Route Walkthrough
Route Details
Start Point:
End Point:
Distance:
Best Time
Difficulty:
St Paul's Station
Covent Garden Station
4.0 km
All Day
easy
Route Map
Historical Sites & Landmarks
Neal's Yard
Neal’s Yard is a small alleyway and courtyard tucked behind Seven Dials in Covent Garden. Its brightly coloured buildings, independent health-food shops, cafés, and quirky charm make it a hidden gem in central London.
Seven Dials
Seven Dials is a unique intersection where seven streets converge, located in the Covent Garden area. The area is characterised by boutiques, theatres, cafés, and a distinctive column at the junction’s centre. called Seven Dials, incorporating seven sundials.
Long Acre
Long Acre in Covent Garden runs east‑west towards Leicester Square. Historically associated with coachmakers, it is now lined with shops, theatres, and restaurants, forming part of the vibrant Covent Garden district.
The Aldwych
The Aldwych is a curved street near Covent Garden linking the Strand and Kingsway. It houses theatres (like the Aldwych Theatre), the Waldorf Hotel, and is part of the cultural and legal quarter of the city.
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a popular district known for its historic market, street performers, boutique shops, theatres, and the Royal Opera House. It combines traditional charm with bustling modern entertainment, food and drink and retail life.
Somerset House
Somerset House is a grand neoclassical building on the Strand, originally a royal palace. Today it hosts arts, exhibitions, open spaces, an ice rink in winter, and offers a striking riverside courtyard with views over the Thames.
Royal Courts of Justice
The Royal Courts of Justice (on the Strand) house the High Court and Court of Appeal of England and Wales. The Gothic-style building is both architecturally impressive and central to the British legal system.
Lincoln’s Inn
Lincoln’s Inn is one of London’s four ancient Inns of Court—professional associations for barristers. It includes gardens, historic halls, and legal offices, preserving centuries of legal tradition and architectural heritage.
The Barbican
The Barbican is a large cultural and residential complex in the City of London. The Barbican Centre is its arts component, housing theatres, concert halls, a cinema, art galleries, and exhibition spaces, as well as a striking estate of high‑density housing
Chaterhouse
Charterhouse is a historic complex in Smithfield with origins as a medieval monastery, later converted into an alms-houses and school. Its preserved buildings and gardens now serve educational and charitable functions, as well as offering guided tours
Smithfield Market
Smithfield Market is London’s largest wholesale meat market, with a history dating back to the 10th century. Located in the City of London near Farringdon, the market operates at night and is surrounded by its historic meat market architecture.
The Old Bailey
The Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court) is London’s main criminal court, located near St Paul’s Cathedral. The building is notable for its domed roof and iconic figure of Lady Justice atop its façade, and it handles high-profile criminal trials.
Paternoster Square
Paternoster Square is a modern public square immediately north of St Paul’s Cathedral. It features commercial buildings, retail spaces, and public art, and serves as a gathering space framing views of the cathedral dome.
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral is an iconic Anglican cathedral with a striking dome, designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London. Its grand interior, including the Whispering Gallery, crypt, and panoramic views from its dome, make it a central architectural and spiritual landmark.
Things to Do Along the Route
Somerset House
Somerset House hosts a changing programme of arts, exhibitions, installations, and cultural events. Its open courtyard (ice rink in winter), river views, and neoclassical architecture make it both a destination and an active cultural space.
Neal's Yard
Hidden behind Seven Dials in Covent Garden, Neal’s Yard is a vibrant courtyard of independent shops, wellness boutiques, cafes, and a quirky charm. It’s a delightful little secret to discover while strolling the West End.
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.
Hunterian Museum
Situated in the Royal College of Surgeons, the Hunterian Museum houses a fascinating (and sometimes macabre) collection of anatomical, pathological, and surgical specimens, instruments, and medical oddities tied to the history of surgery.
Sir John Soane's Museum
Sir John Soane’s Museum, in his former home near Lincoln’s Inn Fields, houses an eclectic collection of art, architectural models, antiquities, and curiosities. It’s preserved as he left it, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the mind of a 19th-century collector.
Exploring Fenchurch Street and Clerkenwell
Fenchurch Street (in the City) and nearby Clerkenwell offer a mix of historic lanes, cutting-edge design firms, vintage shops, courtyards, and atmospheric streets. The area is ideal for architectural walking, craft studios, and contemporary London life away from the tourist core.
Visiting the Inns of Court
The Inns of Court (Lincoln’s Inn, Gray’s Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple) are legal societies with majestic halls, cloisters, gardens, and centuries of legal tradition. Walking their lanes evokes London’s legal heritage and architectural gravitas.. Check their websites for opening times
Museum of London
The Museum of London traces the capital’s story from prehistoric times through the Roman era, medieval London, the Great Fire, the Blitz, and into modern urban life. Its exhibits are immersive, artfully designed, and richly informative about the city. It opens at its new location in Smithfield in 2026
Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is a major cultural venue offering a range of events, including theatre, concerts, film screenings, exhibitions, and libraries. Its striking brutalist architecture and integration with residential towers make it a distinctive landmark in the City of London.
Smithfield Market
Open during early hours, Smithfield Market is London’s historic meat market, still functioning as a wholesale market. Nearby, you can wander its surrounding streets, view Victorian market buildings, and sense the trade history embedded in its architecture.
St Paul's Cathedral
Visiting St Paul’s Cathedral allows you to explore its grand nave, crypt (with tombs of famous figures), Whispering Gallery, and climb to the dome’s galleries for panoramic views across London. Its architecture and history make it a must-see.