London Self Guided Walking Tour- The Adventuring Millennial

Welcome to Westminster! This is an area in Central London filled with history and tourist attractions. It is home to the famous Parliament building, Buckingham Palace and (of course) Westminster Abbey. In fact, the entire neighborhood gets its name from the Abbey. The Abbey was built west of the city, so it was originally referred to as west-minster (or west church).

On our tour, we will explore this historic area. We will talk about monarchs and politicians. We will see palaces and parks. Take this tour at your own pace. You could easily spend a couple hours or an entire day exploring Westminster. That’s what I love about self-guided walking tours, you can make them your own. You don’t have to go at the pace of a tour guide.

Just a head’s up, there are a few ticketed attractions on the tour. You can still enjoy the tour without going inside these attractions. But, you might want to do some research and decide to purchase tickets in advance. This will help you skip the queues! The attractions I’m talking about are:

But as I said, you don’t have to go in any of these attractions to enjoy the tour. Ok, are you ready to get started? Make your way to the Palace of Westminster (also known as the Parliament Building). The Westminster Tube Station is the closest stop. Once you exit, you should see the impressive golden building and clock tower.

Start: The Palace of Westminster (Parliament Building)

Our tour starts at The Palace of Westminster. No, this building isn’t an actual palace. But it is owned by the reigning monarch. This palace is more commonly known as the Parliament Building. Here, the two legislative bodies of the UK Parliament meet. These bodies are known as the House of Commons and House of Lords. These are similar to the US Senate and House of Representatives.

The original Palace of Westminster was built in 11th century and actually served as a royal residence for the King of England. But in 1512, it was partially destroyed by fire. I guess the monarchs didn’t want to deal with the renovations because Parliament took over the building after the fire. In 1834 another fire completely destroyed the building. Construction of the New Palace began in 1840. It took over 30 years to complete.

Attached to the Parliament Building you may see the iconic clock tower. Contrary to popular belief, Big Ben is actually the name of the bell inside the tower, not the tower itself. Unfortunately, if you visit between 2017-2021 you may not see the tower. Big Ben and the clocktower are currently undergoing a major renovation.

If you are interested, consider attending a debate in Parliament. It is free for both UK and overseas visitors. Check out their website for more information.

From here, we are heading to Westminster Abbey. Make sure you are on the opposite side of the Parliament Building from the Thames (this is the front entrance of the building). Cross St. Margaret St. Walk around to the north side of the building where you will find the guest entrance.

Stop 1: Westminster Abbey

Take a minute to appreciate the incredible architecture of Westminster Abbey. In 960 AD, this was the site of a Benedectine monastery. In the 1040s, when Kind Edward established a royal residence on the banks of the Thames, he decided to enlarge and re-endow this church. Since 1066, all British coronations have occurred in this impressive church. 16 royal weddings have also occurred here. (Recognize it now? William and Kate tied the knot here in 2011!)

A lot of notable people are buried inside the Abbey, including Charles Darwin, Sr. Issac Newton, Charles Dickens. Many British monarchs, including Elizabeth I, Mary II, and Edward the Confessor are laid to rest here.

Guests are welcome to tour the Abbey. Purchase a ticket online or at the door. Or, you can attend a church service and see the Abbey for free. Just remember to be respectful if you visit during a religious ceremony.

Next to the church, you might see the Westminster Abbey Choir School. This is an exclusive boarding school that educates 30 young boys (age 8-13). This is the last choir school in the United Kingdom. These boys perform in the Westminster Abbey choir and also tour globally.

We are now heading to the Parliament Square Garden. This is a short walk from the Abbey. From the main tour entrance of the Abbey, cross Parliament Square (pay attention to the traffic- the cars drive on the left side of the road here!) You should see a large garden with a few statues. Look for the Winston Churchill statue- that’s where our next stop starts.

Stop 2: Parliament Square Garden

This small garden is packed with statues of statesmen. Look for the statues of Prime Ministers David Lloyd George, Sir Robert Peel, and Winston Churchill. Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela are also featured as statues here.

This garden is the site of many protests and demonstrations. It is surrounded by government buildings, including the houses of Parliament to the east and the Supreme Court to the west.

We are now heading to the Banqueting House. From the Winston Churchill statue, head north on Parliament Street. Take a slight right onto King Charles Street. Take a left to get back on Parliament Street. The Banqueting House will be on your right.

Stop 3: Banqueting House

The Banqueting House is the only remaining part of the Palace of Whitehall. From 1530-1698, the British monarchs resided in this palace. This was once one of the largest palaces in Europe. With 1,500 rooms, it was larger than the Vatican.

