London is a giant city where, even after several visits, we can always still find new things to do. That being said, many of London’s most iconic landmarks are clustered between the Soho and Westminster areas. We have put together the ultimate walking in London tour that takes you from Piccadilly to Westminster with some of the most popular tourist attractions along the way. Here’s the actual Google map with walking instructions and coordinates for each of the stops along this tour.
It takes us 3-4 hours to complete this walk. The best part – it’s 100% self-guided and customizable according to your interests and travel needs. If you are looking for a guided tour with similar stops that includes the Changing of the Guard Ceremony, then we recommend this option from Viator.
First stop: Piccadilly
Piccadilly is the bustling shopping hub of London. To get here, take the tube directly to the Piccadilly Circus tube station via the Bakerloo or Piccadilly line (both are in Fare Zone 1), or catch one of the many taxis around London.
Here you can find streets filled with everything from local boutiques and hat shops to global superbrands. The streets all fan out from one central traffic junction – Piccadilly Circus. In the iconic Picadilly Circus center, you will be surrounded by brightly colored billboards, kind of like a UK version of Times Square, and will be greeted by the iconic Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain. We love this spot for some souvenir shopping or an awesome photo (try to catch the iconic red double-decker bus in the background!).
If you are looking to pair this walking in London tour with another amazing experience, we highly recommend starting your day with a brunch or an early afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason’s Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. If you are done at Fortnum & Mason before 1PM, you’ll have plenty of time to complete this walk and make it to the magical 5PM Evensong at Westminster Abby for one perfect day in London.
Lots of shopping arcades, boutiques, and malls around Piccadilly
Pair this walking in London experience with a stop at Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly
Trafalgar Square
Continue on about 8 minutes through a street filled with theaters to reach Trafalgar Square.
Named after Lord Nelson’s naval victory in the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), this square is probably the most famous in London. It is distinguished by its large central monument dedicated to Lord Nelson, flanked on either side by giant bronze lions, and a giant, impressive fountain. It was surprisingly difficult for us to take a photo of the monument because it was so tall. We found it was easier to angle the camera upwards or cross the street to take a photo.
The National Gallery Museum entrance is on the far side of the square, if you are up for perusing some art. The square hosts free events and festivals throughout the year, so be sure to check if there is one happening during your visit!
The most famous square in London is named after Lord Nelson’s naval victory in 1805
London’s Great Scotland Yard historic headquarters is the setting for many great detective shows
Whitehall Street Landmarks
Take the ~9-minute walk down Whitehall on your way to 10 Downing Street. Whitehall is a famous street known for its many important government buildings. Along the way, you will pass Great Scotland Yard, London’s historic law enforcement headquarters and the setting for many great detective shows.
You will also pass the Horse Guards Parade, where you may be able to see some official guards on horses. Be sure to keep your distance, though, as we have seen many people who try to pet the horses get kicked or bitten – they are on active guard duty!
Right before 10 Downing Street, you will pass The Women of World War II monument, dedicated to memorializing the crucial roles women played during the war.
Keep your distance and do not pet the horses – they are on duty!
The Women of World War II monument at the end of Downing Street
10 Downing Street
Finally, you will reach 10 Downing Street… or at least the outside gate of it. As it is the Prime Minister’s home, they have high levels of security surrounding the building. It is still very interesting to see the home from the street, though, and we even caught a glimpse of an important government official entering the house!
Optional side quest: Winston Churchill’s war rooms
About a 7-minute walk from 10 Downing Street is the Churchill War Rooms museum. If you are interested in the history of World War II, then we would recommend making additional time in your schedule for this spot. These once top-secret underground areas are now on display for the general public (although expensive at £32 for an adult ticket). At the museum, you will get to see what it would have been like in the days of WWII, with preserved historical rooms and an included audio guide.
Big Ben
Continue a few minutes down Whitehall until you reach Parliament Square Garden. From here, there is a great view of Big Ben. The clocktower is attached to the extravagantly designed Palace of Westminster, home to the UK Parliament.
There are several great photo spots around here. The first one we recommend is the iconic red phone booth with Big Ben in the background. On the perpendicular Great George Street are a series of red phone booths (for example, K2 Telephone Box). These make for an iconic London photo perfect for Instagram. Just be prepared to wait in line for this popular photo (we usually end up waiting 5-10 minutes).
The second spot we recommend takes a bit more effort to get to. You will need to cross Westminster Bridge, exit down the stairs on the left side, and take the pedestrian tunnel across to the right side. The end of the tunnel opens up to an amazing view of Big Ben that is perfectly framed by the tunnel’s opening. We love this shot for a family photo or an Instagram-able shot.
Fun fact: “Big Ben” is the name of the main bell inside the clocktower; the clocktower itself is officially named the Great Clock of Westminster.
Photo Spot 1: British phone booth and a clear view of Big Ben, see the exact location here
Photo Spot 2: The perfect view of Big Ben right across the Westminster Bridge
The London Eye
Cross the Westminster Bridge if you haven’t already and make your way to the left side, towards the giant spinning ferris wheel in the skyline – it’s hard to miss!
The London Eye is an iconic part of any trip to London. If you want to go on the London Eye, it has incredible views of the city and is a very relaxing, awe-inspiring experience. Just make sure to purchase your tickets online in advance – they are way cheaper than buying them last minute in person. The whole ride takes about 30 minutes but be prepared to wait longer in line/ for security (even if you have pre-purchased your tickets).
You can skip the line and shorten your wait time with a fast-track entry ticket, but be prepared to pay more. Overall, the London Eye is a great activity to do once, on your first trip to London.
The London Eye offers incredible views of the city
The London Eye pods are very spacious and can hold up to 28 people
The London Eye makes it easy to get the best pics of London from above
Pretty views of the river Thames in both directions
Westminster Abbey
Make your way back across the bridge towards Westminster Abbey. This Anglican church is used for royal weddings, coronations, and burials with a very rich history.
We strongly recommend going inside instead of just taking pictures with the beautifully ornate exterior.
A standard visit to the Abbey is £29 for a standard adult ticket. This includes a very helpful multimedia guide that walks you through the major sites like the main altar, the tombs of Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Mary of Scots, and the many chapels in the nooks of the church. It is not necessary to buy tickets online, but make sure the Abbey is open to visitors on the day you are planning to visit, as it is still a functioning church. Also, keep in mind that the Abbey closes for visiting one hour after the last entry.
Our favorite way to visit the Abbey is somewhat of a hidden gem. We highly recommend trying to visit during a service, specifically Evensong. This is usually done at 5PM, so it worked perfectly as an end to this walking in London tour when we started around 2PM. Tickets are not required, it is completely free, and everyone is welcome. The service is performed by the Choir of Westminster Abbey, and it is absolutely breathtaking, even if you are not Christian or religious at all.
Try to time your visit to Westminster Abbey so you can experience the Evensong service
If you want to go to the Evensong service, we recommend getting there by 4:30PM, as seats tend to fill up. The best seats are next to the choir, and they are given out on a first come first serve basis. Also, it is not allowed to take any pictures or videos of the service, so if you want to get pictures of the Abbey and see more of what it has to offer, consider taking the standard tour as late as possible and staying afterward for the Evensong service.
That is the end of our self-guided walking in London tour! We hope you enjoy your time in this beautiful city with this efficient taste of London’s most iconic sights.
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