us tour westminster

• Find a Business
• Add Your Business

( 43 Reviews )

• 9550 Bolsa Ave #126 Westminster, CA 92683
•    714-531-8100

Chamber Rating

About us tours.

Us Tours is located at 9550 Bolsa Ave #126 in Westminster, California 92683. Us Tours can be contacted via phone at 714-531-8100 for pricing, hours and directions.

Contact Info

•   714-531-8100

Questions & Answers

Q what is the phone number for us tours.

A The phone number for Us Tours is: 714-531-8100.

Q Where is Us Tours located?

A Us Tours is located at 9550 Bolsa Ave #126, Westminster, CA 92683

Q What days are Us Tours open?

A Us Tours is open: Saturday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday: Closed Monday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Q How is Us Tours rated?

A Us Tours has a 3.7 Star Rating from 43 reviewers.

Ratings and Reviews Us Tours

Overall rating.

Tham Lesher on Google

TUAN PHAM on Google

Tm mario - southern cali on google, mau nghe on google, joe m. on yelp, write a review.

Travel Agency Near Me in Westminster, CA

Leisure time, tt travel & services, vietravel usa, sun destination travel, viet celebrities travel, abc legal service & travel, c&h international, start driving, online leads today.

• Add Listing

Contact Information

9550 bolsa ave ste 126 , westminster, ca, 92683, (714) 531-8100.

Category: Travel Agents

Website: N/A

Map & Directions

9550 Bolsa Ave Ste 126 Westminster, CA, 92683

Intersection: Bolsa Ave and Malaga Plz

What is your departure address?

Hours of Operation

• Monday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Tuesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Wednesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Thursday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Saturday Closed
• Sunday Closed

Reviews & Discussion

Additional resources.

• YellowPages.com
• SuperPages.com
• CitySearch.com
• MerchantCircle.com
• Yahoo Local
• YellowBot.com

Select your Rating

JPG, GIF or PNG images under 5MB. All photos are reviewed before being placed on our website.

The 5 Best Westminster Abbey Tours [2024 Reviews]

In a place that’s dripping in history from every cobblestone and vine-covered building, there stands a breathtaking cathedral we know as Westminster Abbey. If these walls could talk, we’d hear stories covering centuries of dramas, war, love, and much more.

This breathing time capsule is one of the most captivating places in the world, and with these carefully curated tours you’ll get a backstage pass to the secrets and stories that make it so special.

The top tours of Westminster Abbey are much more than just sightseeing – you’ll have a local expert take you through an incredible journey to learn things you simply can’t in a history book. Let’s jump right in!

Best Westminster Abbey Guided Tours

Quick answer: the 5 best rated westminster abbey tours for 2024.

• London Guided Tour of Houses of Parliament & Westminster
• Private Tour London Highlights, entries Westminster Abbey, The Tower of London
• Westminster Abbey Tour & Big Ben Exterior
• Priority Access Tour of Westminster Abbey with London Eye Option
• Guided Tour of London Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham

Westminster Abbey Tour Reviews

1. london guided tour of houses of parliament & westminster.

• Duration: 4 hours
• Departure: “Winston Churchill” statue, Parliament Square, Westminster, London
• Departure Time:  9:00 AM
• Includes: Entrance to Westminster Abbey and Houses of Parliament, fully-guided tour inside both, headsets, small groups

Even if you aren’t particularly interested in British history, I can’t recommend going on this tour enough. The London Guided Tour of Houses of Parliament & Westminster Tour  is fascinating, from the hallowed halls of the Abbey to the sacred ground where Royal Coronations have unfolded since 1066.

You may know it from the fairytale-like wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, but it’s so much more than that. With various start times available, this tour is also very easy to fit in to any schedule and it starts off by venturing into the belly of the beast: The Houses of Parliament.

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “parliament, really?”, but trust me, this is no ordinary stroll. You’re ditching the soulless audioguide for a friendly Blue Badge tour guide who’s practically a walking encyclopedia of British democracy.

We’ll start in the Chamber of the House of Commons, where the folks with the power to make or break Britain gather and where you’ll learn about the important decisions that are made here.

Then, we’ll cruise on over to the chamber of the House of Lords, where the bluest bloodlines in the country used to sit back and make decisions that shaped a kingdom (and world, consequently).

Our tour guide did a great job explaining some of the most important events here, in a way that was not only very educational, but also very amusing.

Even though many of the rooms didn’t allow for us to take photos, his teachings and storytelling made such an impact that the memories will stay in our minds for a long time.

Overall, this is a tour that’s as entertaining as it is informative, leaving you with a whole new perspective on London and England, as a whole.

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience, other experiences you may enjoy:, 2.  private tour london highlights, entries westminster abbey, the tower of london.

• Duration: 8 hours
• Departure:  Broad Sanctuary, London SW1
• Departure Time: 9:00 AM
• Includes: Private tour, Blue Badge guide, skips the long lines

This next tour is the most comprehensive of the bunch, so if you’re looking to dive deep into England’s history, you’re in good hands. From the most sophisticated royals to the most brutal tales of torture, this tour will take you on a whirlwind experience full of excitement.

The Private Tour London Highlights, Entries Westminster Abbey, The Tower of London adventure is perfect if it’s your first time in this incredible city.

Make your way to the Broad Sanctuary around 9:00 am and meet your guide, who will provide a briefing to the group of what to expect for the day. They did a great job at customizing the tour to fit our specific interests.

The first stop for the day is Trafalgar Square, where you’ll learn about the important protests here, see Nelsons Column, and more.

Stroll on over to Whitehall to see where the PM lives and works and see various war memorials before going to Westminster Abbey. Once there, you’ll learn all about the important events that have taken place at the beautiful church, including the centuries-old chair used for coronations.

The famous Buckingham Palace is up next, which was the Royal Residence of the Queen before her passing. Next is St. James Park, where you’ll learn even more about the Royal Family and get a chance to breathe some fresh air and soak in all of the experience, so far.

Parliament Square is one of my favorite London stops. You’ll be surrounded by views of Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, and will even get to ride either the double-decker red bus or tube through the glitzy financial district.

St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London are next, with plenty of crazy stories about both locations narrated to you before enjoying some delicious fish and chips in a local pub. Finally, take some photos at the Tower Bridge, where you’ll get to take a rest or continue venturing throughout the city.

3. Westminster Abbey Tour & Big Ben Exterior

• Duration: 2.5 hours
• Departure:  The Supreme Court, Parliament Sq, London
• Departure Time: 10:30 AM
• Includes: Entrance fees to Westminster Abbey, Blue Badge guides

Perhaps you’re looking to explore more of London, but don’t have the schedule available for a full-day tour. This next adventure is the perfect alternative, with plenty of start times available for you.

The Westminster Abbey Tour & Big Ben Exterior  has an expert guide to take you through some of the most interesting spots in the city!

If you’re traveling with children, I can’t recommend this tour enough. The guide was so captivating and entertaining, and the tour was just the right length of time that none of the smaller ones became impatient and actually had a lot of fun!

Start out by meeting your guide at the Supreme Court located in Parliament Square, where you’ll get to see the iconic Big Ben from the exterior. Learn all about Big Ben, like how it’s the world’s biggest 4-faced clock, and how even during WWII, the chimes continued to sound and the clock face wasn’t blacked out to keep a sense of normalcy.

It’s a prime example of Victorian Engineering, maintaining itself as one of the most iconic symbols of both London and the United Kingdom. Should you have any questions or comments, your guide is there to answer and expand on them for you.

Next up is the amazing Westminster Abbey, which is one of the most remarkable historical landmarks, with a rich past filled with a spectrum of emotions and events.

Royal coronations and weddings have taken place here, and you’ll even get to see the Coronation Chair dating back to 1300! Thanks to the small group size, everyone will have enough time to tour through while also getting some free time to explore at your own leisure.

