Walk 1310 - Chancery Lane to Trafalgar Square

      
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London is one of the most interesting and historic cities in Europe. Most visitors enjoy the sights using public transport within the city. However, especially at weekends, the City of London (rather than the City of Westminster) is relatively quiet. Walking enables you you to enjoy the many fine buildings and the sights at your leisure being able to stop as and when you wish. This route starts at Chancery Lane tube station (Central Line) and ends at Trafalgar Square. This description does not aim to describe all the points of interest en-route but instead provides a route that links many of the key sights. It should take about 2 to 3 hours to complete although you should allow more time if you visit any of the sights.

Exit Chancery Lane station (grid ref TQ311816) and walk east along Holborn continuing across Holborn Viaduct, which gives you some impression of how the city is built on low hills to the north of the River Thames. After crossing Holborn Viaduct turn left into Old Bailey passing the famous Central Criminal Court on your left. Reaching Ludgate Hill turn left and continue to St Paul's Cathedral. Just past the west front of the cathedral turn right down Godliman Street. Reaching the bottom of this street there is a sign directing you across the Millennium Bridge across the Thames.

Cross this bridge taking time to look back as the City of London skyline is impressive when viewed from here. The views downstream to Tower Bridge and upstream are also worthy of note. Reaching the south bank of the Thames you have the reconstructed Shakespearian Globe Theatre to your left and Tate Modern directly ahead.

Turn right upstream following the Thames Path under Blackfriars Bridge past the Royal National Theatre to reach Waterloo Bridge. Continuing on the riverside path you pass the Royal Festival Hall and the London Eye to reach Westminster Bridge. Go under the subway here to get the classic view of the Houses of Parliament before retracing your steps a short way to climb the stairs onto the north side of Westminster Bridge.

Cross Westminster Bridge with the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben to your left. Turn right into Whitehall with its many government buildings, Downing Street, the Cenotaph, New Scotland Yard and many other sights to reach Trafalgar Square. Dominated by Nelson's Column, this square is the end of this walk.

Suggested Maps

It is recommended you take a map with you when following a walk route. The preferred scale is 1:25000 used by the Explorer series.

	OS Explorer	1:25,000	Sheet 173
	OS Landranger	1:50,000	Sheet 176

Note : If two maps are listed at the same scale then either (a) both are required for full coverage of the route or (b) the route is covered on both maps.

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NOTE - all distances are "as the crow flies"