tourist walking map london

This Is (Possibly) The Most Efficient Sightseeing Tour Of London

Want to do all the attractions , very quickly? Then here's the perfect London sightseeing map for you!

Ever wanted to go for a walk and hit up almost all of London’s sights in one fell swoop? Well, Redditor magulagie has the answer for you. They’ve created the ultimate London sightseeing map for tourists in a hurry. Just over five miles long on the map, it takes in a ton of London’s most iconic features, and if you avoid going inside any of the places you pass, it’ll only take about two hours ! Who needs to be filled in on all the historic interiors, anyway?

Perfect for ticking a lot of London tourist map boxes, filling up that Instagram story, or just getting your bearings on foot at the beginning of a trip full of London sightseeing . It’s like the Match of the Day of finding your way around London for the first time, and this one will hit like an injury-time winner.

Naturally, we had to give the sightseeing route a try for ourselves. And it definitely gets our seal of approval!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Secret London (@secret.london)

You’ll start off at Trafalgar Square…

There’s no London walking tour map without Trafalgar Square , so we might as well kick things off with this roaring-statue-filled paradise of pigeons…and a slice of London’s history, of course. A mighty first spot, and one that Nelson would very much approve of being tucked into first place. Where else would we begin?

Take a stroll along the Mall…

When we say stroll, we mean a speedy one—we’ve got a time limit to adhere to, people! A route in honour of Queen Victoria has to be added to a London map of attractions, right? Well, not necessarily, but when it looks this grandiose, you’ll want to be making it your next stop on your sightseeing tour. On we march; our love of London building more and more with each stride…

Until you arrive at Buckingham Palace…

Can’t really miss this one, can you? The home of the Royal Family gazes out over the plush fields of Green Park and attracts millions of visitors each year. If you see King Charles , be sure to quiz him on whether he’s ticked off all these boxes on his London sightseeing tour. Will he be a mere poser on London attractions or a go-to knowledge box?

Then head along Birdcage Walk…

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ciaran Thomas (@ciaranthomas97)

After you’ve taken a selfie with the Royal Family, it’s a no-brainer to make Birdcage Walk the next pin on your walking map of London attractions . Famous diary scribe Samuel Pepys mentioned this walk in his writings way back in the 1600s, and the name of the walk dates back to the reign of King James I . Not a bad smattering of history to saunter through on the way to your next destination. Tweet tweet.

Until you get to Westminster Abbey…

Even if you’ve been before, or don’t plan to look inside, making time for the resplendent piece of gothic architecture that is Westminster Abbey on your walking tour of London is a necessity. It’s been the location of 39 coronations since 1066 , and you just need to stand and admire one of London’s crown jewels.

The Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben, are right next door…

Talking of jewels in London’s crown, it’s always nice to check out the big bonging boombox that is the Elizabeth Tower , better known as Big Ben . You can also kill two birds with one stone by adding the Houses Of Parliament to your London sightseeing day which, if nothing else, is good to tick off to say you’ve seen the place where Members of Parliament shout at the Members of Parliament sitting opposite them. And the place Guy Fawkes wanted to destroy…

Then head over Westminster Bridge…

The second path over the river in central London history, after London Bridge. It’s been here since 1750, though it’s only been green since 1970, and it’s the perfect spot for a moment of reflection on your walking tour of London… if you don’t get bumped out of the way by commuters hurrying across Westminster Bridge in the morning. Hey, it happens. Unless you’re the one who does the bumping. Then you’re the one to watch out for, you treacherous little fiend. We see you.

And you’ll get to the South Bank. Along here you’ll see the London Eye.

Though the queue might seem daunting, there’s no denying that the dome built for the millennium is something that just needs to be seen. The London Eye was even named London’s most loved landmark in a study, so at the very least you’ll need to head over there on your walking tour to see whether you agree. But if you want to crack on with the quickfire walking tour, you won’t be able to dive into a pod for the view on this occasion — they go around slooooowwwwllllllyyy.

Now for the Southbank Centre

Whether it’s a place to hang out in the summer to catch some rays or your checkpoint on the map for a cold day’s activity of viewing some art , there’s always something going on at the Southbank Centre , and you’ll likely see us banging on about it all year round !

And book stalls under Waterloo Bridge.

“I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.” Robert Louis Stevenson was a maverick with the pen, so maybe we should start adopting this practice too. If you’re looking for one to fill the first item, then you’ll find just the place on your walking tour. Maybe the man who gave us Treasure Island and Kidnapped also once carried a London sightseeing map in his pocket…

Head past that scrap of sand we call the foreshore and the OXO Tower.

While we can’t get away with calling it a beach , we’ll just play pretend for this London sightseeing tour , okay?! There’s no time for a cocktail on these shores though; there’s a tour to be getting on with! Dawdlers, be gone.

Before too long you’ll arrive at the Tate Modern .

London’s most popular art gallery, don’tcha know? Are you going to go in? NO. THERE IS NO TIME. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE REST OF YOUR LONDON SIGHTSEEING MAP.

Carry on along the river a little bit and you’ll see Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

And this is embarrassing but (for the only time on this walk) you’ll have to double back on yourself very slightly. I know, the ultimate betrayal; but still not quite as bad as the one poor Hamlet was struck with.

Then it’s over Millennium Bridge:

2000 gave us Kid A by Radiohead, but it also gave us the opening of the incredibly useful Millennium Bridge. You can decide which you prefer for yourself; though you can, of course, enjoy them simultaneously along your London sightseeing map walk through the power of headphones. What a world.

Until you reach St. Paul’s Cathedral !

I hear it’s beautiful inside, but you’re not allowed to take photos anyway so, quite frankly, who’s got the time? Anyway, it’s Christopher Wren’s masterpiece and one that you’ll need to check off your London sightseeing tour list.

Then it’s time to walk along Cannon Street…

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Thoroughly Modern Milly (@millykr)

This bit’s a little boring, to be honest. (It’s certainly nowhere near as pretty as its namesake in Birmingham .) But there is a stunning little townhouse, now home to The Walbrook Club, hidden away down a side street along the way. Don’t spend too long searching for it, though, as there are places to go and sights to see!

…until you get to The Monument!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Glenn (@perspectivebyglenn)

Don’t ask which monument – it’s The Monument and you’ll find it near Monument station. Keep your eyes peeled, because even if it towers overhead – it’s surprisingly easy to miss! The grand monument to the Great Fire Of London in 1666 is a tall order for your London tour, but I’m sure you’ll make it worthwhile.

Now just roll down Lower Thames Street and you’ll soon get to the Tower of London!

You could go in, meet the ravens, ogle a Beefeater, check out the Crown Jewels. Or say ‘nahhhhhhhhhhh y’alright’ and carry on. There’s plenty more of your sightseeing tour to tick off. Anyway, it’s a classy fortress that might look easy on the eye, but was also used to lock people up in the Tudor period. Don’t get on the wrong side of them…

Tower Bridge is, like, right next door. Get a load of that.

Few more to go on your London sightseeing map . Getting tired yet? Good. You’ve nearly earned your end-of-tour pint. Hey! Stop thinking about alcohol and feast your eyes on Tower Bridge .

Then just a couple of minutes away you’ll reach the pretty marina at St. Katherine’s Docks:

Need a pint now… But St. Katherine’s Docks is pretty, and pretty much wraps up our London tourist map. I can hear those beer barrels being readied to fill the glasses.

Until – hurrah! – you finally arrive at a flower-festooned pub.

Well played, my tourist friend: the cheeriest of cheers to you. Now it’s definitely time for a pint !

TYPE IN YOUR SEARCH AND PRESS ENTER

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and analyze the use of the website. Learn More

Self-Guided Walking Tour London

Although we do offer several fully guided free walking tours in London, they run on a somewhat regular schedule, which means you might not always be able to join us.

