Friday 6 August 2010

London darshan - In a day - WALKING

Having run around London 's nook and corner - I thought it would be good to write on how to roam London in 1 day covering all spots effectively and without much hassle. The disclaimer here is that it’s for a good sightseeing trip and an alternative to the open bus stop tour. If you wish to go inside these locations for that matter London EYE - then it’s bound to take time. And Mind you If you don’t like walking pls do not read further.
Start your day @ Waterloo station. Walk across the bridge from waterloo station and Hit Big Ben. On the way you see the London eye from the bridge. See Big Ben continue in the same direction and turn left... Cover Westminster and Westminster Abbey.. It’s a circular road.
|Finish Westminster Abbey and walk towards Downing Street. See Downing Street from outside and continue on the same road you hit the entrance for Buckingham palace. You find a guard sitting on horses and guarding the palace - take a left at that entrance and enter St James Park. Walk across St James Park toward the palace the palace will be on your left hand side. See the Palace and spend time around the fountain and the statues. If you reach there by 11:30 see the the change of guard
Walk back from the palace towards the Arch that leads to Trafalgar square. On the way you see the Statue of queen mother. Crossing the arch you hit Trafalgar square. Spend time near the Nelson's Pillar and spend time in the square in front of national Art gallery.
Walk from the Far end of the national Galley (close to the charring cross station) and walk towards Leicester Square. It’s a 5 minute walk... It’s now time to take some rest... you are obviously tired.. legs have worn out. Enter Leicester square and help yourself in one of the fast foods Viz Pizza Hut / BG ( its economical ..) once you have gained your energy back start back for phase 2
Walk from Leicester towards Piccadilly Circus. See the circus, the lilly whites all the nazaaras you wanna see.. Then from the centre search for Regent's Street. walk along the regents street passing by all the great ( READ EXPENSIVE) shops ... walking across you hit the great Oxford circus. Its upto you whether to walk the oxford street or not.
After so much of walking it’s time for some tube journey
Go underground at Oxford circus and take the central Line to St Pauls. Get down at St Paul's Cathedral and have a view. Walk from sty Paul’s across THE CITY and seeing all the major banks (If you are interested).. And reach the monument. See the London Fire monument and then cross the road to enter the Thames Walk.. Walk along side Thames while watching the famous Tower Bridge. See the tower of London towards your left and spend as much as time you want relishing the view of Tower Bridge.
with this the Walking tour of London comes to an end... though you would have covered 5 km by walk and be tired , you would have covered mostly the important places that can be seen from outside... In the evening if you have some energy - take the tube and hit Knightsbridge and visit Harrods and the entrance for Hyde Park corner..

This precisely covers London on the whole
If you want to pay for the museums and other royalties like London eye keep it for the next day. Go to London eye and madamme Teussads on the next day and if you are a cricket fan - from madam teussads - go to Marylebone and visit lords.
This might seems as a walking exercise - but the best way to see a city is by foot. Yeah you may say you have missed some parts – the Museums, Wimbledon etc.. mind you if you want to see museums in London then pls spend 15 days. Else this is a quick way to Tick mark a place.