4. Priority Access Tour of Westminster Abbey with London Eye Option

• Duration: Approximately 2 hours
• Departure:  Westminster Abbey Shop, 20 Dean’s Yard, London
• Includes: Priority access to Westminster Abbey, tour with live guide, max of 20 passengers, coffee and pastries, optional Fast Track London Eye ticket

This is another quick yet comprehensive London tour which I feel perfectly balances the ultra-popular tourist sights with the more “local” feel.

The Priority Access Tour of Westminster Abbey with London Eye Option  is a great activity to take on your own, with the entire family, or with your significant other. Even if your schedule is packed to the brim, you should be able to fit this one in easily.

Starting off meeting your guide at Westminster Abbey, you’ll head inside the living monument of kings and queens with your small group. The guide did a fantastic job at regaling us with tales from over a millennium of English history, from 40 coronations, and dazzling weddings.

There are many recent events that have taken place here, such as the recent coronation of Charles III, the marriage of William and Kate, and the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

After the thrilling and educational tour of the Abbey, you’ll descend into the medieval Cellarium, where Benedictine monks once stored their provisions. Today, it’s a slightly more lighthearted locale: a restaurant that serves up tasty food and beverages.

Enjoy some complimentary coffee and pastries in this 14th-century spot through the cloister, while you chat about the events so far.

After the tour, you have the option of soaring sky-high on the iconic London Eye ferris wheel! If you aren’t scared of heights, I really recommend taking advantage of this opportunity as it offers some of the best views of the city out there. You’ll even get to avoid the queues with your included fast track ticket!

5. Guided Tour of London Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham

• Departure:  Parliament Square, Parliament Sq, London
• Includes: Guided tour of Westminster Abbey and City of Westminster, 5-star licensed guide, skip-the-line to Westminster Abbey, walking tour of the city of Westminster, group tour max 20 people

Last but certainly not least, we have the Guided Tour of London Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham experience. This 4-hour excursion is a great way to get out of the hotel and learn about the varied and dramatic history of this capital city.

Learn about the intricate and varied architecture, the British royal family, politicians, and other important figures and monuments from an expert guide.

The tours usually start out in the morning, so head out early to meet your guide at the Sir Winston Churchill Statue in Parliament Square before going inside the depths of the Westminster Abbey.

While you can’t typically take photos inside, this is an amazing experience with history and beauty at every turn. There’s certainly a ton to see here, but my personal favorites were the Coronation Chair, Poets’ Corner, and the Lady Chapel.

With convenient skip-the-line tickets, you don’t have to worry about waiting in a queue and can simply head right in. The stunning Gothic nave, royal chapels, and so much more awaits you!

The guide does a fantastic job at giving the group little gems of information that I’d never heard anywhere else, further enriching the experience for us.

Next up is the Palace of Westminster with the famous Big Ben clocktower, where you’ll learn about the history of the monument that’s made appearances in countless movies, TV shows, and other media.

Then, head on over to Buckingham Palace where you’ll get to see some of the most famous royal rooms and hear intriguing tales about various royals.

FAQs About Westminster Abbey Tours

What is westminster abbey.

Westminster Abbey is the most historic church in England. It is not only a church but there are celebrations and ceremonies for the British royal family. Westminster Abbey was built in the 960s as a Benedictine monastery and has been the site of every Royal coronation since 1066.

What will I see in Westminster Abbey?

The Nave , this is the main part of the church where you enter. You will see the grave of the Unknown Warrior, who represents all the soldiers who died in World War I. You will see the memorials of famous people like Winston Churchill, William Shakespeare and Martin Luther King Jr.

The Coronation Chair , is located in the nave. This is the chair that has been used for every royal coronation since 1308. You will also see the Stone of Scone which is a symbol of Scottish royalty under the seat of the chair.

The Poets’ Corner , which is located in the south transept. This is where many writers and poets are buried and commemorated, such as Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and C.S. Lewis.

The Lady Chapel , which is in the eastern part of the church. Most people consider this the most beautiful part of Westminster Abbey with the fan-vaulted ceiling, carvings and stained glass windows.

The Royal Tombs , are in various chapels in the church. There are tombs of famous and influential monarchs like Edward the Confessor, Henry III, Henry V, Henry VII, Edward VI, Elizabeth of York and George II.

The Pyx Chamber , is located off the east cloister. This medieval vaulted room was used to store the royal treasury and the standard weights and measures. You will see some of the original chests and iron bars that were used to secure the valuables.

The Chapter House , is located in the east cloister. This circular room that was used for meetings by the monks and later by the Parliament. There are some of the oldest wall paintings in England that depict scenes from the Bible and the Apocalypse.

The Cloisters , which you can get to from the Dean’s Yard. These covered walkways surround the central courtyard are some of the oldest parts of the Abbey with many memorials and monuments.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries , which are in the medieval triforium above the Nave. These new galleries opened in 2018 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years as the Queen.

How long do I need to see Westminster Abbey?

You can see most of the Abbey in 1.5 to 2 hours. It really depends on if you want to see all of it and how long you linger in the various areas.

How much does it cost to see Westminster Abbey?

An adult ticket is $30 which allows you to see all of the main attractions of the Abbey, like the nave, the tombs, Poet’s Corner, the Lady Chapel, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries.

Do I need a guided tour of Westminster Abbey?

While you do not need a guided tour, having a tour guide will provide you with more insights and insider information about the history of the Abbey. You will also be able to access to some areas that are not open to general visitors.

Tour Guides

The London Guided Tour of Houses of Parliament & Westminster is our Editors Choice for the best Westminster Abbey tour.

Robert Baker

Related articles, the 5 best stonehenge tours from london [2024 reviews], the 5 best wine tours from florence [2024 reviews], the 7 best vatican tours ⛪ [2024 reviews], the 5 best seine river dinner cruises [2024 reviews].

USA TRAVEL TOURS

YOUR DREAM VACATIONS

Destination

USA Travel & Tours 8411 Westminster Blvd. Westminster, CA 92683 Phone: (714) 725-7780 Fax: (714) 725-7660 Email: [email protected]

Our Services

We know how to please you & your family, our latest blogs, hello world.

Welcome to Theme Palace Demo. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

• Travel Agency

• 9550 Bolsa Ave Ste 126 Westminster , CA 92683
• (714) 531-8100

Travel and tour company in the heart of Little Saigon.

Similar Listings

Asiana airlines cancelled our return flight from Vietnam 2 days before our scheduled return date on March 9th, 2020. They refuse to give us a refund. Anyone know a good lawyer. US tours sold us our tickets and refuse to refund our money.

Trending Now

Asian Garden Night Market

9200 Bolsa Ave Westminster, CA 92683

14241 Euclid #108 Garden Grove, CA 92843

634 S Harbor Blvd Santa Ana, CA 92704

Người Việt Online Daily News

14771 Moran St Westminster, CA 92683

Sakura Massage Spa

9926 Garden Grove Blvd Garden Grove, CA 92844

5 Star Body Massage

6411 Westminster Blvd Westminster, CA 92683

Nguoi Viet Rao Vat Mien Phi - NguoiViet.us

Sunset Beach, CA

Quan Tri Ky

10592 Garden Grove Blvd Garden Grove, CA 92843

ABC Supermarket

8970 Bolsa Avenue Westminster, CA 92683

T T Travel & Service

9950 Bolsa Ave, #G Westminster, CA 92683

Cafe Dau Lang

7631 Westminster Blvd Westminster, CA 92683

Cafe Di Vang 2

14221 Euclid St Ste B Garden Grove, CA 92843

Asian Garden Mall

10552 McFadden Ave Garden Grove, CA

Little Saigon Night Market 2024

Vietnamese food and entertainment at the Asian Garden Mall on summer night weekends. June 14- Sept 1, 2024

09-01-2024 07:01PM

Featured Now

Hoa Binh Restaurant

14472 Brookhurst Street Garden Grove, CA 92843-4610

This Vietnamese restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes. You can find noodle soups, rice dishes, banh xeo, banh beo, and more.

