Route Walkthrough
Route Details
Start Point:
End Point:
Distance:
Best Time
Difficulty:
Covent Garden Station
Piccadilly Circus Station
5.7 km
Early Morning
Medium
Route Map
Historical Sites & Landmarks
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in central London known as the seat of the UK government. Lined with ministries, departments, and monuments, it runs north from Parliament Square and forms a spine of Britain’s political and administrative heart.
Parliament Square
Parliament Square sits immediately in front of the Palace of Westminster and hosts a circle of statues of notable statesmen. It is a focal gathering point and public space where demonstrators and tourists converge at the heart of London’s political core.
Golden Jubilee Bridge
The Golden Jubilee Bridges are a pair of pedestrian walkways flanking the Hungerford Railway Bridge over the Thames. They link the South Bank with Embankment and offer striking views of the river, landmarks, and city skyline.
Leicester Square
Leicester Square is a public square in the West End, known for cinemas, theatres, restaurants, and as a hub for entertainment. It hosts film premieres, major events, and is a magnet for tourists seeking London’s cultural life.
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a landmark public space commemorating Admiral Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. Dominated by Nelson’s Column and flanked by the National Gallery, it is a central gathering place and site of national events.
Horse Guards Parade
Horse Guards Parade is a ceremonial parade ground between St James’s Park and Whitehall. It hosts the Changing the Guard ceremony and Trooping the Colour and serves as a symbolic ceremonial space in London.
The Houses of Parliament
The Houses of Parliament (Palace of Westminster) are the seat of the UK Parliament, housing the Commons and Lords' chambers. With its iconic clock tower (Big Ben), Gothic architecture, and riverside position, it is a globally recognised symbol of British democracy.
Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge crosses the River Thames, linking Westminster on the north side to Lambeth on the south. From its span, you get dramatic views of the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, and the river landmarks on either side.
Old County Hall
Old County Hall sits on the South Bank by the Thames, adjacent to the London Eye and opposite the Houses of Parliament. It was once the headquarters of the London County Council, and now houses museums, exhibitions, and attractions.
The London Eye
The London Eye is a giant observation wheel on the South Bank of the Thames, offering sweeping panoramic views of London’s skyline. Since its opening in 2000, it has become a modern icon and a hugely popular tourist attraction.
Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge crosses the Thames between the South Bank and the Strand area. It offers elegant views east and west and is often praised as one of London’s most scenic bridges, especially at sunset.
Royal Opera House
Home of The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is a historic Gothic church in the Westminster district, deeply tied to British coronations, royal weddings, and burials. Its architectural grandeur, famous tombs and chapels, and national significance have enabled it to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Things to Do Along the Route
The LEGO and M&M stores in Leicester Square
Leicester Square hosts large experiential flagship stores for LEGO and M&M’s, featuring giant displays, interactive elements, and themed merchandise. They’re fun for visitors of all ages, combining shopping with immersive branding experiences.
The National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery, located adjacent to Trafalgar Square, houses a vast collection of portraits of historically significant and famous British individuals — writers, monarchs, statesmen, scientists, and artists — spanning centuries. Its exhibitions combine art and biography.
The National Gallery
Located on Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery contains one of the world's foremost collections of European painting, spanning from medieval to 19th-century works by da Vinci, Van Gogh, Turner, and many more. Admission to the permanent galleries is free.
The Household Cavalry Museum
Located at Horse Guards in Whitehall, the Household Cavalry Museum offers visitors a glimpse behind the scenes of the cavalry regiments. You can view their stables, watch troopers preparing for duty, and learn about horses, uniforms, and the ceremonial aspects of their life.
Changing The King's Life Guard - Horse Guards Parade
The King’s Life Guard is conducted by soldiers of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment at Horse Guards. Horse Guards is named after the troops who have mounted The King’s Life Guard here since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660
Explore the Palace of Westminster
Tours of the Palace of Westminster (when available) let visitors see the historic chambers of the House of Commons and House of Lords, medieval halls, and majestic Westminster Hall. It’s the heart of British democracy and rich in architectural and political significance.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is a Gothic masterpiece and the site of coronations, royal weddings, and tombs of monarchs, poets, scientists, and statesmen. Visitors can wander its chapels, cloisters, and memorials, and feel the weight of centuries of national history.
The London Dungeons
The London Dungeons is a theatrical, immersive attraction located near the South Bank that dramatises London’s darker history — plague, torture, crime — through actors, rides, and special effects for a spooky and entertaining journey into the past.
The London Eye
The London Eye is a giant observation wheel on the South Bank offering rotating glass capsules. In roughly 30 minutes, it gives panoramic views across London, from the Houses of Parliament to St Paul’s and beyond, particularly spectacular at dusk.
The Royal Festival Hall
As part of the Southbank Centre, the Royal Festival Hall offers concerts, performances, talks, and cultural events. Its riverside location, modernist architecture, and varied artistic programme make it a major hub of creative life on the South Bank.
The Royal National Theatre
Situated by the Thames in the South Bank arts complex, the National Theatre is one of the UK’s leading theatre institutions. It stages a diverse range of productions — classic drama, contemporary plays, musicals — across its multiple auditoria.
Covent Garden Theatres
Covent Garden is close to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, The Duchess, The Novello, The Lyceum, and The Aldwych theatres. Other performing venues include the Royal Opera House, the Cambridge Theatre in Seven Dials, and the Gillian Lynne and Peacock Theatres on its western fringes.
The Royal Opera House
Located in Covent Garden, the Royal Opera House is a world-class venue presenting opera, ballet, and classical music. Its grand auditorium, ornate architecture, and artistic prestige draw audiences from around the globe
The Transport Museum
The London Transport Museum, located in Covent Garden, presents the story of London’s public transport evolution — including buses, tubes, and trams — through vintage vehicles, interactive exhibits, and design displays. It’s engaging for all ages.
Covent Garden Market
Covent Garden Market combines historic architecture and lively activity: craft stalls, designer boutiques, street performers, food vendors, and markets. It’s a cultural and commercial hub in the heart of London.