That's why we compiled this list of free self-guided London walks, including self-guided food and theme tours, such as Harry Potter film locations.

We've broken up these tours into the following categories.

• Neighbourhood
• Themed Tours
• GPS-Guided Audio Tours
• Other Free Things to Do in London

And if you are considering a London hop-on-hop-off bus tour, then these self-guided tours will come in handy when you are off the bus. Read our reviews of the best London bus tours .

For more ways to save money, check out our London on a Budget Guide .

Self-Guided Neighbourhood Walking Tours

Though we love showing guests around London, we realize that not everyone has the time to take a guided walking tour.

If our tour schedule doesn't work for you, or if you would rather explore on your own, then take advantage of our totally free self-guided tours!

Self-Guided City of London Tour

This tour takes you through Old London. Classic sites include St Paul's Cathedral, London Bridge, the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge.

You can even watch a condensed virtual version of this tour right now.

Click on the map to enlarge it or download it to a smartphone

We also have a GPS-enabled audio tour version  (sample below) and a pay-what-you-wish live guided tour option . 

Royal London Self-Guided Walking Tour

You can't leave London without seeing many of the sites included in this list.

Some of our favorites are Buckingham Palace, St. James' Palace, Big Ben, Parliament, and Trafalgar Square. 

Click on the map to enlarge it or download it to a smartphone .

We also offer a pay-what-you-like live-guided Royal London Tour option  as well as a GPS-enabled audio tour version .

Camden Town

Once known as the Rock n' Roll capital of the world, Camden Town is now a popular tourist destination offering many great things to do.

This is a self-guided tour to show the visitor some of the many interesting things to see in Camden Town London.

Piccadilly and St. James Walking Tour

One of the most popular touristic areas located in London's West End, this self-guided tour will cover places like Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.

We also offer two guided walks that correspond to this self-guided tour, our guided tour of Soho and our Rock N Roll London Tour . 

River Thames Self-Guided Walking Tour

The best tour for photography enthusiasts!

This picturesque tour takes you along the River Thames to see sites such as the Millennium Bridge, London Eye, and Shakespeare Globe Theatre.

This tour is a great option for an evening walk. In fact, we offer this as a guided tour , usually from April through October.

And check out our audio tour version. Here's a sample.

Be sure to check out our guide to things to do at night in London for even more ideas for nighttime activities.

Self-Guided Royal Borough of Greenwich Walking Tour

Enjoy a leisurely walk through this posh neighborhood that will take you to sites like Greenwich Park, the Queen's House, and the Trafalgar.

A great way to get to Greenwich is by boat cruise .

Hyde Park and Kensington Walking Tour

This will take you through beautiful Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, past a posh royal palace and picturesque art galleries and museums.

SELF-GUIDED THEMED TOURS

In this section, we list several tours based on individuals, bands, movies, or ghosts.

Harry Potter Self-Guided Walking Tour

Dive into the magical world of Harry Potter!

This particular tour will focus on film sites in the northern part of London, such as Leadenhall, Australia House, Platform 9 3/4 as well as many other famous sights.  

Click on the map to enlarge or download to a smartphone

We also offer a guided Harry Potter Tour  as well as a GPS-enabled audio tour version .

Guide to Beatles in London  

Although John, Paul, George, and Ringo hailed from Liverpool, there are plenty of London landmarks for Beatles-lovers to get their fix.

From recording studios to concert venues, shops to roof-top performances, London is filled with hot-spots for fans of the Fab Four. 

There are many guided tours of Beatles sites with live tour guides and other fans. We offer a twice-weekly Rock N Roll London guided tour.

We also have a post on how to get to the Abbey Road Crosswalk .

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Jack the Ripper Sites  

Try your hand at solving one of the most famous unsolved murder cases in history.

Our Jack the Ripper tour guides you through the area of London where the felon committed his most notorious crimes.

We've even included a photo from that era to give you a sense of how the city looked.  

We also offer a live-guided option for Jack the Ripper  as well as a GPS-enabled audio tour version .

Downton Abbey London Sights  

Downton Abbey exploded onto our screens in 2010 and people from all over the world watched the lives and exploits of the Crowley Family and all the characters surrounding them.

Although Downton Abbey has finished airing, it’s still as popular as ever.

For visitors who have traveled to the U.K. hoping to see some Downton Abbey locations and inspirations, here is our helpful guide to London’s Downton Abbey connections! 

Roman London Walking Tour  

Get a better sense of just how powerful the Roman Empire once was with this tour.

Sites include the Temple of Mithras and a piece of the Roman Wall, which dates back 2,000 years.

James Bond Tour  

Use your feet and the London Underground to visit sights related to James Bond in London.

You'll see a variety of historic sites such as Somerset, Buckingham Palace, and Whitehall, and you'll learn all about their connections to the character.

Literary Walking Tour - Hampstead Heath  

Hampstead was the birthplace of big names in the literary industry.

Hampstead is considered one of the more beautiful London boroughs and it is full of places for true literature lovers to explore.

Jimi Hendrix Sights  

London was an important city for this American rock legend. We offer a twice-weekly Rock N Roll London guided tour.

David Bowie Sights  

Born in London, David Bowie left an indelible mark on this city. We offer a twice-weekly Rock N Roll London guided tour.

London Ghost Tour  

Only for those bold enough to take a ghost tour on their own! Want some company? Join us for a guided ghost tour of London.

Wizards of London Game

This self-guided walking tour london app puts you in the shoes of a wizard to solve a mystery while discovering some of the most notable sites in the city.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Questo Experiences (@questoapp)

Haunted London Game

Discover the more frightening side of London's history as you attempt to solve a mystery during this haunted self-guided exploration game.

Queen: The Quest Must Go On Game

Fans of the band Queen may want to consider taking part in this self-guided exploration game which will task them with solving a mystery based on their music.

Get a taste of London with our free self-guided food tour: 

East London Food Tour  

It is possible to eat from any of the world’s cuisines when you are in the East End of London, but here is a small DIY tour that will have you sampling some of the best the East End has to offer those with a hunger for delicious food.  

Be sure to check out our pay-what-you-wish  tour guide led version  (watch video above).

Soho, Chinatown, and Piccadilly Food Tour  

Explore culturally and culinarily diverse neighborhoods of Soho, Chinatown, and Piccadilly.

We've curated a list of the best restaurants in the area to give you a real taste of London!

Exmouth Market Food Tour

Venture out to Exmouth Market, the “real” London that's tucked just far enough away from other touristy parts with the best street food that London has to offer.

Covent Garden Food Tour  

Try out the culinary delights in one of London's liveliest neighborhoods in the West End.

Borough Market

Discover the best eats you can find in Borough Market and get some ideas for what types of food you might want to get here. 

Choose a Destination... I want them all PLUS general travel tips. Amsterdam Berlin Boston Charleston Chicago Dubai Lisbon London Los Angeles Miami Nashville New York City New Orleans Paris Philadelphia Prague Rome San Francisco Washington DC

About The Author

North America

United kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

A Lady in London

And Traveling the World

Lady’s London Walking Map for Self-Guided Walks

Today I want to bring you my interactive London walking map. I’ve published dozens of self-guided London walking tours on the A Lady in London blog, and I want to give you a place to see them all together in one map. I hope it makes it easy for you to find London walks near you, and to branch out and explore more of the city on walks further afield.

London Walking Map

My London walking map shows all the routes I’ve written about. From central London walks to east London walks , it has each one labeled with the relevant walking tour.

London walks

The map includes my most popular self-guided London walks , including my Notting Hill walk , my Hampstead walk , and my Chelsea walk .

It also has everything from my secret London walks to my south London walks , west London walks , and north London walks . It has themed London walks like my literary walk , my street art walk , my historical walks , and my night walks , too.