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

The Best Westminster Abbey Tours To Take in 2024 and Why

Brie Greenhalgh Last Updated: September 26, 2023

You’ve seen Westminster Abbey on TV for famous weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies, but have you ever visited? The long lines can make for a slow and crowded visit, so booking a guided tour with skip-the-line access is a good idea. Here are some of the best Westminster Abbey tours you can take in London.

Pro Tip:  Planning what to do on your trip to London? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. Check out our  guide to London  for more planning resources, our  top London tours  for a memorable trip, and  how to see London in a day .

Should You Take a Tour of Westminster Abbey?

Short answer: Definitely, since there’s literally 1,000 years of history to discover here!

The history of Westminster Abbey starts around 785 A.D. with a small monastery that became a church in 1065. Multiple remodels and renovations later, we have this magnificent abbey that has held Britain’s coronations since William the Conqueror.

It’s also famously been the site of Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding, the oldest son of Britain’s beloved Princess Diana. And it was here at Westminster where Diana’s funeral captured the attention of nearly 2.5 billion people around the world. And that’s just recent history! It doesn’t include other notables like Stephen Hawking, Sir Isaac Newton, George Frederich Handel, and many more who are buried here.

Long story short, there’s a lot to see, explore, and learn about at Westminster Abbey. Booking with a guide who is passionate and ultra-knowledgeable about London’s famous church will make your trip much more meaningful.

It elevates the experience from a photo session to a learning experience of cool stories and facts. Not to mention the benefit of skip-the-line tickets! Here are some of our recent reviews about Westminster Abbey tours.

Not ready to book a tour? See our  Westminster Abbey Guide for more info.

Two of the Best Westminster Tours in London

The most complicated thing about visiting Westminster is navigating the lines and crowds. Although, we’d also argue that there is just so much to see here that the history is also fairly complicated to discover on your own.

That’s why we always recommend seeing famous monuments with licensed guides. Their expertise and passion for the history of places like Westminster elevates your visit. With stories, anecdotes, and fun facts, they’ll be sure to make your trip entertaining, enlightening, and rewarding.

We offer two tours of Westminster Abbey that you can choose from. One is dedicated to a tour of the church, while the other includes the church in a full day of touring London. So check them out below and see which Westminster tour is right for you!

• London Walking Tour with Westminster Abbey and Changing of the Guard
• London in a Day Tour with Westminster Abbey and Tower of London

2. London Walking Tour with Westminster Abbey and Changing of the Guard

Westminster Abbey

Clients love our skip-the-line access to the famous Westminster Abbey where they can enjoy a few minutes of quiet time with their guide in the nave of the abbey before the public enters. This is the oldest part of the entire church, and your guide will share its unique history as you stand in near-quiet solitude here.

With over 3,000 people buried here over the centuries, it’s hard to decide exactly what to see and who you’re looking at. This is where your guide will come in handy as they take you to the Poet’s Corner and other notable tombs that are the highlights you can’t miss. And of course, you’ll see the famous coronation chair at the High Altar across from the Lady Chapel.

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

Finally, you’ll also get a chance to see the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony. This happens every day in June and July, but only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays the rest of the year. Your guide knows just how to help you see the most of this auspicious event.

Highlights:

• Skip-the-line entry to Westminster Abbey
• Guided visit of Britain’s most famous church
• Changing of the Guard ceremony (certain days)
• Pictures of Buckingham Palace

1. London in a Day Tour with Westminster Abbey and Tower of London

London is a great city to explore, but many of the sites are spread across long distances. That’s why we created this epic London in a Day tour. You’ll be amazed at just how much you’re able to see as you follow the steps of your licensed, local guide. We hire the best guides in London to make sure you have an incredible experience when you book one of the best Westminster Abbey tours that includes other top attractions in London.

Your day starts at Westminster Abbey with skip-the-line tickets and a guided tour of this ancient church. It’s the site of famous churches, funerals, and every British coronation ceremony since 1066 AD! There’s a lot to discover so you’ll appreciate having a guide who knows exactly where to spend your valuable time here.

Next you’ll head over to the Mall to watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony (certain days) or the Horse Guard. You’ll get more than a moment’s view of this famous event, since your guide will lead you through the entire process at Buckingham Palace.

You’ll likely have time to see Downing Street, the famous home of Britain’s Prime Ministers before heading to Trafalgar square to choose where to eat lunch. (And get off your feet for a bit!)

River Thames Boat Ride

Next, a ride down the River Thames is the perfect way to see London from a new angle. You’ll travel to your next stop: the Tower of London.

Tower of London

Here your guide will unveil the deep history of Britain’s oldest fortress that has Roman origins! Get to know the history of Thomas Moore, Anne Boleyn, Henry the VIII, Walter Raleigh and more. Plus, step into the museum where the ostentatious crown jewels are kept. This tour makes all of this easy to do and incredibly rewarding too.

• See the best of London’s top attractions in a single day
• Skip-the-line entry at Westminster Abbey
• Free time for lunch
• Transportation to Tower of London included
• Quick entry to Tower of London
• Entry to see Crown Jewels
• Free time to walk across Tower Bridge at the end of your tour

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if London tours are worth it .

Find the best places to stay

Where To Stay in London

Deciding where to stay at a great hotel in London can take some effort since it’s a massive city. Make your decision easier with our list of the best neighborhoods and hotels in London.

About Brie Greenhalgh

Writer, editor, teacher, hiker, traveler, dreamer. With a book or pen in hand and a majestic sunset on the horizon, life is never short of fulfilling moments for Brie. She has a background in history and writing, and enjoys writing and editing for BobVila.com, The Tour Guy, and her own business.

Reader Interactions

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Travel Guide
• In The Press

POLICY & TERMS

• Cancellation Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy

• Grand Rapids/Muskegon
• Saginaw/Bay City
• All Michigan

Rolling Stones ready to kick off U.S. tour: How to get tickets for a show near you

• Updated: Apr. 26, 2024, 1:46 p.m. |
• Published: Apr. 26, 2024, 1:45 p.m.

Rolling Stones 2024 Hackney Diamonds Tour Vivid Seats

• Anneice Coady | [email protected]

The Rolling Stones will kick off their U.S. tour in Houston this weekend with the band’s first North American tour in more than 10 years.

The band won’t hit Detroit on this leg but has two dates in Chicago and fans can get tickets at Stubhub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek and Ticketmaster.

The Stones were originally slated for just one show June 27 in Chicago but added a June 30 date in Chicago due to overwhelming demand. The band will also play Cleveland.

The rock legends are hitting the States in 2024 to tour behind their new album, “Hackney Diamonds.”

Stubhub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek and Ticketmaster have tickets for all 16 tour stops in U.S. and Canada.

Tickets start at $127 but prices will fluctuate.

