Viator VIP: Exclusive-Access Tour to The Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and The View from The Shard

Get an insider look at the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and the View from The Shard on this incredible Viator VIP tour! With exclusive pre-opening access to the Tower of London, your tour includes the tower's historic opening ceremony and a look at the Crown Jewels with a Beefeater guard. Explore the normally inaccessible Triforium at St Paul’s Cathedral, alongside other highlights like the Whispering Gallery and the Crypts. Stop for a 2-course lunch at The Restaurant at St Paul’s Cathedral, and then finish your day with a visit to the Shard – the glistening glass skyscraper that’s redefined London’s skyline.

Your VIP London tour starts at the Tower of London, which you'll enter before the public opening. Meet your guide as well as one of the tower’s Beefeater guards who will personally show you around. The formidable 11th- century tower was built to act as a fortress, palace and prison – terrifying Londoners and foreign invaders alike. Watch the historic opening ceremony, where members of the military escort march around the tower with the Beefeaters to open it for business.

On your tour of the tower, see the Crown Jewels – a dazzling collection of jewels and diamonds that are still used today by the Queen. Stroll along the East Wall Walk for a bird’s-eye view of the city streets, explore the White Tower and see the ravens that have lived here since the reign of Charles II – a superstitious king who believed the tower would fall if the birds left.

Next, walk to nearby St Paul’s Cathedral, a much-cherished architectural icon home to theTriforium, an area that's typically closed to the public but open to you! Stand-out features include the Dean’s Staircase (featured in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) and a medieval library. See both, and then marvel at vertigo-inducing views toward the nave. In addition to the Triforium, your tour visits the Whispering Gallery and Crypt. Enjoy a 2-course lunch at The Restaurant at St Paul’s Cathedral (located inside the Crypt itself), and relax amid contemporary décor while dining from a classically British menu.

Work off your lunch with a stroll across Millennium Bridge to visit The View from The Shard – your last destination of the day. This 95-storey skyscraper is the brainchild of architect Renzo Piano and is one of Europe’s tallest buildings. Step into the high-speed elevator at the View of the Shard and go straight up to its 68th- and 69th-floor viewing galleries. Explore independently, soaking up 360-degree views of the city, seeing highlights like the Gherkin, London Eye and Buckingham Palace.

After an hour, leave the Shard and say your goodbyes to your guide outside London Bridge Station.

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