Westminster Guide: Big Ben, the Abbey and Buckingham Palace

Westminster is where the London of postcards is packed tightest: Parliament, the Abbey, Downing Street, the royal parade grounds and Buckingham Palace, all within a walk of about three kilometres. You can see the outside of everything in a morning. Going inside the Abbey or the War Rooms takes longer, so choose one.

The route

1. Westminster Bridge. Start on the south bank by the London Eye, and cross the bridge towards Parliament for the classic view of the Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower, which holds the bell called Big Ben.
2. Parliament Square. Statues of Churchill, Gandhi and Mandela face the Houses of Parliament. Guided tours of Parliament run on Saturdays and on some weekdays when it isn't sitting, so check the Parliament website. Guided climbs up the Elizabeth Tower, 334 steps to the bell, are open to visitors aged 11 and over. Tickets are released in monthly batches on the Parliament website and sell out fast.
3. Westminster Abbey. The coronation church since 1066, with the tombs of Elizabeth I, Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. Book a timed ticket. It's closed to sightseeing on Sundays, but anyone can attend Evensong, the sung evening service, for free, which is a calmer way to see the inside.
4. Whitehall. Walk north past the Cenotaph and the gates of Downing Street, which you'll see only from behind railings. On King Charles Street, the Churchill War Rooms need a ticket and around ninety minutes.
5. Horse Guards Parade. Mounted troopers of the Household Cavalry stand guard at the Whitehall entrance, and their guard changes every day on the parade ground behind. It draws a fraction of the crowd at the palace.
6. Trafalgar Square. Nelson's Column, the fountains and the National Gallery, which is free. Our museums guide suggests what to see there in an hour.
7. The Mall and St James's Park. Walk under Admiralty Arch and down the Mall, or better, through St James's Park beside it. The bridge over the lake gives a view of the palace one way and Horse Guards the other, and the park's pelicans have lived here since the 17th century.
8. Buckingham Palace. The King's London residence. The State Rooms open for ticketed visits in summer only, usually from July to late September.

The Changing of the Guard

The ceremony in the palace forecourt happens on set days of the week rather than daily, and it's cancelled in very wet weather, so check the official schedule the day before. The Household Cavalry change at Horse Guards happens at roughly the same time, so pick one. Arrive at least 45 minutes early for a spot at the railings, or watch the band march along the Mall and from the steps of the Victoria Memorial instead, which often gives a better view.

Timing

Start early on a weekday, before the tour groups arrive. The walk fits the first morning of our 3-day itinerary, finishing with lunch near St James's.