YOUR LONDON TOURS – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
COVID SPECIAL NOTICE: Your London Tours have been awarded the ‘Good To Go’ certificate, a safe consumer mark initiative which we trust will give our customers the reassurance they seek when visiting London and the UK.
The ‘Good To Go’ industry standard and supporting mark means businesses can demonstrate that they are adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance. It means they have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment including social distancing and cleanliness protocols. Businesses must also adhere to other specific guidelines and show the necessary processes had been put in place, before receiving the Good To Go certification.
Note: We no longer offer London Private Tours by car. The combined cost of fuel, parking, road tax, congestion charges and operating licences means we cannot effectively give value for money with this option.
However, we do offer the same tour by ‘tube’ (the Londoners’ nickname for the subway transit system). Here are five advantages of the tube alternative:
- Cost-effective: typically, a family of four will save over £150.00 over the previous car option.
- Time-effective: usually a faster way to get around the city, giving you more time to enjoy your tour. As London Transport advertising once proclaimed: ‘It’s quicker by tube!‘
- Eco-friendly: kinder to the environment, and healthier too, with a little more walking involved. Not too much walking, but enough to burn off some excess calories!
- Engaging: interact with the city, just like a local.
- Iconic: adds another dimension to the London visitor experience. As the oldest and largest underground transit system in the world, it’s practically an attraction in itself.
- What kind of service does Your London Tours offer?
In London, we offer private guided tours by tube, private guided walks and internal tours of attractions. They are aimed at couples, families, friends or small groups up to 10 persons. We also offer private guided tours by car from London – for couple, families, friends or small groups up to 7 persons. Usually comprehensive or theme based, all our tours been researched and designed by our staff and are exclusive to Your London Tours & associates (copyright applies). Selected elements may be combined to create other tour options. We endeavour to focus on an enjoyable tour experience, value for money and customer care. So, rest assured with Your London Tours, and make us your first port of call for a trip to remember. - What is meant by private tour?
A private tour means a privately chartered tour with a guide dedicated exclusively to your group. It does not entail exclusive private access to an attraction or venue. We do not offer tours to individuals wishing to join a larger group tour. For that you require a scheduled bus tour operator. The main three London operators are Evan Evans, Golden Tours or Premium Tours. - What kind of guide can I expect?
Our presentable, professional and friendly guides are part of an elite group carrying the British ‘Blue Badge’ accreditation which allows them to conduct tours, walks and interior visits of major London venues and other UK attractions. Our driver-guides drive fully insured private vehicles. - How does the guide conduct a tour?
The main driving, walking and interior visits of a tour are conducted personally by your guide or driver-guide, providing knowledgeable commentary, and assisting with practical issues. Some attractions may insist on in-house docents or the use of audio devices, but your guide may still escort you. - What are the timings of a tour?
A full-day tour will typically last 8 to 10 hours. The duration of a tour is timed from pick-up to drop-off and usually includes built-in stops for photo opportunities, facilities, and a one-hour lunch break. The recommended start time ensures the tour runs to schedule. Tours from London may use fast-track routes to save time. - Where is the tour pick-up and drop-off point?
Usually, the pick-up or drop-off for your tour can be anywhere in the central London area: your hotel, place of residence, or venue of your request. Other pick-up or drop-off points outside the central London area may be available on request and may incur a charge. - Are entrance fees to attractions included?
We do not include entrance fees in our tour prices. However, for most attractions it may be necessary for us to book standard tickets in advance. You will be notified if this is the case. Your guide will try to take you through a fast-track entrance whenever possible. On some tours, entrances can be paid at the gate on the day. - What do we do for lunch?
The tour price does not include food or refreshments. However, an appropriate restaurant, traditional pub, or sandwich stop can be arranged for lunch. Alternatively, you may want to bring a pre-packed lunch. It’s your tour, it’s your choice. The guide may take a rest during this period. - What kind of clothing should we wear?
Dress comfortably. Especially footwear. Make allowances for the changeable British weather. Formal wear is not required on our tours. However, be aware that some places, especially churches, do not welcome too much bare flesh!
SCHEDULED TOUR BY BUS vs PRIVATE TOUR BY CAR
- Below is a comparison for a typical out-of-London day-tour between a scheduled service tour by bus, and a private tour with Your London Tours. We leave you to decide which option offers the best value.
Scheduled tour by bus
- All the main London service-tour companies operate a feeder-bus system. The feeder-bus picks up passengers from several of the main hotels and drops them at a central station to join the designated tour-bus.
- Feeder-bus pick-ups begin as early as 7am. Wait in hotel reception. Miss the feeder-bus, miss the tour.
