Bobbies, Corgis and the 7 Lions

REVIEW · LONDON

Bobbies, Corgis and the 7 Lions

  • 4.930 reviews
  • 2 hours
  • From $94
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Operated by Julia City Guide · Bookable on GetYourGuide

Westminster can feel like a game here. This 2-hour, kid-first walk turns famous landmarks into stories you can actually follow, with royal spotting and playful questions built into the route.

I especially like the way the guide keeps kids engaged with child-friendly pacing and clear, memorable “why does that matter?” moments. You’ll also get the big headline stops in a way that doesn’t feel like a textbook march, from Buckingham Palace to the areas around Downing Street.

One catch to consider: the tour runs in German only, so you’ll want to be comfortable following German with your group (or be ready to translate the fun parts on your own).

Key points I’d plan around

Bobbies, Corgis and the 7 Lions - Key points I’d plan around

  • Green Park starting point makes the royal sights feel easy to reach on foot
  • Small group (max 10, max 8 children) keeps the walk calm and child-friendly
  • Larry the Cat at Downing Street turns a famous address into a kid-level story
  • Buckingham Palace viewing moments may include corgis, bobbies, and sometimes the King
  • Wide sidewalks for strollers help if you’re traveling with babies or younger kids in pushchairs
  • Stories about Nelson in a brandy barrel give you something surprising to remember

Family-Friendly Westminster on Foot: Why This Walk Works for Kids

Bobbies, Corgis and the 7 Lions - Family-Friendly Westminster on Foot: Why This Walk Works for Kids
If you’ve tried touring Westminster with kids, you already know the problem: London landmarks are impressive, but they can be hard to hold onto. This tour is built to solve that. You don’t just get facts. You get short, story-shaped answers to the questions kids naturally ask while they walk.

The big strength is that it’s designed specifically for ages 6–12. The guide can adjust content by age, so a 6-year-old isn’t stuck hearing the same material as a 12-year-old. That matters because kids lose interest fast when the information is either too slow or too advanced. Here, the structure keeps them moving and listening without feeling like you’re dragging them through history.

I also like the “spot and predict” style. You’re not only looking at places—you’re learning what to watch for. Is Green Park really green? You’ll get the answer in a way that doesn’t sound like a trivia quiz. You’ll also learn how you can tell whether the King is at home, which turns Buckingham Palace into an interactive moment rather than a photo stop.

And because the route is planned with families in mind, it’s less stressful than many Westminster walks. The plan aims for wide sidewalks that work for baby strollers. That doesn’t sound exciting, but in practice it can make the difference between a smooth outing and a constant sidestep-and-struggle routine.

You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in London.

Meeting in Green Park: Getting Started Without Chaos

Bobbies, Corgis and the 7 Lions - Meeting in Green Park: Getting Started Without Chaos
The tour meeting point is Green Park Underground Station, exit Green Park. Head out by the fountain directly in front of the entrance/exit. If you’ve never used this station before, give yourself a little buffer—Westminster stations can feel like they’re built by committees.

From there, you’re basically stepping into the Westminster zone. The walking plan is short enough to stay fun for children, and long enough to hit multiple highlights without rushing.

A practical plus: the group stays small—limited to 10 participants—and there’s even a cap on kids (up to 8 children). For families, small groups mean your guide can actually respond when a child asks a real question. It also means less noise and fewer crowds blocking your view of what you’re supposed to be noticing.

Timing helps too. The tour lasts 2 hours, which is a sweet spot for kids. Long enough to cover real ground and several famous landmarks. Short enough that you’re unlikely to end the day in meltdown mode.

One more point I’d highlight for your planning: there’s a note that the guide is not responsible for the children’s safety. That doesn’t mean it’s unsafe—it just means you’ll want a responsible supervisor system in place. The tour also specifies that at least one supervisor must accompany each child. Think of it as normal parenting duty, not a babysitting service.

Buckingham Palace and the Royal Life Next Door

Bobbies, Corgis and the 7 Lions - Buckingham Palace and the Royal Life Next Door
Buckingham Palace is the obvious draw, and the tour uses it the right way: you don’t just stop in front and move on. You get a sense of how the building functions as a lived-in royal residence.

Part of the fun is the “spotting” layer. You might catch corgis in the general royal environment, and you may see bobbies (London police officers) nearby as part of the everyday scene around the palace area. Sometimes—depending on timing—you may even spot the King. The point isn’t guaranteed royal sightings. The point is that you’ll know what to look for so the outing feels rewarding even if the day is calm.

You’ll also learn a very kid-friendly question: how to figure out if the King is at home or not. That’s a smart storytelling choice because it gives children a job. They can look for signals with guidance instead of just waiting for the next instruction.

Then comes the part I love most: the tour includes the story behind why Lord Nelson was taking his last voyage in a brandy barrel. That’s one of those lines that makes adults chuckle and kids lean in. It’s memorable because it’s weird on purpose. And when a story is surprising, kids remember it better than a dry timeline.

Why this stop matters for you: it’s not only about seeing Buckingham Palace—it’s about learning how to turn what you see into something you can explain afterward. You’ll come away with a few “only in London” stories you can repeat during dinner, rather than a pile of photos with vague captions.

Trafalgar Square: Turning a Big Square Into a Kid’s Story

From Buckingham Palace, you move toward Trafalgar Square, and this is where the tour keeps the energy up. Trafalgar is famous, but it can be overwhelming for kids because there’s just so much going on—space, statues, crowds, and constant activity.

The guide’s job here is to help kids make sense of what they’re looking at. Rather than treating Trafalgar Square as a background set, the tour turns it into part of the same Westminster story. You’ll learn how the area connects to London’s past and present through engaging explanations, with enough humor and “wait, really?” facts to keep kids paying attention.

