See every London landmark in one day, from the back seat of your own Mercedes.
Westminster to Tower Bridge, your pace.
- From £370 (≈ $500) · whole car, full day
Licence PHOP950Tripyana’s private London tour is a Mercedes with a chauffeur for a full day of eight hours, starting at your hotel door between 8am and noon: Westminster, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s and Tower Bridge in one loop, the car waiting at each stop, and the route changed as you wish on the day. The fare is £370 for the car, up to three passengers, not per person; attraction tickets are bought by you.
Short notice? Same-day and next-day trips are often possible — book online or message us to confirm a driver.
How does a private London tour by car work?
Your chauffeur collects you between 8:00am and 12:00 noon and drives the loop below. Every stop is yours to lengthen, shorten or swap on the day. Staying longer? This loop is day one of our 3-day London itinerary by private car. Many visitors know this as a private car tour of London: the same car and chauffeur stay with you all day, with no coach, no group and no meeting point.
The classic landmarks loop
- 09:00Pickup at your hotel; first the Thames at Westminster Bridge for Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
- 09:30Westminster Abbey, one hour inside if you book a slot, or the west front from the square.
- 10:45Buckingham Palace and The Mall; the Changing of the Guard on scheduled days at 11:00.
- 12:00Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden, then lunch; the car waits nearby.
- 14:00St Paul’s Cathedral, 45 minutes for the dome or the steps.
- 15:00Tower of London and Tower Bridge, 90 minutes if you go inside.
- 16:15Hyde Park and Kensington on the way back, or Greenwich by road for the Observatory view.
- 17:00Back at your hotel.
Westminster and the Palace
Big Ben, the Abbey, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square, back at the hotel by early afternoon.
London by night
Tower Bridge, the City lights and the South Bank after dinner, three hours from the restaurant door.
Watch the day before you book
A short film that follows the loop in order: your pickup, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, St Paul's, the Tower and Tower Bridge.
What is included in a chauffeur-driven London tour?
Everything the car and the driver need for the day, so the figure we send is the figure you pay.
Door-to-door pickup
Any London hotel, apartment or airport; on arrival days the driver waits inside arrivals with a name board.
Congestion Charge, parking and fuel
The £18 daily Congestion Charge, parking near each landmark and all mileage are ours.
The car waits at every stop
An hour in the Abbey or ninety minutes at the Tower: take your time, the car is where you left it.
Stops and detours at no charge
Harrods, Notting Hill or a photo stop on Primrose Hill add nothing if they fit the day’s hours.
Child seats and pushchairs
Child seats fitted on request at no charge; the V-Class takes a pushchair and seven passengers.
Not included
Entry tickets and meals. Westminster Abbey charges £32 per adult and St Paul’s £27; we advise, you book.
Which London landmarks are on the tour?
Seven landmarks within a 12-mile loop, each with a place to stop the car and step out. It is one of the simplest private tours in London: your own car, your own driver and no group to wait for.
- Big Ben and Parliament — the Elizabeth Tower, 96 metres, best photographed from Westminster Bridge before 10:00.
- Westminster Abbey — coronation church since 1066; timed entry tickets sell out on summer weekends.
- Buckingham Palace — the forecourt and the Victoria Memorial; the Changing of the Guard runs at 11:00 on scheduled days.
- Trafalgar Square — Nelson’s Column and the National Gallery, free to enter, ten minutes from the Palace.
- St Paul’s Cathedral — Wren’s dome, 111 metres to the cross; 528 steps to the Golden Gallery.
- Tower of London — the Crown Jewels and the White Tower, with Tower Bridge next door.
- Greenwich — the Observatory, the Meridian line and the view over Canary Wharf, 25 minutes by road.
Seen from the car, or a stop on foot?
Both, and the split is yours. The seven landmarks above are full stops: the driver sets you down at the kerb, you walk in or take photos, and the Mercedes collects you at an agreed corner. Between them, the route passes sights most guests are happy to see through the window: Piccadilly Circus, the Royal Albert Hall, Marble Arch, the Strand and Fleet Street, the London Eye across the river, and Whitehall with the Downing Street gates. Any of these becomes a stop if you ask; a five-minute photo stop rarely changes the day.
As a rule of thumb for a first full day, plan on five or six stops on foot and the rest from the back seat. Fewer stops leave more time inside Westminster Abbey or at the Tower; more stops mean shorter visits and more photos. On the half day, Big Ben, the Abbey, the Palace and Trafalgar Square are the stops, and the rest of Westminster passes by the window between them.
Which vehicle suits a London sightseeing day?
The Mercedes V-Class for families and groups, the S-Class for two travellers who want the rear seats. The whole car is yours for the day.
Mercedes E-Class
3 passengers · 2 suitcases
£370(≈ $500)
Mercedes V-Class
7 passengers · 7 suitcases · the family choice
£460(≈ $620)
Mercedes S-Class
3 passengers · 2 suitcases · rear-seat comfort
£620(≈ $835)
Range Rover
4 passengers · 4 suitcases · the high seat
£730(≈ $985)
One fixed price per car — fuel, parking and the Congestion Charge included; half day (4 hours) from £230 and extra hours from £55, both chosen when you book.
