London walking tour & city guide

Westminster and the Thames

Start at Westminster, where the Houses of Parliament and the Elizabeth Tower, home of Big Ben, stand beside the Thames. Westminster Abbey, the site of coronations for nearly a thousand years, is just across the road. From here, walk through St James's Park to Buckingham Palace.

The South Bank walk along the river is one of the best in London, passing the London Eye, theaters, street food and booksellers under Waterloo Bridge, and on to Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe. Cross the Millennium Bridge to St Paul's Cathedral, or continue to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

The West End

The West End is London's entertainment heart. Trafalgar Square, guarded by Nelson's Column and home to the free National Gallery, leads to Leicester Square, Chinatown and the theaters of Shaftesbury Avenue. Covent Garden has street performers in its old market piazza, while Soho is packed with restaurants and bars.

Walking the West End in the rain, as in our featured video, has its own charm: the glow of shop windows and theater signs on wet pavements, black cabs passing and people ducking into cozy pubs.

Tips for visiting

Many of London's best museums are free, including the British Museum, the Natural History Museum and Tate Modern. Use a contactless bank card or phone to tap in on the Tube and buses; fares are capped daily. Always pack an umbrella, whatever the forecast says.