Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This two-mile walk from Trafalgar Square to London Bridge parallels the Thames, on
the same main road that's been used for centuries. Along the way, you'll see sights from
The City's storied past, such as St. Paul's Cathedral, the steeples of other Wren churches,
historic taverns, a Crusader church, and narrow alleyways with faint remnants of the Lon-
don of Shakespeare and Dickens.
But you'll also catch The City in action today, especially if you visit on a weekday
at lunchtime, when workers spill out onto the streets and The City is at its liveliest. See
lawyers and judges in robes and wigs taking cigarette breaks, brokers in pin-striped power
suits buying newspapers from Cockneys, and the last of a dying breed—elderly gentlemen
with bowler hats and brollies (umbrellas) browsing for tailored shirts and Cuban cigars.
Sip a pint in the same pub where Dickens did, and eavesdrop on a power lunch. Use this
walk to help resurrect the London that was, then let The City of today surprise you with
what is.
(See “The City Walk” map,
here
.)
Length of This Walk:
Allow three or more hours, depending on what you visit. If you
have less time, you could skip a mile's worth of the Strand by taking the Tube dir-
ectly to Temple, picking up the walk at St. Clement Danes, then ending at St. Paul's.
Less-important stops along the way include the Temple Church, Inns of Court, and Dr.
Johnson's House.
Getting There:
Start at Trafalgar Square (Tube: Charing Cross or Embankment). You'll
head east on the Strand and end at London Bridge (where the Bankside Walk begins).
Handy buses #15 and #11 (see
here
) travel along the Strand and Fleet Street from Tra-
falgar Square.
Tourist Information:
The City of London TI is located next to St. Paul's (Mon-Sat
9:30-17:30, Sun 10:00-16:00).
Courtauld Gallery:
£
6 (
£
3 on Mon), daily 10:00-18:00, last entry at 17:30.
See the
Courtauld Gallery Tour chapter.
St. Clement Danes:
Free, daily 9:00-16:00, closed to sightseers during worship (generally
Sun at 11:00, Wed and Fri at 12:30).
Royal Courts of Justice:
Free, Mon-Fri 10:00-16:30, closed Sat-Sun, no photos, on the
Strand,
www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk
.
Twinings Tea Shop:
Mon-Fri 9:30-17:00, Sat 10:00-16:00, closed Sun.
