Walking, Shopping & Sightseeing Tour of Central London

By Martyn Lovell

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Cannot be driven J

Definitely an energetic walk if you do it in one day. This tour is definitely oriented to an American audience visiting for a short time.

Start at Russell Square Tube (Picadilly Line)

At exit of tube, turn left (onto Bernard Street ), traveling approximately West

Bernard Street ends at the corner of Russell Square

Cross Russell Square Gardens diagonally, traveling approximately South

Items of interest: Russell Hotel (North Corner)

Leave Russell Square at the South corner, continue South-East down Montague Street

At the end of Montague Street , turn right onto Great Russell Street

Items of interest: British Museum (on your right) You could spend a day in here

Turn left onto Gower Street (now going South-ish)

Very soon, turn right on New Oxford Street

Items of interest: Oxford Street is one of London ’s primary Shopping zones. Many shops from here on for a while

Follow New Oxford Street West as it turns into Oxford Street when it crosses the Tottenham Court Road/Charing Cross Road

Item: Note Centre Point at this junction, a London Landmark

Item: At this junction there was a takeout joint called Dionysus, which served my favourite takeaway food in London (but you might not like it). Good Fish and Chips too. Sadly, Dionysus closed due to a fire in early 2003. Then it reopned in ~2006. Then it closed again in 2009 to make way for public transport. They promise they will reopen again soon. No change to London has depressed me more than the closing of this landmark part of my youth. You can find info on their plans on facebook.

Tube: Tottenham Court Road Tube Station

Continue west along Oxford Street

Item: There is a McDonalds about here in case you are craving US food.

Item: Just after McDonalds is the Virgin Megastore, which is probably the best music/video/game store you will pass. So this is the place to shop for that stuff.

Continue west along Oxford Street

Item: Good clothes shopping, shoes, etc

Continue west along Oxford Street until you reach the junction with Regent Street . This is probably ½ hour from where you joined Oxford Street if you never stopped.

Item: This is Oxford Circus

Tube: Oxford Circus Tube

Turn left onto Regent Street

Item: Good shopping

Item: On your left, Hamleys, the world’s largest toy store

Continue along Regent Street as it curves eastward

Item: Famous Tea Room (whose name I have forgotten) about here.

You will reach Picadilly Circus

Tube: Picadilly Circus

Item: The famous lighted billboards

Item: Statue in the centre of the square

Item: Huge Tower Records store on the circus.

Item: Lillywhites sporting goods, also on the circus, best sporting good store in London

Leave Picadilly Circus by Coventry Street . This travels approximately east. It is also approximately diagonally opposite where you entered

Travel East on Coventry Street

Item: Trocadero Centre on your left. Has a very large, 5 floor amusement arcade, which is worth a visit -- Also has a cinema.

Item: TGI Friday’s on your right -- the first one in England . If you fancy US-style food and service, this is your best bet.

Continue east on Coventry Street

Item: Huge KFC and McDonalds here

Item: The Swiss Cultural Centre

At KFC, Turn left onto Wardour Street , traveling north.

Item: You are entering London ’s Chinatown

Item: Chinese food is very good here, perhaps a great place to lunch

Continue North on Wardour Street

Turn right onto Gerard Street , which is a paved (no traffic) street

Item: This is the centre of Chinatown

Item: Notice the different phone boxes

Item: Chinese supermarkets, etc

Follow Gerard Street to its end

Turn right onto Newport Place

Follow Newport place, cross Little Newport Street

Continue down Leicester Court (really just a passage)

You are now on Leicester Square

Tube: Leicester Square

Item: Cinemas surround you. The best cinemas in London

Item: A bunch of touristy restaurants here

Item: The ½ price theatre ticket booth is here

Item: Park in the centre of the square

Continue South across Leicester Square (downhill)

Turn left Leave Leicester Square by Irving Street (another pedestrian alley), traveling East

Turn right onto Charing Cross Road

Continue South on Charing Cross Road

You will come to Trafalgar Square

Item: Nelson’s Column

Item: The Square itself

Item: The national Gallery

Item: The national portrait gallery

Tube: Charring Cross

Leave Trafalgar Square through the arches to the South West. The name of this Street is ‘The Mall’.

Continue West along the Mall

Item: St James’ Park (free)

Item: Lake in the park (if you go in)

Item: Architecture

Item: You can drive this bit in Project Gotham!

Continue West along the Mall until it ends at Buckingham Palace

Item: Buckingham Palace

Turn left onto Spur Road

Turn left again onto Birdcage Walk, traveling east

Item: Now on the other side of St James’ Park

Continue East along Birdcage Walk

Continue East as Birdcage Walk turns into Great George Street

Item: You are now in the centre of British Government

Continue as you arrive at Parliament Square

Item: Houses of Parliament

Item: Square

Item: Westminster Abbey

Tube: Westminster

Continue East across Westminster Bridge (traveling East)

Item: View of the Thames

Item: The London Eye (Huge Ferris wheel)

As soon as Westminster bride meets land, there are stairs to your left which go down to the river-front. Go down these steps. (Going North)

Continue North along the Thames

Item: The London Eye (Huge Ferris wheel)

Item: London Aquarium

Item: Jubilee Gardens (green space)

Continue along the riverbank (northeast)

Item: Royal Festival Hall

Item: Some Nice riverside restaurants. Dinner?

Item: Museum of the Moving Image (Cinema). This is fun

Item: Hayward Gallery

When you reach Waterloo Bridge , follow walking signs for Waterloo Station

Tube: Waterloo

OR: Get a taxi home or to dinner J

© Copyright 2001-2003 Martyn Lovell. All Rights Reserved.