I’ve put together lists of seasonal walks for spring , summer , autumn , Christmas , and winter , too. The routes in them are included in my London walking map as well.

If you want to bookmark or pin it on Pinterest , you can use this post as an easy reference to locate all my self-guided London walking tours.

You can read about more city walks in London’s Hidden Walks as well. You can get it on Amazon here . There are more ideas in my London walking books post, too. Some of them have printed London walking maps as well.

You can see my London walking map below. If you click on the pins, you’ll find more information about each walk, including a link to the relevant blog post with the description, route, map, photos, and videos.

Whether you love London canal walks or walks around London Bridge , you’ll find what you’re looking for.

I hope you enjoy playing around with it and that it helps you discover new-to-you areas of the UK capital.

I have additional London walks in the pipeline, and they’ll all end up on my London walking map when I’ve published them. If you want to see more of the city, you can also take a look at my London neighborhoods map .

I hope you enjoy these self-guided London walking tours as much as I have, and that you get a chance to explore all the city’s secret spaces. Happy walking!

Find this post helpful? Buy me a coffee!

New here? Join thousands of others and subscribe to the A Lady in London blog via email .

One of the links in this blog post is an affiliate link. At no cost to you, I earn a small commission when you click on it and make a purchase. It doesn’t affect the way you shop, and it’s a great way to support the A Lady in London blog.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

© Copyright A Lady in London 2007 - 2024. Privacy Policy.

.

.

Interactive Sightseeing for Tourists! Click on the INFO field for help.

PRINT AREA MAP

S C R O L L B A R

Interactive Tourist Map for London

London offers a large choice of top attractions for tourists. The interactive map from city-walks helps you to plan your free sightseeing tour :

Printable City Map Travel Guide

Attractions

See the overview of the most popular destinations in the city ...

Interactive Map

Orientate yourself and find quickly the top favorites for your trip ...

Walks & Sightseeing

Explore London with the assistance of these self-guided routes ...

Top 10 Sights

Get some important information, facts and tips for your visit ...

Shopping Tips

Malls, department stores and shopping streets in the center ...

Free Museums

Discover impressive art treasures and highlights of our history ...

Travel Guide

See the overview of all topics with a brief description for each ...

Imprint - Privacy  © Wilhelm Balint

• Financial Planning
• RV Living Tips
• Homeschooling
• Favorite RV Spots
• Remote Work Ideas
• Family Travel Tips
• Destinations
• Product Reviews
• Gear Guides
• Partner With Us

The Ultimate Self-Guided London Walking Tour

Reid October 20, 2019 Destinations , Resources Leave a Comment

When I was in college I was briefly in England and wanted to explore London, but I only had one day to do it. I also didn’t want to spend money on a guided tour or a hop on hop off bus. Well, truthfully I did but I was a broke college kid. I needed something on budget but effective. I literally had one day in London and I felt that I needed to see as much of the city possible but didn’t know how to cram it all in.

As luck would have it, a friend of a friend who lived in London happened to have a day off and offered to show our group around the city. We lucked out and had a local London tour guide. He had lived in London his entire life and knew exactly what to see in London. He let us know to wear comfortable shoes as we’d be footing it for the day. Perfect, a London walking tour! 

For the entire day, we followed our guide’s lead and ended up having a very memorable day in the city and saw all of London’s must-see spots. Now, years later I’m sharing this information with you so you can have your very own self guided London Walking tour. I’m even going to share a map so you can keep track of where to go or customize your own walking tour.

Table of Contents

Picadilly Circus

Trafalgar square, buckingham palace, st. james park, westminster abbey, parliament and big ben, tate modern gallery, shakespeare’s globe theatre, st. paul’s cathedral, tower of london, tower bridge, london walking tour map, kensington palace, parliament square, london bridge, the fire of 1666 history, hms belfast, london aquarium, jubilee gardens, self guided london walking tour.

When we met our new found guide he told us how effective public transportation is around the city. He said that it would be easy to hop on the Underground or on a double-decker bus to get to our destinations, but that we would miss so many things along our way.

This is just a guide, use it to see what you want to see and walk past what you want to do. The entire walk I’ll outline is about 5.5 miles. It took us just over 6 hours to complete, but we did stop several places for photos and again for lunch. If you’re not interested in walking hop on a bus or on the Tube, this guide is still a great list of things to do in London.

We started our day at Picadilly Circus. Think of it as London’s Times Square. There are tons of lights, billboards, shows, restaurants, gift shops, and tourist attractions. Also, it is a very good spot to start our tour because it is very easy to get to by the London TFL bus system (Transport for London) or the Underground.

Get your fill of all the lights and load up on cheap souvenirs and get ready to walk!

After about a 10 minute walk from Picadilly Circus is Trafalgar Square. Trafalgar Square is a public square in central London that commemorates a historic naval battle, The Battle of Trafalgar, over the French and Spanish. It has some famous fountains and statues that you’ll recognize from movies and tv. It is also home to Nelson’s Column and the National Portrait Gallery.

What trip to London would be complete without seeing Buckingham Palace? The palace has served as the residence for Britain’s royalty since 1837. You might not see the queen, but if you schedule ahead you can watch the changing of the guard.

Timing is crucial for this stop if you want to see the changing of the guard ceremony. Make sure to double-check the time and keep an eye on your watch if you want to witness this. We planned our day’s start time around the changing of the guard.

Typically, changing of the Queen’s Guard starts at 10:45 am and lasts about 45 minutes. This is a cool thing to see and is a great photo op. I recommend checking it out. It is free to watch, but there is usually a crowd, so showing up a few minutes early will be helpful.

On the way to the next stop on the walking tour you’ll be able to have a nice stroll through St. James Park, just like a local would. The map attached may suggest walking on the outer street of the park, but we chose to walk through it. If you walk through, stop halfway at the Blue Bridge, which crosses the lake is another great photo spot. It offers great views of Buckingham Palace and the London Eye.

Fun fact, the park is home pelicans that have actually lived there for over 400 years. The original pelicans were a gift to King Charles II.

Continue your walk to World Heritage Site, Westminster Abbey. Westminster Abbey is an important part of British History and current events alike. It is used for coronations, royal weddings and is the resting place of British kings, queens, statesmen, soldiers, poets, and heroes. The abbey holds regular services but is open to the public most days. Check ahead to see what is available to see when you’re in town. There is much to see inside!

The Palace of Westminster, commonly called the House of Parliament, is the next stop on our walking tour. It serves as the meeting place for House of Commons and the House of Lords. It is also home to Big Ben which is actually just the name of the bell, not the clock tower itself. That is something we learned from our local guide. I always thought it was Big Ben was the clocktower.

Take Westminster Bridge across the River Thames toward your next stop the London Eye. Make sure you turn around and take some photos of Big Ben and Parliament from the bridge or across the river. It is a great view and the pictures won’t disappoint.

The London Eye is comparatively new to most of the sights on our London walking tour. It was completed in 2000 and at the time it was the world’s tallest Ferris wheel. The London Eye was built as a tourist attraction and offers incredible views of London and the River Thames. If you want to ride the Ferris wheel, advance bookings are recommended. The lines for tickets can get long.

A nice walk along the River Thames will bring you to the Tate Modern Gallery, a spectacular art museum that is free to visit, although some individual exhibits may have admission fees. It is worth a stop if you’re into art or want some air conditioning. If not, keep walking, you’re about to pass another great London landmark!

The original Globe Theatre was built in 1599 and was home to Shakespeare’s playing company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. A modern reconstruction was built in 1997 in the approximate location and now is home to tours, a gift shop, a cafe, and yes, plays.

From the Globe Theater, take Millennium Bridge across the Thames. Millennium Bridge is a uniquely designed footbridge and is worth a photo or two itself.