Find tickets for every tour stop:

Houston -- Sunday, April 28, 2024, 7:30pm, NRG Stadium, Houston, TX

Vivid Seats

Ticketmaster

New Orleans -- Thursday, May 2, 2024, 11:59am, New Orleans Jazz Fest - Weekend 2 - 4 Day Pass (5/2 - 5/5), New Orleans Fairgrounds, New Orleans, LA

New Orleans -- Thu May 2, 2024, Time: TBD, New Orleans Jazz Fest Weekend 2 - Thursday (Rolling Stones), New Orleans Fairgrounds, New Orleans, LA

Glendale -- Tuesday, May 7, 2024, 6:00pm, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ

Las Vegas -- Saturday, May 11, 2024, 8:00pm, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV

Seattle -- Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 7:30pm, Lumen Field, Seattle, WA

East Rutherford -- Thursday, May 23, 2024, 7:30pm, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

East Rutherford -- Sunday May 26, 8:00pm MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

Foxborough -- Thursday, May 30, 2024, 7:30pm, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

Orlando -- Monday, June 3, 2024, 7:30pm, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL

Atlanta -- Friday, June 7, 2024, 7:30pm, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Philadelphia -- Tuesday, June 11, 2024, 7:30pm, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

Cleveland -- Saturday, June 15, 2024, 7:30pm, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, OH

Denver -- Thursday, June 20, 2024, 7:30pm, Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO

Chicago -- Thursday, June 27, 2024, 7:30pm, Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

Chicago -- Monday, June 30, 2024, 7:30pm, Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

Vancouver -- Friday July 5, 2024, 8:00pm, BC Place Stadium, Vancouver, BC, CA

Inglewood -- Wednesday, July 10, 2024, 7:30pm, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA

Inglewood -- Saturday, July 13, 2024, 7:30pm, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA

Santa Clara -- Wednesday, July 17, 2024, 7:30pm, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and analyze the use of the website. Learn More

Westminster Walking Tour | Royal London

Tour Information

Royal westminster, royal westminster highlights.

• St. James's Palace
• Buckingham Palace
• The Changing of the Guard **
• The Houses of Parliament
• Westminster Abbey
• 10 Downing St.
• Churchill War Rooms
• St. James's Park
• and much more!

Searching Availability...

********************************************

SEE OUR FULL TOUR SELECTION HERE

It is astounding that this small area of Westminster is home to many of London’s most iconic structures. and milestones in the history of the city.

It's a testament to the might and majesty of British royalty, military, and democracy.

And we are going to introduce you to each and every one!

Join Free Tours by Foot as we travel through 1000 years of British history and introduce you to the characters who have shaped the history and modernity of London.

We'll see royal palaces, King's Guard soldiers, picturesque parks, beautiful buildings, and the most famous clock in the world!

Come with us on our flagship tour of beautiful, wonderful, royal Westminster! 

Also available as an anytime GPS-enabled audio tour .

Sites and topics we cover on the tour:

• The Changing of the Guard**

**The Changing of the Guard takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

The schedule is always subject to change, so we can't guarantee that any scheduled change takes place.  

Tour information

Reservations:   Click here to reserve .

Where:   The tour starting point depends on the day of the week. Please refer to the tour description.

The tour ends at Parliament Square or Trafalgar Square, depending on the guide.

Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours.

When:   Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 10:00, or   anytime with our GPS-enabled audio tour .

Cost: This tour is free to take, and you get to decide what, if anything, the tour was worth when it's done. A name-your-own-price tour is a tour for any budget.

Be sure to check out our other tours in London .

And much, much more

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

• Tour Information
• Plan your trip
• Changing of the Guard
• Buckingham Palace
• Westminster Abbey

Trafalgar Square

• Private tours

THE Westminster and changing of the guard Tour

100+ 5 Star Reviews

• CHECK THEM OUT

Tour OVERVIEW

Starting at 10 am every day from Ritz Corner of Green Park, Piccadilly, our world famous Westminster and Changing of the Guard Tour will take you through the most prestigious and iconic sights of the Royal London, including Buckingham Palace, St James' Palace, Westminster Abbey, and the Houses of Parliament.  A  must do when visiting London!

Please arrive at least 10 minutes early as the guide will leave at 10am sharp to avoid missing the parades.

Booking is essential – No tickets are sold on the day.

Our Westminster Tour runs whatever the weather!

**PLEASE READ

The full Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace occurs on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday the tour will witness the Changing of the Horse Guards at Horse Guards Parade.

The parades can be cancelled without notice at the discretion of the British Army. This is beyond the tour operator's control and unavoidable. The Changing of the Guard may also be cancelled due to bad weather.

WHAT HAPPENS ON A WESTMINSTER AND CHANGING OF THE GUARD TOUR?

Your guide will meet you at the entrance to Green Park, Piccadilly at 9:45 am. They will take you to explore the area, visiting the awe-inspiring icons around Royal Westminster. Along the way, your guide will share historical anecdotes, tales and facts to explain what you’re seeing and what it was used for. The tour will run regardless of bad weather, so dress appropriately and we will see you there!

From here, we will take you to see the Horse Guards Parade and the Changing of the Guard. You will see the military band go by in their iconic red tunics and bearskin hats - it’s truly an experience you won’t forget and the highlight of this Westminster walking tour. We will show you the Queen’s Guard too, detailing what it takes to become a member, as well as explaining the colourful history of one of London’s most photographed military outfits. As we leave the parades behind, we will move on to the corridor of power and the home of the Prime Minister - 10 Downing Street. We will ask you to imagine Britain at war as you pass over the infamous Churchill War Rooms, hidden from view underfoot, and head towards the incredible Westminster Abbey.

The tour’s first destination is the heart of Royal London, taking you to see all of the key Royal family residences, including Buckingham Palace and St James’s Park. Whilst travelling to and admiring these beautiful buildings, you will learn about the quirky and unusual aspects of the country’s Royal history. From coronations to beheadings, we will fill you in on the glamorous, treacherous and complex history of the British Royal Family.

From here, we will take you to see the Horse Guards Parade and the Changing of the Guard. You will see the military band go by in their iconic red tunics and bearskin hats - it’s truly an experience you won’t forget and the highlight of this Westminster walking tour.

We will show you the Queen’s Guard, detailing what it takes to become a member, as well as explaining the colourful history of one of London’s most photographed military outfits.

As we leave the parades behind, we will move on to the corridor of power and the home of the Prime Minister - 10 Downing Street. We will ask you to imagine Britain at war as you pass over the infamous Churchill War Rooms, hidden from view underfoot, and head towards the incredible Westminster Abbey.

The Westminster Abbey section of the tour will allow you to discover the unique charm of this exceptional building, whilst your guide takes you back in time and tells stories of royal weddings, past and present. This iconic building has played host to some of Britain’s most memorable royal love stories, as well as the birthplace of many legendary Kings and Queens, whose journeys started with a long walk and a seat in the Coronation Chair within the walls of Westminster Abbey.

The beauty of the Westminster area is founded in its wealth of stunning buildings, landmarks and architectural wonders. Marvel at the years of history these buildings have withstood as you get to know some of the tales of the area, learning about local history as well as the significant role Westminster has played in the growth and development of both London and the country as a whole.

As you look away from Westminster you will see the Houses of Parliament, the stoic and steadfast buildings running alongside the area. Your guide will make sure you have lots of time to take pictures and selfies with these exemplary Victorian buildings before moving over to Parliament Square, where you will have time to explore the many statues of notable people from Britain’s history, such as Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, and Millicent Fawcett.

From here you will also see the impressive Elizabeth Tower or – as it’s more commonly known - Big Ben! Your guide will give you the opportunity to take plenty of pictures of Big Ben before continuing along the corridor of power which includes the Ministry of Defence and 10 Downing Street, before finally arriving back to where we started at Trafalgar Square.

DEPARTURE TIME

Every day at 10 am. Please plan your journey so that you arrive at 9:50 am. The guide will leave at 10am sharp so as not to miss any of the parades!

This walking tour takes approximately 2 hours 15 minutes. We will stop for a short coffee / toilet break along the way.

Adults £18 each, children go free (a maximum of 2 children per family may enter for free, it will cost £5 per child thereafter).

DEPARTURE POINT

The Goddess Diana Fountain in Ritz Corner of Green Park, 50m from the entrance gates to Green Park to the right hand side of the Ritz Hotel, 150 Piccadilly, St James’s, London. The post code for the meeting point is W1J9DZ. The nearest underground station is Green Park Station. Taking the Green Park/Buckingham Palace exit of the underground station will bring you out at the fountain.

