This walk takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the usual Westminster tourist haunts, into uncrowded, little known gardens, yards and squares. There’s lots of history – some things hidden in plain sight such as the oldest statue in London, a contemporary art work and left overs from two world wars which thousands pass every day without noticing them. There’s also the best street of beautiful Queen Anne houses in London, a secret service building, a famous hall connected to the world’s greatest Victorian philanthropist, a Suffragette memorial and statue, a famous school, the venue of the first regulated football match, TE Lawrence’s pad, the Houses of Parliament, a memorial to the end of slavery, and the square where the father of investigative journalism lived. And once you’ve seen all that, you can cross pretty Lambeth Bridge to finish at the Garden Museum. This is a hidden gem. And you don’t have to be a garden enthusiast to enjoy it. It’s also great for art and food. Some of the greatest botanical artists in the world have beautiful work on show here, and the museum restaurant is in my opinion the best of its kind in London (and Jay Rayner agrees!). And there’s even a very famous seafaring man’s tomb in the garden for history buffs! Then, after a leisurely lunch you can head for Westminster or Waterloo stations via one of London’s newest and biggest sculptures; a beautiful image of the extraordinary Mary Seacole. Or instead of the Garden Museum you can stay north of the river and stroll past the Houses of Parliament to Westminster tube station to finish.

Start Nelson’s Column Trafalgar Square
Finish Garden Museum or Westminster underground station