Central London packs an extraordinary cluster of royal and historic landmarks into less than a mile. Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey all sit within easy walking distance of each other.
This pocket of the city rewards visitors who explore on foot rather than by Tube. Grand ceremonial routes connect royal palaces to government buildings and public parks. Below is a full walking guide to these attractions, along with verified opening hours and ticket prices for planning your visit.
London Attractions at a Glance
| Attraction | Category | Opening Hours | Entry Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buckingham Palace | Royal residence | Daily 9:30am-7:30pm (9 Jul-31 Aug 2026); Thu-Mon 9:30am-6:30pm (1-27 Sep 2026) | £33 adults; £21.50 ages 18-24; £16.50 children 5-17 |
| Queen Victoria Memorial | Public monument | Accessible at all times | Free |
| St James’s Park | Royal park | Daily 5:00am-midnight | Free |
| Admiralty Arch | Historic landmark | Closed to public; check official website | Not applicable (closed for redevelopment) |
| Trafalgar Square | Public square | Accessible at all times | Free |
| Nelson’s Column | Public monument | Accessible at all times | Free |
| St Martin-in-the-Fields | Church and venue | Varies weekly, roughly 8:30am-5pm/7:30pm weekdays, 9am-5pm/6pm weekends | Free entry; concerts ticketed separately |
| Victoria Embankment Gardens | Public garden | Daily during daylight hours, check official website | Free |
| Horse Guards / Household Cavalry Museum | Military museum | 10:00am-6:00pm (Apr-Oct); 10:00am-5:00pm (Nov-Mar) | £11 adults; £9.50 ages 60+; £8 students/children 5-15 |
| 10 Downing Street | Government residence | Not open to the public | Not applicable |
| Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament | Historic landmark | Tour slots released monthly; check official website | £55 adults; £35 children 11-17 (tour) |
| London Eye | Observation wheel | Daily 10:00am-8:30pm (summer 2026), shorter hours other seasons | From £25.38 (summer VAT-reduced period) |
| Westminster Abbey | Historic church | Mon-Fri 9:30am-3:30pm; Sat 9:30am-3:00pm; closed Sundays | £31 adults; £27.13 (25 Jun-1 Sep 2026) |
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of the British monarch since 1837. Originally built in 1703 as a private townhouse, it was acquired by King George III in 1761 before growing into today’s grand royal residence. The State Rooms open to visitors each summer, revealing artwork by Rembrandt, Rubens, and Van Dyck alongside the Throne Room and Grand Staircase.
- Entry Ticket: State Rooms tickets cost £33 for adults, £21.50 for ages 18 to 24, and £16.50 for children aged 5 to 17 (Royal Collection Trust, official prices).
- Opening Hours: The State Rooms open daily from 9:30am to 7:30pm between 9 July and 31 August 2026, and Thursday to Monday from 9:30am to 6:30pm from 1 to 27 September 2026 (Royal Collection Trust). Outside this summer season, the interior is closed to visitors, though the palace exterior and forecourt remain viewable year-round.
Queen Victoria Memorial
This grand marble monument stands directly in front of Buckingham Palace, commemorating Queen Victoria’s reign. Sculptor Thomas Brock designed the memorial, which was unveiled in 1911. Its elevated steps offer one of the best vantage points for watching the Changing of the Guard.
- Entry Ticket: Free, as it is an outdoor public monument with no admission charge.
- Opening Hours: Accessible at all times, as it sits in an open public space with no gates or set hours.
St James’s Park
As the oldest of London’s Royal Parks, St James’s Park dates back to 1532, when Henry VIII acquired the marshland for hunting. Charles II later redesigned it in the French style, and it remains bordered by three royal palaces today. Resident pelicans, descended from a 1664 gift from the Russian ambassador, still live along the park’s lake.
- Entry Ticket: Free (The Royal Parks, official).
- Opening Hours: Open daily from 5:00am to midnight year-round (The Royal Parks, official).
Admiralty Arch
This grand ceremonial gateway connects The Mall to Trafalgar Square, marking the formal route between Buckingham Palace and central London. Commissioned by King Edward VII in memory of Queen Victoria and completed in 1912, the arch was designed by Sir Aston Webb, the same architect behind the palace’s iconic façade. The building is currently closed to the public while undergoing conversion into a Waldorf Astoria hotel, expected to open in autumn 2026.
- Entry Ticket: Not applicable. The arch is not currently open to public entry, though its exterior architecture and famous “secret nose” carving remain visible from the street at all times, free of charge.
- Opening Hours: Check the official website for the latest information on the hotel’s opening once it launches.
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square commemorates the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar and has served as a central public gathering space since the 1840s. Bronze lions guard its base, while fountains and street performers keep the square lively throughout the day. It connects several of London’s major sightseeing routes on foot.
- Entry Ticket: Free, as it is an open public square maintained by the Greater London Authority.
- Opening Hours: Accessible at all times, with no gates or set opening hours.
Nelson’s Column
Rising from the center of Trafalgar Square, this column honors Admiral Horatio Nelson’s victory and death at the Battle of Trafalgar. Standing over 169 feet tall, it was completed in 1843 and remains one of London’s most recognizable monuments. Four bronze lions guard its base, a favorite spot for photographs.
