St James Tour: Risqué Royals, Secret Locations and Private Clubs

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St James Tour: Risqué Royals, Secret Locations and Private Clubs

(12 reviews)
London audio tour: St James Tour: Risqué Royals, Secret Locations and Private Clubs
This is a 2.3mi walking tour
It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.
London
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$9.99
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About the Tour

Ever wondered what it‘s like to live and shop like a royal? On this walking tour, you‘ll find out as you explore the exclusive neighborhood of St James‘s – an area owned by the Crown Estate.

Starting in front of the Ritz Hotel, you‘ll hear about the district‘s royal roots. From there, I‘ll point out other lavish establishments including several famous private membership clubs like London‘s first gentlemen‘s club, the White‘s Club, and the men‘s only East India Club. You‘ll pass by the hidden Blue Ball Yard, James J. Fox which is the oldest cigar merchant in the world, and Lock & Co. Hatters. After circling St James‘ Square, you‘ll pick up the pace for a royal finish along the Mall.

Along the way, you‘ll:

  • Hear about London‘s royal places including Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, St James‘s Palace, and the serene Green Park
  • Locate some of the oldest shops in the world including department store Fortnum & Mason, and Berry Bros. & Rudd wine merchants
  • Walk part of the Royal Route along the Mall
  • Take in the impressive Spencer House, Marlborough House, Lancaster House and more
  • Learn how to tell if a shop sells its products to the royal family
  • See the BAFTA headquarters at 195 Piccadilly
  • Discover monuments such as the Victoria Memorial, Guards Crimean War Memorial, Duke of York Monument, and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Memorial
  • Enjoy insider stories about the aristocrats who frequent private member‘s clubs like Brooks, the In and Out, the Athenaeum Club and many more
  • Get all the royal gossip on Charles II, his wife, and his mistress, the notorious Nell Gywn

By the end of this hour-long London walking tour, you‘ll see famous royal sights as well as discover a pocket of London just steps away that is unlike any other and bursting with gems.

Cover photo by Pathik Avashi.

Categories
Royal Heritage Architecture Neighbourhoods Top Sights

Tour Producer

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Gio

8 tours

Hi, I'm Gio!

I was born in London and I've been guiding around the city for over 10 years now. I own a tour company and also write travel books on the city. I love sharing this city with visitors and want to make sure you enjoy yourself and want to return again and again.

Preview Location

Location 11

Lock and Co.

Stop in front of Lock and Co. for a moment while I tell you about the store.

Lock and Co. is the world’s oldest hat shop, and another Royal Warrant holder. The company was founded in 1676 and the shop has been in its current location since 1765. Lock and Co were the creato... Read More
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Major Landmarks

  • The Ritz London

  • Brooks's

  • John Lobb

  • Lock & Co. Hatters

  • Pickering Place

  • Berry Bros. & Rudd Wine Shop

  • St James's Square

  • Norfolk House

  • The In & Out (Naval and Military Club)

  • The London Library

  • East India Club

  • Fortnum & Mason

  • BAFTA

  • St James's Piccadilly

  • Guards Crimean War Memorial

  • The Athenaeum Club

  • Water of Leith Walkway

  • Duke of York Monument

  • King George VI & Queen Elizabeth

  • Marlborough House

  • The Mall

  • St James's Palace

  • Clarence House

  • Victoria Memorial

  • Buckingham Palace

  • Canada Gate

  • The Green Park

  • Canada Memorial

  • Lancaster House

  • Spencer House

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.
  1. Start location
    150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR, UK
  2. Total distance
    4km
  3. Final location
    27 St James's Pl, London SW1A 1NR, UK
  4. Distance back to start location
    242m

Directions to Starting Point

Start: The Ritz London, 150 Piccadilly, St. James's, London W1J 9BR, United Kingdom

This tour begins under The Ritz sign next to the red telephone boxes and the entrance to Green Park.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

If you fancy a snack, pop into the basement of Fortum and Mason and grab a world-famous scotch egg.

Best time of day

During the day is best.

Precautions

The area is mostly safe but always be street smart and take care when crossing busy intersections.

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“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”
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Questions and Reviews

4.8 / 5
12 Ratings
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