ToursByLocals - London — Local services in London

My wife and I recently took a weekend trip to London. As it is our practice when we are touring, we booked a tour guide for a half a day to get a flavor for the city and its history. To my wife's credit, she booked Peter M. Immediately, after meeting Peter at our hotel, it was clear that Peter was extraordinary. Most guides have their agenda to show you the sites that are on the typical tourist's wish list. Instead, Peter spent the first 5 to 10 minutes asking us questions about us--where we were from and what we wanted to see. You could see the wheels turning and after hearing that I had been in the US Army and we were americans in London on 4th of July gave Peter all the information to give us the best tour we have ever taken. Imagine the history between London and America---especially all the connections before, during and after the revolutionary war, to the World Wars, and even our collective interests after September 11th. Add in some music history, roman artifacts, and ending up having a beer and fish and chips at The Mayflower Pub---yes across the street the Captain of the Mayflower is buried near a church and in the pub where we lifted a pint--he did also. Finally, at every point of interest Peter took a picture of us and included links for background information--essentially providing us with a book of the whole tour that we can look at and enjoy for years to come. In short, if you are in London and need a tour guide---we highly recommend that you book Peter M. for the tour of a lifetime. I mean seriously, we ate at the Mayflower Pub on the 4th of...

Our guide was Tony Podowski.

From the moment Tony picked us up at Heathrow after our arrival at 6:45 a.m., he was very attentive to our needs. He took us in his super large, modern black cab around the main London sites on the West side, even getting in at the last minute to see the Changing of the Guard followed by a short walk to Buckingham Palace.

I had extensive communication with him from the States prior to our arrival, about our desire to see more quaint and hidden gems out of the Tourist areas. He did a good job with this, first on our 4 hour mini tour and then on our full day. His comprehensive knowledge of history of Kings and Queens, cultural places and ancient buildings was extensive. He has good connections for entry into places not easy for others to get into! He certainly knew London inside out.

As I was personally not up to long walks due to mobility issues, he always tried to park as close to places he wanted to show us or we had designated. On both days he was more than happy to go beyond the actual booked time if we were still due to see something else on our list.

Tony had a great sense of humor and was full of interesting stories.

Overall Tony was an excellent guide for us and I recommend him for either a couple...

I had the pleasure of taking a guided tour of London with anthony Podowski, and it was an incredible experience. Tony's knowledge of the city's history and landmarks is truly impressive. He was not only informative but also engaging, making the tour both educational and enjoyable.

Marie & Michel

Tony's passion for London shone through as he shared fascinating stories and anecdotes about each site we visited. His friendly demeanor and willingness to answer questions made the tour feel personalized and interactive.

Moreover, Tony's pacing was perfect, allowing us to savor each location without feeling rushed. From iconic landmarks like the Tower of London to hidden gems off the beaten path, Tony ensured that we got a well-rounded perspective of this vibrant city.

I highly recommend Tony P as a tour guide for anyone visiting London. He made our trip memorable and provided valuable insights into the rich history and culture of this amazing city. Thank you, Tony, for an...