The Banqueting House was used for royal receptions, ceremonies, and banquets. In 1617, Pocahontas was brought here to be presented to the King. In 1649, King Charles I was beheaded in front of the House.

Today, you can take a self-guided tour of the Banqueting House. Purchase tickets online ( £5.50 for adults) or at the door £6.10).

Walk south on Whitehall and across the street you will find our next stop, 10 Downing Street. You can’t get too close, but you will likely see a black gate surrounded by guards and tourists.

Stop 4: 10 Downing Street

Welcome to the British White House. 10 Downing Street (simply referred to as ‘Number 10’) is the home and office for the Prime Minister. The British Cabinet also meets here.

This property was originally three buildings: a mansion, a townhouse, and a cottage. The townhouse was constructed from 1682-1684 by Sir George Downing. In 1732, King George II gifted Number 10 to Sir Robert Walpole (a statesman generally regarded as the first Prime Minister). Walpole said that Number 10 was a gift to the office of the First Lord of the Treasury (Prime Minister) instead of to him personally. Although many early Prime Ministers didn’t actually live here, it is now the official headquarters of the British government.

Next, we are heading to the Churchill War Rooms. Make your way south on Whitehall, back towards Parliament Square Garden. Turn right onto Parliament Square, then turn right on Horse Guard Road. Turn right onto Clive Steps and you will see the museum.

Stop 5: Churchill War Rooms

The Churchill War Rooms are one part of the Imperial War Museum. Here you can tour the underground tunnels and rooms used by Churchill and his staff during WWII. From here, Churchill plotted how to win the Second World War, while also staying protected from The Blitz.

You can take a self-guided audio tour of the rooms. Along the way, you will see the Map Room, the Cabinet Room, and the Churchill bedroom. You can also explore an exhibit dedicated to Churchill’s life and career.

Consider buying tickets online to skip the queue.

From here, head west and cross Horse Guards Road. Our next stop is St. James Park.

Stop 6: St. James Park

This 57-acre park was once part of the royal garden. During James I’s reign, crocodiles, camels, and other exotic animals were kept in the park. In 1887, the park opened for public use.

Today, you can explore the gardens, rest on the lawn, or walk along the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial walk.

Keep an eye out for the famous pelicans. in 1664, pelicans were first introduced to the park after a Russian ambassador gifted them to the monarch. Today, they are free to roam the park but are most often seen near the lake.

Spend some time in the park. It is a large, beautiful area with plenty to explore. When you are ready, make your way towards the Victoria Memorial (in front of Buckingham Palace). Follow signs to Buckingham Palace or make your way to the Mall. Once on the Mall, walk south. Straight ahead, you will see the large marble statue topped with a golden angel.

Stop 7: Victoria Memorial

This large statue is a monument to Queen Victoria. It was completed in 1924 as part of a large renovation in front of Buckingham Palace.

The area surrounding the memorial is a popular spot to watch the Changing of the Guard. This ceremony takes place daily and is a popular event. This is a formal ceremony where the royal guards switch out at the end of a shift. Arrive early and expect crowds. This is something you probably want to see at least once during their time in London. And I don’t blame you! It’s a unique ceremony that feels quintessentially British.

Our next stop is Buckingham Palace, which you can already see. Walk up to the gate for a better view.

Stop 8: Buckingham Palace

Ok, this palace probably doesn’t need an introduction. Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch. Look at the flagpole. If the Union Jack is flying, the Queen isn’t home. But if you see the yellow Royal Standard flay flying, the Queen is in the building.

In 1761, King George III acquired a large townhouse on the site. This became the private residence of Queen Charlotte. This building was later expanded. In 1837, Buckingham Palace officially became the London royal residence when Queen Victoria moved in.

If your trip happens to fall during July-September, check the Buckingham Palace website for tour updates. During the late summer (and select dates in the winter), the Queen takes a holiday to Windsor. While she is away, the Palace is open to the public. You can take a self-guided audio tour of some rooms and the garden.

Next, we are making our way to the last stop, the Royal Mews. From the Palace, head southeast on Spur Road. Turn right to stay on Spur Road. Then, turn right onto Buckingham Gate.

Stop 9: Royal Mews

Located on the grounds of Buckingham Palace, the Royal Mews houses some of the monarch’s horses and carriages. Here you can see the Gold State Carriage, which has been used in every British coronation since 1821. The Royal Mews are responsible for all of the royal road travel arrangements.

From February-November, guests are invited to tour the Mews. Book tickets online here.

We’ve come to the end of our tour. From here, you can easily make your way to Victoria Station (about a 7-minute walk southeast along Buckingham Palace Road), where you can catch a train or the Tube. Or continue to explore the Westminster area. There are plenty of pubs and restaurants in the neighborhood.