When traveling to London, you, of course, want to experience as much of England’s capital as you can. One of the best ways to do this is via guided tours of London; however, it’s also possible to create your very own tours.
By embarking on self-guided tours in London, you’re able to discover the best parts of England’s capital at your own pace. What’s more, this allows you to pick and choose which areas you’re most interested in seeing. As a result, you’ll be able to place your biggest priorities at the top of your list.
Discover some of the top self-guided London walks below.
Discovering London by Foot
As far as the centre is concerned, the best way to discover London is by foot. With the help of a London Street Map (or Google Maps for modern explorers), you’ll be able to take yourself around the streets of London. While it pales in comparison to the size of some cities in the US, London is still a significantly large city.
Therefore, the walks below are designed to cover the main areas of Central London that first-time visitors are sure to be interested in. While London’s public transport system is great, you’re able to see so much more when you walk, which is why you might opt for the below self-guided tours.
The Shopping Walk
First up is the shopping walk, in which you’ll come across Hamleys, Harrods, and Oxford Street. Despite this, even if you’re not a huge fan of the mainstream retail establishments, there’s plenty of specialist shops to appeal to all manner of interests. This includes the books of Charing Cross Road, the music scene at Denmark Street, and electronics at Tottenham Court Road.
Similarly, Bond Street is abundant in luxury shops and China Town is full of authentic goods. Essentially, the shopping walk will bring you from Tottenham Court Road to China Town, allowing you to pass some of the best shops on the way.
The Kensington Walk
Renowned for being one of the poshest areas of London is Kensington, and the self-guided walk will begin at the largest Royal Park in Central London, Hyde Park. From here, you’ll wander over to the Royal Albert Hall and the South Kensington Museums (each of which is free to enter.
Depending on how long you spend in the museums, as one museum alone can occupy a whole day, you might end the walk here. Despite this, should you choose to continue, you can carry on until you find yourself in Harrods.
The City of London Walk
On the City of London Walk, you’ll get to see everything that London is famous for. From the West End theatres to Big Ben, this walk will take you about both royal and commercial London. Some of the key sights on this walk include Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge.
As a result, you’ll be able to enjoy the touristy and not so touristy areas in tandem, allowing you to see central London for what it really is. This walk provides you with the opportunity to better understand London from both a past and present perspective.
The London Icons Walk
Last but not least is the London Icons Walk, which does exactly what it says on the tin. The London Eye, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace are just some of the landmarks you’ll encounter on this walk. St James’s Park sits at the centre of this walk, wherein you essentially circle the park. This is the best walk for a first-time London visitor.