Dollar figures are approximate; you are charged in GBP.
Six people with two pushchairs fill a V-Class comfortably; seating and boot details are on the Mercedes V-Class page.
Want commentary as well as the car? A Blue Badge guide can join you: see our private tour guide in London service.
When is the best time for a London tour by car, and what should we know?
Any month works; the traffic decides the order. Weekday mornings are quiet at Westminster, Sunday mornings at the Tower. To see the same landmarks floodlit after dark, book our London by night tour.
- Changing of the Guard:runs at 11:00 on scheduled days, usually Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday in summer; check the schedule the week before.
- Tickets:book the Abbey and the Tower online for a timed slot; St Paul’s and Greenwich rarely need it.
- Traffic:the loop is 12 miles but takes the whole day; the driver reorders stops around road closures and ceremonies.
- Rain:a wet day moves you indoors: the Abbey, St Paul’s and the Tower fill the hours and the car keeps you dry between them.
Tell us your date, your party and your must-see list.
Give the form your date and the sights that matter most, and the driver shapes the loop around them, ceremonies and closures included. Landing that morning? Add meet and assist at the London airport and the landmarks day begins at the terminal instead of the hotel.
How can the tour be shaped around who is travelling?
Tell us who is in the car and what matters most, and the chauffeur sets the order and pace of the stops. The landmarks barely change; the time at each one, the breaks and the start do.
- First visit:the full-day landmarks loop, with the Abbey, the Palace and the Tower as the long stops.
- Families with young children:shorter stops, a run-around break in Hyde Park or Greenwich Park, and child seats fitted when you ask.
- Photographers:Westminster before 10:00 for soft light, Tower Bridge in the afternoon, and Primrose Hill for the skyline.
- Second visit:Kensington, Notting Hill and Greenwich in place of the sights you have already seen.
- Short on time:the four-hour half day, covering Big Ben, the Abbey and the Palace.
On the day, the chauffeur drives, parks, waits and reorders the route around closures and queues. Expect local tips and the best viewpoints along the way. For history told inside the Abbey or the Tower, a licensed guide joins on request.
Does the tour suit older travellers or anyone who walks with difficulty?
Yes, and it is one of the main reasons guests choose a car over a walking or coach tour. Mention any mobility needs when you book, and the route is planned around short walks and step-free entrances.
- Kerbside drop-offs:the driver sets you down at the nearest legal point to each entrance and collects you there, so walking is counted in minutes, not miles. Around Buckingham Palace and Parliament Square cars cannot wait on the road, so the pickup corner is agreed before you step out.
- Easy seats:the V-Class has a wide sliding door and a low step; the E-Class and S-Class suit guests who prefer a normal car seat. Tell us on the form and we send the right car.
- Walkers and folding wheelchairs:a folding chair or rollator travels in the boot, and the driver unfolds it at each stop. Our cars have no ramp or lift, so the passenger needs to move from the chair to the seat.
- Step-free sights:the Crown Jewels and the ground floor of St Paul’s can be visited without stairs; the White Tower and the galleries of the dome are stairs only. Each site lists its access routes, worth a look when you book tickets.
- A gentler pace:fewer stops, more of the city seen from the back seat, and a coffee and toilet break every couple of hours. Many older guests choose the four-hour half day and rest in the afternoon.
How do I book a private London tour by car?
Pick the route and the morning
On the form below, choose the eight-hour landmarks loop or the four-hour Westminster half day, set a morning start, and give us the hotel or address where the Mercedes should be waiting.
Choose the Mercedes and see one total
Tap the E-Class, V-Class, S-Class or Range Rover and a single figure for the car and the chauffeur appears before any payment. Settle it by card online, or in cash when the driver drops you back.
Receive the confirmation and meet your driver
An email confirms the landmarks day straight away; pickup is at the agreed time. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.
Can we tour London with our suitcases on arrival or departure day?
Yes, and it turns a lost travel day into a sightseeing day. Your suitcases ride in the locked boot while you visit each landmark. Check the suitcase count listed for each car above before you choose.
On arrival, the driver meets you inside arrivals and the loop starts at the terminal. On departure day, check out first, tour the city, then finish at your airport. Put your flight time on the form; the drive to the terminal counts within the hours you book.
Keep the bags in the car, not with you. The Tower of London and Westminster Abbey admit no suitcases or wheeled bags, and neither offers left luggage. A small daypack is all you need inside.
Changing planes in London? Leaving the airport means passing UK border control, so check your permission to enter the UK before you book.
Can the day follow a theme instead of the classic landmarks?
Yes. Pick one theme, or mix two, and we plan the stops around it. Each theme below fits a half day on its own, or joins the classic loop on a full day.
