Is London a Walkable City? My Favourite Places to Explore on Foot!

Do you want to know “Is London a Walkable City”?

You’ve come to the right place! I used to live in London for 5 years and it will always be one of the places I consider home. My sister still lives near London, so whenever I visit her, it brings back old memories.

So to the question “Is London Walkable”? The short answer is that yes, London is walkable! London was voted as the #31 most walkable city in the world and as the 4^th most walkable city in the United Kingdom.

London is a walkable city with a well-built system of sidewalks. In addition, many tourist attractions are close to each other in the city center so London is great to explore on foot.

London is big, so you should also consider to use the public transport (bus, tube) to get from one point to another. Otherwise, it would be too tiring and long to explore all the best places in London.

Some of the best places to explore in London on foot include Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and National Gallery in the West End; the London Eye in Waterloo; Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace in Westminster; and the Tower Bridge and Tower of London.

Here is everything you need to know about walking in London and the best places to explore on foot!

Does the UK Have Walkable Cities?

Yes, the UK has walkable cities and it is great to explore places on foot. The sidewalks are well-built and it is easy to get around.

If you get tired, the public transport is well-connected and offers a good alternative.

Among all the cities in the world, 4 cities in the UK are included in the Top 50 Most Walkable Cities in the World:

• Edinburgh: #6
• Liverpool: #18
• Bristol: #24
• London: #31

Edinburgh in Scotland is the most walkable city in the UK – and #6 in the world. While, London is rated as #31 for walkable cities in the world.

Is London a Walkable City?

Yes, London is a walkable city with a well-built system of sidewalks and pedestrian crossings.

London is the 4^th most walkable city in the whole of UK and #31 in the list of 50 most walkable cities in the world.

Is London Walkable for Tourists?

Yes, London is walkable for tourists!

Many tourist attractions are close to each other in the city center of London, however, London is big and to get from one area to the other, the best is to take the public transport.

To explore all of London on foot is possible, but would be too tiring and long without using public transport here and there.

Can You Walk Around London Easily?

Yes, you can walk around London easily.

London has well-built sidewalks and pedestrian crossings which make it easy to get around.

Can I Walk Everywhere in London?

If you wanted, you could walk everywhere in London. However, London is big so you would have to take public transport sometimes to get you from one place to the next.

Are There Sidewalks in London?

Yes, London has sidewalks, and it is easy to walk around in the city. Just don’t forget the left-hand rule also when it comes to walking on the sidewalks.

Tips for Walking in London

Watch out for Left-hand Traffic

Watch out for cars when crossing the road (left-hand traffic).

Also, when you walk on the sidewalks, you should walk on the left – if you are not used to left-hand traffic, you will adjust quickly once you are in London.

Watch out for Your Belongings

London is considered a safe city but when you are out and about, it is still good to look after your valuables and belongings as petty crimes can happen.

Pros and Cons of Walking in London

Pros

• Good way to exercise
• Great way to see everyday life in London
• Many tourist attractions are close to each other
• Good public transport in case you get tired

Cons

It’s not really a con but London is big!

While many attractions are close to each other, it would be very tiring the see all the attractions by walk. The best is to take public transport sometimes to get from one point to another.

Explore London on Foot (Like a Local)

London is really big and it is not possible to explore all the places on foot in one day.

Some of the attractions are in the same area, in walking distance to each other. However, to get from one area to the other, you’d have to take public transport or taxi.

If you just have a short time in London, you may not have time to explore all the attractions – so the places you visit will depend on your interests.

Here, I have put together some of the most popular places in London that are definitely worth visiting!

The places are grouped together with main attractions that are located in walking distance to each other.

The Best Places to Explore in London on Foot:

When I lived in London, I loved going for walks and exploring new places. The great thing is that it is easy to walk around London, and once you are in a specific area, there is so much to see!

You can take public transport to get from one area to the next, so you don’t get too tired. Once you are in a specific area (let’s say, Camden Town or Tower Bridge), there is much to explore.

Some of my favourite places to explore on foot in London are Waterloo and Westminster, Camden, Notting Hill, Tower Bridge and Tower of London, Kensington and the West End.

London is full of historic sites and here is what you can see in some of the main locations:

1. Waterloo + Westminster: London Eye, Westminster Bridge –  walk over bridge to Big Ben, Houses of Parliaments, Westminster Abbey, 10 Downing Street, St. James’ Park, Buckingham Palace (+ Changing of the Guards)

2. Bloomsbury and West End: British Museum, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery, Leicester Square

3. Kensington: Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, Royal Albert Hall, Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, the Design Museum

4. The City: Barbican, St. Paul’s Cathedral, cross over Millennium Bridge to Tate Modern, then walk to Shard

5. Tower Bridge and Tower of London

6. Notting Hill: Portobello Road Market

7. Regent’s Park and Camden Town: pubs, restaurants, Camden Market (food stalls, record stores), Regent’s Park, Primrose Hill, London Zoo

8. Oxford Street and Regent’s Street for fashion and shopping

Offline Map Apps for Navigating in London

If you have a data pack you can use in London, you will be able to use Google Maps for navigation.

