with Richard III. He is so much fun and full of knowledge of the area. Very interesting walk. One of the better London Walks we have done & we have done quite a few.

  4. Judy Powell

    Wonderful walk. Peter very entertaining and informative. He brought out all the life that had gone on behind those imposing facades and in those shady courtyards. I’d recently been reading Antonia Fraser’s biography of K Charles II so very pleased to see the neighbourhoods where so many events took place, as well as the streets laid out by the King’s pals. And to get close to the glitterati of the 3 centuries after that. Fellow walkers a nice bunch too. A great way to spend an afternoon.

  5. Ian

    Took this walk with Claire on 2022-09-02 literally 2 hours after I landed in London for the first time and it was a wonderful intro to the area around where I was staying. Lots of little secrets and tidbits from someone who clearly knows the area well.

  6. Ruth Anders

    This is is just to say that Claire led a dozen of us on the above walk yesterday – my first London Was (despite living n London for almost all of my 75 years) and it was absolutely terrific. Claire was passionate, articulate, engaging and brought the whole thing to life brilliantly for us. What a fascinating two hours. Claire showed me little bits of London I had never visited and knew very little about. I will certainly come again. Thank you very much.
    Ruth Anders

  7. Janice Thomas

    I thought I knew London well until i took this walk. Places i never knew existed, amazing history, so well told by our guide. A must do

  8. Sara

    Claire was incredibly passionate and knowledgeable tour guide! Throughly enjoyed her insights on the tour and the surrounding area

  9. Susan Baron

    This walk was absolutely captivating, and I learned loads of fun facts about this fascinating of London. I would never have had the nerve to walk down some of the narrow passageways that were part of this wonderful walk. Two words: just go!

  10. Rebecca Bruce

    What a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours! As a Londoner I wasn’t expecting to be so surprised by a part of town I had never discovered. Peter was a fantastic guide. Entertaining, knowledgeable and masterful in his storytelling. 🤩

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