Finish point

The walking tour finishes in Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DX, at approximately 12:15pm. The entire route covers approximately 2.5 miles, mostly at a leisurely pace.

Buckingham Palace; the royal residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Experience the royal mall, the marching bands, and the household cavalry, st james’s palace - the home of the royal princesses, wellington army barracks, the royal guards at buckingham palace and clarence house, st james’s park, winston churchill’s cabinet war rooms, the changing of the royal horse guards, westminster abbey and westminster school, houses of parliament (palace of westminster), the grand statues of parliament square, the victoria tower and big ben, number 10 downing street – home to the prime minister, new scotland yard, horse guards’ parade, did you know.

Big Ben is a short walk from some of the best cafes, pubs and alehouses in London; the perfect place to start your own exploration of the city or join us for the City of London Tour, which departs at 2:30 pm on selected days from Temple Station.

QUALITY GUIDES

Our Westminster walking tour is new and improved, offering you the ability to get up close and personal with London’s most famous and impressive sights.

Beginning with Buckingham Palace, the home of the Queen, we will work through iconic buildings in the Westminster area and witness parades by the recognisable red cloaked guards, before continuing along the corridor of power which includes Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and 10 Downing Street. Along the way, you will be entertained and enthralled by your tour guide’s unique look on the history of London.

What truly makes our tour so impressive is the quality of our tour guides. With years of professional experience, both in the military and the touring industry, your tour will be led by an expert in London’s political and cultural history. In addition, the military past of our guides makes them best placed to explain the details behind the Changing of the Guard, as well as knowing the best position for you to watch the whole parade without dealing with crowds.

Suitable for all ages and encompassing multiple different experiences in a single two-and-a-half-hour period, our Westminster and Changing of the Guard Walking Tour is the best way to experience London all in one day. Discover the Kings, Queens, rogues, and villains behind this incredible city, and witness iconic buildings and intricate parades along the way.

GREAT FUN TO BE HAD FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, AMAZING SIGHTS AND THE TOUR GUIDES ARE GREAT FUN!

Learned a lot about London and the guides were very friendly and knowledgeable sharing not only historic but interesting local information along the way.

Michael Fitzpatrick

Customer, Westminster walking tour

Private Tours

We can accommodate groups of all sizes on our Westminster and Changing of the Guard Private Tours. From corporate groups to GCSE and A-level students, we can tailor our tours to suit you. To book a private tour, simply email us with your requirements (group size/date/time) and we will gladly send you a quote and get you booked in! No group is too small or too large for our talented guides. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, why not include pub stops along the route at no extra charge!

BOOK YOUR TICKETS

Ticket price, adults (18+) £18.00, teens (13 to 17) £10.00, children (5 to 12) £5.00, book londons #1 walking tour today.

• News & Blog
• School Trip Tours
• Jack the ripper tour
• Terms & Conditions
• Cookie Policy
• Privacy Policy

Find and Follow

© 2024 . All rights reserved.

Site by i3MEDIA

Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.   

• Website Sign In

• For Residents

Walking Tours

Corbit's charge.

• Tour takes approximately 40 minutes
• Corbit's Charge Brochure

Courthouse Square

• Courthouse Square Brochure

Westward Expansion

• Tour takes approximately 1.5 hours
• Westward Expansion Brochure
• Tour takes approximately 1 hour
• Ghost Walk Brochure

Civil War Driving Tours

Roads to gettysburg, gettysburg: invasion & retreat, the heart of the civil war heritage area.

Charlie Woods will play U.S. Open local qualifier Thursday

Charlie Woods looks to earn a spot at this year's U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

Change Text Size

Charlie Woods’ road to Pinehurst begins Thursday.

Woods, the son of 82-time TOUR winner Tiger Woods, will compete in an 18-hole U.S. Open local qualifier Thursday at The Legacy Golf & Tennis Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The younger Woods is slated to tee off at 8:18 a.m. ET Thursday.

The road to the U.S. Open features 109 local qualifying sites across April and May, leading to 13 Final Qualifying sites in late May and early June. Final Qualifying is known as Golf's Longest Day, requiring competitors to navigate 36 holes to earn a tee time at the season’s third major championship.

To be eligible for qualifying, a player must have a Handicap Index not exceeding 0.4 or be a professional.

The elder Woods is a three-time U.S. Open champion, but he has yet to win at Pinehurst No. 2. Tiger Woods finished T3 at Pinehurst in 1999, two strokes back of winner Payne Stewart, and he placed solo second at the venerable venue in 2005, two back of Michael Campbell. He didn’t compete at Pinehurst in 2014.

Earlier this spring, Charlie Woods competed in a pre-qualifier for the TOUR’s Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, his first foray at attempting to qualify for a TOUR-sanctioned event. The younger Woods shot 86 that day but will look to apply learnings in Thursday’s U.S. Open local qualifier.

Tiger and Charlie Woods have paired together in the last four PNC Championships, the two-player team event contested each December that utilizes a scramble format. Team Woods finished runner-up in 2021 but has yet to win the event.

Other notables in the field at Woods' site include Cameron Kuchar (son of Matt), Sunny Kim, Garrett Willis, Reed Greyserman (brother of Max), Austin Lemieux (son of Mario) and Michael Buttacavoli.

Woods, McIlroy to receive loyalty payouts from PGA Tour, report says

• Medium Text

Sign up here.

Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles Editing by Toby Davis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

The Clutch Pro Tour will be included in the world ranking system, Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) said on Thursday.

Sports Chevron

Wolves crush Suns, take 3-0 lead for 1st time in franchise history

Anthony Edwards recorded 36 points and nine rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the host Phoenix Suns 126-109 on Friday night to take a 3-0 playoff series lead for the first time in franchise history.

• USA & Canada

Guided Tours

USA & Canada

Viva Travel & Tours

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

9039 Bolsa Ave

Westminster, CA 92683

Serving Westminster Area

You Might Also Consider

Ambassador Passport And Visa Services

Need a US Passport or Travel Visa Expedited? We can rush your passport or visa in as little as few days. We are registered and delegated by the government and embassies to assist travelers in obtaining their passport or visa on time… read more

in Passport & Visa Services

SNA Auto Rental

Ron N. said "I'd like to say that I did my homework and smartly found this great rental place, but the fact is, the hotel desk clerk recommended them. I have never written a review for a car rental company, but Fernando and his team gave the…" read more

in Car Rental

Five Star Limousine of LA

Will F. said "Spoke to Mike the night before I needed a pick up from my residence to the airport and he set it up right then and there on the phone. He later sent me a confirmation via email and the following morning the driver was 5 minutes…" read more

About the Business

- Domestic and international tickets specially to Viet Nam. - Low price and fun bus tours to Yellowstone and Mt Rushmore, Lake Powell, San Francisco, Solvang, Hearst Castle, Yosemite, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon.... - Tours to Europe and Australia - Tours in the United State and Canada, Hawaii, Mexico.... - Tours to South East Asia, China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia... - Affordable cruises to Mexico, Alaska, Caribbean, etc..... - Renew VN passports, Emergency visa to Vietnam, Affidavit of Single Status, etc... …

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Got a question about Viva Travel & Tours ? Ask the Yelp community!

