Journeys Near and Far

Take a Self-Guided Walk Around London

Two books show you how

I've written about London guided walking tours before; they provide a fun and educational opportunity to explore London's quirky, historical or just plain fascinating neighborhoods with a group and a knowledgeable guide. 

But what if you want to explore these neighborhoods at your own pace?  Maybe stop in a pub for a drink along the way, or visit an intriguing shop? 

Well, no worries -- I've just found two books written to help you explore London's neighborhoods on your own.  Each provides enough entertaining information about the areas you'll walk through that you won't feel like you're missing out by not having a guide.

The following two books highlight a variety of self-guided walking tours in the city and surrounding areas that you can do on your own.

The first book, On Foot Guides' London Walks written by Celia Woolfrey, claims to be the only London walking guide with aerial view mapping.  The mapping, created from specially commissioned photographs taken from a helicopter flying at 1,500 feet, really helps show you the way as you read the directions.

There are 15 walks in this guide.  An introduction explains why London's a great place to explore on foot, and offers information on shopping, transportation, sightseeing tours, etc.  

There are also sections on how to link some of the walks together, and lists of which walks are best taken at various times of the week or year.  Take Covent Garden, for example.  "The atmosphere is more relaxed on the weekend," Woolfrey says, "when there's almost continuous street theater and people come here just to have fun."  

The book also suggests which walks are best for kids.

Each walk in London Walks has:

• A description of the area
• Aerial maps
• Where the walk starts and ends
• Photos
• Directions and a description of what you're looking at
• Boxed text with tips on where to eat and drink in the neighborhood

The series also offers New York Walks and Paris Walks.

Have Bed and Breakfast in a London Home

Is There Any Room at the Inn?

London is a wonderful city, but it can get crowded, so it's best to book your lodging ahead of time.  While there are many styles of accommodation to choose from, one of the best stays in London I ever had was the time I stayed at a Bed & Breakfast in a private London home.  My sister and brother-in-law had just booked a room through a London Bed & Breakfast agency from their home in Phoenix, and since I was going to meet them in London, they suggested I do the same.   

I ended up staying at a home owned by a fashion designer who was in the process of designing leather jackets to be manufactured in Turkey -- fascinating to me since I was a student at New York City's Fashion Institute of Technology at the time.    I enjoyed being able to chat with my hostess about topics we both loved while still having complete privacy if I wanted it.  I also liked the location -- not far from Kensington Gardens where my sister and brother-in-law were staying, and even closer to the Tube station. 

If you really want to experience London hospitality,  I recommend staying at a Bed & Breakfast in a private London home, and book ahead of time so you won't be disappointed.  How do you do it?  I suggest you try one of the following agencies:

At Home in London

My favorite?  At Home in London.   This is the agency we used to book our accomodations.  Formed in 1986 by Maggie Dobson,  At Home in London specializes in providing bed and breakfast in London homes -- more than 90 of them.  I like the personal service -- they take your needs into account when matching you to a home.  Their website has photos and detailed descriptions of the homes along with prices for singles and doubles.  Maggie also publishes an informative newsletter, which you can subscribe to or read online. 

If you're not sure if you'd like staying in someone's home, visit Maggie's Frequently Asked Questions list on her "How it Works" page.  Her site also has a nice "Insider Guide" with information on London attractions.

The London Bed and Breakfast Agency Limited

The London Bed and Breakfast Agency Limited has a helpful website that includes photos of private homes that offer bed and breakfast as well as comments from travelers who have stayed there.  If you are traveling solo, there is a nice selection of Bed & Breakfasts with single rooms.  There is a page with the description of the London neighborhoods the Bed & Breakfasts are located in, and each listing includes the number of the tube stop the home is closest to.  They also have a page with favorite things to do in London, including upcoming events. 

Britain Express's Bed and Breakfast Directory

Or, for a directory of some fourteen London Bed and Breakfast Agencies, visit Britain Express -- you're sure to find what you're looking for here. 

Oh!  If you're going to London, you might like these sites:   Photographs of Central London Streets (with locations of shops, pubs, restaurants, etc.) and London Underground information (tube fares and timetables).   Have a nice trip!

Photos courtesy of Freefoto.com, photographer Ian Britton.

London Walks

All of the world's great cities have something unique to offer visitors, and London is no exception -- London has "London Walks," the original (est. 1960) walking tour company in the city.  In fact, Cadogan Guide, London, says London Walks is "The original and best - there are several companies offering walking tours of London but London Walks (London's oldest) is easily the pick of the bunch."

I can't really make a comparison myself, as the only walking tour company I've gone with in London is London Walks.  But I can say that I thought the experience was excellent -- and since they have so many different tours available, I can't wait to get back there and try some more!

There were a lot of things I liked about this company.  First, they were reliable -- they started right on time.  And it was easy to find the guide at the defined meeting point.  Second, their astounding variety of routes makes it fun to choose which tour you want to take, and caters to a variety of interests.  Third, and most important, the guide was fantastic!  Very knowledgeable, confident, and entertaining.

I have a strong interest in the 1888 Jack the Ripper murders, so I chose the "Jack the Ripper  Haunts" tour.  Now, you should know that some of the London Walks Ripper tours are led by Donald Rumbelow, who is internationally recognized as the leading authority on Jack the Ripper.  Rumbelow is Britain's most distinguished crime historian, so if you can take one of his tours, do so!  Read the schedule on the London Walks website to see which nights he leads tours.

Rumbelow wasn't the guide the night I took the tour, but still, the guide was incredible.  Being in those creepy East End alleyways and hearing the guide relate what happened in Whitechapel all those years ago is eery but fascinating, and I highly recommend it.  Of course, if Jack the Ripper's not your cup of tea, perhaps you'll want to try another tour, such as the "Secrets of Westminster Abbey", "Shakespeare's London", or "The Hidden Pubs of Old London Town."

You don't have to book these tours ahead of time -- just show up -- they last about two hours, and run rain or shine, so you won't be disappointed if the weather's not in your favor.  Just meet your guide on the sidewalk outside the designated London Tube stop at the stated time and you're set to go!

One more thing... London is steeped in ghostly legends, and is reputed to be the most haunted capital city in the world.  I have a book in my library called Walking Haunted London, which details twenty-five original walks exploring London's Ghostly past.  It makes for interesting reading, and is a good guide for do-it-yourself walking tours.

If anyone reading this has been on a London Walks tour (or any other walking tour in London) post a comment, I'd love to hear what you thought.

Photos courtesy of  Freefoto.com  -- Photographer Ian Britton.