2 to 3 hours (Approx.)

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Instant Confirmation

Overview

Don’t just learn about American history… live it! At Colonial Williamsburg, America’s Colonial past comes to life through beautifully restored architecture and authentic reenactors. Stroll down these historic streets while this tour tells you everything you need to know about Williamsburg, early America, colonial life, and more.

Williamsburg has a long and complex history that predates the creation of the United States by almost 150 years! Dig into the town’s origins, the dramatic struggles which unfolded here during the revolution, and the people who put Williamsburg on the map.

After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access.

This is not an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

New, extra validity — now, it’s yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

Description

Stop At: Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, 101 Visitor Center Dr, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185

The tour of this beautifully preserved slice of Colonial America begins at the Visitor Center, where you can get your first taste of the nation's largest living museum.

Note: This 2.5+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Colonial Williamsburg in 2-3 hrs.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Peyton Randolph House, Peyton Randolph House, 100 W Nicholson St, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA

Your first stop is at the doorstep of the Peyton Randolph House, the former home of a fiery revolutionary and one of the oldest buildings in Williamsburg! You might not have heard of William Randolph, but he was a trusted ally of folks like Thomas Jefferson

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Colonial Williamsburg Capitol Building, W Duke of Gloucester St,, Cool, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185

Keep your ears open at our next stop for the iconic fife and drum parade which marches through the town regularly. Here, you'll also learn about the military significance of these old-timey instruments

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Bassett Hall, 522 E Francis St, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185

A simple two-story 18th-century white frame farmhouse nestled on 585 acres of lawn, garden, and woodlands, Bassett Hall once was the Williamsburg home of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his wife Abby Aldrich Rockefeller .Philip Johnson, a member of the House of Burgesses from King and Queen County, Virginia, is believed to have built the 18th-century frame house sometime between 1753 and 1766.
Purchased by Burwell Bassett around 1800
Union cavalryman George Armstrong Custer guest in home during the Civil War

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Colonial Williamsburg Capitol Building, W Duke of Gloucester St,, Cool, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185

Built between 1701 and 1705, the first Williamsburg statehouse served the colony of Virginia until fire destroyed the building in 1747.The first floor of the west building was for the General Court and the colony's secretary, the first floor of the east for the House of Burgesses and its clerk. Arched windows marched across the facades. Stairs on one side led to the Council Chamber, a lobby, and the Council clerk's office
stairs on the other side led to three committee rooms. A second-floor conference room connected the classically corniced structures, and a six-sided cupola on the ridge of the hipped and dormered roof crowned it all. Though the west wing was completed by July 1703, it took Cary until November 1705 to finish all the work.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Secretary's Office, E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA

Next is the unassuming little Secretary's Office, where all the documents needed to reconstruct Williamsburg's colonial days were stored

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Raleigh Tavern, W Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA

After that, you'll arrive at the Raleigh Tavern, where rebellious Virginians met to plot a possible revolution against their British rulers. These meetings even welcomed famous names like Thomas Jefferson!

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Colonial Williamsburg Magazine, 103 E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185

Then you'll come to the Colonial Williamsburg Magazine, the site of a tense standoff between American patriots and British soldiers trying to steal all the gunpowder from the town before it could fall into rebel hands

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Colonial Williamsburg Courthouse, 101 W Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA

Directly opposite the Magazine, you'll find the old courthouse, where residents of Williamsburg heard the Declaration of Independence read aloud for the very first time

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Playhouse Theater, 466-0A-00, #058, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA

Up next is the Play House Stage, a recreation of one of America's first theatres. The original may have failed terribly, but this one still puts on shows on a regular basis!

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Governor's Palace, Northern End of Palace Green, Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

Then you'll see the extravagant Governor's Palace, and maybe start to get a sense of why the residents of Williamsburg didn't particularly care for their British royal governors!

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: George Wythe House, Palace Green Street, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185

Up next is the house of George Wythe, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who stands out from most of his compatriots because of one simple fact: he was an abolitionist. In Virginia, a state which used a huge amount of slave labor, this didn't exactly make him a lot of friends!

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Bruton Parish Episcopal Church, 201 W Duke of Gloucester St, (Next to Palace Green), Williamsburg, Virginia 23185

Continuing on, you'll arrive at the oldest building in Colonial Williamsburg: the Bruton Parish Episcopal Church. Here, you'll learn not just about the church's surprising history, but also about how it's the whole reason Colonial Williamsburg exists in the first place

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Armistead House, 320 N Henry St, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA

After that is the Bowden-Armistead House, the history of which showcases some of the deep divisions which cut through Williamsburg around the time of the Civil War. See, the owner was a northerner, and you can probably imagine how his Virginian neighbors felt about that...

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: The College of William and Mary, 102 Richmond Rd, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185

Your route takes you next onto the campus of William & Mary College, the oldest college in the United States

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: The Wren Building, Wren Bldg, 111 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA

The final stop on your tour is the Wren Building, an impressive structure which isn't just the oldest building on the William & Mary Campus, but the oldest college building in the entire United States!

Duration: 5 minutes

Schedule

What's Included

What To Bring

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and an instructions email. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular
How to start the tour: Once onsite, open the Action's Tour Guide App: • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If there are multiple tour versions, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
Amazing savings: Walking Tours: While each person typically needs their tour, couples or small groups can share one using split headphones.
Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It's perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app's features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.