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

I just got back from Dubai with Viva Travel. I had a good time and believed others did to. Thanks to Q Chi of Viva Travel and people/ Strangers who I travelled with. Q Chi is very professional, friendly, and nice. She watched out for us Also, I would like to thank Hương who was our lady tour guide in Dubai. She is very knowledgeable. She kept us in schedule and made sure we did everything that we had planned for. I'm looking forward to traveling with Viva Tour again next year. Dubai is a beautiful place to visit. Check it out if you are able to

This place is a hidden "travel aGEMcy" in Orange County. Came here to purchase flight tickets to Vietnam and found out that they will have their own tours to Asia, Dubai, and Europe soon. I've heard great things from my friends who were just on their Dubai this November. The tour and service were amazing. They gained a few pounds after the trip and did have a great time. I was curious about their new tours. The rep was so nice and patient when she went over the tour intinary with me. From what I see, their tours offer more tourist attractions [compared with the past trips I took with different agencies], nice hotels, and great MEALS [I'm a FOODIE so I'm exciteddddddd]. Definitely consider going on of their tours.

Great customer services. Explain our tour trip clear and easy to understand. Have no trouble with my ticket at the checkin point. They arranged and prepare everything for our trip. More peace of mind. Been a customer with them since the office opened.

Very fast and professional service. An found us tickets to Viet Nam that were affordable and we needed only one connection to get to Cam Ranh, saving us a lot of time and money going to Hanoi or Saigon and then traveling to the central section of Viet Nam. We got visas ordered in one visit. Also Viva offered travel insurance and help with making sure we understood the time differences on our return flight, which was at midnight, so we might have gone the wrong day! Great agency, highest level of recommendation!

This is scam travel agency and tour guy. I bought 3 days and 2 night for Lake Tahoe tour. The agent only told you to pay only $200 for the tour fee only then on the bus the tour guy collected $65 for cruise on lake Tahoe, he said it was mandatory to go on cruise and $10 tip fee for each day of tour. This is a scam company and liar agent.

This was my worst experience traveling, we will never use this agency They change our flight from 6:30 pm to 10:30 am, they make us wake up at 6:00 am to have breakfast and them the bus leave at 7:00 am we arrive at the airport at 7:30 am and when we ask the attendant at the airport for our flight they told us that the flight is at 3:30 pm This is only one of many complaints that I have

I purchased the ticket to Vietnam from Viva and so far I had a great experience! The representative is very easy to work with. They also renew visa for you quickly and offer discount for visa if you purchase the ticket through them. Will definitely use them next time!

I bought tickets to Vietnam every year here. They are very nice and care for customers . My mom has problem with visa, and they did a great job to solve problems. They sale tickets to Vietnam cheaper compare to several places I called to check the price. I haven't buy tours here, so I don't have a experience yet. I guess negative reviews just for tour guides. To me, this agency is 5 stars.

Excellent customer service. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, patients, courteous efficient agents my highly recommend this agent to you all... If you want an amazing, stress-free, all-factors-considered vacation in a place you aren't that familiar with, Viva Travel & Tours is the way to go. They deserve an excellent review, from the booking process to the actual trip they were patient and made it wonderful experience for your trip. I would love to rate 5 stars to this travel agent for their excellent services.

My dad was not pleased with this agency at all. He said he would give 0 stars if he could. They took his deposit and would not give him a refund even though he cancelled his trip within 24 hours. Do NOT trust this company or deal with them! Also, to get his passport back he had to call EVERY single day only to hear them say they didn't have it. Do not listen to what they advertise on the radio. Their airline tickets are also very expensive compared to other places, make sure to shop around and be smart.

3 other reviews that are not currently recommended

The UPS Store

Anthony B. said "I've never rated a store like this before, but given the unusual and amazing service received the past few months (through the crazy Christmas rush!), I felt like I needed to pass along my positive experience and say thank you. If…" read more

in Passport & Visa Services, Printing Services, Shredding Services

5 Star Limousine & Transportation Services

7.1 miles away from Viva Travel & Tours

Kelly G. said "I called a little over 2 hours before we were leaving and decided we would take a limo instead of driving because there was going to be tons of traffic in Hollywood. They were very accommodating and the driver Harry was exceptional!…" read more

in Limos, Party Bus Rentals

People Also Viewed

TT Travel & Investment

Cali Travel

VietFly Travel & Services

Signature Travel & Tours

Vietravel USA

Titan Travel & Tax

Le’s Travel

Le’s Travel 2

Best of Westminster

Things to do in Westminster

Other Places Nearby

Find more Tours near Viva Travel & Tours

Find more Travel Services near Viva Travel & Tours

People found Viva Travel & Tours by searching for…

Airline Tickets Westminster

Bus Tour Westminster

Passport Services Westminster

Ticket Airline Westminster

Travel Agencies Westminster

Travel Agency Westminster

Travel Agents International Westminster

Us Tour Travel Westminster

Vietnam Passport Renewal Westminster

Vietnam Travel Agent Westminster

Visa Services Westminster

Visa Vietnam Westminster

Browse Nearby

Restaurants

Things to Do

Airport Shuttles

Transportation

Mines Near Me

Tours Near Me

Travel Agencies Near Me

Related Cost Guides

Town Car Service

Local News | Photos: Westminster School District celebrates…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Orange County
• Things to Do

Local News | Photos: Westminster School District celebrates Olympics tradition with student athletes

Students from Warner Middle School move disks with a broom at the hockey station during the annual Special Olympics event held at Anderson Elementary School in Garden Grove on Friday, April 26, 2024. Teams comprising of approximately 40 students from across the district took part in events including: hockey, parachute toss, soccer, hopping and jumping jacks. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Students at Anderson Elementary School in Garden Grove hold signs as they cheer on their fellow classmates during the annual Special Olympics event held on Friday, April 26, 2024. Teams comprising of approximately 40 students from across the district took part in events including: hockey, parachute toss, soccer, hopping and jumping jacks. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ann Trinh of Johnson Middle School moves a disk with a broom at the hockey station during the annual Special Olympics event at Anderson Elementary School in Garden Grove on Friday, April 26, 2024. Teams comprising of approximately 40 students from across the district took part in events including: hockey, parachute toss, soccer, hopping and jumping jacks. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Students, staff and volunteers take part in the bubble dance party during the annual Special Olympics event held at Anderson Elementary School in Garden Grove on Friday, April 26, 2024. Teams comprising of approximately 40 students from across the district took part in events including: hockey, parachute toss, soccer, hopping and jumping jacks. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A student from Warner Middle School goes through the jumping course during the annual Special Olympics event held at Anderson Elementary School in Garden Grove on Friday, April 26, 2024. Teams comprising of approximately 40 students from across the district took part in events including: hockey, parachute toss, soccer, hopping and jumping jacks. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dressed as the school’s tiger mascot, Thien Vu of Anderson Elementary School, greets fellow classmates during the annual Special Olympics event at Anderson Elementary School in Garden Grove on Friday, April 26, 2024. Teams comprising of approximately 40 students from across the district took part in events including: hockey, parachute toss, soccer, hopping and jumping jacks. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Aspen Vanderham of Anderson Elementary School moves a disk with a broom at the hockey station during the annual Special Olympics event at Anderson Elementary School in Garden Grove on Friday, April 26, 2024. Teams comprising of approximately 40 students from across the district took part in events including: hockey, parachute toss, soccer, hopping and jumping jacks. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

All student participants received a medal during the annual Special Olympics event held at Anderson Elementary School in Garden Grove on Friday, April 26, 2024. Teams comprising of approximately 40 students from across the district took part in events including: hockey, parachute toss, soccer, hopping and jumping jacks. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Student participants receive a medal following the annual Special Olympics event at Anderson Elementary School in Garden Grove on Friday, April 26, 2024. Teams comprising of approximately 40 students from across the district took part in events including: hockey, parachute toss, soccer, hopping and jumping jacks. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Anderson Elementary School Principal Kim Breckenridge, right, takes a group photo following the annual Special Olympics event at Anderson Elementary School in Garden Grove on Friday, April 26, 2024. Teams comprising of approximately 40 students from across the district took part in events including: hockey, parachute toss, soccer, hopping and jumping jacks. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

For the 11th year, teams from across the Westminster School District took part in a Special Olympics event held at Anderson Elementary School in Garden Grove on Friday, April 26, 2024.

