SME News Q3 2026/ 18 Best Private Tour Operator 2026 – London The UK boasts a remarkable array of iconic landmarks, scenic landscapes, and rich history, of which many Britons have barely scratched the surface. Showcasing the very best of what this country has to offer is Ye Olde England Tours, London’s original private touring company. For delivering experiences that are expert-led, entirely private, and utterly unforgettable, Ye Olde England Tours has earned celebration in the UK Enterprise Awards 2026. We took a closer look below. Ye Olde England Tours was established in 2012 by Stephen Liddell, the visionary mind who pioneered the concept of private, bespoke tours that are all the rage today. Starting as one of the very first private guides in Britain, Stephen set out just over a decade ago with a bag of history degrees, a growing number of published books, and a determination to set the standard that others have desperately imitated ever since. For the first three years, Stephen operated Ye Olde England Tours solo. But by the third quarter of 2016, after working more than 95 days out of every 100 and turning away as many bookings as he accepted, Stephen made the decision to expand both the scope and team of the company. He selected only the very best from over 1,000 applicants, building a team of guides possessing passion for tourism, genuine love for Britain and its history, and unwavering commitment to outstanding customer service. Today, Ye Olde England Tours boasts up to 70 themed Walking Tours across London, most of which were devised entirely by Stepehen and have been poorly replicated by competitors. The company typically caters to guests of up to four people – ranging from student backpackers and young couples to adventurous professionals, families, and retirees – though it has also delivered tours for schools, corporates, institutions, and government bodies. Whilst these tours do take guests around the famous and iconic landmarks of London, Ye Olde England Tours delights in providing access to the quieter and lesser-travelled areas of the city. The company’s specialised tours feature hidden gardens, nursey rhyme trails, and the remarkable lives that have been lived within London’s most overlooked corners, including Postman’s Park, The Mayflower, and the Secret Gardens of the City of London. Ye Olde England Tours also offers a wide range of other themed walking tours, from those exploring the dark side of London’s history to those centred around the monarchy, television, literature, and other pop culture. Every tour is private, personal, and completely bespoke, with the team readily combining tours, incorporating other attractions, or visiting somewhere entirely new at no extra charge to the guest. This is precisely what propels Ye Olde England Tours to stand out in an increasingly saturated market; the company’s unrivalled customer service. Every guide on the team is driven by a love for what they do, resulting in tours that are friendly, unhurried, and delivered for entirely the right reasons. Even when companies have delivered similar tours, these alternatives never offer the depth, flexibility, or care achieved through Ye Olde England Tours’ private tours. “We don’t have customers or tourists; we have guests that leave as friends.” This calibre of service is made possible by the open culture maintained by the expert guides, published historian, and proud Britons that make up the team at Ye Olde England Tours. The company trusts and empowers every guide within its team to use their initiative when leading a tour and do whatever it takes to make each session a success. As a result, the team is constantly improving and finetuning its tours, with the aim of ensuring that every guest in its care leaves with their expectations entirely surpassed. Looking ahead, Ye Olde England Tours has a number of exciting developments on the horizon. The team has recently been working on creating fantastic promotional videos with artificial intelligence for its tours on YouTube, demonstrating historical places as they once were. In recent videos, for example, body snatchers run from a historic pub in London, passionate Luddites protest through Nottingham, and accused witches are put to trial in Newcastle. Now, Ye Olde England Tours seeks to expand this area of work, whilst also integrating new tours over the coming years. A source of great excitement for the team is the upcoming Peaky Blinders themed walking tour, whose launch will coincide with the release of the new series this Autumn. We at SME News Magazine look forward to seeing what is next from the team at Ye Olde England Tours, as the company continues to uphold its status as London’s Best Private Tour Operator 2026. Contact: Stephen Liddell Company: Ye Olde England Tours Web Address: www.yeoldeenglandtours.co.uk
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