Across the river, you’ll find St. Paul’s Cathedral, which a classic piece of London history and dates more than 1400 years. It is an Anglican cathedral. You do have to pay to enter as a tourist but admission gives you access to the cathedral floor, crypt, and galleries. 

A short walk from St. Paul’s you’ll find the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. The Tower of London holds a lot of history and was once a palace and a notorious prison. There is an entrance fee, but it is worth it to gain access to all of the museums, exhibits, and even catch a glimpse of iconic crown jewels. Tours are also available.

You can’t go to London and not visit Tower Bridge. It is probably the most iconic sight in town. If you look ahead at the schedules you may be lucky enough to see the bridge go up to let a ship through. You can walk across the bridge and even see the engine rooms that make the bridge lift and drop.

Tower Bridge is the end of our walking tour. From Tower Bridge, it is a short walk to Tower Station. Here and you can catch the Tube or a bus to anywhere in London.

As promised here are the links to the google maps. I’ve split them in two because google wouldn’t let me put all of the destinations in one map. Here they are London Walking Tour Part One and London Walking Tour Part Two.

More London Sights to See

If you don’t think this self-guided London walking tour has enough destinations or you aren’t interested in some of the stops try adding these to your walking tour. They are all fairly close to your walking route.

Between Picadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.  Where some of London’s playhouses reside, think Broadway in New York.

Historic/government buildings and nice views.

Just a bit past Buckingham Palace is Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens another royal residence.

Horse Guards Parade – An open place they use for ceremonies and events on the East side of St. James Park. They usually have traditional English guards on post here.

A park with some monuments great views of Parliament.

The current version of the London Bridge is really just a bridge and isn’t too significant, but when in London, right?

All around the St. Paul’s Cathedral there are markers describing the area affected by the fire of 1666. You’ll have to keep an eye open, some of the markers are hidden.

Just down the river from Tower Bridge is the retired WWII vessel which is now a museum.

Just across Westminster Bridge from Parliament.

A public park near the London Eye.

We hope that you’re able to take this walking tour of London. I loved my time there!

Related Posts

A Look Inside Edinburgh Castle

Helsinki One Day Itinerary

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Ultimate FREE London Tourist Map (Things to Do, Photo Spots & More!)

*FYI - this post may contain affiliate links, which means we earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase from them. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure. for more info.

Looking for a London tourist map that covers all the main sights?

Great news! Hi – I’m Christina, a shameless travel nerd who has already made one. WITH cute stamp icons… that are colour coded.

So yes, below, you’ll find a handy Google Map that you can use on your phone that includes…

• Top London museums & sights
• The prettiest photo spots and views in London
• The nicest parks in London
• London food, drink & pub recommendations
• Fun shopping spots to visit in London

I hope you find it helpful!

Save this Free London Map for Later!

You’ll be very glad you did.

My Free London Tourist Map

On mobile? Click this link here and the map should automatically open on your Google Maps app.

NOTE: Free sights are marked with a green background – be sure to expand the Map Legend to see the different layers and categories I’ve included!

London Travel Tips Video

First time in London? Here’s a video that explains some of the important must-knows to keep in mind before your trip.

More London Travel Resources

Finally, if you’re a bit more old school, then here are some articles and blog posts to help you out with your London planning!

• London Travel Tips
• How to Spend Three Days in London
• The Best Historic & Unique Pubs in London
• The Best Christmas Things to do in London
• London Mistakes to Avoid
• London Harry Potter Bucket List
• England Travel Tips
• The Best Places to Visit in England (Besides London)
• How to Take Trains in the UK (Step by Step)

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. *

London Hiker

Satisfy your hill walking cravings

Get my weekly tips sent to your inbox!

10 Must See London Walking Maps

Here are ten of the best and most interesting maps to help you get the most of walking in and around London.

1. London’s Walking Routes (Transport for London)

This is a great place to start: this map immediately gives you a great visual idea of how the major walking trails fit together across London.

You can click through to get detailed maps for any of the specific trails too.

• Transport for London: London’s Walking Routes

2. Walker’s Tube Map (Londonist)

Londonist have come up with a fantastic twist on the major walking trails and created a Walker’s Tube Map , which shows 13 of the most prominent walking routes in a familiar tube map style.

This is particularly great for seeing how the various routes interlink.

Not only that but they’ve created a great intro video explaining major routes, too.

• Londonist: Walker’s Tube Map

3. Walking Times Between Tube Stations (Transport for London)

Prompted by various unofficial versions over the years, TfL finally produced their own map showing walking times between tube stations.

“A TfL spokeswoman said: ‘What we have seen is that people are desperate for this sort of thing, so we have created it. We focused on central London, zones 1 and 2, and based the times on our journey planner.’ [ Evening Standard ]

• Transport for London: Walking Times Between Tube Stations

4. Calories burned walking between tube stations (Treated)

“It probably isn’t news to most people, especially to those who live in the capital, that strike action recently resulted in some sections of the London Underground temporarily closing… It was when the demonstration was in full swing that we started to wonder how many calories someone might burn if, for instance, they decided to swap certain legs of their journey for a walking commute.” [ Treated: Get Fit with our calorie busting tube map ]

• Treated: Calories burned walking between tube stations

5. When it’s quicker to walk between tube stations (Rodcorp)

“For some journeys it’s really not worth getting on the tube: it takes a long time, and costs you money. Sometimes it’s quicker and easier to walk… One of the very few weaknesses of the standard tube map is that its distortion of geography (a very successful attempt to present the different stations and lines more clearly) sometimes means that it’s not clear when the tube trip is unnecessary… But here’s a slightly altered map showing which stations are an arbitrary and as-the-crow-flies 500 metres apart from each other (there are many more stations 600, 700+ metres from each other” [ RodCorp: London Tube Map with Walklines: sometimes it’s quicker to walk ]

• Rodcorp: Tube stations 500 metres or less from each other

6. London’s Green Spaces & Parks (Greater London National Park City)

A beautiful map showing just how green London is: great to see how the various walking routes visit the green spaces, or just to get ideas. Click through, save the image and then zoom in to see the detail.

“Londoners share a very long and proud tradition of protecting and enjoying our natural and cultural heritage. Friends of parks, town planners, the Royal Family, the Corporation of London, the Greater London Authority, conservationists, councils, government departments, developers, builders, charities, campaigners, allotment keepers and generations of millions of gardeners – all continue to contribute to making our capital one of the greenest cities in the world for its size.” [ Greater London National Park City Campaign ]

• Greater London National Park City Campaign: Green Spaces & Parks

7. Waterways Sound Map (I M Rawes / London Sound Survey)

A fantastic and fun representation of London’s rivers and waterways in its own right, but click through and you can actually listen to recordings from each ‘stop’ on the waterway.

“An auditory tribute to Harry Beck’s Underground map, the skeleton which has long lent shape to the city in the minds of Londoners. Here sounds were collected from along London’s canals and lesser rivers.” [ Sound Survey ]

• I M Rawes, London Sound Survey: Waterways Sound Map

8. Topographic map of London (Topographic-map.com)

You want hills? Want high ground? This map will show you where it is.

• Topographic-map.com: Topographic map of London

9. Mount London ‘Peaks’ (Tom Chivers & Martin Kratz)

A map showing the ‘peaks’ written about in the book Mount London: Ascents in the Vertical City .

Not necessarily all green spaces, these are an interesting mixture of London high places, hills and viewpoints.

Click on a pin and you can read a snippet from the book!

• Mount London: Ascents in the Vertical City

10. Walking the Tube Lines – GPS logs (London Photo Project)

This map shows the GPS logs from walking the tube lines above ground. You can click through to see the individual tube line maps – it’s a fascinating insight into what walking the tube lines is like above ground.

