Our verdict
Best overall
London: Classic Gold 3.5-Hour Bike Tour
The London Bicycle Tour Company’s Gold Classic — 13 km in 3.5 hours from near Waterloo, Westminster to St Paul’s, about 40% on cycle paths. 4.8★ from 1,300+ reviews.
4.8★ · 1,340from £40 GetYourGuide →
Best value
London: Parks and Palaces Guided Morning Bike Tour
A morning loop through the royal parks past Buckingham Palace and Big Ben for about £39, rated 4.9★ by 350+ riders — the cheapest well-reviewed ride on the platform.
4.9★ · 357from £39 GetYourGuide →
Best private option
London: Private Bike or eBike Gold Classic Tour
The Gold Classic route just for your group, on pedal bikes or e-bikes, from about £265, and described as child-friendly. Check how many riders the price covers.
4.8★ · 106from £265 GetYourGuide →
Skip it if
Nobody in the group rides regularly
London traffic is no place to relearn. Take a hop-on hop-off bus or a walking tour, or try a quiet Sunday ride in Hyde Park on a Santander Cycle first.
How much is a London bike tour, and what do you get?
A guided London bike tour costs about £39–£65 a head on the platforms, lasts three to three and a half hours, and includes the bike, a helmet and a guide. The two biggest operators start near Waterloo, and a typical route covers in one morning what would take a day on foot: Westminster, Buckingham Palace, the royal parks, Trafalgar Square and, on longer routes, St Paul’s and the City.
The two names you’ll see most are these. The London Bicycle Tour Company runs from a base near Waterloo (its tour and hire centre is on Kennington Road) and is best known for its Gold Classic tour, offered in English and seven other languages. Fat Tire Tours meets at its office on Mepham Street, by Waterloo station, and runs royal-parks and “secrets” routes plus e-bike tours. Both sell direct and through GetYourGuide.
London bike tours compared
| Tour | Length | From (pp) | Rating | Route in brief | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Classic (London Bicycle Tour Co.) | 3.5 h | ~£40 | 4.8★ (1,300+) | Westminster, St James’s Park, Covent Garden, St Paul’s, South Bank | First-timers |
| Hidden landmarks & back streets | 3.5 h | ~£45 | 4.9★ (600+) | The City and East End, odd corners and stories | Second visit |
| Grand half-day | 3.5 h | ~£45 | 4.8★ (490+) | Big Ben, London Eye, Abbey, Palace plus back streets | A bit of everything |
| Parks and palaces, morning | 3.5 h | ~£39 | 4.9★ (350+) | Royal parks, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Trafalgar Sq | Value, families |
| Landmarks & secrets with pub and street art | 3.5 h | ~£65 | 4.9★ (330+) | Westminster, royal London, pub stop, try street art | Groups of friends |
| Royal London highlights | 3 h | ~£42 | 4.8★ (150+) | Palace, Big Ben, Abbey on cruiser bikes | A relaxed pace |
| Guided e-bike tour | 2.5 h | ~£59 | 4.7★ (140+) | Westminster Bridge, Trafalgar Sq, the Palace | Less pedalling |
| Electric bike, top sights | 3 h | ~£56 | 4.4★ (80+) | Big Ben, Palace, Changing of the Guard, Hyde Park | E-bike on a budget |
| Sunset tour | 3 h | ~£50 | 4.7★ (99) | Tower Bridge, Soho and the lights | Summer evenings |
| Private Gold Classic | 3 h | ~£265 | 4.8★ (106) | The classic route for your group only | Families, mixed abilities |
Prices and ratings are from our partner feed today; routes summarise each listing.
London bike tours you can book now
London: Classic Gold 3.5-Hour Bike Tour
from £40
See on GetYourGuide
Secret London Tour by Bike
from £45
See on GetYourGuide
Grand London Half-Day Bicycle Tour
from £45
See on GetYourGuide
London: Parks and Palaces Guided Morning Bike Tour
from £39
See on GetYourGuide
London: Landmarks & Secrets Bike Tour with Pub & Street Art
from £65
See on GetYourGuide
London: 3-Hour Royal London Highlights Bike Tour
from £42
See on GetYourGuide
London: Guided E-bike Tour
from £59
See on GetYourGuide
London: Private Bike or eBike Gold Classic Tour
from £265
See on GetYourGuide
London: 3-Hour Sunset Bike Tour of Major Landmarks
from £50
See on GetYourGuidePrices and ratings checked 21 Oct 2026; they change daily.
Platform or direct: which is cheaper?
It varies. The London Bicycle Tour Company lists its Gold Classic at £49.95 an adult direct, while GetYourGuide shows it from about £40 today — a rare case where the platform undercuts the operator, probably thanks to a promotion. Fat Tire’s Royal London tour is £42 direct, the same as the similarly named Royal London highlights listing on GetYourGuide. Children aged 10–17 pay £37.95 for the Gold Classic direct. Fat Tire offers free changes and a full refund up to 24 hours before if you book direct; most GetYourGuide listings have a similar 24-hour policy.
Which London bike tour should you book?
- First time in London: the Gold Classic or the Grand half-day — the most sights per hour.
- Been before: the hidden-landmarks route through the City and East End.
- With children: the parks-and-palaces morning ride (mostly in the parks), or a private family tour so the kids set the pace. Fat Tire’s baby seats, tandems and trailers are free if booked ahead.
- Unsure about fitness: an e-bike tour; riders must be 14+ on Fat Tire’s e-bikes.
- History first, bike second: a royal history walk goes inside courtyards and churches a bike can’t.
What to know before you ride
- Meeting points: both main operators start near Waterloo — Fat Tire at 135a Mepham Street, SE1. Your booking confirmation gives the exact spot.
- Helmets: not a legal requirement in the UK; tour companies provide them.
- Weather: tours run in the rain. Bring a waterproof; Fat Tire sells ponchos.
- Pace: 13 km in three and a half hours, as on the Gold Classic, is gentle riding. The hard part is London traffic, not distance.
If you’d rather see the city from the water, the Regent’s Canal boat to Camden passes along the same towpath you can also ride.
Questions people ask
How much is a bike tour in London?
Is cycling in London safe for tourists?
Can children do a London bike tour?
Do London bike tours run in the rain?
Is an e-bike tour worth it?
Can I just hire a bike and ride around London?
What about beer bikes and party bikes?
Sources
- The London Bicycle Tour Company — Gold Classic Tour (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- The London Bicycle Tour Company — tours and hire (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- Fat Tire Tours London — tours and prices (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- Fat Tire Tours — Royal London Bike Tour (meeting point, ages, rain, cancellation) (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- Transport for London — Santander Cycles, what you pay (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- Transport for London — Santander Cycles (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide — bike tours in London (partner feed)
Written and checked by the Private Tours London desk