Westminster walking tour & neighborhood guide
Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, royal parks and Buckingham Palace.
Video by Tours by Foot - London on YouTube, uploaded Apr 2021. All rights belong to the creator. Like or comment on YouTube ↗
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Westminster is the political and royal heart of the United Kingdom. In a single walk you can pass the Houses of Parliament, the abbey where monarchs have been crowned for almost a thousand years, the Prime Minister's street and the King's London home, all linked by some of the loveliest parks in the city.
Parliament and the abbey
The Palace of Westminster, home of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, was rebuilt in Gothic Revival style after a fire in 1834. Its clock tower, officially the Elizabeth Tower but known around the world by the name of its great bell, Big Ben, is London's most famous landmark. The view from Westminster Bridge, with the river in front, is the classic one.
Across Parliament Square stands Westminster Abbey, where every coronation since 1066 has taken place and where royal weddings, poets, scientists and kings are commemorated. Its Gothic nave and the tombs of Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots, make it one of the most historic churches in Europe.
Whitehall, the parks and the palace
Whitehall, the wide street of government ministries, runs north from Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square. Along the way are the Cenotaph, the gates of Downing Street and Horse Guards, where mounted soldiers of the King's guard stand on duty. Trafalgar Square, with Nelson's Column and the National Gallery, marks the northern edge of the area.
To the west, St James's Park is a beautiful royal park with a lake, pelicans and a view of Buckingham Palace from its blue bridge. At the end of the Mall, the palace is the official residence of the monarch, and the Changing of the Guard takes place in front of it on several mornings each week.
A classic walk in Westminster
Start on Westminster Bridge for the view of Big Ben, then walk around Parliament Square to Westminster Abbey. Head up Whitehall past Downing Street and Horse Guards to Trafalgar Square, then turn down the Mall and cut through St James's Park to Buckingham Palace.
The route is about three kilometers and takes two to three hours with stops. Check the Changing of the Guard schedule before you go, and arrive early to find a good spot by the palace railings.
Top sights in Westminster
- 1
Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
The Gothic Revival palace and its famous clock tower.
- 2
Westminster Abbey
The coronation church of England's kings and queens since 1066.
- 3
Buckingham Palace
The monarch's London residence and the Changing of the Guard.
- 4
St James's Park
A royal park with a lake, pelicans and palace views.
- 5
Horse Guards
Mounted sentries on duty along Whitehall.
- 6
Trafalgar Square
Nelson's Column and the National Gallery.
Food markets & where to eat in Westminster
Strutton Ground Market
A small weekday street-food market near Westminster Abbey.
Lower Marsh Market
Street food stalls just across the river behind Waterloo.
Westminster pubs
Historic pubs around Whitehall and Victoria Street.
Southbank Centre Food Market
Weekend food stalls across Westminster Bridge on the South Bank.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
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