Free self-guided walk · London

Westminster and the South Bank to St Paul's

A free self-guided walk from Buckingham Palace through St James's Park to Westminster, then along the South Bank to Tate Modern and St Paul's Cathedral.

Distance
6.2 km
Walking time
1 hr 23 min
Allow
About 4 hours with stops
Stops
11

Open the route in Google MapsLondon city guide

About this walk

This walk takes in the London of the postcards: the palace, the park, Parliament and Big Ben, then the riverside path along the South Bank, crossing to St Paul's on the Millennium Bridge.

Almost all of it is free to see from outside, and most of the riverside stretch is traffic-free.

  • Terrain: Flat, on pavements and the wide riverside path. Step-free throughout, though the South Bank is very busy at weekends.
  • Best time: Late morning, to catch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace on days it takes place (check the schedule), or late afternoon for sunset over the river.

Route map

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Route and stop positions © OpenStreetMap contributors. North is up.

The stops

  1. Buckingham Palace

    Start at the gates of the monarch's London home, with the Victoria Memorial in front.

  2. St James's Park

    Walk along the lake, with its pelicans, to the bridge in the middle for a view back to the palace.

  3. Horse Guards Parade

    The parade ground behind Whitehall. Mounted guards sit at the Whitehall entrance.

  4. Westminster Abbey

    Where coronations have taken place for nearly a thousand years. Entry is paid; the outside and the green in front are free.

  5. Houses of Parliament

    The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower, which holds Big Ben.

  6. Westminster Bridge

    Cross the river for the classic view back to Parliament.

  7. The London Eye

    The observation wheel at the start of the South Bank.

  8. Southbank Centre

    The arts centre's terraces and riverside book market under Waterloo Bridge.

  9. Tate Modern

    The former power station, now a free modern art museum. Its viewing level looks across to St Paul's.

  10. Millennium Bridge

    The steel footbridge across the Thames, lined up with the dome of St Paul's.

  11. St Paul's Cathedral

    Finish at Christopher Wren's cathedral, built after the Great Fire of 1666.

Tips

  • Tate Modern and the Southbank Centre have free toilets and cafés.
  • St James's Park station (District and Circle lines) is near the start; St Paul's (Central line) is at the finish.
  • For a longer walk, continue east along the river from Tate Modern to Borough Market and Tower Bridge.

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Sources and review date

This walk was last reviewed on 2026-10-27. Distance and walking time come from OpenStreetMap's walking router and don't include time at stops. Opening hours and access change; please check before you go.