- If your hotel is not on the feeder-bus run, you have to make your way to a hotel that is.
- Delay as feeder-buses complete pick-up runs from hotels and converge at central station.
- Delay as all passengers disembark and go to designated tour-bus gates.
- Delay as you wait in line for your designated tour-bus to arrive and then begin boarding.
- First-come, first-serve seating arrangements. Not always seated next to partners/friends/family.
- Share facilities with up to 50 other passengers.
- Share your day with up to 50 other passengers.
- Follow strict timing schedule and tour itinerary.
- You pay for all entrances – whether you want to go into a venue or not.
- You may only access venues as part of a group.
- Wait in group lines for access.
- Guiding at tour venues often via hand-held audio-guides.
- Lunch at operator-tied eateries with group set-menus.
- Get lost, delayed or distracted en route? Make your own way back.
- Limited drop-offs at London subway stations (usually during rush-hour). Make your own way back to hotel.
- For a typical London tour for a family of 7 you would pay around £800.00 per group*.
Private tour by car
- Reasonable start times.
- Pick-up at your place of residence.
- Friendly personal driver-guide.
- Private luxury vehicle.
- Fast-track out to chosen tour venues.
- Request comfort stops for facilities at any time.
- Flexible itinerary (within reason) to suit.
- Decide which entrances you wish to pay for.
- Often fast-track entrances with driver-guide.
- Driver-guide will conduct tours within most attractions, giving you a personal insight.
- Tour conducted at your pace. Time to visit places properly, with time to ‘stand and stare’.
- Decide if you would like time on your own.
- Decide on your lunch choice, or enjoy a restaurant or venue trusted and recommended by us.
- Drop-off at your place of residence.
- For a typical out-of-London tour for a family of 7 you would pay around £900.00 per group*.
- *Figures based on 2 adults, 2 seniors, 3 children, including entrances to three major London attractions.
OUR TOP TEN TOUR TIPS
- Book well in advance: It will help us to help you.
- Travel light: One good suitcase and one carry-on bag should suffice. You’ll save time, space and energy.
- Taxi first: Trust us on this one: When first arriving at the airport, spend the extra money and get a taxi direct to your hotel. London’s public transport system is not kind to the newly-arrived visitor from overseas, so avoid unnecessary stress at the start of your trip.
- Less is more: Don’t overload your trip with an ambitious itinerary. You will end up seeing nothing at all. This is why we offer two or three attractions maximum to get the best value from your day.
- Variety is the spice of life: If you are planning a day-tour for a family or group, try to select an itinerary with some balance, eg, one castle and one church or one garden and one museum, etc.
- The early bird: The earlier we start, the more you will get out of your day. Your London Tours recommends a start between 8am and 9am for most tours. It will help you beat the lines/queues too.
- Have a good breakfast: It will give you the energy to enjoy the early part of your tour. You may also be less inclined to have a heavy lunch. Which brings us onto…
- Plan a light lunch: Perhaps a sandwich: It will give you more time to enjoy the rest of your tour. A heavy lunch may leave you feeling sluggish in the afternoon, and thus diminish the value of your tour.
- Dress comfortably: We mean it. Especially footwear. Make allowances for the changeable British weather. Formal wear is not required on any of our tours. However, be aware that some places, especially churches, do not welcome too much bare flesh!
- Relax! We all have our day-to-day stresses and strains. Taking a break with a tour is a great way to unwind. We try to encourage a friendly, informal and comfortable atmosphere between our guides and you. So, rest assured with Your London Tours, and make us your first port of call for a trip to remember.
Copyright 2024 Jo Bull.
TOUR TERMS & CONDITIONS
By booking tours or services through Your London Tours you agree to the following:
1) Clients are responsible for checking that tour or service details are correct on their confirmation form.
2) Clients are responsible for travel arrangements to or from tours organized by Your London Tours.
3) Clients are responsible for their own tour safety: crossing roads, using steps, wearing seat belts, etc.
4) Children under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult during a tour.
5) No food or drink to be consumed in tour vehicles except by permission of the driver.
6) The guide, driver or operator reserves the right to terminate any tour for unreasonable behaviour.
7) Your London Tours, its guides and drivers, are insured for public liability within the arranged tour schedule only.
8) Your London Tours is not liable for reduced itineraries owing to late start or delays by the client.
9) Your London Tours is not liable for reduced itineraries owing to unscheduled closures, extreme weather, or delays or diversions caused by accidents or other circumstances beyond our control.
10) Clients should acquire adequate insurance to cover any loss as a consequence of flight delays or cancellations, illness, or circumstances causing the tour to be cancelled beyond the control of Your London Tours or its partners.
