Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Get yourself a Cocktail at the Famous Rules Restaurant after retracing the steps of Covent Garden’s elite, their bizarre history and secrets.
Step into the glamorous and scandalous world of old London on our Covent Garden guided tour and learn the history of the rich, the royal family and the city’s most powerful people.
Hear about the British ballet dancer organising a coup behind closed doors, the nefarious coffee house owned by London's most feared female gangster and the deadly argument between actors about their wigs.
Gossip with us about the affairs of the aristocracy and the monarch’s mistresses before escaping to London’s oldest restaurant, Rules. Immerse yourself in high society and hear about the scandalous secrets held inside the restaurant’s walls.
Join the most unique sightseeing experience in London, bringing you a combination of royal history, upper-class cover ups, and Covent Garden’s rich past.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
One of London's most famous streets for retail. A bustling and lively street filled with shops and boutiques.
The apartment where prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn lived at this apartment for most of her life. Known as the greatest ballet dancer of her generation, perhaps of all time.
Options
Oldest London Restaurant & Covent Garden Guided Tour
What‘s Included
Professional English-speaking guide
Exclusive entry to Rules Restaurant before public opening hours
Guided walking tour of Covent Garden
Gratuities
Option to buy yourself at cocktail at the beautiful Rules Restaurant
Snacks
Meals
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
8 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great tour, ending at an historic restaurant
Dalia J,May 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great knowledge and friendly, patient guide, keeping us moving! Learnt some fun and interesting stories, despite knowing London relatively well! Consider booking a table at Rules afterwards.
A wonderful tour in Covent Garden
468alexal,Jan 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Went on the Covent Garden tours with my mom. Jamie was a fantastic storyteller, super knowledgeable about everything he showed us and was an all around sensational guide. Would definitely book with him again.
Amazing Tour Experience!
J7729EJmarinal,Jan 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic tour! Jamie is so fun and so knowledgeable! We had an amazing tour! Jamie’s great local relationships made for some once in a lifetime experiences. Highly recommend!
Great host. History lovers!
Vacation03958044109,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jamie was an entertaining host. Had my teenage children transfixed. Best historical tour I’ve ever done. Some amazing stories about real characters from the past! I will definitely door tours with this company again.
Delightful Afternoon in Covent Garden
YogiShar,Aug 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I joined the Covent Garden tour in May 2025, and it was a delightful afternoon hosted by the irrepressible Jamie. From the moment we set off, it was clear that Jamie was enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. He was keen to share every fact with infectious storytelling and encouraged the group to join in and take part. I thought I knew quite a bit about Covent Garden, and was thrilled to discover the darker tales, anecdotes and curiosities about life many years ago. This is a must do for anyone who wants to experience Covent Garden beyond the guidebook. I went with some friends, but would have been equally at home had I ventured out on my own. Oh - and the drinks at Rules were delicious!
Great tour of historic Covent Garden and Rules restaurant
709kateo,Jul 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was excellent! It was a great way to learn about the history of Covent Garden and Rules restaurant. Jamie was an amazing guide who told great stories and was very funny. The cocktails at Rules at the end of the tour were delicious. Highly recommend this tour!
Who knew Covent Garden had such scandal, charm and secrets?
jennybN824QW,Jul 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jamie brought the streets of Covent Garden to life with captivating stories, quirky history and a real sense of the characters that lives there! We moved effortlessly between locations, each one revealing something unexpected - from local legends to hidden corners you’d never notice on your own. It was also really family friendly and accessible, which made it easy to enjoy the whole experience with my baby either in a sling or pram! Finishing with a cocktail at Rules was so luxurious and a great way to unwind. A brilliant blend of culture, storytelling and fun.
Spy Stories, Theatre Rivalries, and Cocktails: My Perfect Afternoon
A6225OXchrish,Jul 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had an afternoon to kill in London so I joined this tour, and I can't tell you how glad I am that I did! I met Jamie and the rest of the group in the middle of the beautiful Covent Garden where I was expecting a nice walk and a bit of history. Instead, Jamie (a phenomenal storyteller) regaled us with stories of international espionage, London's gritty underbelly of organised crime and deadly theatre land rivalries. As if that wasn't enough, a real highlight was finishing the afternoon with a private tour of the iconic Rules restaurant, a tour unto itself, with a refreshing cocktail to cap it all off. I couldn't have come up with a better way to spend my afternoon than letting Jamie skilfully guide me through the intriguing history of this fantastic part of London. I can't wait to try out his other tours on my next free afternoon.
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