Lady’s 9 Central London walks with Maps

Today I want to share my central London walks with you. There are lots of world-class places to discover in the heart of the UK capital, and these self-guided London walking tours will help you find the best of them.

Central London walks

From Covent Garden to Clerkenwell, my central London walks cover a diverse range of neighborhoods in the city. Whether you like to be in the thick of things or off the beaten path, there’s a walk for you.

From major thoroughfares to narrow passageways, expansive squares to hidden courtyards, these self-guided London walking tours will take you to some of the top places in the UK capital.

You can see a lot more walks in the book London’s Hidden Walks, too. You can get it here. It’s the perfect fit if you have fun wandering through the city’s under-the-radar areas. There are more ideas in my London walking books post, too.

If you’re after more London walks, my blog post about self-guided London walking tours has all the ones I’ve published in one place.

I’ve also compiled my east London walks, west London walks, south London walks, and north London walks into blog posts. You can find routes and maps for other areas of the UK capital on them.

1. Central London walks in Covent Garden

I’ll start my list of central London walks with the one in Covent Garden. One of the most colorful London neighborhoods, this area is a delight to discover.

The famous Covent Garden Piazza is full of life, and there’s always a street performer or art installation to admire. The restaurants and shops around it are some of the best in the city, too.

This self-guided London walk will take you through Covent Garden’s vibrant streets and secret squares. It’s ideal if you want to get a full picture of one of the city’s most bustling areas.

If you’d like to do this central London walk, you can see the route, map, photos, and video on my Covent Garden walking tour blog post.

2. Central London walks in Soho

The next of my central London walks is in Soho. Right in the heart of London’s West End, Soho is home to some of the city’s best theaters. It has great hidden courtyards and pretty squares, too.

This London walking tour will take you through the vibrant streets and lanes in Soho. It’s just the thing if you want to get to know the area beyond the main sights and attractions.

If you’re up for doing this central London walk, you can see the route, map, photos, and video on my Soho walk blog post.

3. Central London walks in Westminster

Next on my list of central London walks is the one in Westminster. This part of the UK capital is home to London landmarks like Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben, but there’s a lot more to it than that.

This London walk will take you from Parliament Square to Smith Square and beyond. It covers highlights both big and small, so it’s the perfect one to do if you like iconic attractions and quiet corners in equal measure.

If you want to do this self-guided London walking tour, head over to my Westminster walk blog post for the route, photos, and map.

4. City of London Walk

The next of my central London walks is in the City of London. This area has some of the deepest historical roots and most important heritage buildings in the UK capital.

This self-guided London walking tour will transport you through time and show you everything from historic halls to contemporary skyscrapers. It’s just the thing if you’re a fan of London architecture history.

If you want to go on this London walk, you can find the route, map, photos, and video on my City of London walking tour blog post.

5. Central London walks in Mayfair

The next of my central London walks is in Mayfair. This upscale neighborhood is dripping with beauty. Mayfair is full of lush gardens, luxury hotels, hidden mews, and high-end shops.

This walk will guide you through Mayfair and show you everything from South Molton Street to Piccadilly as you go. It’s a good one if you like a bit of hedonism in your life.

If you want to take this self-guided London walk, the route, map, and photos are on my Mayfair walking tour blog post.

6. Central London walks in Belgravia

Up next is my central London walk in Belgravia. Like Mayfair, this is one of London’s most elegant areas. It’s bursting with grand squares, flower-fronted facades, and tucked-away mews streets.

This loveliest of London walks goes past Belgravia’s embassies and down the famous Elizabeth Street with its pretty cafes. It’s great if you enjoy seeing a mix of architectural styles, doing a bit of shopping, and indulging in some luxury.

If you want to go on this London walk, you can find the full route, map, and photos on my Belgravia walk blog post.

7. Central London walks in Clerkenwell

Next on my list of central London walks is one in Clerkenwell, Smithfield, and Hatton Garden. These areas not only show off historic London at its best, but are also home to some of the best markets and restaurants in the UK capital.

My self-guided London walk in Clerkenwell will show you everything from atmospheric passageways to stone arches. It will lead you through one of the oldest markets in the city center, too.

This walk is for you if you like historic architecture and delicious food in equal measure. Oh, and coffee. There are great coffee shops along the way.

If you want to take this London walk, the full route, map, photos, and video are on my Clerkenwell walking tour blog post.

8. Literary Walk in Central London

The next of my central London walks is a bit different. Instead of being based around a neighborhood, it’s a themed London literary walk.

This self-guided London walk goes through several neighborhoods. It will show you some of the city’s best independent bookshops, literary landmarks, reading rooms, and libraries.

It has some of the best places to read in London, too, so make sure to bring a book.

The idea for this walk came about as a result of my love of both literature and wandering. It’s ideal if you feel the same.

If you’d like to do this London walk, the full route, map, and photos are on my blog post about a London literary walk.

9. Central London walks in the Royal Parks

The last of my central London walks goes through the Royal Parks. Like the literary walk, it’s a bit different from the others in that it spans several parts of the city.

This London walking tour shows off the best of the green spaces in the heart of the UK capital as it goes through Hyde Park, Green Park, and St James’s Park.

It’s perfect if you love cities but also adore nature. It’s great in all seasons, too.

In summer the gardens are in bloom and the baby waterfowl are at their cutest. In autumn the leaves change and turn the parks gorgeous colors.

In spring the bulbs and blossoms burst out and paint the parks in bright hues. And in winter the soft light is beautiful.

If you want to do this one, the route and map are on my blog post about the best London walks.

Central London walks

I hope my list of the best central London walks has made you want to head out and discover the heart of the UK capital.

I’ll be sure to update this post and add new central London walks to it when I publish them. You can bookmark it or pin it on Pinterest for reference if you’d like to. In the meantime, happy walking!

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