Every city is best seen on foot! Instead of simply checking off all the sites on the Trip Advisor list, you can experience the essence of a city by walking. The architecture, the style, and the energy of a city may be overlooked when rushing from one site to the next. So, instead of experiencing the traffic and congestion of a city, walk to absorb all the niceties.
It should be noted that if you have just three hours to see London, this would be your very best tour.
London is a big town, and there are many worthwhile walks. This short tour of 1.9 miles (3.1 km), from Parliament to Piccadilly Circus, shows you a lot of the biggest, most famous site in London. It also ends in one of the best areas in London to try new restaurants.
This is the final section of my three-part, 6.9-mile (11.1-km) recommended walk, continuing from London Walking Tour, Part 2 (River and Arts) and London Walking Tour, Part 1 (Towers and Bridges). If you’re starting with part 3, begin at the Westminster Underground Station.
Big Ben and Parliament
Start by looking toward the big clock tower that most people call Big Ben. Big Ben is often used to refer to the clock or to Elizabeth Tower, the northernmost tower of the Palace of Westminster, home of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, but it is actually the name of the Great Bell in the clock.
This is the centre of the British government. It is heavily guarded, and it is all serious business (as you can tell by the wonderful guards who were okay being in my selfie).
After viewing the parliament building, continue up Victoria Street, and soon you’ll see Westminster Abbey.
Westminster Abbey
Construction of Westminster Abbey began in 1245, on a site has been used for worship since the seventh century.
This Gothic abbey church is England’s most famous place of worship. Since 1066 it has been the site for the coronation of English or British monarchs and has hosted 116 royal weddings.
Westminster has a long and interesting history, but since 1559 it has been deemed a “Royal Peculiar” and therefore is not under the jurisdiction of any other bishop. This has saved the building from a lot of political risks of civil unrest.
Continue walking on Victoria Street and you’ll see the western towers of Westminster Abbey.
Continue down the street and turn right (north) on a road called Buckingham Gate. Continue on this road a short distance until you see Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the residence and administrative headquarters of the Queen of England. Her Majesty is the Queen of the United Kingdom and all of the Commonwealth Realms. Americans may not know it, but Canada, Australia, and many countries in the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa, most of them former British colonies, are still part of the English Commonwealth. They are independent, but they all have a connection with the monarch.
The most popular thing to do at Buckingham Palace is to watch the Changing of the Guard.
The guards at Buckingham Palace still wear traditional red tunics and bearskin hats. The Changing of the Guard is done with considerable pomp and ceremony each day and is free to watch.
St. James’s Palace & Pall Mall
When you’ve had your fill of royal dreams, the walk to Pall Mall can be a little tricky to navigate because there are gates that may be open or closed depending on the day, time, and season. So the best way to reach the next stop is simply to enter St. James’s Palace into your GPS. This will navigate you through Green Park and St. James’s Park to bring you to Pall Mall.
During the day, St. James’s Palace is quite the sight. It was the residence of the monarch before Buckingham Palace was built and has an interesting history.
However, by the time I get to this area, it’s usually nighttime and my attention is taken by the pure beauty of the cityscape. It is just breathtaking!
Piccadilly Circus
Walk down Pall Mall, gazing upon the usual fancy cars parked on the street, and then turn toward Piccadilly Circus. You should be turning left on Waterloo Pl.
Piccadilly Circus is a large public space, like the Times Square of London, complete with street performers and large, illuminated displays. The circus in Piccadilly Circus is literally circle, meaning crossroads.
This ends London Walking Tour, Part 3. From here, I highly recommend exploring any of the nearby areas, especially if you are a foodie. Very close, up Shaftesbury Avenue, you will run into Chinatown. Recall that until 1997, Hong Kong was a colony of the UK. London’s Chinatown has very authentic food, architecture, and Chinese cultural elements.
Travelers may also want to head north to arrive in Soho, the next London neighborhood. Soho is home to dozens and dozens of restaurants of every ethnicity and price point.
Stay tuned for more adventures in more places around the world!
Keep traveling!
