One of my favorite ways to discover a city is on foot! This route will take you through the heart of Westminster in London.
Fair warning, this is quite a bit of walking and the tour will take most (if not all) day. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes!
I’ve intentionally not laid out a specific route for you to follow and instead simply marked each bolded location on the map. This allows you to plan your own path from one point to another and gives you freedom to explore along the way. You can find an interactive version of the map here.
Start your day at Westminster Abbey. There is so much to see here! To avoid the long line waiting to get inside, buy your tickets in advance online. This allows you to skip to the front of the line. Your entrance includes a free audio guide or you can sign up for a verger led tour that offers access to areas of the abbey not open to the general public. It’s important to remember that Westminster Abbey is a functioning church. You will need to be respectful of this during your visit. Sections may be closed off for worship and photography is prohibited.
After leaving the abbey, head north past the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben. The tower that houses Big Ben is currently undergoing repairs and won’t be functional again for several years (projected completion is 2021), but it’s still a very impressive sight. (Did you know that Big Ben is actually the name of the bell housed in the tower?)
Next consider a stop at Churchill’s War Rooms. These underground rooms served as a command center for Churchill and his war cabinet during World War II and they’ve been meticulously preserved.
Horses are our next stop on the tour. From the War Rooms, you can walk past 10 Downing Street to the Horse Guards Parade grounds. Here you’ll find a mounted guard during the day and two separate horseback ceremonies including a changing of the guard in the morning and an inspection in the afternoon. The afternoon inspection dates back to 1894 after officers were caught drinking and gambling while on duty!
You can also visit the Household Cavalry Museum which chronicles this history of this mounted division throughout the years and includes a look into the stables. (For more horse related things to do in London, check out this post.)
This is a great time to stop and eat. There are lots of restaurant options around the area, but one to consider is the Cafe in the Crypt at St. Martin in the Fields. The food is simple and served cafeteria style, but reasonably priced and the restaurant is located in the church’s old crypt giving the place a unique atmosphere. The church is also worth checking out while you’re there.
Finally, head over to Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. Like many museums in London, this one is free to visit. So even if you’re not an art lover, consider stopping in for a quick look. The museum houses countless rooms full of art including one of Van Gogh’s sunflowers.
