Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes, the tour is family-friendly, but it may be best for children over 10 who can comfortably walk and focus on the historical stories.

Are tickets refundable if the weather is bad?

Boston By Foot offers refunds or rescheduling options if severe weather cancels the tour.

How large are the tour groups?

Private tours keep group sizes small, usually under 15, ensuring a personalized experience.

Are audio guides available for this tour?

This experience is led by knowledgeable live guides, so audio guides are not used.

Can the tour be customized for specific interests?

Yes, Boston By Foot can tailor tours to focus more on art, politics, or architecture upon request.

Is parking available near the tour starting point?

There are several public parking garages near downtown Boston, but public transportation is recommended.

Explore Boston's Loyalists: A Historic Colonial Tour | History Tour | Walking Tour

Experience Boston's Loyalists tour, a unique and private walking adventure offered by Boston By Foot that brings colonial history to life. This guided tour focuses on the lives and stories of loyalists during the American Revolution, offering a fresh look at the complex loyalties that shaped early America. As you stroll through historic Boston, you'll visit iconic sites like Granary Burying Ground, where patriots and loyalists alike were laid to rest, and the Old South Meeting House, a hub of colonial debate and dissent. Discover the fascinating narratives of figures such as John Singleton Copley, an acclaimed artist with royalist sympathies, and Governor Thomas Hutchinson, whose tenure as the last civilian governor of Massachusetts highlights the tensions before the Revolution. The tour not only recounts well-known events but also reveals lesser-known perspectives that challenge traditional Revolutionary War stories. This experience is perfect for history buffs or anyone interested in understanding the complexities of colonial Boston’s social and political landscape. Comfortable shoes and a curious mind are all you need for this moderate-paced walk rich in storytelling and detail. Whether you are a local or visiting the city, this engaging tour offers a compelling and intimate glimpse into Boston’s past through the loyalists’ eyes.

About Boston By Foot

Boston By Foot presents guided walking tours across Boston’s most iconic neighborhoods and hidden corners. The organization offers a diverse calendar of small-group, interpretive walks that interpret local architecture, social history, and urban change. Tours range from neighborhood explorations—Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fort Point and Seaport, East Boston—to thematic programs on Art Deco design, the Gilded Age, and literary and revolutionary-era stories.

Many tours run about 1.5 hours and focus on primary sources, built environment, and human stories. Highlights include an in-depth look at the Back Bay land reclamation and Victorian townhouses; a Fort Point and Seaport walk tracing industrial waterfront change; a Beacon Hill series that covers dramatic social history and seasonal Boo! tours; and specialized walks such as Johnny Tremain’s Colonial route and a Black Voices program centering nineteenth‑century writers.

Guides prioritize historical accuracy, site-based interpretation, and respectful treatment of difficult subjects. Public programs accommodate adults, families, and students and are suitable for visitors seeking cultural context and local insight. The organization’s tours serve as an accessible introduction to Boston’s layered past, from Indigenous Shawmut Peninsula history through immigration, reform movements, and urban redevelopment. For travelers and residents alike, these guided walks offer structured storytelling, architectural observation, and connections between past and present.

Tours are updated regularly to reflect new research and changing city landscapes. Interpretive materials and route notes emphasize primary sources, archival research, and on-site evidence to give visitors a grounded, evidence-based experience. Many guides are local historians and long-term residents who know the neighborhoods intimately.