Stage
3- Trafalgar Square
We left the Whitehall part of our walk, Stage 2 entering
Trafalgar Square from under Admiralty Arch.
We have a dedicated Trafalgar
Square page.
We suggest that for this walk you cross into the centre of the square
where Nelson's Column is located, then walk up to the National Gallery.
If you don't want to enter (free), the view from the entrance steps
is worthwhile.
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Trafalgar
Square Fountains & National Gallery |
Exit
east, along the northern perimeter of Trafalgar Square. The National
Portrait Gallery is a few yards first left around the corner. Otherwise
cross over to St Martin in the Fields Church on the eastern side of
Trafalgar Square.
Exit Trafalgar Square along Duncannon Street, that runs along the
south side of St Martins. At the end of Duncannon Street you will
see Charing Cross Station directly opposite, the most central of London's
railway stations.
Cross over the road and walk down the left hand side of the station,
a narrow lane with shops. This will bring you to Embankment Station,
follow the signs up to the Golden Jubilee Bridge that you can see
above you crossing the River Thames either side of the railway bridge.
Cross over the footbridge, great views of the River Thames both ways. |
Map Key
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1 -
Big Ben/Parliament
2 - St Margarets
3 - Jewel Tower
4 - Deans Yard
5 - Westminster Abbey
6 - Central Hall
7 - Cabinet War Rooms
8 - Cenotaph
9 - Downing Street
10 - Banqueting House
11 - Horseguards
12 - Buckingham Palace
13 - Duke Yorks Column
14 - ICA
15 - The Citadel
16 - Admiralty Arch
17 - Trafalgar Square
18 - National Gallery
19 - Portrait Gallery
20 - St Martins
21 - Festival Hall
22 - London Eye
23 - County Hall
24 - Florence Nightingale Museum
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Royal
Festival Hall
On the south side of the footbridge, to the east is the Royal Festival
Hall. The Royal Festival Hall is the only remaining fixture from the
1951 Festival of Britain.
The hall hosts a wide range of the performing arts from classical
and modern music to dance and the visual arts.
Check out if there is anything for you.
The London Eye
You will have seen the London Eye by the river as soon as you crossed
the Golden Jubillee Bridge
Built for the year 2000 celebrations the London Eye has become one
of the most popular attractions for visitors. The wheel and its capsules
take 45 minutes to make a rotation giving great views over the city.
We have a dedicated
London Eye page.
The pedestrianised area along the river here is popular with street
entertainers. The Jubillee Gardens are a welcome spot of green on
a hot day to lay out and have an ice cream |
London
Eye |
County
Hall
The grand building besides the London Eye, in the background of the
picture above is County Hall. County Hall used to be home to the Greater
London Council, local government for London until it was abolished
in 1986. Today it houses two hotels, the Marriott and Premier Travel
Inn County Hall, two of the best located hotels in London.
Also in the building along the riverfront is an aquarium and a museum
devoted to the surrealist painter, Salvador Dali.
County Hall is by Westminster Bridge, where on the opposite side we
started the walk. Either climb the stairs up to the bridge and across
to the start at Big Ben or walk through the short tunnel under the
bridge to the opposite side.
Florence Nightingale Museum
On the other side of Westminster Bridge are the grounds of St Thomas's
Hospital. Here there is a museum dedicated to Florence Nightingale,
credited with establishing nurses as an honourable profession. |
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