Mini Coopers to the rescue.
Only two types of people drive in London; locals and fools. Carefully avoiding the latter but wanting to experience London the way the Brits do, last summer we turned to Small Car-Big City Tours for an exciting day of sightseeing without the crowded tourist busses. Instead we opted for a chauffeured Mini Cooper driven by a young woman who must have been a Formula One driver in another life.
With one very experienced hand navigating London traffic, the other pointing out sights to a running narrative of all that can be seen, street level London, the tour was everything we hope for and more. Samantha, our pilot, was more than engaging, giving us the ins and outs of the city, especially the bits that few tourists get to see, with this totally immersive hop in-hop out experience.
Bespoke full day touring experience with a professional local guide at the wheel of your very own restored classic car. Stop off for an artisan coffee, a street food lunch, grab a pint in a local pub and immerse yourself in the most exciting and diverse city in the world.
The most comprehensive and bespoke service we offer. A full 8hr day touring with a detailed history of the capital’s history and its environs. 14+ years of experience has gone into making this the most enjoyable day in London you will ever have. We will show you the big sights you know and are expecting but also the hidden gems that so often get overlooked. Stopping off at a local coffee shop in the morning and a market for lunch you will feel just like a Londoner.
Besides a motorcycle, there is simply no better, and no more British, way to see London than in a Mini Cooper, and they have a lot of fully restored cars to choose from. Ours was named Lulu, couldn’t have been better prepared inside and out. Lulu came with a sunroof and make sure to reserve a car with one as it’s much easier to see the taller monuments looking through the top.
Small Car-Big City Tours boasts 14 years of experience with a totally customizable agenda. Each Mini can hold up to 3 people, so you may have to split up families like we did, but it’s fun tailing each other from place to place, adding on photo opportunities whenever and wherever it looked safe to do so.
Small Car-Big City also does self-drives, as well as classic car road trips, weddings, classic car event hires, and film and photoshoot car rentals.
Though we didn’t avail ourselves of all that was offered, here’s a list of what to expect. And there are lots of cars in their fleet, but I can’t stress the importance of that sunroof!
Boasting over 1,500 5 star reviews at TripAdvisor, makes my review 1,501!
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Private, chauffeur-driven classic Mini Cooper
- Bespoke tailor-made trip
- Highly trained local guide
- Artisan coffee/tea stop at Gentlemen Baristas
- Discover the hidden gems that make the city so delightfully charming
- Street food lunch at a local market included
- Pint in a traditional local pub
- Chocolate stop in the afternoon
- Pick up and drop off anywhere in Central London Zone 1
- Bespoke full day sightseeing experience showing all that London has to offer