However, if you will not have unlimited data, there are 2 maps (Maps.me and Mapy.cz) that are great for navigation even if you are offline or not using data.

Maps.me and Mapy.cz are mostly used when going for hikes or treks but you can also use it for navigating cities.

Before coming to London, download one of these apps. To be able to use the offline map, first you should select London in the app and download its map.

After you download the map, you will be able to use it offline even if you are not connected to wifi or have your data turned off. It will help you navigate as you explore the tourist attractions without having to use internet.

Maps.me

• Maps.me on Google Play
• Maps.me on the Apple Store

Mapy.cz

• Mapy.cz on Google Play
• Mapy.cz on the Apple Store

Is it Safe to Walk in London?

Yes, it is safe to walk in London.

London has a low crime rate and it is mostly petty crimes that may happen, like pickpocketing. For this reason, make sure to watch out for your belongings and valuables while you are out.

Otherwise, London is safe, including for families and solo female travellers.

Is it Safe to Walk in London at Night?

Yes, it is generally safe to walk in London at night, however, you should stay cautious as you would in any other city.

If you are out at night, watch out for pickpockets in pubs and bars.

If your hotel is in close walking distance, it is ok to walk back at night – but still remain cautious.

If your hotel is not in walking distance, then getting a taxi is also safe at night.

There is also public transport at night but if it’s your first time in London and you are tired, it is better to just take a taxi.

Public Transport in London

The public transport in London is well-connected and extensive. London is pretty big but the public transport is a great way to get around the city.

London has 11 tube lines (“metro”/ “underground”) and it might seem daunting at first, but it is very easy to navigate. In every station there are maps of all the stations and once you are on the tube, the stations are always announced.

Apart from taking the tube, you should also not miss out on riding the double-decker buses (especially if it’s your first time in London)! Try to take the bus in non-peak hours, and then you may be able to get a front seat on the upper deck – it’s pretty fun.

The public transport can get busy and crowded in peak hours, but don’t worry there will be space for you. In the summer, the tubes can also get really hot, but nevertheless, it is a great way to get around London.

Things to Do in London

There are so many cool things to do in London and here are my top recommendations for activities:

1. Sightseeing: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Camden Market
2. Museums: TATE Modern, British Museum, National Gallery
3. Parks: Hampstead Heath, Hyde Park, Regent’s Park
4. Thames River Cruise

FAQs: Is London a Walkable City

Is London a walkable city for tourists?

Yes, London is walkable for tourists!

Many tourist attractions are close to each other in the city center of London, however, London is big and to get from one area to the other, the best is to take the public transport.

To explore all of London on foot is possible, but would be too tiring and long without using public transport here and there.

Also remember that in London they have left-hand traffic, so if you are coming from a country which has right-hand traffic, just watch out.

Can you walk around London easily?

Yes, you can walk around London easily.

London has well-built sidewalks and pedestrian crossings which make it easy to get around.

Can I walk everywhere in London?

If you wanted, you could walk everywhere in London.

However, London is very big so you would have to take public transport sometimes to get you from one place to the next.

Can you get around London without a car?

Yes, it is easy to get around London without a car.

London has a really good public transport system (including the tube and buses) and you can easily get around without a car.

If you are not used to left-hand driving, it is probably also less hassle to use the public transport than hiring a car.

Can you walk across the Tower Bridge in London?

Yes, you can walk across the Tower Bridge in London! There are pedestrian crossings on both sides of the bridge, and you can walk across for free of charge.

If you want to go up to the towers and the upper walkways on the bridge, you can pay a fee of around GBP 12 to go up. Otherwise, if you just want to cross the bridge, it is free.

Are most European cities walkable?

Yes, most European cities are walkable. There are many European cities ranked in the World’s Top 50 Walkable Cities, such as cities in Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Hungary and the UK.

How to travel in London for a tourist?

If you are visiting London as a tourist, the best ways to get around is a combination of both walking and public transport.

London has an extensive public transport system that you can use to get from one point to another.

Many tourist attractions are close to each other so you can explore places on foot – but as London is big, you should also use public transport to make it faster and less tiring.

Conclusion

In conclusion, yes, London is walkable! London was voted as the #31 most walkable city in the whole world and as the 4^th most walkable city in the United Kingdom.

London is a walkable city with a well-built system of sidewalks. In addition, many tourist attractions are close to each other in the city center of London so it is great to explore on foot.

London is big, so you should also consider to use the public transport (bus, tube) to get from one point to another. Otherwise, it would be too tiring and long to explore all the best places in London.

Some of the best places to explore in London on foot include Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and National Gallery in the West End; the London Eye in Waterloo; Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace in Westminster; and the Tower Bridge and Tower of London.