Viator Viator Travel Blog

It pays to walk in London. It may be tempting to jump on the Tube or hail a taxi to get from A to B, but the city gives up its secrets on foot. In a few paces, you can move from a 21st-century glass tower to an 11th-century church. This sequence of walks – if you do them all – takes you from the Tower of London to the London Eye. You cross the Thames river three times and walk a total distance of approximately 5 miles. The things you’ll see? There’s history, politics, art, theatre, food, journalism, law, architecture and the military.

London Eye - London Walk #5

How long the walks take is up to you. If you visit some of the sights, take photographs, stop for a snack and take any side routes that take your fancy, then 2 hours per walk is not unreasonable.

The individual walks themselves are approx. 1 mile each. (But then nobody comes to London for the hiking). They are generally easy, but London pavements can be hard on feet – comfortable shoes are best!

London Walk #1: Tower of London to Borough Market

The subtitle of this walk is “Prison, Taxes and Food”! The Tower of London has hosted visitors since the 11th Century. Nowadays, you get to leave at a time of your choosing. Assuming you don’t want to buy a Beefeater teddy bear in the shop, follow the Thames Path west along towards London Bridge.

The white building behind blue railings is the 19th-century Custom House. Taxes have been collected on this site since the 13th century. In London’s trading heyday, captains moored their ships in the river, took their paperwork ashore and queued to pay their duty.

The walkway opens out in front of Old Billingsgate. Look up and the fish-shaped gargoyles give the game away: this was once the headquarters of London fish sales. The building is now a top event location: from London Fashion Week to Pirates of the Caribbean movie premieres, life here is just one long party.

On London Bridge, the fish theme continues with the building opposite you: Fishmongers Hall, home to the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers. You get a good view from here: along the river you have Tower Bridge, the glass structure of City Hall and HMS Belfast. The ship is open to visitors, but you can find yourself tripping over parties of school children.

Cross to the western side of the bridge, carry on under the railway bridge and turn right into Borough Market (open Thurs-Sat). There has been a market in this area since Roman times, but the current boundaries were fixed by an Act of Parliament in 1756. Borough Market is now a London byword for fantastic food, but is not always kind on the wallet. Consider yourself warned!

London Walk #2: Borough Market to Tate Modern

The theme here? From Shakespeare to Warhol. Southwark Cathedral is one of London’s hidden gems. It may not have the pull of the larger cathedrals, but it is an oasis of calm in the midst of the city. There is a monument to one William Shakespeare: a carved figure of the bard, beneath a stained-glass window displaying scenes from his plays.

Follow the signs for the riverside walk, and you’ll come upon the Clink Prison Museum. If tales of medieval incarceration are too gruesome, then the Golden Hinde at St Mary Overie dock may be more to your taste. This replica of Sir Francis Drake’s 16th-century world-navigating galleon is now open for guided tours, mainly aimed at children. In true English-sailor style, it is also next door to a pub, the Old Thameside Inn.

The path passes under Southwark Bridge and past the offices of the Financial Times. The big draw here is Shakespeare’s Globe. The theatre season runs April-Oct (it is open-air and this is London, after all), but guided tours of the theatre run throughout the year.

Tate Modern - London Walk #2

It’s a short hop past Bankside Pier to Tate Modern. Opened in 2000, this houses the national collection of post-1900 art. Even if Magritte, Miro, Picasso and Lichtenstein ain’t your cup of tea, the building itself – a former power station - is remarkable. A quick detour into the turbine hall will not disappoint. There is usually some form of display either outside the building or on the façade.

London Walk #3:
Tate Modern to Fleet Street

This is the ‘priests, criminals and journalists’ walk. Cross the Millennium Bridge to the north side of the river. An initial design flaw led to Londoners nicknaming this the Wobbly Bridge. (You’ll be pleased to know that it wobbles no more!).

On your way to St Paul’s Cathedral, you’ll notice the glass headquarters of the Salvation Army. Just over the road, to the left, is the College of Arms. If you want to research your family coat of arms, this is the place to begin.

Sir Christopher Wren’s St Paul’s Cathedral is one of London’s most iconic sights and has been a feature of the London skyline since the 17th century. Admission charges apply but attendance at services is free.

Down Ludgate Hill, the Old Bailey (the Central Criminal Court) is on your right. The public galleries are open during court sessions and the golden statue on the top of the building is of Lady Justice.

At the bottom of the hill is Ludgate Circus and Blackfriars Bridge, deriving its name from the Dominican Friars who once lived here. Pass straight over and up into Fleet Street. This was once the home of the London press, and its legendary lunches and expense accounts. Few newspapers remain, but pubs such as Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, The Punch Tavern and Ye Olde Cock Tavern could probably tell a few tales.

London Walk #4: Fleet Street to Trafalgar Square

Interested in lawyers and actors? On weekdays, you’ll notice that many of Fleet Street’s current occupants are lawyers, striding between the Royal Courts of Justice and their chambers in the Inner or Middle Temple. This is a favourite lunchtime haunt of mine: pass through the archway opposite Chancery Lane and you emerge next to the church and flower beds of the Temple Gardens.

Whitehall - London Walk #5

Back on Fleet Street, you pass the Griffin and leave the City behind. The Royal Air Force church of St Clement Danes is in the centre of the road. It also claim to being the church in the old English nursery rhyme: “Oranges and Lemons says the bells of St Clements”.

To the left, you pass King’s College London (with a totally unexpected Roman Bath). Next door is Somerset House and the Courtauld Institute. The courtyard here stages ice-skating during the winter and water fountains in the summer.

One famous King’s alumni is WS Gilbert. The enduring comic operas that he created with Arthur Sullivan were first staged at the Savoy Theatre on the Strand. There are plenty more theatres along the Strand, enough to keep the local restaurants in business. Turn up any street on the right-hand side and you’ll reach Covent Garden.

At the end of the Strand is Charing Cross station, named after the cross erected by Edward I in memory of his wife, Eleanor of Castile. On a more modern note, Charing Cross is also relevant to London black cab drivers. Their intensive training – “The Knowledge” – is based on the streets within a 6-mile radius of here.

London Walk #5: Trafalgar Square to the London Eye

The “Corridor of Power” walk starts with the best view of Trafalgar Square, from the steps of the National Gallery. Follow Nelson’s gaze down Whitehall towards the Palace of Westminster. The entrance to Horse Guards Parade is guarded by troops of the Household Cavalry. Behind them, the parade ground leads to St James’ Park, with its famous resident pelicans.

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

Whitehall is then a succession of government departments, statues and memorials. The most important is the Cenotaph (“Empty Tomb”), the focus of Britain’s Remembrance Day services.

You can’t walk down Downing Street to take a picture of the policeman outside No 10 anymore, but you can look through the metal gate. You can visit the Cabinet War Rooms just round the corner, from where Churchill directed Britain’s war effort.

Parliament Square is another photo opportunity, with Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the Houses of Parliament. When Parliament is sitting, visitors may attend debates in both Houses (Commons / Lords). Alternatively, you can join the peace protesters on the lawn.

Westminster Bridge provides more great views. The London Eye, also opened in 2000, is a shameless tourist attraction. Judging by the constant queues, it’s a successful one.

-Louise Heal

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s London tours and things to do in London, from the Tower of London to the London Eye to London walking and biking tours. For German travelers, check out Viator’s London Sehenswürdigkeiten, London Touren, London Aktivitäten. For French travelers browse our Activités à Londres, visites à Londres, tours à Londres. For Spanish travelers:Londres tours, Londres actividades, que hacer y ver en Londres.