This exciting City of Spies private tour has been created exclusively to take you on a fascinating journey through London's espionage history during the Cold War, the origins of MI5 and MI6, and to learn about Churchill's role in bringing down the Nazi regime.
On your private city of spies tour of London, you will:
- Learn London's rich history of espionage at St Ermin's Hotel, where Winston Churchill's meeting known as 'Setting Europe Ablaze’ occurred in 1940, and walk past the Caxton bar located inside this famous spy hotel used by intelligence service officials to meet up;
- Discover the stories of double agents known as the Cambridge Five: Kim Philby, Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, John Cairncross, and Sir Anthony Blunt;
- Hear the plots to overthrow the government at some of the most powerful institutions in Westminster, including Downing Street, Whitehall, and Westminster Palace;
- Learn about the extraordinary life of Sir Mansfield Cumming, the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) first director, known as MI6;
- Explore the Churchill War Rooms with your private guide and get up close to the Cabinet Room;
- See the Map Room, the beating heart of the war rooms;
- And discover the Telephone Room that allowed direct communication between the US and the UK government.
Your tour guide will take you on a journey through the streets of London to uncover the main characters and buildings that shaped the history of the world while telling you stories that seem more like Le Carré novels than real life.
After your walking tour, you will visit the Churchill War Rooms, located below the streets of Westminster. An underground network of bunkers that functioned as British wartime offices, planning, and map rooms.
It was here that much of Allied intelligence and strategy was discussed and planned in WWII, as well as serving as a place of refuge and shelter for the government during the blitz. Your guide will give a detailed and fascinating tour of this place that has been left exactly as it was since 1944.
Tour duration4 hours
Type of tourWalking tour: no transportation is included
Attractions along this route:
Downing StreetThe home of some of the most important members of the British Government, including the Prime Minister himself.
St James's ParkA green oasis in royal London that is host to numerous ceremonies - and has a lake complete with pelicans.
Horse Guards Parade at St James's ParkAn old tournament ground that now serves as an area for royal and military ceremonies.
Churchill War RoomsA fascinating underground museum preserving the bunker from which Churchill's government directed the war effort.
St Ermin's HotelThe St. Ermin's hotel is a converted grade-II listed Victorian mansion block and legendary landmark in British spy history in the city of Westminster.
Whitehall PlaceRecognised as the centre of Her Majesty's Government and the seat of power for the United Kingdom.
MI5 Security Service HeadquartersThe headquarters of the United Kingdom's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency.
Old War Office BuildingThe neo-Baroque building served as Churchill's Old War Office during World War II.
