27 Sep 2024
We booked this tour expecting to see the major highlights of London, such as Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, but were thoroughly disappointed with the experience. Despite our clear request to focus on these photo-worthy landmarks, we only drove past them quickly without the chance to stop for photos, which was a key part of the experience we were looking forward to. The driver claimed it would be difficult to find parking at these spots, which seemed like an odd excuse considering these are top tourist attractions.
Instead, we spent an excessive amount of time at less relevant stops like the Natural History Museum and the Albert Memorial, neither of which we had asked to visit. We felt this was a complete waste of time, given the price we paid and the limited time we had to see the actual highlights of London.
To make matters worse, the guide’s behavior was highly condescending, especially when discussing British history, which felt more like a lecture or quiz than a fun and informative tour. He also made uncomfortable political remarks, such as asking my political affiliation after we mentioned our profession, which was completely out of place. Additionally, he made derogatory comments about certain ethnicities, which was highly offensive and unprofessional.
On top of all this, we were told during the tour that we would need to pay an additional fee to continue the tour — something we were not informed about upfront. For a tour that cost $800, this was completely unacceptable.
Overall, the tour was not worth the price. It didn’t meet the expectations set by the itinerary, and the guide’s attitude and unprofessional comments made the experience uncomfortable. When raising my concerns with Viator, they were not helpful and felt it acceptable for the company to lie about the driver’s behavior and commentary. I would not recommend this tour to others.