London Westminster 3-hour self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt

Are you looking for things to do in the London Westminster neighborhood? Try our self-guided walking tour & scavenger hunt to walk the government, memorial, and royal district.

Walk from Big Ben to Buckingham Palace and on to the Horse Guards Parade. See most of the important monuments and buildings. Solve challenges at every stop to learn your next destination. You’ll also learn some local history and fun facts.

Test in Beta $0

Scavenger Hunt information :

What you'll see

Palace of Westminster
Big Ben
Westminster Abbey
The Guards Museum
Buckingham Palace
St James’s Park
Horse Guards Parade
Whitehall
Ministry of Defence
Many monuments and statues
And much more!

Specifications & Requirements

Starting point: Parliament Square Garden, London SW1P 3JX, United Kingdom
Distance: 4.2 km / 2.6 mi
Duration: 3 hours
Method: walking
Required: Fully charged smartphone with internet access (data plan) – Wifi will not be enough.
Suggested:
- Water bottle
- Local map

History

Ancient History

This area, including London Covent Garden, was inhabited in 4800 BCE as structures have been unearthed through archeology.

The Roman Empire settled the area in around 100 CE and called it Londinium. This lasted until the 5th century.

Then it was the Vikings who initially assaulted the coastlines then settled in north-eastern England until the 11th century.

The city evolved in every sense (architecture, governance, religion, and more) from then on. The population grew rapidly through the centuries, despite losing ⅓ during the Black Death in the mid-14th century.

Westminster History

King Edward (the confessor) began the construction of an abbey here in the mid-11th century. The foundations of this abbey are still visible today. He also built a palace to house the seat of Government.

This drew power and wealth out of the City of London (old Londinium).

It was in the 16th century that both Westminster and the City of London connected – that is there were no longer fields between them as housing expanded. Simultaneously, the growth also connected with Marylebone and Kensington.

Today Westminster includes the neighborhoods of Soho, Mayfair, St James’s, Strand, Pimlico, Belgravia, and Hyde Park.