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From regal landmarks and majestic residences to a journey through the city’s maritime past, these walking routes deliver historic London right to your feet. Soak up everything royal, and tour the streets of the capital for a spectacular city break. 

Photo by: visitlondon.com/Jon Reid

View of Buckingham Palace early morning with gardens in the foreground

Unmissable self-guided walking routes

Immerse yourself into historic London with these three easy-to-navigate walking tours.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Martin Ritchie

Horse Guards wearing red coats riding across parade

Royal London (approximately five miles/8km)

Start at Westminster Abbey, the setting for 16 royal weddings and the coronation of every English monarch from 1066.

Stroll through St James’s Park and meet its resident pelicans, until you end up at Buckingham Palace and Whitehall’s Horse Guards Parade. If you arrive before 11am (10am on Sundays), you can catch the Changing of the Guards.

Head for the River Thames and cross via Westminster Bridge. You’ll pass the Royal Festival Hall and HMS Belfast before arriving at Tower Bridge and The Tower of London — former palace, fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site which protects the Crown Jewels.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Sarah Smith

Large illuminated model of planet Earth hanging above crowd

Maritime London (approximately five miles/8km)

Explore the historic Cutty Sark sailing ship in Greenwich, before heading to the nearby Old Royal Naval College within the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site. History buffs won’t want to miss the nearby National Maritime Museum, before popping next door to visit the Queen’s House Art Gallery.

From there, head into Greenwich Park to find Queen Elizabeth’s oak tree. At the top of Greenwich Park hill, you’ll reach the Royal Observatory and be rewarded with one of the best views across London.

Finish on the Prime Meridian line – from where all the world used to set its clocks (Greenwich Mean Time).

Photo by: crowsreign

Location: London

View of Kenwood House, Hampstead

Hampstead’s History (approximately three miles/4.8km)

Start at Keats House. Located a few minutes’ stroll from Hampstead Underground station, this Regency villa is the former home of the renowned Romantic poet and is steeped in literary history.

Head onto Hampstead Heath to its wild swimming ponds, before climbing to the top of Parliament Hill for spectacular views.

Discover a charming secret garden at Hampstead’s Hill Garden and Pergola, before finishing at Kenwood House. Surrounded by stunning landscaped gardens, the expansive white building is a masterpiece by 18th-century Scottish architect, Robert Adam.

Attractions of royal significance

Take a stroll between some of London’s historic landmarks and discover their royal connections.
London, England

Hyde Park is the largest Royal Park, stretching from Hyde Park Corner to Kensington Gardens.

Photo by: visitlondon.com/Jon Reid

Hyde Park
London, England

This seven-mile walk, charted by 90 plaques set in the ground, takes you within sight of famous buildings and locations associated with the Princess during her life.

Photo by: myenglandholiday

The Kensington Gardens
London, England

Take a tour of the Royal Albert Hall, opened by Queen Victoria in 1871.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Jason Hawkes

Aerial view of the Royal Albert Hall in London
London, England

Start at one of London’s Royal Parks that houses The Mall and Horse Guards Parade, and experience a walk through royal history.

Photo by: the.real.ben.crane

Close up of a bird at St James Park
London, England

With eight Royal Parks covering over 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres), London isn’t short of green spaces with royal history.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Tareq Mooradun

Two people walking down a park path covered with pink petals
London, England

An iconic starting place for any walk around London, Buckingham Palace is an unmissable destination for any royal fan.

Photo by: visitlondon.com

Location: London

View of Buckingham with gardens in the foreground and people walking by

Explore more of royal Britain

Britain is bursting to the battlements with places full of royal importance, all waiting to be discovered by you.

Photo by: @pumpkin_the_pompom

Balmoral Castle and Estate

Discover celebrations fit for a King and Queen: from the Household Cavalry and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo to spotting royals among a clutch of huge hats at Royal Ascot.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Philipp Pley

Military Guards on horses between rows of Union jack flags

Learn about royal life firsthand and visit the UK's grand palaces, historic castles and beautiful country retreats. These royal buildings are awe-inspiring.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Tom Weightman

Aerial display flying over crowds above palace

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