For adults, this kind of approach is surprisingly enjoyable. Kids tend to ask the exact questions you wish you’d thought to ask when you first learned about these places. In a good tour, you end up absorbing the bigger picture without feeling like you’re stuck in a lecture.

Also, Trafalgar Square is a good example of why a planned route helps. The tour is designed to keep you safe and moving, including stroller-friendly walking choices. You’ll be navigating sidewalks at a pace that fits families, not tour-bus speed.

Horse Guards Parade and the Big Ben Chime Moment

Bobbies, Corgis and the 7 Lions - Horse Guards Parade and the Big Ben Chime Moment
One of the highlights you can look forward to is Horse Guards Parade. This is the kind of location that feels ceremonial even when you’re just walking past it. It’s also an area where kids tend to notice uniforms, guards, and the visual “order” of the scene.

What you’re really doing here is learning how to read the atmosphere. The tour uses these government-adjacent spaces to give context: London isn’t only museums and monuments. It’s still a working city with traditions you can see on the street.

Then there’s the potential bonus: with a bit of luck, you may hear Big Ben chime. I like that the tour frames it as luck-based. It keeps expectations realistic while still giving you a little “maybe today” excitement. For kids, that kind of moment can become the highlight that makes the whole walk feel special.

Why I’d treat this stop seriously: it helps break the tour into emotional peaks. You’re not waiting through one long stretch of “more buildings.” You get different flavors—royal residence area, major public square, parade ground energy—so attention stays steadier.

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Downing Street and Larry the Cat: A Famous Address Made Personal

Bobbies, Corgis and the 7 Lions - Downing Street and Larry the Cat: A Famous Address Made Personal
The most famous resident of 10 Downing Street is Larry the Cat, and the tour brings him up directly. That’s a great strategy for kids because it turns an intimidating adult symbol of power into something playful and personal.

You don’t need to understand British politics to get why this works. Kids love animals, and they love the idea that a place known for serious decisions has a cat living there like it’s normal. The guide helps explain who Larry is and why he matters in the way people talk about him in London.

This also ties into the tour’s bigger theme: Westminster through a child’s lens. The guide doesn’t just say here’s a building. You learn how to connect places to stories and characters—whether that character is Lord Nelson, the King, or Larry the Cat.

For adults, Larry is also a reminder that London is full of odd, specific details that you miss when you only look for the “top five” sights. This tour pushes you to notice the small weirdness that makes the city feel alive.

Price and Timing: Is $94 Good Value for a 2-Hour Family Tour?

At $94 per person for a 2-hour walking tour, the price makes sense only if you care about the guide doing real work—adapting to kids, keeping attention, and guiding you to the right moments.

Here’s why it can be good value:

  • You’re paying for a live guide who gives child-focused storytelling, not just a self-guided walk.
  • The group stays small, and that often translates into more interaction and better pacing.
  • You cover multiple landmarks in a way that’s designed for families, including stroller-friendly walking.

Is it overpriced? Not necessarily, but it’s not a bargain ticket either. This is the kind of experience that works best when you buy it for the guide’s approach. If you’re expecting a long sightseeing bus route with endless stops, this won’t be that. It’s a tight, focused walk built around kids’ attention spans.

One more practical note: the tour specifies free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, and reserve-and-pay-later options are available. If your schedule is flexible, that reduces the risk of committing before you know how the day will look.

Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Might Find It Less Fun)

This tour is clearly aimed at families with children between 6 and 12. The guide can customize content based on age, and children under 5 can join for free (as long as the required supervision is in place).

It’s also a good fit if you want a Westminster experience that feels interactive. Kids get “spotting” targets like the King-at-home question and the idea of finding corgis and bobbies in the scene. That’s the difference between watching a parade and playing a game.

It may be less fun if:

  • you need an English-only tour (the guide language is German only)
  • your group doesn’t want a walking-first format
  • you expect a lot of downtime to sit and rest (this is a walking tour designed to keep movement steady)

And for families planning mobility needs: the tour is wheelchair accessible, which is a meaningful plus for a central London walking route.

Should You Book Bobbies, Corgis and the 7 Lions?

Bobbies, Corgis and the 7 Lions - Should You Book Bobbies, Corgis and the 7 Lions?
If your kids like animals, surprises, and stories, I think you’ll enjoy this more than the typical “look at the building” approach. The strongest selling point is the child-focused pacing and the way the route turns Westminster into an ongoing narrative—with concrete, memorable characters like Larry the Cat and the brandy barrel story about Lord Nelson.

If you don’t speak German well, don’t ignore that. The tour is German-only, so you’ll either need to go with your own German comfort or be prepared to translate and keep the fun going in your own way.

My practical advice: book it if you want a calm, small-group Westminster walk that respects children’s attention and gets you seeing key landmarks in about 2 hours. Skip it if you only want English commentary or if you need a longer, slower itinerary with lots of breaks.

FAQ

What is the duration of the tour?

The tour lasts 2 hours.

Where do we meet for the tour?

Meet at Green Park Underground Station, exit Green Park, by the fountain directly in front of the entrance/exit.

Is the tour available in English?

No. The tour is available in German only.

What age range is this tour suitable for?

It’s suitable for children between 6 and 12 years old, with customization depending on the children’s ages. Children under 5 can join for free.

How large is the group?

It’s a small group limited to 10 participants, with a maximum of 8 children.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible.

Is the guide responsible for children’s safety?

The guide is not responsible for the safety of the children. At least one supervisor must accompany the child.

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