If you have any queries regarding our terms & conditions, please email tours@yourlondontours.com
CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY
- Do not pay for a tour without prior instruction.
- Full advance payment of the total cost of the tour is required to secure the booking.
- We reserve the right to retain 100% of tour cost for cancellations less than 48hrs before the tour.
- We reserve the right to retain 50% of the tour cost for cancellations 2-14 days before the tour.
- We reserve the right to charge an administration fee of 5% for cancellation refunds to credit cards.
- We offer a full immediate refund, or alternatively, a discount on a rearranged tour, if a tour cannot go ahead for any reason, and the fault is accepted by Your London Tours or its partners.
- Refund claims must be raised via e-mail to Your London Tours within 30 days of the tour date.
- Any tickets that we have pre-booked for attractions are non-refundable.
- Clients should acquire adequate insurance to cover any loss as a consequence of flight delays or cancellations, illness, or circumstances causing the tour to be cancelled beyond the control of Your London Tours or its partners.
If you have any queries regarding this policy, please email tours@yourlondontours.com
BOOKING POLICY
- Bookings are dealt with on a one-to-one basis via e-mail only. Clients with queries regarding existing bookings may use the phone number on their confirmation form.
- All tours subject to availability. Booking will not go ahead until availability is confirmed.
- No bookings are accepted with less then 3 day’s notice. To secure your preferred date we recommend booking well in advance.
- If the tour is unavailable or we are fully booked, we will inform you and provide details of another operator who may be able to help.
- For most attractions it will be necessary for us to book standard tickets in advance. You will be notified if this is the case. These must be paid for when booking your tour, and are non-refundable.
- In some instances, tickets for attractions can be paid for at the gate on the day.
- Administration fees may be added for extensive itineraries or advance ticket booking.
- We do not arrange flights, accommodation, travel tickets or tickets for special events.
- Full advance payment of the total cost of the tour is required to secure the booking.
- Clients are responsible for checking that tour service details are correct on confirmation form.
If you have any queries regarding this policy, please email tours@yourlondontours.com
PAYMENT POLICY
- Do not pay for a tour without prior instruction.
- Full advance payment of the total cost of the tour is required to secure the booking.
- We do not store customer financial information, credit card or debit card details.
- We do not accept cash or cheques.
- Payments can take up to 48 hrs to process.
- On receiving payment, we will e-mail you a receipt which outlines your tour details and confirms your booking. Please check details carefully and e-mail us with any queries.
If you have any queries regarding this policy, please email tours@yourlondontours.com
Reviews
Our tours covered in the following media:
● Sunday Times Travel magazine: Feature article.
● Travel Agent Central: Feature article.
● London Evening Standard: Feature article.
● Luxury Travel Guide magazine: Awards section.
● BBC News: UK news section of the website.
● Trip Advisor: ‘Things To Do in London’.
● Magna Carta Trails: Tours section of website.
● New York Times: ‘About’ section.
● Time Out London: ‘Around Town’ section.
Little London Limericks
London’s a grand place to go,
As Your London Tours always show,
So don’t overlook,
And make sure you book,
The tour guide for those in the know!
The Tower’s a place full of dread,
A slaughterhouse Shakespeare said.
Your London Tour guide
Will show you inside,
And make sure you don’t lose your head!
To stray from the old beaten track,
A guidebook you’ve no need to pack,
For discovering places,
And hidden odd spaces,
Your London Tours has the knack!
A royal invitation to tea,
Is one thing we can’t guarantee,
But for Changing the Guard,
In the Palace front yard,
Your London Tours hold the key!
If you’re looking for London on tap,
You won’t need an underground map,
Your London Tours,
Will open the doors,
And our rivals must all ‘mind the gap’!
There’s much in the British Museum:
The remains of the first mausoleum,
Egyptians and Greeks,
And Roman antiques…
With Your London Tour guide you’ll see ’em!
For sightseeing tours with aplomb,
Check out where we’re coming from,
If London’s the plan,
We’re so partisan,
Book yourlondontours.com!
If London is on the agenda,
For a day or perhaps a weekender,
Your London Tour guide,
Will show you with pride,
The city in all of its splendour!
Westminster Abbey has style,
Magnificence fills every aisle,
Your London Tour guide,
Is well qualified,
To make your whole visit worthwhile!
London is such a great sight,
Enjoy it by getting it right,
And hire by your side,
Your London Tour guide,
To function as your guiding light!
St Paul’s is a sight to astound,
But Wren’s tomb is hard to be found,
Your London Tour guide,
The proof will provide:
His monument stands all around!