- Harry Potter in the city:Leadenhall Market, the screen entrance to Diagon Alley; the Millennium Bridge, which falls in the sixth film; Australia House on the Strand, Gringotts inside; and the Platform 9¾ trolley at King’s Cross. The studios outside London are a separate day: see the Harry Potter studio tour.
- Royal London:Kensington Palace and its gardens, Horse Guards Parade, St James’s Palace and Clarence House, then the Palace forecourt for the photo.
- East End and street art:Brick Lane and the Shoreditch walls, Spitalfields Market, and the painted Leake Street tunnel under Waterloo, where the work changes every few weeks.
- Skyline viewpoints:Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath, the top of Greenwich Park by the Observatory, and the river path at Butler’s Wharf below Tower Bridge.
Name the theme on the booking form and list any must-see spot. The chauffeur sets the order around traffic and opening times, and each stop works as on the classic route: set down at the kerb, collected at an agreed corner.
Frequently asked questions about a private London tour by car
Why tour London by private car rather than on foot?
Because the landmarks sit eight miles apart end to end and the car removes the distance: you step out at each one, walk as much as you like, and the same Mercedes is waiting when you are done. Children, grandparents and shopping bags all travel with you.
How is a chauffeur-driven London tour priced?
The car is priced as one figure, and the full-day E-Class landmarks loop starts at £370. That figure already holds the eight hours of driving, the £18 Congestion Charge, the parking at every stop and the fuel. Three people or seven in the V-Class change nothing; only the car you choose and the day length do. Entry tickets and meals stay yours to buy.
Is the driver a tour guide?
No. Your chauffeur is a professional driver who knows the city, the closures and the best photo stops and will point things out along the way, but does not give guided commentary. Inside the Abbey or the Tower you explore at your own pace, or ask us to add a private tour guide to the day, priced separately.
Where does the day start and end?
Wherever you are staying: the chauffeur collects you at your hotel, apartment or rented house anywhere in London and returns you to the same door, or to a restaurant if you would rather finish with dinner. Guests landing that morning can be met at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted or Luton and start the loop from the terminal. Mornings are the norm; the evening tour leaves after dark.
Can we change the landmarks on the day?
Yes. The list you send is a plan, not a contract: tell the driver over coffee that Kensington Palace beats Greenwich today, or that Harrods belongs on the way back, and the route bends to fit the hours you booked. If you expect the day to run long, add hours on the form before you travel at the published hourly rate.
Which vehicles are available, and how many people fit?
Four cars, each with a chauffeur. The Mercedes E-Class carries three and suits a couple or a small family; the S-Class carries three in the quietest cabin; the V-Class takes up to seven with pushchairs and shopping in the back; the Range Rover seats three higher up for a better view of the streets. Child seats come free when you ask on the form.
Is a half-day London tour enough?
For Westminster, the Palace and Trafalgar Square, yes: four hours cover them with a coffee stop. The Tower, St Paul’s and Greenwich need the full day, or a second half day on another morning.
How much is the tour in US dollars?
About $500 for the Mercedes E-Class and $620 for the V-Class at the current rate — estimates only. Fares are set and charged in pounds sterling, so your card issuer’s exchange rate on the day decides the exact dollar amount. The price covers the car, not each passenger, and there is nothing extra to pay for a second or third traveller.
What are some good private car tours in London?
The landmarks loop on this page covers the classic sights: Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s, the Tower and Tower Bridge in one day. Popular variations are a royal London morning around Kensington Palace and the Mall, a Greenwich afternoon by the river, or a Notting Hill and Camden day for the markets. Tell us which and the chauffeur builds the route.
What are some good private day trips from London?
If you have a second day, the same chauffeur-driven format works outside the city: Windsor Castle is under an hour away, Stonehenge and Bath make a full day to the west, and the Cotswolds villages a full day to the north-west. Each has its own fixed price for the whole car, listed on our day trips pages, and the driver waits at every stop exactly as on the London tour.
Can I cancel, and how do I pay?
Yes. Cancel at least 24 hours before pickup and any card payment is refunded in full; inside 24 hours the fare is charged. Pay by card in the booking form when you book, or choose cash and settle with the driver in pounds sterling on the day.
Can the driver stop anywhere for photos?
Not anywhere, but often. The chauffeur stops only where it is safe and legal, so on busy bridges and royal roads you step out at a nearby point and walk a few minutes to the view. The car then collects you on the far side, or waits where you left it.
Other day trips to book
London shopping tour with a driver
From Harrods to Oxford Street and Westfield — your car waits outside each store and carries the bags.
Harry Potter Studio Tour from London
From your London hotel to Warner Bros. Studio Tour north of the city — the Great Hall, Diagon Alley and Platform 9¾. Your driver waits throughout the visit and takes you back.
Seven Sisters & Brighton day trip
Sea air and the famous Brighton pier on the south coast — a complete change of scene about two hours away.
All of London, one car, your pace.
The price is fixed and the confirmation is immediate. Trips outside the city are listed under day trips from London by private car.
Tripyana Ltd is a UK-licensed company — private hire operator licence PHOP950 · Company No. 16308293.