Two Walks One from Westminster Cathedral to Leicester Square One from Leicester Square to Embankment

falcons 319
Jan 5, 2017
4 min read

Google maps says both maps together are 4 miles and takes 1hr 28mins. It will take longer, there is so much to see at Trafalgar square and Leicester square!!

Walk 1

From Westminster Cathedral to Leicester Square

Google says it is 2.4 miles and will take 49min, If you stop for a picnic in St James Park or to feed the ducks it will take you longer!!

Start stop 1

Westminster Cathedral

Not to be confused with Westminster Abbey!!

This is the lesser-known cathedral and it is stunning.

Free to enter.

Pre Covid you could go up the tower and see the treasures of the cathedral exhibition for £6 I do not know if the tower has reopened, there is nothing on the web site, but if you do decide to visit ask about it. Its definably worth going and its all via lift!!!

Stop 2

Queen Victoria Statue

Beautiful statu in a private garden but you can still get quite close

Stop 3

Belgravia, London

My favourite statue!!! Lioness and Lesser Kudu absolutely stunning

Stop 4

Buckingham Palace

Think this is self-explanatory!! But for those that don’t know Buckingham palace is open to the public and you can go in but you need to check the website for opening dates and prices

Stop 5

St James Park

My favourite park in London.

Full of ducks, swans, a heron, the pelicans and squirrels. There are plenty of benches and a park for the kids which dose have a free toilet BUT only for children. Adults need to pay to use the toilet 20p last time I was there, so bring some change.

There are also coffee shops in the park and in the summer, deck chairs but you do have to pay for the deck chairs.

Stop 6

King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Memorial

A stunning memorial with such intricate metal work absolutely beautiful

Stop 7

Charles De Gaulle Statue

There is also a blue plaque on the building in front of the statue to the left.

Stop 8

Giro’s resting place

Also known as Giro the Nazi dog

Behind the grave of Giro there are multiple memorials on both sides of the street including Robert Falcon Scott, Field Marshal Lord Clyde and outside of the Athenaeum Club is Lord Wellingtons horse block!!! All on the way to the Florence Nightingale Statue.

Stop 9

Florence Nightingale Statue

A beautiful memorial to Florence Nightingale

Stop 10

Trafalgar Square

What to say about Trafalgar Square!!!

If facing away from the National Gallery head to the furthest corner to the left and you will find the smallest police station!! It was used before CCTV was invented to keep an eye on the protesters in the square.

Turn around and walk towards the National Gallery you will see some benches along the back wall, behind the benches on the ground you will find the imperial measurements.

Turn left and you will find the 4th plinth.

Stop 11

Leicester Square

Its just around the corner!! Unfortunately Google maps only allows me 10 stops per map, so I will leave it up to you to make your way there.

Once there you will find the M&M shop, Lego Shop, TSK Ticket shop (cheap last min theatre tickets), A ton of food shops, from Greg’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut to the expensive ones!!

You will also find the wonderful movie statues, Paddington Bear, Mr Bean, Wonder Woman, Batman, Mary Poppins, Harry Potter, Bugs Bunny, Laurel and Hardy, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Gene Kelly, Singing in the Rain, and Charlie Chaplin

You will also find a Shakespeare statue. Tons of places to eat and a lot of seating but it can be extremely busy and there can be ques to get into the Lego shop.

Google map link here https://goo.gl/maps/1bHjewPmsw1yaHSR9

But of cause there is more close by, you can do both maps in one day or split them up.

Walk 2

Leicester Square to Embankment

Start stop 1

Leicester Square

See above

Stop 2

Chinatown Gate

A beautiful gate leading to China town, lots of food restaurants here

Stop 3

Agatha Christie memorial

A beautiful memorial to an amazing author

Stop 4

The Policeman's Coat Hook

Conflicting stories on this one, some say that the hook was used by policemen to hang there capes on before they went to Trafalgar Square to break up a protest. Others say that is untrue and it just appeared one day

What ever the truth it’s a fun thing to find!!

Stop 5

Goodwin's Ct

It is said that this court was used to film Knockturn Alley for the Harry Potter films.

Stop 6

Brydges Place

This is the narrowest alley in London you can walk down it.

Stop 7

Oscar Wilde Statue

A stunning bench

Stop 8

Eamonn Hughes' sculpture

Not the easiest to find.

Once you get to The Porterhouse you will see that the Porterhouse has outside seating with a wooden wall go to the far end of the wall and look right between the wooden wall and the stone wall of the next property you will find this statue

Stop 9

Adam Street

Want to get a pic Infront of 10 downing street!!! This is as close as you will get also known as the fake 10 downing street!!

Stop 10

Sewer Lamp

The last of its kind!!

Stop 11

Victoria Embankment Gardens

Again, I have used my 10 spots up on Google maps but just head towards the Thames from the sewer lamp and you will find Victoria Embankment Gardens

There are a ton of benches, and it is really beautiful when the flowers are out, there are also some lovely memorials.