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HOW TO FIND THE HEART OF LONDON’S NEIGHBOURHOODS
Discover the heart of various neighbourhoods, with details of local history, culture and architecture, helping you understand where you are in relation to the surrounding area, and suggesting the walking route that I’d take if I were showing a friend around. Practical information is included like the location of playgrounds and toilets, making your walk convenient and family-friendly. Some areas just contain a gallery so far.
WALKS TO ORIENT YOURSELF AND CONNECT LONDON
See the bigger picture. Instead of seeing London as a collection of separate fragments, see how it links up. I have cycled all the possible routes and these are the best I have found.
SUGGESTED WALKS FROM LONDON LANDMARKS
The Tower of London is right next to the Thames, and if you don’t have much time in London, there is a really great walk along the south bank of the river, taking you past many sights including the Globe Theatre, Tate Modern, street performers and cafes. To take this walk, cross Tower Bridge and go down the steps to your right. Alternatively, walk East along the north bank through beautiful St Katherine’s Docks. Going west along the north bank of the river, you can walk to the Millenium Bridge and St Paul’s, or you can cut up Old Billingsgate Walk just before the Billingsgate Fish Market building, take the crossing over busy Lower Thames street, then go up historic Idol Lane to discover ruined St Dunstan’s Gardens and on as shown to Victorian Leadenhall Market. Alternatively if you turn left after the crossing on Lower Thames Street, you can cut up the diagonal Monument street to discover Christopher Wren’s monument to the Great Fire in 1666. If you have more time, I also show the best route north through vibrant and multicultural Petticoat Lane Market and Brick Lane (both best on Sundays) From Brick Lane you can continue to Spitalfields Market. or Sunday’s Columbia Rd flower market.
From the front of the British Museum, walk straight down Museum Street and carry straight on to meet Drury Lane and Seven Dials, Covent Garden.
You are also within easy striking distance of Lincoln’s Inn fields and the Temple.
From the back of the museum you a stone’s throw away from Soho Square, Soho.
Anyone with children could combine a visit to the museum with the special playground at Coram’s fields.
Kings Cross St Pancras Station and the British Library are also reachable – this is the prettiest route.
The British Museum is also on the route of the Bloomsbury walk
Sherlock Holmes Museum
The Sherlock Holmes Museum is about five minutes’ walk from the beautiful Regents Park. Stroll round the boating lake then take in the Conran Shop, cafes, restaurants, independent boutiques and the famous Daunt bookshop on Marylebone High Street, finishing at Bond Street Tube Station. From here you could cross over an walk down shopping streets South Molton Street and on down Bond Street into the West End, or turn right and walk down Oxford Street to Marble Arch, then into Hyde Park. If you keep heading south past Hyde Park Corner and down the edge of Green Park, you’ll reach Buckingham Palace!
WHERE TO GO IF YOU HAVE A LIMITED TIME IN LONDON
