Past the Palace – Our Most Controversial Walk!
Rated 4.50 out of 5 based on 20 customer ratings
(20 customer reviews )
Embankment underground station, London (Villiers Street exit)
Guided by Claire or Delianne or Karen or Peter G.
Adult: £20 · Students & Seniors: £15 · Children: £5
Walk Times
| Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Weekly | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Winter Summer | Reserve Online |
N.B., Not suitable for snowflakes or under 12’s.
Hidden Places & Hidden History This one isn’t on the balcony – it’s through the keyhole. It’s hideaways and nooks and crannies and bolt holes with a difference: they’re royal hideaways, bolt holes, nooks and crannies. It’s where the goings on went down. It’s kings who were queens. It’s 16 coffin bearers, beheaded lovers and a questionable birthright. It’s a square coffin, a fake lesbian wedding and “a bat instead of a woman”. It’s curses and betrayals, heartaches and hearth-aches and unhealthy habits. It’s ugly sisters and poisonous makeup and war and head lice. It’s between the kings’ sheets and a cabinet particulaire and a royal brothel. It’s £40 million of debt, swinging parties, debauchery and treachery. It’s unofficial history, real history. It’s guides with that tiara tingle. Here’s how a walker put it: “This walk had my head spinning. Not just because of the dizzying array of funny and fascinating stories and often hilarious incidents but also because of the star power of the guide herself. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon in London.” It’s a royally, royally good walk. Guided by Peter, Claire, Delianne and Karen, winner of the London Tourist Board’s Guide of the Year Award. (Hard act to follow but Karen did it – did it in spades. The august American travel magazine Travel & Leisure recently crowned her “the world’s greatest tour guide.”) But let’s hear from Karen herself.
PAST THE PALACE – THE PRACTICALS
Past the Palace goes every* Tuesday at 2.30 pm. The meeting point is just outside the Villiers Street exit of Embankment Tube. N.B. the Past the Palace walk ends very near Green Park Tube. *Except the Tuesdays in December and January
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
Don’t just take it from us…
LONDON WALKS REVIEWS
“London’s best walking tours” Travel & Leisure
“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
LONDON WALKS PRIVATE WALKS
If you can’t make the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, public Past the Palace walk do think about booking one as a private tour. If you go private you can have Past the Palace – 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 very special, indeed a unique gift – be it a birthday or anniversary or Christmas present or whatever. Merchandise schmerchandise (gift wrapped or not) – but giving someone an experience, now that’s special. Memories make us rich.
MIND THE GAP
LONDON WALKS – STREETS AHEAD!
Don’t just take it from us.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Tina Jenkins –
Karen was an absolute delight! The walk was utterly captivating, and we learned much about the city and royals. I appreciate how Karen accommodated during an unexpected downpour; she found us shelter and continued on like a pro. You will not be disappointed – don’t hesitate to book.
Jane Gerrior –
Delianne is a delightful and entertaining person who loves the Royals but doesn’t hesitate to spill the tea on scandals past and present. Knowledgeable on her subject as well. Would recommend.
Liz –
Claire should be on the stage. Two hours goes by in a twinkling!
Michael Taylor –
SEX! NAZIS! SCANDAL! (with a capital S). This walk has everything anyone looking for the REAL STORIES about the royal family through history could want. Delianne is an awesome guide, full of stories and extremely knowledgeable about the history of royal London. Definitely NOT FOR the faint hearted but (in my opinion) much, much more interesting than the “normal” London history experience. I will be recommending this to anyone I know that’s visiting London in the future. 10/10
Ian Jones –
Took this walk with Delianne this week and was provided with lots of interesting stories. Unfortunately the tour was spoiled by the noise levels at a number of the stops, particularly those at Trafalgar Square, outside Charing Cross station and on Pall Mall. It was particularly hard to hear what was being said even after getting as close as practically possible. I have been on other London Walks tours and have never had this issue before.
Sara de Winter –
Thank you Delianne for guiding the walk yesterday. It was interesting, scandalous and fun. Your storytelling and delivery was fabulous. I will definitely be joining another walk soon.
Darren –
Really enjoyed this tour today, guided by Clare, and echo the others in here who similarly.enjoyed a wander through the various royal scandals of history. These walks are meant to relay the talk of the time and Clare reminded throughout that we can’t know the truth of much of it, but to say there was no fact in it does it a serious disservice. I recommend it and enjoyed it a lot.
Ardell Fleeson –
Delianne! Delianne! Delianne! Synonymous with Delightful!
I am a dedicated three-decades London Walker, and this one claims its own special place. Using anecdotes from a span of 800 years and an absolutely riveting and well-researched photo series, Delianne held us spellbound. She’s a wonderful actress! Facts and entertainment were in perfect balance! She even told us a story about a time she was working for one of the most famous men in the world, in the very building! I’m going to look her up and take more of her walks! Thank you, London Walks, for a fabulous afternoon.
Mary Campbell-Hall –
I agree with Liz (Nov 20, 2024 review)! I have not done this Walk but have done quite a number of London and Paris Walks, all of which have been very informative and interesting with great guides.
Reading through the reviews for this Walk has stimulated my curiosity and I will do this Walk next time I am in London (Feb, March, Apr 2025). I’ll be there!
Liz –
I have taken many of your walks in the past and plan to do more anytime I’m in London. The few negative reviews of this walk rather than putting me off have sparked my curiosity and next time I find myself in London on a Tuesday I’ll definitely be coming along.