- Entry Ticket: Free, as it is an outdoor public monument with no admission charge.
- Opening Hours: Accessible at all times, as it sits within the open public square.
St Martin-in-the-Fields
This neoclassical church has anchored the northeast corner of Trafalgar Square since its construction between 1722 and 1726 by architect James Gibbs. Known as the Church of the Ever Open Door, it remains an active Anglican parish known for its work with London’s homeless community. The church also hosts regular classical concerts, including candlelit evening performances.
- Entry Ticket: Free to enter the church for visiting and prayer (St Martin-in-the-Fields, official). Concert tickets are priced separately and vary by event.
- Opening Hours: Hours vary weekly, generally running from around 8:30am to between 5pm and 7:30pm on weekdays, and from 9am to between 5pm and 6pm on weekends (St Martin-in-the-Fields, official). Check the official website for the current week’s exact schedule, since hours shift around services and events.
Victoria Embankment Gardens
These narrow riverside gardens run alongside the Thames near Embankment station, offering a quiet green escape from the busier streets nearby. Laid out in the 1870s following the construction of London’s embankment, the gardens include statues, seasonal flower displays, and a historic bandstand. Free lunchtime concerts sometimes take place here during summer months.
- Entry Ticket: Free, as it is an open public garden.
- Opening Hours: Generally open daily during daylight hours; check the official website for the latest information, since exact gate times can vary seasonally.
Horse Guards and the Household Cavalry Museum
Horse Guards has marked the ceremonial entrance to the royal residences since the reign of Charles II, with mounted troops guarding the site since 1660. The building now houses the Household Cavalry Museum, offering a rare glimpse into a working stable through a glass partition. The Changing of the King’s Life Guard takes place here each morning, drawing crowds before the museum even opens.
- Entry Ticket: £11.00 for adults, £9.50 for visitors aged 60 and over, £8.00 for students and children aged 5 to 15, and £29.00 for a family ticket covering 2 adults and up to 3 children (Household Cavalry Museum, official).
- Opening Hours: 10:00am to 6:00pm from April to October, and 10:00am to 5:00pm from November to March, with last admission one hour before closing (Household Cavalry Museum, official). The exterior parade ground and daily guard ceremonies are free to view.
10 Downing Street
This modest Georgian townhouse has served as the official residence and office of the British Prime Minister since 1735. Despite its plain exterior, the building contains over 100 rooms behind its famous black door. Security barriers have restricted public access to the street itself since 1989.
- Entry Ticket: Not applicable. 10 Downing Street is not open to public visitors at any time, as it remains a working government residence.
- Opening Hours: Not applicable, as the street and building are closed to the public. Visitors can view the gates from the end of Downing Street on Whitehall, free of charge.
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
The Elizabeth Tower, better known as Big Ben after its Great Bell, has kept time over Westminster since 1859. Guided tours climb the tower’s narrow 334-step spiral staircase, passing exhibition spaces that detail the recent conservation project before reaching the belfry itself. The surrounding Houses of Parliament remain in active use for government business.
- Entry Ticket: £55 for adults and £35 for children aged 11 to 17 for the Big Ben tour, with children under 11 not permitted on the climb (UK Parliament, official). Viewing the exterior from the street is free.
- Opening Hours: Tour tickets are released online three months in advance, on the second Wednesday of each month at 10:00am (UK Parliament, official). Check the official website for specific tour time slots, since availability changes monthly.
London Eye
Since opening in 2000, this giant observation wheel has become one of London’s most recognizable modern landmarks. Standing 135 meters tall, it offers a slow 30-minute rotation with sweeping views that stretch up to 25 miles on a clear day. The wheel sits directly across the Thames from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
- Entry Ticket: Standard tickets start from £25.38 during the summer VAT-reduced period running through 1 September 2026 (London Eye, official). Prices vary by date and time slot, so check the official website for the latest pricing outside this period.
- Opening Hours: Currently open daily from 10:00am to 8:30pm during the summer season (London Eye, official). Hours shrink to roughly 11:00am to 6:00pm during quieter months, and the wheel closes annually for about two weeks in January for maintenance. Check the official website for the exact daily schedule.
Westminster Abbey
Nearly every English monarch since 1066 has been crowned inside this Gothic church, including King Charles III in 2023. Founded by Benedictine monks in 960 AD, the current building dates largely from the 13th century onward. Beyond royal history, the Abbey holds the graves of poets, scientists, and statesmen in areas like Poets’ Corner.
- Entry Ticket: Standard adult admission costs £31 outside the summer discount period. From 25 June to 1 September 2026, a temporary VAT reduction brings the adult price down to £27.13 (Westminster Abbey, official). Sightseeing tickets are not available on Sundays.
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 3:30pm, and Saturday from 9:30am to 3:00pm (Westminster Abbey, official). The Abbey is closed to sightseeing on Sundays, when it operates for worship services only.
Final Thoughts
This stretch of Westminster packs royal palaces, government landmarks, and centuries of British history into a single walkable route. Most stops sit within a few tenths of a mile of each other, making it easy to cover several attractions in a single day.
Start early to catch the Changing of the Guard, then work your way toward the river for Big Ben and the London Eye. With so much packed into such a small area, this corner of London rewards visitors willing to slow down and explore on foot.