Walk 1322 - printer friendly version

Green Park to Trafalgar Square Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 2.5 miles / 4.1 km

Ascent - 50 feet / 15 metres

Grade - easy

Start - OS grid reference TQ290803
Lat 51.506916 + Long -0.14264417
Postcode W1J 8HS (approx. location only)

London has so many interesting features that it deserves a more leisurely approach to sightseeing than it generally receives. This walk links two of London's parks with a number of key historical landmarks and ideally should be completed at leisure.

Exit Green Park station (grid ref. TQ290803) on the south side of Piccadilly and enter Green Park taking the broad tarmac path that heads towards the Mall and Buckingham Palace. Passing Lancaster House on your left fork right to enter the Mall opposite the Queen Victoria Memorial. Buckingham Palace is to your right and no doubt you will be tempted to peer through the iron railings for a better view of the Queen's London home.

To continue turn your back on Buckingham Palace and aim for the Mall, which runs towards Trafalgar Square, taking care crossing the road to reach St James's Park. Do not walk up the Mall instead take the first path on your right into the Park. This leads you to the lake with its many water birds, which include pelicans, and a large population of friendly squirrels who seem to habitate the trees adjacent to the path. Continue along the path with the lake to your right.

Roughly half way along the lake there is a bridge. Take this and cross the lake turning left on the other side to continue along the lake which is now on your left. Reaching the eastern end of the Lake continue to the Guards Monument before crossing the road (Horse Guards) and the adjacent parade ground (Horse Guards Parade) to reach Whitehall through the colonnaded building of the Horse Guards with its mounted sentries usually in place.

Turn right along Whitehall as far as Downing Street where security fences rather spoil the view down to the Prime Minister's residence. Having taken in the "view" return along Whitehall towards Horse Guards noting the fine buildings of the Ministry of Defence and the Old War Office on the other side of the road. Passing the Whitehall Theatre on your left you reach Trafalgar Square dominated by Nelson's Column where this short but interesting walk ends.

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