Official Sightseeing
Tours of Scotland since 1907

Tours from London to Scotland

London is one of the world’s great cities and an excellent gateway to Scotland by rail.

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Discover London – Your Gateway to Scotland

London is one of the world’s great cities and, thanks to fast rail connections, it’s also an excellent starting point for discovering Scotland.

Before heading north, there’s an extraordinary selection of sights to explore. From Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament to the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and the museums of South Kensington, London’s attractions span almost 2,000 years of history.

When it’s time to discover Scotland, travelling by train is the ideal way to travel. Direct services from London Kings Cross speed to Edinburgh in just over 4 hours, making Scotland within easy reach.

Our tours from London to Scotland combine rail travel with carefully selected sightseeing experiences. Depending on your itinerary, you can explore Edinburgh, visit Edinburgh Castle, journey into the Scottish Highlands, search for Nessie at Loch Ness or travel further afield to the Isle of Skye.

It’s an easy way to add Scotland to your London holiday.

If you prefer, longer escorted tours are also available, visiting key attractions in England, Wales and Scotland.

Top 10 Attractions in London

01

Buckingham Palace

One of London’s most recognisable landmarks, Buckingham Palace is the official London headquarters of the British monarch and an enduring symbol of the British monarchy.

The palace provides a magnificent setting for state occasions, royal celebrations and ceremonial events. During selected periods, visitors can tour the spectacular State Rooms, while the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony attracts visitors from around the world to the palace gates.

Buckingham Palace
02

Tower of London

Beside the River Thames, the Tower of London has stood for almost 1,000 years. During its long history, it has served as a royal palace, prison, armoury, and treasury.

Within its walls, you can see the Crown Jewels, visit the White Tower, walk along sections of the battlements and hear stories from the Yeoman Warders of the prisoners, executions, and events associated with the Tower.

Look out for the Tower’s famous ravens. According to legend, if they ever left the Tower, it would collapse, and the kingdom would fall.

Tower of London
03

Houses of Parliament and Big Ben

The Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower standing beside the River Thames at Westminster are one of London’s best-known views,

The current Palace of Westminster dates mainly to the 19th century and is the centre of government in the United Kingdom. Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords sit within the Houses of Parliament.

Big Ben is the name of the great bell hung in the Elizabeth Tower, whose clock faces can be seen from across central London.

Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
04

Westminster Abbey

Standing close to the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey has played a central role in British history for almost a thousand years.

Kings and queens have been crowned here since William the Conqueror’s coronation in 1066, and the abbey regularly hosts important royal and national events.

Visitors can see the Coronation Chair and discover the tombs of kings, queens and other notable figures.

Poets’ Corner contains memorials to some of Britain’s best-known writers, including William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen.

Westminster Abbey
05

British Museum

The British Museum is one of the world’s great museums, bringing together an extraordinary collection of art, antiquities and historic objects spanning thousands of years of human civilisation.

Its vast galleries contain treasures from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and cultures from around the globe.

Famous exhibits include the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies and sculptures from the Parthenon. Entry to the museum’s permanent collection is free.

The Bayeux Tapestry is on display at the museum until July 2027.

06

St Paul’s Cathedral

The great dome of St Paul’s Cathedral has been a feature of the London skyline for more than 300 years. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London. The present cathedral was completed in the early 18th century.

St Paul’s has been the setting for royal weddings, jubilees, state funerals and other major national events. Visitors can explore the cathedral, see the tombs in the crypt and climb to the galleries beneath the dome for views across London.

07

London Eye

Rising high above the South Bank of the River Thames, the London Eye offers one of the best opportunities to appreciate the enormous scale of the British capital.

Step inside one of its glass observation capsules for a leisurely journey above the city. From the top, you get spectacular views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, with many other famous London landmarks visible across the skyline on a clear day.

London Eye
08

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is one of London’s best-known meeting places, named after the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. In the centre of the square stands Nelson’s Column, guarded by four enormous bronze lions.

The National Gallery overlooks the square and houses paintings by artists including Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Turner and Constable.

Trafalgar Square is also within walking distance of Whitehall, Covent Garden and Leicester Square.

09

Tower Bridge

Completed in 1894, Tower Bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London. Its twin towers and lifting roadway make it one of the easiest London landmarks to recognise.

Visitors can walk across the high-level walkways, learn how the bridge was built and see the original Victorian machinery in the Engine Rooms. The walkways also provide good views along the Thames and towards the Tower of London.

10

Hyde Park

Covering hundreds of acres in the heart of the capital, Hyde Park is one of London’s largest and best-known Royal Parks and provides a welcome escape from the surrounding city streets.

Walk beside the Serpentine, relax among the trees and open lawns or visit famous landmarks such as Speakers’ Corner. Together with neighbouring Kensington Gardens, the park forms an extensive green space within easy reach of many of central London’s major attractions.

Tours from London - FAQs

London is famous for its Royal palaces, historic landmarks, museums, theatres and distinctive neighbourhoods. Must-see sights include Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. The UK capital is also renowned for its West End theatres, shopping, restaurants and world-famous museums and galleries.

London’s best-known attractions include the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and St Paul’s Cathedral. Other places worth visiting include the London Eye, Kensington Palace, London Zoo and the Natural History Museum.

There is plenty to see away from the main landmarks too. Explore neighbourhoods such as Notting Hill and Covent Garden, spend time in one of the Royal Parks or take a boat trip along the River Thames.

Three or four days will allow you to see many of London’s main attractions, although you could easily spend a week exploring the city. With extra time available, you can discover different London neighbourhoods or take trips further afield. Fast rail connections also make it possible to combine a stay in London with a visit to Scotland.

Yes. Fast direct trains make it possible to visit Edinburgh from London in a day. Our Edinburgh by Train tour departs from London King’s Cross and travels directly to the heart of Edinburgh. On arrival, you’ll have time to explore Scotland’s capital, take an open-top city tour and visit Edinburgh Castle before returning to London that evening.

The train is one of the easiest ways to travel from central London to central Edinburgh. Direct services depart from London King’s Cross and reach Edinburgh Waverley in around four to four-and-a-half hours. Along the way, the route passes York, Durham and Newcastle before following the scenic Northumberland coast and crossing the border into Scotland.

Yes. Scotland tour packages from London range from a day trip to Edinburgh to longer rail and coach holidays. Depending on the itinerary selected, you can explore Edinburgh, Glasgow, Loch Ness, Glen Coe, the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Skye, or experience a journey aboard the famous Jacobite Steam Train.