• London Photo Project: Merged Route Map
• London Photo Project: Individual Tube Lines Walking Maps

If you liked this you might also like…

Share this page on

DON'T MISS OUT on free updates and freebies! Sign up to the mailing list!

Escape London - click here now!

Welcome! Do you live in London and love walking? I help frustrated London-based hikers to get out on the hills by providing inspiration, ideas, practical advice and encouragement. Satisfy your hill walking cravings! Read more here

• Guest Blogging

Page location: http://londonhiker.com/index.php

©2011-2024 Catherine Redfern

Published: 15 March 2016. Last updated: 15 March 2016

London Hiker is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk

RELATED LINKS

On this page, most popular sights, tickets & sightseeing passes, things to see and do, from our blog.

OPEN TOP SIGHTSEEING BUSES

London tours, popular tours from london, free self-guided walks.

• Guide to hotel areas
• Bed & breakfast
• Backpacker hostels
• Airbnb London
• Central London tours
• Tours from London
• Hop-on hop-off bus tours
• Harry Potter tours
• Stonehenge tours
• Downton Abbey tours
• Windsor tours
• Cotswolds tours
• Private tours
• Ticket & pass offers
• Central London attractions
• Attractions outside London
• Harry Potter attractions
• Tower of London
• PUBLIC TRANSPORT
• London City
• London Southend
• Southampton

Free self-guided London walks

Easy to follow walks covering the main sights of central london.

Using our London self-guided walking tours

These walks are designed as an aid to exploring Central London independently. We believe the best way of seeing London is on foot, supplemented by the use of public transport where required. These notes have focus on what you will see and where, no attempt is made to be a substitute for a good guide book on London.

With a good London street map or map app on your phone you'll have no problem following this walk and be fully equipped to make interesting diversions and adaptations with confidence.

The four walks here cover much of the main areas of Central London a first time visitor will want to cover. These walks encourage visitors to explore London independently and uncover the joys of walking London. You'll be surprised how much you can cover and how much more you see by walking.

London Icons Walk   City of London Walk   Kensington Walk   London Shopping Walk   Professionally guided walking tours London  

1 - The London Icons Walk

This walk as its title suggests, covers many of the major blockbuster reasons that draws first time visitors to London.

The major sights that you must bring back a picture of: Buckingham Palace , Big Ben, Westminster Abbey , Trafalgar Square, the London Eye and many more, are featured on this self-guided walk.

We show you how to link these together into a memorable first day in London and many other fascinating places as well.

St James's Park is at the centre of this circular walk, a great place for a breather and some rest and recreation.

London Icons Walk

2 - The City of London Walk

The original City of London was built to the east of the area most visitors today visit - Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the West End entertainment area.

All the above places were outside the original walled city, now called the City of London. Today the City of London is the main business area, a major world financial centre. But as the area is London's oldest its full of interest.

The main formal sights of this walk are Tower Bridge, Tower of London , St Paul's Cathedral and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

The joy of this walk for many people though will be savouring the non tourist atmosphere and understanding London better both past and present. Its a great place to poke around and explore.

City of London Walk

3 - The Kensington Walk

Just to the west of the very centre of London is Kensington . Many people will have their accommodation here.

This relatively short leisurely walk starts out in Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens, London's largest Royal Park .

After a visit to Kensington Palace , it's a short walk over to the Albert Hall and the South Kensington Museums.

For most people the museums here will keep you occupied for a full day, each one of them is free.

Just before you get to the Albert Hall you come to the impressive Albert Memorial.

The walk finishes with some upmarket shopping in Knightsbridge where Harrods is situated, just 10 minutes walk from the museums.

Kensington Walk

4 - The London Shopping Walk

Yes, the walk does cover the tourist haunts of Oxford Street , Harrods and Hamleys toy shop.

But it is also enjoyable for those who are not great fans of mainstream retail therapy.

We also cover some specialist areas. Electronics at Tottenham Court Road, the music scene at Denmark Street and books at Charing Cross Road.

There's also China Town, the gentlemen's outfitters of Savile Row and Jermyn Street, and the luxury shops of Bond Street amongst others.

And of course Oxford Street, Regent Street, Carnaby Street and Harrods and Harvey Nichols at Knightsbridge

Shopping Walk

Guided walking tours in London

Self-guided walking tours are great. But as an alternative you might want to consider taking a professionally guided tour. These tours are all led by knowledgeable experts who will entertain you with stories of London from long ago, as well as discovering both the iconic and the not so well known landmarks of our famous capital.

London may never look the same again...

For a further selection of London walks plus tours, see our page Central London tours

ULTIMATE LONDON SIGHTSEEING WALKING TOUR

Ultimate London Sightseeing Walking Tour

• Small group London walking tour of top London sights • Knowledgeable local London tour guide • Short journey on Underground - valid payment method needed

HIDDEN LONDON SIGHTSEEING WALKING TOUR

Hidden London Sightseeing Walking Tour

• Secret walking tour of hidden London sights • Discover hidden gems and London's history with your local London guide

ROYAL LONDON WALKING TOUR

Royal London Walking Tour

• See St James's Palace, Buckingham Palace & Jermyn Street and many more • 2-hr walking tour in London • Professional guide

HARRY POTTER WALKING TOUR FOR MUGGLES IN LONDON

Tour for Muggles - 2-hr walking tour in London visiting Harry Potter locations

Adult £18.25, child £16.25

• See the real-life inspirations for Diagon Alley, the Leaky Cauldron, and the Ministry of Magic • Learn more about Harry Potter and the filming of the movies from an expert guide • Choice of departure times available throughout the day • Small-group tour limited to 20 people ensures a personalized experience

POPULAR LONDON ATTRACTIONS - ADVANCE PURCHASE AND/OR FAST TRACK TICKETS

Posted on 18th January 2022 Categories London Travel Tips

By: Author Julianna Barnaby

Interactive London Tourist Map – the City’s Biggest Sightseeing Attractions (+ Free Printable)

Love This? Save and Share!

Planning to visit London? Don’t miss this London tourist map complete with 36 of London’s top attractions – in both interactive and printable forms.

You know that here at London x London we are ALL about giving you practical information that helps you really get to the nitty gritty of an awesome trip. 

Well, nothing says practicality like having a good map. 

When we first started travelling, there was a distinct lack of mobile interwebs, and so we learnt to become meticulous map-markers. 

Who remembers the good old days of sitting down with a destination map and marking up all of the things you wanted to say, places you wanted to eat and bars you wanted to booze in? 

Much as we loved those days, it was a bit of a faff. Then came Google Maps and the whole world changed. Even so, the process of marking up the top attractions on any map, even a digital one, is a labour of love. 

That’s why we’ve created this (rather brilliant if we do say so ourselves) London attractions map packed with all of London’s top sights and attractions in not one but TWO formats. 

No sitting around for hours saving places to Google Maps – we’ve done all of the hard work for you – and provided a printable version of the London visitor map too (because you can never fully rely on your phone not to conk out in your hour of need). Enjoy.

London Tourist Map

Looking for the perfect map to help you navigate the city? Save this interactive tourist map of London to your phone (don’t forget to download it offline so you can use it without mobile internet) and go!

Click here to open and save the London sightseeing map.

Free Printable Tourist Map of London 

We’ve also created this handy tourist map of central London’s tourist sites. It has the same attractions marked on it too.

Click here to access the printable London tourist map PDF .

Sights Featured on the London Attractions Map 

Want a little more information on the places featured on the London sightseeing map? Here’s a brief rundown of each entry. 

1. Tower Bridge

Is there anything more London than Tower Bridge? The Victorian bridge is one of the city’s most recognisable symbols.

Try to time your visit for the bridge opening and don’t forget to pop into the Tower Bridge Experience when you’re finished.