The events included: hockey, parachute toss, soccer, hopping and jumping jacks and a bubble dance party. There are about 40 students on each team.

Students not participating held signs and cheered from the sidelines. Following the event, all participants received a medal for their efforts.

• Newsroom Guidelines
• Report an Error

More in Local News

Local News | Anaheim’s resort-area buses get new solar-powered charging facility

Local News | Famed 125-mile Newport to Ensenada race brings legacy, competition and fun on the water

Local News | OCDE Superintendent Al Mijares announces retirement amid cancer diagnosis

Local News | Free, two-day California in My Garden tour highlights planting local

Verger-guided tours

Guided tours, led by our vergers, are a great way to see the Abbey - no one knows the ins and outs and history of Westminster Abbey like our vergers.

About the tour

With a verger, you’ll get to see special parts of the Abbey, such as the Tomb of St Edward the Confessor, not accessible to general visitors. The verger will also take you to see Poets' Corner, royal tombs, the Lady Chapel and the nave – and provide an expert commentary.

Space is limited to 20 people for these tours and commentary is in English only. The tour will last approximately 90 minutes.

Availability 

Tours run Monday - Saturday.

You can contact us 24 hours in advance to find out what times tours will take place by calling  020 7654 4832, Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm. You cannot book tours via this phone number. 

Prices and how to book

For a verger tour, you’ll pay the Abbey entry price plus £10.

General admittance tickets to the Abbey can be purchased in advance online but a verger tour can only be booked when you arrive at the Abbey.

When booking your tickets to the Abbey, please try to book your entry slot 30 minutes or so before the tour is due to start.

Other options

Multimedia guide.

Multimedia guides - available in 14 languages plus British Sign Language - are available at the Abbey

Group visits

Private tour groups of up to 20 can visit the Abbey when accompanied by a Blue Badge Tourist Guide. These are specialist guides who offer private tours and will charge a separate fee.

UK Primary and Secondary Schools

Our learning department offers guided tours, workshops and special events for schools in the Abbey. We also offer a range of video-conferences and guided virtual tours.

It’s very hard not to be enthusiastic working at the Abbey. If this place doesn’t make you smile I don’t know what will.

Valerie - Foundation Director

Useful links

Sign up to our newsletter

• Australia edition
• International edition
• Europe edition

‘The working class can’t afford it’: the shocking truth about the money bands make on tour

As Taylor Swift tops $1bn in tour revenue, musicians playing smaller venues are facing pitiful fees and frequent losses. Should the state step in to save our live music scene?

W hen you see a band playing to thousands of fans in a sun-drenched festival field, signing a record deal with a major label or playing endlessly from the airwaves, it’s easy to conjure an image of success that comes with some serious cash to boot – particularly when Taylor Swift has broken $1bn in revenue for her current Eras tour. But looks can be deceiving. “I don’t blame the public for seeing a band playing to 2,000 people and thinking they’re minted,” says artist manager Dan Potts. “But the reality is quite different.”

Post-Covid there has been significant focus on grassroots music venues as they struggle to stay open. There’s been less focus on the actual ability of artists to tour these venues. David Martin, chief executive officer of the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), says we’re in a “cost-of-touring crisis”. Pretty much every cost attached to touring – van hire, crew, travel, accommodation, food and drink – has gone up, while fees and audiences often have not. “[Playing] live is becoming financially unsustainable for many artists,” he says. “Artists are seeing [playing] live as a loss leader now. That’s if they can even afford to make it work in the first place.”

Potts, who works at Red Light Management – home to everyone from Sabrina Carpenter to Kaiser Chiefs and Sofia Kourtesis – feels like there is an industry equivalent of the Spider-Man meme in which they are all pointing to one another. “People who work at labels think bands make loads of money touring, while booking agents think they make loads of money on publishing and so on,” he says. “Everyone thinks artists make money from the other side of the industry they’re not involved in.

“Artists are the biggest employers in the industry. They pay for the tour manager, session musicians, agent, manager, crew, insurance, travel, accommodation, equipment, rehearsal space, production. Everything. I don’t think people know this is all the stuff that the artist pays for and does.”

“Greater transparency is needed,” says Lily Fontaine, lead singer of Leeds band English Teacher. On paper, the four-piece appear to have made it. They are signed with a major label, Island, have played on Later With … Jools Holland, get healthy BBC Radio 6Music airplay, their debut album has received five-star reviews and they are about to embark on their biggest tour to date, which includes an 800-capacity home-town show.

“The reality is that it’s normal for all of these achievements to coexist alongside being on Universal Credit, living at home or sofa surfing,” says Fontaine. During the making of their debut album, she and bandmate Lewis Whiting did the latter while unable to afford rent.

In their four years of existence, English Teacher have yet to turn a profit from touring. “We’ve never directly paid ourselves from a gig,” says Whiting. “A headline tour usually comes out with a deficit. The only thing that we ever make any kind of profit on is festivals, because the fees can be higher, but any money left over just goes towards the next outgoings.” A successful show for the group in the past has been defined by whether they can flog enough merch to afford a supermarket food shop.

So how do they survive? “In the world of artists, we’re in a lucky position,” says Whiting. “We try to pay ourselves £500 a month each from the band pot.” However, they’ve been reliant on their advance for this, which is now gone. “We’re now in that stage where we’re gonna have to figure out where that £500 a month is gonna come from,” says Fontaine. “Because the gig fees won’t be able to cover that.” The band estimate that their 16-date UK tour in May will generate roughly £800 profit. But, says Fontaine, “realistically, I don’t think there will be any profit because things always go over budget”.

For many artists, fees aren’t increasing in line with costs. “There’s been no real incline at all,” says Potts. “For support slots, I don’t think the fees have changed in the last 10 years or so that I’ve been managing, whether that’s £50 at the smaller end or £500 quid for some of the biggest shows.” Fees for headline shows can vary enormously for bands, even on the same tour. Playing a 200-capacity club in Newcastle may land you £600, while a 1,500 cap in London may net you £3,000.

And fewer people are coming to shows at the small-to-mid-sized end of things. “In our audience data, we see there is a gap in new audiences coming through post-pandemic,” says the FAC’s Martin. “As well as a bit of a drop-off in some of the older audiences returning to live shows.” However, despite stagnant fees and shrinking audiences, touring activity in the UK is at a peak. Due to the costs of touring Europe (which can be thousands in taxes and carnet alone) 74% fewer UK bands are now touring Europe post-Brexit. “It’s much more difficult to tour in Europe so there are more artists trying to perform domestically,” says Martin. “That creates a saturation problem.”

For this article, the Guardian has seen 12 tour budget sheets for various bands and artists varying from up-and-comers to firmly established and successful acts, all of whom regularly undertake headline tours across the UK in venues ranging from 150 to 2,500 capacity. Almost all of these result in losses. Understandably, most shared their balance sheets on the condition of anonymity. One four-piece indie band, whose last two albums went Top 10 in the UK charts, reported a loss of £2,885 from a six-day UK tour. The only tour that shows anything resembling healthy profit was a 29-date tour for a solo artist who came away with £6,550. Not bad going for a month’s work but, as Martin points out, “that’s then his touring done for the next six months. So it’s not enough money.”

Nubiyan Twist are a nine-piece Afro-jazz outfit who have a loyal following and tens of millions of streams on Spotify, “We pride ourselves on being able to put on a big show, like your Fela Kutis or James Browns, these epic spectacles,” says bandleader Tom Excell. “But it’s getting more difficult, without a shadow of a doubt.” For an upcoming eight-show tour of Europe, they are predicting a loss of £4,931.28. The only way they can justify doing it is because they got funding from the BPI Music Export Growth Scheme. “I would have just pulled the plug if it wasn’t for that,” says Excell. “I’ve got a two-year-old and I can’t be away from home for that long and come back with a loss.”

