Group Tours (Virtual/In-Person)
Explore Los Angeles’ history and iconic architectural gems virtually or in person with your own personal docent!
Explore Los Angeles’ history and iconic architectural gems virtually or in person with your own personal docent! Private group tours are perfect for alumni groups, social clubs, and more.
Tours Available
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A Woman's Place
Virtual Group Tour Only
Uncover untold stories of the women who helped build Union Station and Chinatown.
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Angelino Heights
In-Person Group Tour Only
Explore this hidden Victorian neighborhood east of Echo Park, L.A.’s oldest suburb.
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Art Deco
Virtual and In-Person Group Tours Available
Everyone knows that L.A. is a glamorous city. But few know that true Old Hollywood glamour lies in the streets of downtown L.A.!
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The Biltmore Hotel
In-Person Group Tour Only
Known in its early days as “The Host of the Coast, the Biltmore Hotel has a glittering history to tell.
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Broadway Historic Theatre and Commercial District Walking Tour
In-Person Group Tour Only
Step inside a lavish movie palace and learn how Hollywood history began on downtown L.A.’s Broadway.
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City Hall
Virtual Group Tour Only
Take a virtual exploration of L.A.’s iconic 1928 City Hall, a stunning example of Art Deco civic architecture.
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Don't Call Me Ugly!
Virtual and In-Person Group Tours Available
Are these 1970s buildings ugly or just misunderstood? You can be the judge on this interactive tour!
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Historic Downtown
Virtual and In-Person Group Tours Available
Get a great overview of downtown L.A. history and architecture, from the eighteenth century to the present on this Saturday walking tour.
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The Legacy of Millard Sheets
Virtual Group Tour Only
Come along on a virtual journey through the work of Millard Sheet, the artist and architectural designer who adorned Southern California with unique, mosaic-covered Home Savings (later Washington Mutual, now Chase) bank branches.
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Modern Skyline
In-Person Group Tour Only
Think skyscrapers aren’t historic? Think again! After seeing how downtown L.A. has evolved over the past century, you’ll see our beloved skyline in a whole new way.
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Paul Revere Was Here: On the Trail of L.A.'s Legendary Architect
Virtual Group Tour Only
Go on a county-wide expedition celebrating the life, work, and legacy of L.A.’s legendary architect Paul Revere Williams.
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Union Station
In-Person Group Tour Only
Learn the backstory of L.A.’s iconic Union Station. This extraordinary Spanish Colonial Revival and Art Deco monument was built to serve as the gateway to Los Angeles – a role which, in many ways, it continues to play today. It continues to serve tens of thousands of commuters daily.
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Westwood Village
Virtual Group Tour Only
Take a virtual tour of Westwood Village, one of the earliest planned suburban shopping villages in the world. We’ll unearth history and unique architectural flourishes that connect Westwood Village to its neighbor UCLA.
Check out what people are saying about our tours!
About Virtual Group Tours
Virtual Group Tours are presented live through Zoom and can be scheduled for any day of the week. We kindly request that bookings be made at least seven days before your desired tour date.
Tours are approximately one hour and can be slightly customized to your group. Tours can accommodate up to 100 people.
Members can schedule a virtual group tour for $120 for the first 12 participants. Additional participants can be added at the rate of $10 per person.
General public rates are $180 for the first 12 participants and $15 per additional person.
About In-Person Group Tours
Group tours allow you the flexibility of choosing your own starting and ending locations. Tours can also be shortened: we offer 1.5-hour versions of several of the tours and one-hour family/youth-friendly versions of Historic Downtown.
For a group tour on a regularly scheduled Saturday tour, there is a twelve-person minimum (subject to availability; regular fees apply). Please see our Walking Tour webpage for regular tour schedules.
For tours of less than 20 people there is a 12 person/$300 minimum (additional attendees can be added at the rate of $25 per person).
For tours groups larger than 20 there is a discounted rate, with a 12 person/$240 minimum (additional attendees can be added at the rate of $20 per person).
Below, we offer answers to frequently asked questions, as well as suggestions of tours that are best suited to groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How big of a group can I bring?
- How far in advance do I need to schedule and how soon will I know my tour is confirmed?
- What days are the tours offered?
- What time are the tours?
- How long are the tours?
- How much walking is involved?