We also love this cruise that stretches from Westminster to Greenwich, taking you right under the bridge.

2. The Tower of London 

The Tower of London is the 900-year-old castle sitting next to Tower Bridge. It has a long and interesting history, but today is best-known for the fact that it is home to the Crown Jewels.  

Book Skip The Line Tickets .

3. The Shard 

The tallest building in London (actually in the UK), it’s no surprise that a trip to the top of The Shard offers some of the best views in town. 

Ting at The Shard also makes it onto our list of brilliant London Bridge restaurants … it would be rude to pass up a visit while you’re there.

4. The London Eye 

The London Eye is one of the city’s most iconic sights – the huge observation wheel on the South Bank . Hop on for the 25-minute ride taking in some of London’s best views. 

Book tickets .

5. Buckingham Palace + The Changing of the Guard 

The official London residence of the Queen, Buckingham Palace sits at the heart of London. Visit the State Rooms during the summer months and be sure to time your visit to coincide with the Changing of the Guard. 

You can book a tour of the palace with a visit to the Changing of the Guard.

6. Horse Guards Parade 

The second location for seeing the Changing of the Guard, Horse Guards Parade is on the other side of St James’ Park. See the parade at 11am (10am Sundays).

7. Houses of Parliament and Big Ben 

The seat of British parliament, the Houses of Parliament is located in gorgeous Gothic buildings on the banks of the Thames, with world-famous Big Ben at its side. 

Big Ben recently had a facelift (costing £80,000,000 FYI), so there’s no better time to go and see the famous clock tower.

8. Westminster Abbey 

London’s UNESCO World Heritage church, Westminster Abbey has long been patronised by royalty, with many royal weddings (Charles & Diana, Wills & Kate) and other ceremonies held there. 

We recommend taking a tour to learn about the history of this breathtaking Abbey. 

9. Trafalgar Square 

Immediately recognisable, Trafalgar Square is home to the National Gallery, the famous fountains and, of course, Nelson’s Column. Don’t miss it. 

Psst… you can read all about the mysterious Fourth Plinth here .

10. Covent Garden

Covent Garden is one of

It’s no surprise that the famous Covent Garden is one of the busiest spots in central London. 

Start with a peek at the iconic Apple Market, then make your way between the brilliant shops, restaurants, museums and pubs around the square. 

While you’re in the area, head to Neal’s Yard and Seven Dials to explore more.

11. Piccadilly Circus 

The capital’s answer to Times Square of course makes it to this tourist map of London.

You haven’t been to London if you haven’t taken at least one cheesy picture of the bright lights of Piccadilly Circus.

12. Leicester Square 

Leicester Square is bafflingly popular – there are some cool cinemas (and many red-carpet premieres are held here) but other than that, you’re best off just passing through. 

13. The Southbank 

The Southbank is a cool London area filled with some of the city’s leading cultural venues (The National Theatre, The Southbank Centre, BFI Southbank ) along with a smattering of nice bars and street food markets.

Want to learn more? Take a guided tour

14. Borough Market 

Borough Market is London’s best-known food market. Go shopping for fresh produce or pop round to the back for a delicious variety of street food. 

Or try something different with this foodie tour that includes the market. 

15. The Globe Theatre

The Globe recreates the world of Shakespearean theatre for the modern age. A visit will transport you back in time through immersive shows and a unique theatre like no other.

Go and see a show or book a theatre tour. 

16. The Barbican 

The Barbican is all about Brutalist architecture and some of the best cultural events in the city. 

Go to gawp at the buildings and then pop to an exhibition, play, concert or film screening too – oh and don’t miss the cool Barbican conservatory , open selected dates.

17. Madame Tussauds 

The original (and we’d argue, the best) Madame Tussauds is a long-time favourite London attraction. Spot famous celebrities and historical figures at the waxworks. 

Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

18. ZSL London Zoo

Another entry on our map of London tourist attractions is London Zoo.  

Sitting on the edge of Regent’s Park, the zoo is the oldest scientific zoo in the world – teaching visitors about the animal kingdom since 1828. 

19. Somerset House 

Somerset House is one of the few remaining Thameside palaces that used to line the edge of the river. Today it’s a melee of cultural events and exhibitions. 

Check ahead to see what’s on. 

20. HMS Belfast 

Learn about British naval history onboard the HMS Belfast – entry 20 on the central London tourist map. Docked between Tower Bridge and London Bridge, it’s a surprisingly interesting jaunt in the heart of the city. 

21. National Theatre

Boasting exciting new plays and groundbreaking productions – it’s no wonder The National Theatre is such a favourite with both locals and visitors. 

Some of the world’s greatest acting talents have graced this very stage – most recently Nigel Lindsay and Jim Broadbent, among a whole host of household names.

Also, consider visiting the British Film Institute (BFI) Southbank next door. 

22. London Dungeon 

London Dungeon takes you on a journey to the city’s darker side. Grim, gory and tonnes of fun, it’s a gruesome jaunt through London’s history – see entry 22 on the London visitor map.  

Buy your tickets.

23. The Gherkin

Between the memorable name and the sleek contemporary design, the Gherkin has certainly become one of the most iconic and recognisable buildings in London. 

Marvel at it from below or pop into one of the many bars and restaurants inside. 

24. St Paul’s Cathedral 

St Paul’s is a spectacular cathedral topped by the world-famous Christopher Wren-designed dome. Pick up a fast track ticket to enter. 

25. Sky Garden

Want to soak up some of London’s best views without the fees? Visit Sky Garden. Perched at the top of the Walkie Talkie building, entrance is free of charge.  

Read our guide to making the most of your visit. 

26. National Gallery & National Portrait Gallery 

London’s two most central galleries, together, the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery are the places to go and see works by some of the world’s biggest and most influential artists – you’ll find both under entry 26 in the interactive tourist map of London. 

27. Tate Modern 

The Tate Modern’s expansive collection is housed in a former power station on the Southbank – go to see some mind-blowing (and sometimes outright bizarre) pieces of Modern Art. 

28. British Museum 

The British Museum is a day out in itself – explore the worlds of civilisations past and present. 

The museum is well-known for its extensive Ancient Egyptian and Greek collections. Check it out at entry 28 on the free London tourist map. Book a guided tour here.

29. London Transport Museum 

The London Transport Museum tells the story of the city’s transport system through an exciting range of interactive exhibits and displays. 

Book your ticket in advance online.

30. Churchill War Rooms 

Find out about Winston Churchill and the decisions he made in this underground bunker that formed the epicentre of the UK’s WWII operations. 

Book a walking tour of the area and entry here.

31. Imperial War Museum

Exploring the meaning and history of conflict from World War I to today, the Imperial War Museum tells the stories behind war in a sensitive and thoughtful manner. 

It’s also one of our favourite museums in London . Not to mention that it’s free to enter.

32. Museum of London

The Museum of London walks you through the evolution of London through the ages – taking in Roman Londinium – more on that here – to the culturally diverse metropolis we find today.

33. Hyde Park

Extensive Hyde Park is one of the many green lungs at the heart of the city. 

In the summer months, it’s the perfect place to take a picnic and flop down to enjoy the sunshine. Whereas in Winter , a visit to Winter Wonderland is a must-do. 

34. Regent’s Park

Gorgeous Regent’s Park in North London used to be the playground of the Prince Regent, so you can bet that it’s every bit as regal as you’d expect. 

Combine with a visit to London Zoo. 

35. St James’ Park

Our favourite London park, St James’ Park sits between Buckingham Palace and Westminster , complete with a pretty lake and lovely lawns well-deserving of exploration. 

36. Green Park

Leafy Green Park may not have the striking beauty of some of its nearby counterparts, but it’s a nice place to have a stroll and a sit down after a long day of sightseeing.