Even when the band get more lucrative fees for festivals it’s still tough. They will be paid £5,000 for a festival performance this summer but the total profit after band wages (as Excell pays all his band members in full first) expenses and commissions are paid out will be £277.60. “After four albums and 15 years doing this, to still be having to gamble on whether I’m going to make anything, while everyone else gets paid a guaranteed amount, is a struggle,” admits Excell.

Such thin margins leave little wiggle room, as the space-surf band Japanese Television (who headline 100-300 capacity venues) found out when their booking agent reduced their 13-date UK and EU tour to eight shows with a five-day gap in the middle that will add a further loss of around £1,200 to a tour that is already set to lose them around £700. “Records and T-shirts are basically what keeps us going,” says the band’s Tim Jones. “The only way this tour is working for us is because we just put out our second album and we did about 60 presales on the vinyl and that was basically enough to pay for the van. It’s a hobby that just about pays for itself.”

after newsletter promotion

The question is: who else will be able to afford to pursue music as a hobby? “It depresses me how many middle and upper class people there are in the music industry,” says manager Potts. “Because the working class just can’t afford to fork out £150 a day for van hire. The only artists doing that are people who have deeper pockets and can afford to take the hit.”

Of course, every act is different in terms of what they justify as reasonable outgoings and not everyone has the same costs, but Potts says from his experience, generally speaking, bands with four or five members now need to be playing 2,000+ capacity venues nationwide to “really start to see things tip”. That tipping point is out of reach for the majority. “Most people don’t actually get to that level,” Potts says. “Just look back at any festival lineup from 10-20 years ago and see which names are still on festival bills and how many you’re like: what happened to them?”

The gap between those who are flying and those who are floundering has become even more stark. “It feels like the top 1% have become the top 0.5%,” says Martin. “The level of artists we’re talking about here that are struggling to make things stack up financially would really surprise people.”

In 2022, the Grammy-winning Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab posted on X: “Touring has been amazing. We headlined a ton, had massive turnouts and have proven ourselves in all the markets. Yet still, running tens of thousands in debt from the tour and I’m being told that it’s ‘normal’. Why is this normal? This should not be normalised.”

I’m told that one US artist – who released one of the most critically acclaimed albums of 2023, which went Top 10 and placed very highly on numerous year-end polls and was nominated for a major award – worked out that the only way she could make her UK tour work was by sub-letting her home.

It’s a far cry from Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras jaunt. “The very high end of the live industry is reporting record profits,” says Martin. “You can’t have a healthy music ecosystem where at one end you’ve got people going ‘we’ve made more money than we’ve ever made’ and at the other end you’ve got relatively successful artists that are sofa-surfing while signed to a major label.”

Is there an answer? “When you’re touring Europe, you realise how much state funding in the arts there is,” says Excell. “It really needs more state funding and support from the top down.”

Martin echoes this. “The government needs to start looking at spending money on the music industry as an investment rather than as a cost,” he says. “But you also need to support a sector in a time of crisis. And this is a time of crisis.”

• Pop and rock
• Music industry
• Taylor Swift

Comments (…)

Most viewed.

Opinion Dogs are our greatest creation. And we might be theirs.

Tommy Tomlinson is the author of “ Dogland .” He lives in Charlotte with his wife, her mother and a cat named Jack Reacher.

The dog is humankind’s greatest invention. The wheel, the lightbulb, concrete — all amazing. Top of the line. But nothing in human creation has been as essential and adaptable as the countless descendants of the ancient gray wolf.

How did we do it? I spent three years following the traveling carnival of American dog shows — like a Grateful Dead tour with Milk-Bones — in search of the answer. My journey culminated in the dog world’s most prestigious event: the Westminster Dog Show. Show dogs are bred from the purest stock, culled from litters at just a few weeks old, trained with the dedication of Olympic gymnasts — and groomed like supermodels. They’d be unrecognizable to their ancient kin — and to ours.

The American Kennel Club, arbiter of bloodlines, now recognizes about 200 breeds, while tracking crossbreeds like goldendoodles, and even mutts. From the most massive mastiff to the tiniest teacup chihuahua, all dogs trace back to the same common ancestors.

Scientists think this weird and powerful companionship of humans and dogs might have started somewhere between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago. Humans of that era were mainly hunters traveling in camps. They ate meat by the fire. The cooking meat attracted wolves who were drawn to the aroma but stayed safely out of range of the flames. Every so often, a human would fling a bone into the darkness. The wolves gnawed on the bones. They trailed the humans to the next campsite, still keeping their distance. There was an unspoken arrangement. The wolves alerted the humans to intruders, and the humans fed the wolves well.

Over time the wolves crept closer. One fateful night a curious wolf came all the way into the firelight. The humans didn’t chase it off.

Slowly, the humans mingled with the wolves. After days or months or generations or centuries, a wolf curled up at a human’s feet. Maybe got its belly rubbed. That was the first dog.

As far as we can tell, dogs are the first animals that humans ever tamed. The wolves that hung out with humans found themselves changing inside and out. They developed shorter muzzles and smaller teeth. Their instinct to run became a desire to stay close. With time, dogs were manufactured through breeding to meet different human needs. We made huskies to pull sleds and Newfoundlands to pull fish nets and dachshunds to catch badgers.

Dogs taught humans the early science of designer genes. In the mid-19th century, as we moved off the farm and into the factory, we created dogs we could bring indoors at the end of a workday. And we created dogs we could bring to work: French bulldogs (now the most popular breed in America ) started out as literal lap dogs for lace-makers in France. We molded dogs to be friends, companions, playmates and unofficial therapists.

So dogs are not just humanity’s greatest invention but also its longest-running experiment.

That’s one way to look at it.

Now switch out the frame. Swap the subject and the object. Change the verbs.

Here’s another view:

Around the time early humans evolved, Neanderthals also walked the planet. At some point — roughly 40,000 years ago — humans started to thrive while Neanderthals died off. And this is about the time when those first curious wolves began to evolve into dogs. Some scientists believe the timing is not a coincidence. Maybe the dog was the key advantage in the triumph of humankind.

Dogs enabled humans to settle down and stop their endless wandering. Dogs protected humans at this vulnerable transition from nomadic to settled life. Dogs did work that humans did not have the strength or stamina to do: guarding, herding, hunting, pulling sleds. They created time for humans to build and think and create without having to focus every moment on the next meal or the next threat.

We domesticated dogs, and they domesticated us.

Today, dogs provide not just companionship but also an uncomplicated kind of love in an ever more complicated world. And for those restless souls wandering from town to town, chasing job after job — nomads again — a dog can be an anchor, something to hold on to on a lonely night.

From the gray wolf by the ancient fire to a coifed Pomeranian prancing around the show ring, dogs have been with us nearly as long as we have been human.

They might be our greatest creation. And we might be theirs.

About guest opinion submissions

The Washington Post accepts opinion articles on any topic. We welcome submissions on local, national and international issues. We publish work that varies in length and format, including multimedia. Submit a guest opinion or read our guide to writing an opinion article .

• Opinion | Why campus protests against Israel probably won’t be effective April 25, 2024 Opinion | Why campus protests against Israel probably won’t be effective April 25, 2024
• Opinion | Why Trump’s vice-presidential search may have taken a new turn April 23, 2024 Opinion | Why Trump’s vice-presidential search may have taken a new turn April 23, 2024
• Opinion | How to fix college finances? Eliminate faculty, then students. April 23, 2024 Opinion | How to fix college finances? Eliminate faculty, then students. April 23, 2024