5 free self-guided walks to discover London
Explore London on your own time and pace with maps, texts and audio guides
Discover George's Inn in Burrough High Street (left: 2017; right:1881), one of the famous coaching inns mentioned in Charles Dickens work Little Dorrit. PHOTOS: Alem, Collage
1. Dickensian London
London is as much an integral character as it is a backdrop to Charles Dickens’ writing. One of the greatest writers of English literature, Dickens made London not only central to his writing but also kept it alive, breathing through its grime and beauty. How better to discover London on foot than through Dickens’ life and work.
While London isn’t the “Dickensian” (meaning reminiscent of Dickens’ writing, especially in its grim description of London and England) city it once was, his London survives today in the alleyways and narrow streets still. Take the time out to discover “Dickens’ Magic Lantern” walk curated and authored by Dr Tony Williams – an honorary life member of the Dickens Fellowship – for the City of London.
You can get the accompanying text and map right here for free.
The walk brings many of the places that inspired Dickens’ life and works. It starts at 48 Doughty Street where Dickens lived and is now the site of the Charles Dickens Museum. This is where he wrote Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby.
Although the walk is designed for 90 minutes, with the freedom that self-guided tours offer, it can be tailored to your own pace. Follow the trail from the Clerkenwell Sessions House that features in Oliver Twist to St Bartholomew’s hospital which finds itself mentioned in the Pickwick Papers to the Mansion House from Gone Astray.
Apparently Dickens himself was a walkaholic. But don’t take our word for it.
Start: Charles Dickens Museum, 48 Doughty Street
Ends: City Information Centre, St Paul's Churchyard
Click here for an audio guide
And here for a complete map to Dickens' London
2. All roads lead to Rome
The roman inspired architecture at the Royal Exchange in London PHOTO: Wiki Commons
This walk, aptly called “Roads To Rome”, takes you through Londinium which was the Roman establishment in London circa AD 43. An important cultural centre, the settlement was placed on the river Thames.
Today, most of it remains underneath the city. Every now so often parts of it get uncovered when new constructions take place or buildings get demolished. This has led to the discovery of fascinating items of archaeological interests that are mostly kept in the Museum of London. The walk takes you through the remains of Roman London that still stands and the influences it has had on the architecture and city scape.
Take a leap of imagination into what the ancient settlement looked like. It starts at the Cleary Garden beneath which lies a 2nd century Roman bathhouse and continues along the junction of Cannon Street and Walbrook to the site of the Temple of Mithras, now occupied by Bloomberg’s new headquarters. You can view the Roman influence on modern buildings such as the Royal Exchange, Mansion House and the Bank of England. The walk ends at the Museum of London, which can offer you a wide glimpse into the story of Londinium through its dedicated Roman Gallery.
If your legs can power you through, the walk takes you further for another hour to discover more of London’s glorious Roman past.
Get the self-guide text and map here. And an audio guide here.
Start: Cleary Gardens, Queen Victoria Street
End: Museum of London, 150 London Wall
3. Loyal to the royal
Buckingham Palace PHOTO: Wiki Commons
One of the most popular walks, the Royal Walk also includes one of the most easily recognisable sites. It goes to show how the royalty in London still remain popular.
This walk will take you through some of London’s most famous tourist spots including the Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar square, Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street.
In line with maintaining the privacy and security of the Royals and the politicians that make up most of the residents in this walk, some places may not be accessible but it doesn’t stop you from enjoying the beautiful visage and its history, of course.
You can start at St. James’ Park where the entire walk is through parks and gardens. This will also allow you to follow in the footsteps of King Charles II – a walk from Westminster to Kensington and end up in the Italian Gardens.
Or walk in a circle starting at Westminster and pass through Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Whitehall. With fun facts like, “The Big Ben is actually the name of the bell within the tower and not the tower with the clock face,” and "The Parliament is sitting when the light above the Big Ben is illuminated," there is plenty of trivia to be had on the walk.
Audio guide here and here.
Start: Westminster Tube Station or St. James Park
End: Westminster Tube Station or Kensington Palace
4. Break a leg: Theatre walk
London Coliseum, the largest theatre in the city PHOTO: Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net), Wiki Commons
The theatre walk takes you through London’s theatre district spanning popular entertainment spot Soho, Covent Garden and Leicester Square. It can be done in under two hours and you can follow it in a full circle or along the stretch as you take in the sights of Piccadilly Circus, Coliseum Theatre, Leicester Square, Covent Garden and the Royal Opera House.
While a daytime walk will see you navigating through the crowds, a stroll at night will lead you to the bright lights as the theatres come alive in different hues.
Some of the fascinating sites include the Coliseum Theatre which is London’s largest. Built in 1904, it was the first in London to have a revolving stage.
Then there’s Covent Garden which had once been the most fashionable London address to live in. Here, you’ll find the Brydges Place where only one person can walk down it at a time, making it the narrowest alley in London. Make your way also through London’s oldest theatre, the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, which has its own ghost named Arnold – the man in the grey suit.
Find free guide here and audio guide to Soho here.
Start: Leicester Square
End: Leicester Square or China Town
5. The great fire
The monument built to commemorate the Great Fire. It stands at the same place from where the fire started in Pudding Lane. PHOTO: Eluveitie, Wiki Commons
So here’s the story: In September 1666, a small fire started at a bakery in Pudding Lane. The fire spread towards the warehouses on the Thames. A strong wind spread the flames further into the city, raging on for five days and night and destroying four-fifths of the city. This is the story of one of the most famous fires in history.
Follow the trail of destruction left by the great fire of London with this walk created through a collaboration with the Museum of London, the City of London and the firefighters of London.
Taking approximately two hours, the walk follows the trail of the blue plaques that are dedicated to the buildings lost in the fire.
Take some time out to look at the “Golden Boy at Pie Corner” where the fire apparently stopped. The statue was erected as a warning to future generations because the fire was thought to have been a punishment from God for the city folks eating way too much. Read: The sin of gluttony.
Just make sure your mouth is not full while looking at the golden boy at pie corner. Speaking of pies…
Get the free guide and map here.
Start: Thames Path
End: Museum of London
Psst...
If you're more of an app person, here's a buzzfeed list of the best apps for walking around London