And there we have it – a simple map of London landmarks. We hope that you find it useful! 

Don’t forget to tag us in your pictures over on the ‘Gram at @londonxldn – we’ll be sharing the best.

Love This? Save and Share on Pinterest! 

Read More London Guides and Tips

• Sightseeing in London
• Where to Stay in London
• Free Things to do in London
• London in Two Days

LET'S GET SOCIAL!

London x London is the insider’s guide to discovering the best of London.

We delve into the cool, interesting and quirky spots that make London such a dynamic city, telling you the best things to do, eat and drink along the way. 

Tired of the same old dull suggestions? Want to know where to find London’s secret bars, tastiest eats and weirdest finds? We provide practical guides that help you do just that.

Find Out More

Recently Published

• Eltham Palace: Discovering South London’s Gorgeous Art Deco Secret
• Staying At: The Laslett, Notting Hill Review
• Carreras Cigarette Factory: A Curious Reminder of London’s Egyptian Art Deco Craze

Self-Guided Sightseeing Walks

If you want to see the landmarks then try The City , Seven Bridges and St. Paul’s to Big Ben . If you’re into the Royals then try Royal London . Along The Southbank is good for a leisurely stroll up the river

Along The Southbank - Take a stroll along the Southbank from the London Eye all the way to Tower Bridge, taking in views of St Paul’s and the Square Mile

The City (Square Mile) - Walk through the old City of London, past famous landmarks like the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Royal Exchange and St Paul’s

Explore Roman London - Travel back in time to when London was still called Londinium, and see what remains can still be seen above and below ground 2

North Pole Expedition - A huge five-mile walk from Victoria all the way to the top of Primrose Hill via Regent Street, Regent’s Park and the penguins at London Zoo

Regent’s Canal to Camden - How about a leisurely walk along the Regent’s Canal, taking in Little Venice, London Zoo, and ending at arty Camden Town 2

Royal London - This walk takes you to St. James’s Palace, Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace, and the 1,000-year-old Westminster Abbey

St. Paul’s to Big Ben - Walk from St. Paul’s to the Houses of Parliament, past lots of famous landmarks like Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square

Seven Bridges - Walk down the river and cross over seven of London's most famous bridges, from Westminster Bridge all the way to Tower Bridge

West End - Explore London's theatre district with this walk around the West End, past Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden 4

Window Shopping - Walk some of London's most famous shopping streets including Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street and Carnaby Street

Upcoming guided walks in London

Outdoor Adventure Game: The Case of Colombia’s Finest Every day Discover some of the city's most curious locations in this self-guided outdoor adventure game

Greenwich Ghoulish Ghost Tour! Every other Sat Explore some of the creepy streets around Greenwich and hear stories about ghoulish crimes and haunted pubs

The Beatles Walking Tour: In the footsteps of the Fab Four Every Thu Walk across the Abbey Road zebra crossing and see where the band played their final gig on the roof

Sherlock Holmes Tour -- London locations from the novels & movies Until 25 Sep 2024 Walk in the footsteps of the world's greatest fictional detective and Arthur Conan Doyle

London Bridge Ghost Tour -- Two mile guided walk Every Sat Explore the dark streets and area around London Bridge and hear some spooky ghost stories and learn about its terrifying history 2

James Bond Walking Tour Until 28 Sep 2024 Walk in the footsteps of the world's most famous secret agent and see some film locations from the James Bond movies

London in One Day

If you plan to visit London in one day, you want to make the most of it and see the most important attractions and sights, especially if it’s your first time in this beautiful city.

London has a long list of iconic places and attractions that every visitor wants to see and visit, but if you only have one day to spend in London, you need to plan your day to see as much as possible. We have prepared two options for you to consider, two different itineraries for you to have two possibilities and make the most of your one-day trip to London.

One Day in London: Option 1 – Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour + River Cruise + London Eye

If you are only visiting for a day and want to see as much as possible, I highly recommend that you go on a hop-on hop-off bus tour, do a Thames River Cruise and go on the London Eye.

Our Experience

We went on the bus tour, which very easily takes you around the most important places in London. With the bus tour, you get a free river cruise, which I enjoyed the most as the views are amazing, and we also went on the London Eye to round it all up. And this is exactly what I recommend you do if you are planning to spend a day in London.

Sightseeing bus tour and river cruise

The open-top bus tour takes you to all the important places, such as Big Ben, the London Eye, the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Oxford Street, Regent Street… And you can stay on the bus or get off at any stop and then get back on the bus whenever you want to. It´s an easy way to explore London, and not have to worry about public transport.

The free river cruise is fantastic, in my opinion, one of the best things to do in London if you have one day. From the river, you’ll be able to see the houses of parliament, the London Eye, Shakespeare´s Globe, St Paul’s Cathedral… You will also see London Bridge, Millennium Bridge, and the famous Tower Bridge. The river cruise will also allow you to take beautiful photos of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

If you are arriving at King´s Cross St Pancras Station, then the open-top bus tour would be ideal, as there is a bus stop to hop on the bus as you exit the station.

We recommend that you get fast-track tickets for the London Eye online beforehand, so you avoid the long queues and go directly to the prepaid tickets queue; this way, you’ll make sure you make the most of your day in London.

One Day in London: Option 2 – Walking Route + London Eye

We have designed a walking route enabling you to discover London in a day if you would rather walk to see the city’s sights. With our walking route, you will see some of the most important landmarks, and you will probably have time to see the Changing of the Guard, visit Westminster Abbey and go on the London Eye.

Walking route to visit London in a day step-by-step

Changing on the guard at buckingham palace.

Our walking route starts at Green Park Underground Station . From here, we will walk towards Buckingham Palace, where the famous changing of the guard ceremony takes place at 11.00 am on certain days. Make sure you check the exact dates of the changing of the guard to avoid disappointment.

Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and London Eye

After seeing Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard, we will walk across St James´s Park and head towards Westminster Abbey and Big Ben along Whitehall, past 10 Downing Street. We can then cross Westminster Bridge, admiring the views from this bridge, and make our way towards the London Eye .

Tower of London and River Cruise

At this point, one option is to go to the Tower of London by boat. We can jump on an Uber boat at London Eye Pier and go to Tower Pier. This is a riverboat service (like a river bus), so just an easy and cheap way to cruise the Thames and take in the views. As it isn´t a touristic cruise, there is no live commentary. Still, it´s a perfect way to go from one part of London to another. On the way, you can spot Shakespeare´s Globe , the Millenium Bridge , Tate Modern, Hay´s Galleria … Get off at Tower Pier to see the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. Afterwards, jump back on the Uber boat and return to London Eye. If you are feeling a bit hungry, you could go to St Katharine´s Dock to grab a bite, as there are several restaurants in the area.

Once we return to the London Eye, we can continue our walking route. Explore London´s beautiful Southbank for a bit. This is where the Sea Life Aquarium, London Dungeons, Shrek´s Adventure and Southbank Centre are . You will find many restaurants here.

Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Covent Garden

We´ll cross the Thames over Hungerford and Golden Jubilee Bridges and make our way towards Trafalgar Square . This is where the National Gallery (free entry) is. From Trafalgar Square, we can easily walk towards Piccadilly Circus.

From Piccadilly Circus, we will walk along Regent Street and explore Carnaby Street . After walking through London´s Soho, we will reach Leicester Square and Covent Garden .

Covent Garden is a great place to grab a bite. There are many restaurants in the area. Seven Dials Market is also just around the corner from Covent Garden, another great option if you´re hungry. This is also where we can find several theatres and London´s best musicals .

Itinerary to visit London in a day

Transport suggestions

If you are going to spend just one day in London, it may be tempting to buy single fares if you’re going to use public transport, such as the underground or the bus. We encourage you to buy an oyster card for the day or use contactless payment if possible.