- Can I customize my tour?
- What do group tours cost and what is the payment process?
- Where should we park?
How big of a group can I bring?
Most tours can accommodate groups of up to 36 guests. Groups of 12 or more will be divided into two or more groups, each with their own docent.
Please note that at least one designated chaperone/group representative is required to be part of each docent group (i.e. if a group of twenty-four is divided into two groups of twelve), each group must have a designated representative accompanying them on the tour.
How far in advance do I need to schedule and how soon will I know my tour is confirmed?
Tours are subject to availability, so booking at least four weeks in advance is recommended. It may take up to 5 business days for us to process your request. Your first communication from us will be an email notifying you of a tentative confirmation. A firm confirmation is not provided until your Confirmation Payment has been received by us.
What days are the tours offered?
The Conservancy’s regularly scheduled tour day is Saturday. Groups of twelve or more can request a private docent for our regularly scheduled tours, as long as the advance payment is received. Most of our tours (Art Deco, Historic Downtown, Modern Skyline, and Union Station) can be arranged for other days, subject to certain restrictions.
Please note that the following tours are available only at their regularly scheduled times: Angelino Heights and Broadway.
Most regularly scheduled tours start at 10 a.m. For group tours, morning tours typically start at 10:15 or 10:30 a.m. but can be arranged to start earlier or later, so long as they conclude by sunset. In most cases, Modern Skyline is the only tour that can be arranged for late afternoon/evening times.
Tours as given to the public are typically up to 2.5 hours long. Groups can request 1.5-hour versions of Art Deco, Historic Downtown, Modern Skyline, and Union Station. Historic Downtown and Union Station also have one hour versions. The Angelino Heights, Broadway, and Biltmore Hotel tours are not offered with abbreviated versions.
The tours are designed as walking tours, and generally cover a total distance of about 1.5 miles. The tours have varying degrees of walking difficulty, and several of the tours can be shortened if requested. However, none of the tours have rest breaks, so all participants need to be able to stand/walk the entire duration of the tour. Most of the tours are wheelchair accessible.
The Conservancy’s docents are trained on specific tour stops and information. While some tour modifications can be requested, and existing tour itineraries can always be shortened, we cannot accommodate major changes to our tour itineraries. However, you can customize your starting and/or ending location, making t easier to combine your tour with other downtown plans, such as museum visits or lunch or dinner plans.
What do group tours cost and what is the payment process?
For groups of twelve or more on a regularly scheduled tour day and time, a minimum charge of $180.00 applies. This is calculated at a per-person cost of $15.00, with a 12-person minimum. Additional persons (beyond the 12-person minimum) are charged at $15 per person; $10 for Conservancy members and youth seventeen and under.
For groups of twelve or more on a non-regularly scheduled tour day and time, a minimum charge of $240 applies. This is calculated at a per-person cost of $20.00, with a 12-person minimum. Additional guests (beyond the 12-person minimum) are charged at $20 per person; $10/Conservancy members and youth seventeen and under.
Following receipt of your Group Tour Request, we will email you a receipt of that request. If your request can be accommodated, we then ask that a non-refundable Confirmation Payment (the minimum charge) be submitted within seven days of your tour request. If your request cannot be accommodated, we will advise you accordingly. Following receipt of your non-refundable Confirmation Payment, your tour is confirmed and you will receive an email advising of that status, as well as tour meeting location and other itinerary-related information. Final Payments (if any) are due seven days before the tour date.
Some group tour itineraries may include or be enhanced with travel aboard Angels Flight (a funicular connecting Bunker Hill with Hill Street, directly across from Grand Central Market). The fare on Angels Flight is included in the tour cost. Tour-goers not wishing to use Angels Flight may use a parallel staircase instead (there is no fare refund, however). Angels Flight is not wheelchair accessible.
For specially scheduled tours for school groups (high school and younger), refer to our Student Field Trip pages.
Conservancy tour docents do not accept tips, although additional donations are accepted on behalf of the Conservancy.
Parking downtown on the weekends costs around $5-$7 per car; parking on weekdays may be significantly higher. As an alternative to parking downtown, several of the tours are easily accessible by Metro. Additional parking information is provided upon your group tour confirmation.
If you have other questions about Conservancy group tours, please contact the office at info@laconservancy.org or (213) 623-2489.
