A Walk Via London City
Return to Piccadilly for a one more of your walks in London and continue until you reach St James’s St on your left. This takes you depressed to the red-brick St James’s Palace, the royal residence from 1660 to 1837 when Queen Victoria upped and moved to Buckingham Palace. Skirt around its east side and you emerge in The Mall.
although that wouldn’t allow you time to explore any of the individual sights in detail. It will, however, give you a good opening to the West End and Westminster. For details of the individual sights see their hall in the Things to See & Do chapter.
Start at St Paul’s Cathedral, the Wren masterpiece that was completed in 1710, and climbing to the top of the Golden Gallery for one of the best views of London. Then, unless you’re feeling very energetic and want to walk all the way on Fleet St and the Strand, save on foot leather by catching bus No 501 or 521 from Newgate St behind St Paul’s station to Covent Garden.
Another of the enjoyable walks in London is Covent Garden, once London’s fruit and vegetable market, has been restored to a bustling piazza. It’s one of the rare places where pedestrians rule the roost, with plenty of places to sit out and eat and drink. The Royal Opera House currently under refurbishment is on the north-cast angle, with the Theatre Museum facing it and the London Transport Museum round the angle in the piazza.
Walk north-west up James St to Covent Garden tube station and turn left into Long Acre. Stroll on the road looking out for Stanfords map and travel bookshop on your left, and then continue across Charing Cross Rd to Leicester Square with the green in the centre fighting to be noticed amid the first-run cinemas, nightclubs and fast-food outlets. Note the Leicester Square Theatre Ticket Booth to the south side which sells half-price tickets on the day of carryingout.
Head into Soho for one of your walks in London, with its myriad cafe and burgeoning nightlife. Regent St arcs out of the north-west corner up to Oxford Circus.
Continue west on Piccadilly to St James’s church with its scrumptious low restaurant and the Royal Academy which has established temporary art , some of them blockbusters for which you must book in advance. Detour right into the distinguished Burlington Arcade, just coming the academy, but beware the Burlington Berties who are supposed to stop you sing or otherwise misbehaving.
