How to walk central London

Central London is one of the best cities in the world to see on foot. The landmarks sit close together, the river gives you a natural spine to follow, and almost everything worth seeing is within a short walk of a tube station. This guide covers how we plan our own routes, so you can get the most out of a day of walking whether you join us or set off on your own.

The two areas to prioritise

If you only have a day, split it between Westminster and the river. Westminster gives you the monarchy and the government in one compact area: Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, Downing Street and Trafalgar Square are all within fifteen minutes of each other. The river between Bankside and Tower Bridge gives you the older, commercial London: Southwark Cathedral, Shakespeare's Globe, the view across to St Paul's, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.

Those two areas are exactly what our two London walking tours cover, and each takes around two hours at a comfortable pace.

How long a route should be

Two hours is the sweet spot. It is long enough to cover six or seven major stops with proper stories at each one, and short enough that you are not exhausted before lunch. Plan on roughly two to three miles of walking across that time, almost all of it on pavement, with regular stops to look up and take photographs.

Where to start

Start at a landmark rather than a street corner. Westminster Bridge works because you step out of Westminster station and the whole skyline is in front of you. Southwark Cathedral works because it sits beside London Bridge station and Borough Market, so you can eat before or after. Both are our own meeting points for the same reason.

What to wear and bring

Comfortable shoes matter more than anything else, since London pavements are hard and uneven in the older parts of the city. Bring layers and a light waterproof, because the weather changes quickly and the river is always a few degrees colder than the streets behind it. Water and a charged phone for photographs complete the list.

Walking alone or with a guide

Walking on your own is free and flexible. A guide is worth it when you want the stories behind what you are looking at, want to skip the dead ends between landmarks, and want someone to ask questions of. Our groups are capped at 20 people so a conversation is still possible.

If that sounds right, read the full itineraries for the Westminster walking tour and the Bankside to Tower Bridge walking tour, or check the walking tour FAQ for practical details.