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Los Angeles History Tour: Urban Development to Landmarks
4.9
210 Ratings
Los Angeles
Witness Los Angeles’ historical journey from its early urbanization in the 20th century, now boasting numerous historical sites. Observe the transition of a business district into a residential area. You’ll see the integration of early 1900s architecture in the rejuvenation of a modern downtown!
Witness Los Angeles’ historical journey from its early urbanization in the 20th century, now boasting numerous historical sites. Observe the transition of a business district into a residential area. You’ll see the integration of early 1900s architecture in the rejuvenation of a modern downtown!
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Angels Flight Railway - Shortest Railway in the World
- Grand Central Market - Historic market since 1917
- Historic Theater District - Largest collection of pre- WWII theaters in America
- Bradbury Building - Step into the oldest standing office building of Los Angeles
- Old Bank District - “Spring Street of the West”
- **The Last…
- Angels Flight Railway - Shortest Railway in the World
- Grand Central Market - Historic market since 1917
- Historic Theater District - Largest collection of pre- WWII theaters in America
- Bradbury Building - Step into the oldest standing office building of Los Angeles
- Old Bank District - “Spring Street of the West”
- The Last Bookstore - Artistic bookstore
- The Jewelry District - America’s largest jewelry district
- Spring Arcade Building - Collection of boutique restaurants
- Clifton’s Republic - Iconic cafeteria since 1932
- The Biltmore Los Angeles - Grandest hotel of Los Angeles
- Pershing Square - LA’s central square
What's Included
- Local guide
- Local guide
Additional Information
- The tour ends at Pershing Square (532 S. Olive Street 90013), which is a 5 minute walk back to the starting point. The guide can point you in the direction.
- The tour ends at Pershing Square (532 S. Olive Street 90013), which is a 5 minute walk back to the starting point. The guide can point you in the direction.
Location
349 S Hill St
South Hill Street
We meet at the bottom of Angels Flight Railway (349 S. Hill Street 90013) located between 3rd and 4th on Hill Street across the Grand Central Market.
Nearest Metro Rail station - Pershing Square
Nearest Parking - Private lots at the corners of 3rd & Hill Street and 4th & Hill Street.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(210 Ratings)
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Gilest42
Feb 15, 2025
So interesting and digestible. THE place to be taking a walking tour in sprawling LA - So interesting and digestible. After moving away 30 years ago, I went on this tour with my 20-something daughter who now lives in LA. Phil (who is the regular guide for this tour) is great. Friendly, knows his stuff, and very good at pacing so it’s easily digested. We were both surprised by how much we didn’t know…and how it meshed with the LA the we each know. Two points: (1)in all the square miles of sprawling LA, this is THE place to take a walking tour and (2) this is a great walking tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lachlanpg
Jan 8, 2025
A must-do in Downtown LA - We had an incredible time on this tour! Phil was an amazing, friendly guide who told us so many things we wouldn’t have known about Downtown LA without an expert and was able to answer all of our questions. Definitely recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Margherita_b
Jan 7, 2025
Great experience! - Phill was great! Would totally recommend this tour with him to get a sense of the history of Los Angeles!
Review provided by Viator
Devika_s
Nov 29, 2024
Exceptional Tour Guide and Unforgettable Experience! - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We had an amazing experience on the Downtown LA Walking Tour, and Phil was absolutely fantastic! His passion for the city’s history and architecture made the tour incredibly engaging. He shared fascinating stories, answered all of our questions with patience, and even pointed out hidden gems we would’ve missed on our own. Phil’s enthusiasm and deep knowledge truly brought the city to life. This tour was the highlight of our visit, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone exploring Los Angeles. Thank you, Phil, for making our day so memorable!
Review provided by Viator
Nate080411
Nov 27, 2024
Insightful and fun way to spend an afternoon - The walking tour with Phil was great. He was such a pleasant and knowledgeable guide. Taking 2 hours to learn more about downtown LA and how the city grew was very fascinating. He was able to answer all of our questions and had a great delivery. I don’t think people think about downtown LA that much compared to the Hollywood side of the city, but it is well worth the time. You will see some cool little spots and get a few steps along the way. The tour pick up and drop off are very close to each other making your logistics easy. I would highly recommend the tour and anything that Phil is guiding.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susan_b
Nov 21, 2024
Small group, perfect balance of info and number of locations - Phil is knowledgeable and informative in this very small group tour today, just 4 guests. The history of the Downtown streets was fascinating, giving a context to what we see today. Perfect balance of information and moving on to the next location.
Review provided by Viator
Dianajp6187og
Nov 18, 2024
Great experience - A very informative and enjoyable tour with our guide, Phil! He was incredibly patient and took the time to show us many aspects of downtown LA, sharing fascinating details along the way. His knowledge and enthusiasm made the experience truly memorable. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting DTLA!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ollyolsen5
Nov 6, 2024
Downtown LA Walking Tour - The tour was great. Our guide, Phil, was so informative about everything on the walk tour. So many interesting buildings & historical hotels & theatres. I would certainly recommend this tour. Small walking group, stopping frequently. Good for most ages. Cheers & thank you Phil👏😃
Mark & Kerry
Review provided by Tripadvisor
80annien
Nov 6, 2024
Take this Interesting LA Tour - Our trip was enlightening about LA. I saw and learned about things that I would not have seen if I had been touring on my own. Phil was very knowledgeable and patient. He was considerate to all the participants and genuinely shared his love for the city. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janevgs
Oct 29, 2024
Great tour and guide - We really enjoyed the tour, Rich was an excellent guide, knowledgeable, articulate and engaging with so much knowledge of the district.
He clearly enjoys the tours and loves the city which definitely comes through to customers.
Highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
