With shops, restaurants and world-class attractions around every corner, there’s no shortage of things to do, see or eat in the West End. Find your way around the heart of the City – it’s sometimes quicker (and always more fun!) to walk and get to know the area than to take public transport.
Check out our West End walking map and discover easy and interesting walks around the area – all in less than 20 minutes!
Oxford Circus to Tottenham Court Road
📍⏱️ 9 mins or 900 steps. 👣
Save 2 minutes and walk instead of getting the Tube so you can window shop at the world-famous Oxford Street. 🛍️
Take a quiet moment for yourself or enjoy that treat you couldn’t resist with a slight detour in lovely Soho Square Gardens.
Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus
📍⏱️ 12 mins or 1,200 steps. 👣
Locals should know that the walk between these two iconic London stations is actually 3 minutes quicker than getting the Tube! 😲
London landmark and department store Liberty is impossible to miss – its pretty mock-Tudor exterior is matched only by the beautiful prints produced by its in-house design studio.
If you’re looking for something unique, head to quirky shopping and dining destination, Carnaby.
Or enjoy bustling Regent Street from high above street level on the Aqua Kyoto terrace.
Spot the famous screens in Piccadilly Circus and take a break on the steps of the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, opposite the Criterion Theatre.
Oxford Circus to Marble Arch
📍⏱️ 14 mins or 1,400 steps. 👣
There’s a reason this shopping stretch is world-renowned – find flagship stores next to one-off outlets, new and innovative products and brands with iconic shopping destinations like Selfridges. Tucked around the corner, find even more shops and restaurants at St Christopher’s Place or picturesque Connaught Village.
Regent Street cinema is a hidden gem for film fans. The birthplace of cinema in the UK, it screens 35mm film and 4k digital films – watch the latest independent and studio releases in its stunning auditorium. 🎬
Bring your ‘A’ game to Swingers – can you get a hole in one on its seaside-themed crazy golf course? ⛳
Relax on another kind of green and escape to one of the peaceful squares off Oxford Street. Cavendish Square Gardens, Brown Heart Gardens, Grosvenor Square and Portman Gardens are all perfect places to switch-off and unwind.
Piccadilly Circus to Green Park
📍⏱️ 8 mins or 800 steps. 👣
Get your culture fix at the Royal Academy of Arts. Keep walking down Piccadilly, past iconic British department store and supplier to the Queen, Fortnum & Mason.
You can find more Royal Warrant holders at nearby Burlington Arcade – this unique, covered shopping arcade is guarded by Beadles, the oldest and smallest police force in Britain. No whistling, running or cycling here!
Visit Jermyn Street which runs parallel to Piccadilly for unmatched tailoring or just to admire the architecture in this historic street.
Your tour of British heritage brands is complete when you see The Ritz at the corner of Green Park.
Green Park to Victoria
📍⏱️ 19 mins or 1,900 steps. 👣
Take a tour of Royal London on this scenic walk beside Green Park and St James’s Park.
Step back in time as you wander past 18th and 19th century town houses. Check if the Queen is home – look out for the Royal Standard flag over Buckingham Palace! 👑
Browse the Royal Collection at the Queen’s Galley or spot Royal rides at the Royal Mews, before grabbing a pick-me-up at one of the exceptional coffee shops around Victoria station.
Victoria to Westminster
📍⏱️ 19 mins or 1,900 steps. 👣
Clock the mini replica Big Ben (‘Little Ben’) on Victoria Street as you start your journey. Further down the road, spot the Suffragette Memorial sculpture in Christchurch Gardens – a tribute to all the men and women who fought for women’s suffrage.
Pick up the essentials, stop for a quick bite or browse the shops in Cardinal Place shopping centre.
Westminster Abbey has over 1,000 years of history on this site. This spectacular gothic cathedral has been used for each monarch’s coronation since 1066. Together with Palace of Westminster, home to the Houses of Parliament, this is one of four World Heritage Sites in London.
Cross Parliament Square Garden for the best views of Big Ben as you reach Westminster.
Westminster to Leicester Square
📍⏱️ 16 mins or 1,600 steps. 👣
Pass The Cenotaph and walk along Whitehall to Trafalgar Square. Admire the latest artwork on the Fourth Plinth, unwind by the fountains or snap a photo with Nelson’s column and the lions. 🤳
Pop into the National Gallery and enjoy access to masterpieces from the 13th to 20th century for free. 🎨
Visit the hidden café in the crypts or watch concerts by candlelight in St Martin-in-the-Fields. Head around the corner for more top shows at Garrick Theatre. 🎭
From bubble tea to bubble waffles, dim sum and street food, to fine dining – choose from over 70 authentic East Asian restaurants, shops and bars in Chinatown.
Westminster to Waterloo
📍⏱️ 17 mins or 1,700 steps. 👣
Cross Westminster Bridge for some of the best views of the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye.
Sip your drink next to a vespa in quirky Scootercaffe or refuel at one of Lower Marsh’s other independent restaurants and cafes near the Old Vic.
Colourful Leake Street Arches is a must-visit! Hidden underneath Waterloo Station, discover the latest murals and street art, try cuisine from around the world or challenge your friends to a new game in board game café, Draughts.
Waterloo to Embankment
📍⏱️ 8 mins or 800 steps. 👣
Catch the latest from the screen and stage at the BFI IMAX, Southbank Centre and National Theatre.
Cross the Golden Jubilee Bridges and visit riverside Victoria Embankment Gardens before your final stop.
Charing Cross to Covent Garden
📍⏱️ 7 mins or 700 steps. 👣
Amble along the Strand past the Adelphi Theatre. Nearby Somerset House is always worth a visit with its revolving program of events and exhibitions.
Covent Garden is a haven for foodies with restaurants for all appetites and budgets. Try the latest food trend, grab a snack or sit down to a five-star meal. Indulge your appetite for fashion and choose from over 200 brands in the area’s boutiques and flagship stores.
Visit the London Transport Museum to discover how the City’s transport has helped it grow and get a glimpse of what the future could be!
Covent Garden to Leicester Square
📍⏱️ 4 mins or 400 steps. 👣
Swap the Tube and save time with an easy stroll down Long Acre. Or take your time and explore the Yards, a series of interconnected shopping and dining courtyards that are tucked away from the main road.
Spot the sign for independent theatre powerhouse, the Arts Theatre – just moments from Leicester Square Tube.
For all routes, times and step count are based on the most direct route, at a moderate walking pace.
More central London routes
For an easy way to get your steps in, try quick walks between stations or use central London Footways, the walking network which connects key stations in the City using interesting or quiet streets and green spaces.
Enjoy a change of pace with a relaxing wander through the Royal Parks. Or if cycling’s more your speed, pick up a Santander Cycle from just £2 from a nearby docking station. 🚲
Share your walking routes
Tell us your favourite walking routes in the comments or share snaps from your walks on our social media. 📸