podtour
Westminster: Parliament, the Abbey and Big Ben
You start on Westminster Bridge, where a poet saw a city without its smoke and whose sonnet carries a different date, then carry on beneath Big Ben, which is really a bell with a crack in it.
London audio tours and self-guided walks
London, one neighbourhood at a time.
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Walk through London, story by story
The Thames connects a city that feels like many. Between palaces and markets, rebuilt streets and docks, discover stories of power and everyday life. Pick a neighbourhood and let the rest of London wait.
Start with “Westminster: Parliament, the Abbey and Big Ben”. You start on Westminster Bridge, where a poet saw a city without its smoke and whose sonnet carries a different date, then carry on beneath Big Ben, which is really a bell with a crack in it. In Parliament Square you look for the only woman among the bronze men.
Then there’s “Bankside and Southwark: Shakespeare's Other Bank”. You start at London Bridge, where the gate on this bank displayed more than thirty heads, and where Wyatt's rebels waited in vain to stop Mary marrying Philip of Spain; the bridge that came afterwards was sold and rebuilt in the Arizona desert. The cathedral holds the legend of the miserly ferryman, Shakespeare's actor brother and the chapel where heretics were tried.
For another side of the city, try “The City: the Great Fire, the Money and the Legends”. You start by Pudding Lane, where a young Frenchman, a watchmaker's son, confessed to starting the Great Fire and was hanged even though not even his judges believed him, and then stand before the Monument, which is exactly as tall as the distance to that bakery and which spent a century and a half accusing the Catholics in writing. On Lombard Street you look for Gresham's grasshopper and the legend that turned him into a foundling; at the Royal Exchange, the statue that survived one fire and not the next, with bells that played as it burned; outside the Bank of England, the clerk who forged a bill and the sister in mourning whom the City turned into a ghost.
Choose by neighbourhood or by the stories that interest you: each route shows its distance, stops and approximate duration before you set off. The audio is written for walking, with a clear distinction between documented events and local legend. Download it in the app, put on your headphones and pause whenever something catches your eye. English and Spanish are included.
Start for free
Westminster: Parliament, the Abbey and Big Ben
The postcard view of London, told from the inside: a poet on the bridge, the bell that cracked twice, the stone four students broke in two, Raleigh's head, Cromwell's head and Guy Fawkes's thirty-six barrels.
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London, before you go
London makes more sense an area at a time than as one vast walk. Neighbourhoods change pace within a few streets; the sky may change while you find the next one.
Before visiting London
How many days do I need in London?
Our London guide has suggestions for one, two and three days. Start with one area rather than trying to fit every walk into a day; leave room for travel between neighbourhoods and any indoor visits.
Can I explore London on foot?
Terrain: the central areas covered by our routes are generally gentle; bridges, passages and stations introduce ramps and steps. Surfaces: broad pavements alternate with alleys, stone and cobbles. Take care on wet paving.
Which London route is free?
“Westminster: Parliament, the Abbey and Big Ben” is the free route: 11 stops over 0.99 km, with an approximate duration of 46 minutes. You can see its map and stops on the route page.
When is a good time to visit London?
Late spring and summer offer parks and long daylight; autumn and spring suit walking with less heat. August brings Notting Hill Carnival and large crowds in that area. December concentrates festive lights and activity in the centre; arrange accommodation ahead if you want that atmosphere.
Can I listen without an internet connection?
Download the audio in the app before heading out, then listen offline. Loading the online base map and calculating a new route from your location require a connection.
What languages are included?
Every route includes Spanish and British English. The English version is adapted for English-speaking travellers, rather than translated word for word.
How do I get a whole city for free?
Join the waitlist, choose a city and confirm your email address. When the app launches, we will email you with access details. No card is required. You can also try one free route in every city.
Can I buy for myself or for a group?
Yes. Your own access is included and you can choose 0–5 guests: up to 6 people including you. Each guest saves up to €0.50 on a walk, €1 on a pack or €2 on a whole city compared with buying separately. The counter shows the total before you confirm one payment.
How do I share, and when must guests accept?
After paying, share your purchase’s invitation link. Each guest opens it in Podtour and accepts their place on their own iPhone or Android phone. They must redeem it within 30 days of purchase. Unclaimed places then expire and cannot be recovered or renewed. Access accepted in time is kept. Opening the link does not use a place; one account takes just one place, and no more people can join once all places are taken.
Can I add guests after buying?
No. Choose all your guests before confirming the first purchase. Afterwards you can share the places you paid for, but you cannot increase their number or restart the 30-day deadline.
