London Tour #1

Is far from the first tour I've done around London, but it is the first one I've decided to write down for other people to try out, so here goes:

Time Needed:: 1/2 Day
Best Time to Start: 11am
Weather Required: Dry, sunshine best
Starting Point: Covent Garden Tube Station
Tickets Required: Zones 1 & 2

When arriving at Covent Garden Tube Station by tube, make your way up the 193 steps to street level (be aware this is not for the faint hearted).
Exit to the right and head down to Covent Garden Covered Market.
Here you can enjoy the architecture of the market (both inside and out), watch solo artists perform inside (this time there was an opera singer) as well as outside (jugglers, magicians), see great food dishes being prepared (two huge paellas were being cooked) and wander around the different stalls and shops.

Once hunger is no longer ignorable, make your way back up towards Covent Garden Tube Station, but turn right at the road before you get there. You will see the Bridge of Aspiration twirling across the road linking the two buildings together. Head underneath this, past the Ballet school, and on your left will be The Masala Zone. Have lunch at this great Indian restaurant (try the Thali plate of assorted flavours) to get back your stamina for the next part of the tour.

Now head back to the tube station you arrived at. If you are feeling up to it, take the stairs going down (be warned, this is more strenuous on the back of your legs than climbing up them), Go down on the piccadilly line (the purple one) towards Heathrow Airport and get off at Green Park. Here you need to change onto the jubilee line, towards Stratford/Greenwich. Get off at Canary Wharf.

Canary Wharf is a very modern area of the London Docks, with high glass buildings housing some of the country's most influential financial institutions. You need to head along the road following the signs for the DLR (Docklands Light Railway).

Go up to the platform for the DLR going towards Lewisham/Greenwich. Get in the back of the train if there are spare seats (there is no driver), as the train will leave the way it entered.
Traveling higher than street level is great for looking around this area, especially with the sun reflecting off the buildings and water. Leave the train at Island Gardens and walk towards the river. Here you have a lovely view across the Thames to Greenwich (pronounced Grenich) on the other side.

Now go into the circular building and go down the stairs into the tunnel (not as many stairs as Covent Garden tube). Walking along the tunnel just think of the amount of water flowing above you with a few feet of solid concrete and metal between you...

When you get out at the other side, you are in Greenwich. Follow the road, and the signs, into the town centre and towards the observatory. When you reach the entrance to the park, walk along the right hand path enjoying the green grass and the people relaxing. You will see a steep incline on the right hand side, which you should go up. Once you reach the top, you deserve a sit down on one of the benches overlooking the town. From here you can see the Millenium Dome, the town of Greenwich, and in the distance Canary Wharf.

Once you've relaxed a little, go down the path you just came up, and follow the path to the right to go up the other hill (it has steps). At the top of here you will find the Greenwich Observatory, which is where the GMT line can be found (look through the railings if you don't want to enter).

Once you've maybe looked around the observatory, head back down through the park to the gates that you arrived at. Now is the time to make up for those walks, and head into one of the pubs for a local ale, and maybe a bite to eat.

Once you have finished, you can get the DLR to Canary Wharf (straight from Greenwich, no need to walk under the tunnel again - sorry, did I forget to mention that?), and the tube to where you want to carry on to.