You will pay less for each journey this way than buying single fares or even a day travelcard, as the oyster card´s daily capping makes it cheaper to use than a day travelcard.

You can also use oyster or contactless on the riverboat service mentioned above.

Related Posts

Changing of the guard in london: dates 2024, the best black taxi tours in london, best musicals in london in 2024, thames river cruises in london: options, offers and available routes.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Best Walking Map of London Attractions – Where to Find Yours

Have you thought about dedicating some time in your vacation plan to following a walking map of London? If so, we have some great resources that will help you find the best walking map of London attractions. If no, we have a quick list of facts that may get you on the London walking map bandwagon:

Why Your Family Needs a Walking Map of London Attractions

• Many of the best self-guided tours are free. At the most, they come with a small fee that is far less than the cost of a paid London tour, especially since you don’t need to buy a ticket for every member of your family. One map is your family ticket to at least 30 minutes of fun.
• You can check the route and familiarize yourself with the tour area before you go to London. You can even add stopping points to the route, creating a more personalied walking tour of London.
• You get to move at your own pace without interference from other tour guests. There are no other participants to get annoyed that your toddler walks too slow or your teenager talks too loud. You don’t have to keep up with a tour guide because you are the guide.
• There’s no need to schedule an exact time. You go on the walking map tour whenever you reach the spot designated as the starting point. There’s no guide to leave you if you’re running a little late and no need to wait on other guests to arrive.

Favorite Walking Map Options:

Walking maps of London are a lot of fun for kids of all ages as well as adults. So where do you get yours? Below is our list of resources for the best walking map of London attractions.

• Footways Online Map  – The Central London Footways map is hosted on Google Maps, so it’s easy to access from most mobile devices. It was created by a charity program hoping to reduce traffic and create healthier London streets. It’s a great resource that will help you get around London on foot or even create your own walking routes.
• London Walk City & Thames Sightseeing  – This walking map of London will take you more than three hours to complete if you go at a consistent yet moderate speed. It starts and ends at Trafalgar Square and will take you past the Golden Jubilee Bridges, London Eye, Big Ben, Royal Festival Hall, Oxo Tower, and many other well-known London attractions. Oxo Tower is a great place for a longer stop if you enjoy art galleries.
• Self-Guided Kensington Walk  – This 2-mile walking map of Kensington is versatile. You can complete it in under one hour if you keep moving or stretch it out into an all-day adventure that passes through the Portobello Market, Diana Princess of Wales’ Memorial Playground, Kensington Palace, Royal College of Music, and other attractions.
• London Shopping Self-Guided Walk  – This is the perfect self-guided London tour for the family that wants to shop together. It starts off with a trip through China Town and makes stops at popular shopping destinations for books, music, and electronics.
• Bridges of London Self-Guided  – Walk from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, exploring nine of the 33 bridges currently crossing the Thames River. The walk takes you along the river’s north bank and passes a variety of attractions beyond the bridges. This is a great self-guided tour of London for those days you just want to relax and look at Mother Nature.
• Harry Potter Walking Tours I  &  II  – There are paid Harry Potter tours in London, but these two are free. You download an app on your phone to access the map and other resources, creating the experience of walking with a tour guide while you stroll at your own pace. These walking maps of London are great for families with little Potterheads.

Create a Custom Walking Tour of London

If you don’t see the perfect London walking map listed above, consider  designing your own route . You select from a long list of attractions and allow the computer to turn those points into a walking route through London. Is there any better way to create a walking tour that is tailored to the needs and interests of your family?

You now know the benefits of finding a walking map of London, and you have a convenient list of resources that will lead you to the perfect map for your family. What else do you need? Nothing but a bit of excitement and perhaps an hour or two to spare on your itinerary.

You never know what you’ll discover when following a self-guided walking tour map of London attractions, so we recommend giving yourself some wiggle room in your daily plan. London is much more fun when the family is free to stop and explore unexpected treasures that surface along the way.

Related Articles:

• 10 Kid-Friendly London Attractions You Can’t Miss
• Sightseeing London in a Day? What Not to Miss on a Quick Trip

Account Options

What to see in London?

Interesting locations in London that you can visit for free, organized into free London walking tours

Do you need a private tour guide…?

[email protected]

100 Reasons to Visit London – The Most Interesting City in The World!

8 Historic Pubs in London you Should See (All Located Near the Biggest Tourist Attractions in London )

13 Best Spots in London to Take Great Holiday Photos

Trips from London:

Stonehenge & What To See Nearby (PHOTO GALLERY)

Train strikes in May 2024: Full list of dates and lines affected

Rail lines are set for disruption in the week following the first May bank holiday as train drivers at 16 rail companies strike on different days.

Thursday 25 April 2024 10:29, UK

Train drivers will stage a fresh wave of strikes and overtime bans in May, causing disruption to the rail network.

The strikes are part of a long-running dispute over pay.

Members of Aslef union at 16 rail companies will walk out on different days from 7 to 9 May.

Additionally, all members will refuse to work any overtime from 6 May to 11 May.

Here is a full list of the services affected by strikes and when.

Rail strike dates

Tuesday 7 May

Strikes will affect c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express and South Western Railway.

Wednesday 8 May

Strikes will affect Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains.

Thursday 9 May

Strikes will affect LNER, Northern Trains and TransPennine Express.

Overtime ban dates

From Monday 6 May to Saturday 11 May union members will not work overtime.

Overtime bans, an action short of a strike, means some services may not be running or may be reduced as drivers refuse to work their rest days.

People are advised to check before they travel, as some areas may have no service.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

How do strikes and overtime bans affect services?

Strikes tend to mean services on lines where members are participating are extremely affected or cancelled entirely, whereas overtime bans often lead to reduced services.

Are there strikes on the Tube too?

There have been regular strikes on London Underground too recently, and while there aren't any planned walkouts for drivers, customer service managers are set to walk out on Friday 26 April in a dispute over terms and conditions.

There will also be an overtime ban for the customer service managers on the following days:

Monday 29 April

Tuesday 30 April

Wednesday 1 May

Tuesday 2 May

Wednesday 3 May

Thursday 4 May

Friday 5 May

The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) says the action by its members is likely to cause Tube stations to close at the last minute, including on the Saturday following the strike (27 April), while TfL has said on its website "some stations may need to close at short notice".

Despite the warning, a TfL spokesperson has said they aren't expecting significant disruption.

This action follows strike action taken by the same workers on 10 April, which the TSSA said had a "real impact" with "many stations shut at short notice".

They say they are "extremely concerned" about TfL's 'Stations Changes' proposals.

"We have made it clear that our union will not accept the continued threats to our members' roles, locations, terms, and conditions to stand unchallenged," a TSSA spokesperson said.

"We will continue to take sustained action until London Underground is prepared to negotiate with us in good faith."

Commenting on the impending strikes, a TfL spokesperson said: "We are disappointed that TSSA is continuing with this strike action following a consultation process.

"While we don't expect this action will cause significant disruption, we urge TSSA to continue to work with us to help find a resolution.

"There are no planned job losses as part of these vital changes which will improve the service we provide to customers at our stations."

How can I stay in the loop?

You can use the National Rail's journey planner to see when trains are running.

Be sure to check it close to when you plan to travel, as it will be updated regularly.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Why are the strikes still happening?

Aslef rejected a two-year offer of 4% in 2022 and another 4% this year, saying it is way below inflation, and is linked to changes in terms and conditions.

Aslef said train drivers have not had an increase in salary for five years, since their last pay deals expired in 2019.

The union said after its members voted overwhelmingly in February to continue taking industrial action, it asked the train operating companies to hold talks.

General secretary Mick Whelan said the year-old pay offer of 4% and another 4% was "dead in the water".

Related Topics

• London Underground
• Rail strikes