Old Moaner Travel
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list
London Monopoly Tour
Doing the Monopoly trail is a good way of seeing London and it takes in many of the other sights not included on the Monopoly board.
If you want to be a real smartarse you can do the properties in the order they appear on the board but if you do it in order you will end up doing a lot of doubling back on yourself.
The route I took shortens the distance travelled, I’m sure there are even more efficient routes but this one worked for me.
It does involve around 12¼ miles (19.7 km) of walking, one bus ride and several tube / DLR journeys. 17 of the locations are covered by a single walk in Central London, just shy of seven miles or eleven kilometres in new money.
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The route begins at Elephant and Castle Underground Station and finishes at Kings Cross Station and will take a full day. I did it in just over six hours - but I am a pretty fast walker.
So, walking shoes ready, let’s get going.
Funnily enough we do begin the trail with the first two properties, Old Kent Road and Whitechapel Road, mainly because they are outliers geographically. Clicking on maps will open larger versions.
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Stage One – 1.25 miles (2 km) walking
Leaving Elephant and Castle Underground station turn right out of the exit and follow the roundabout until you reach New Kent Road.
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Pass under the railway arches and continue along New Kent Road.
After 0.84 miles (1.35 km) you reach a complex junction where the road becomes Old Kent Road, stay on the same pavement, ignoring the other roads.
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Keep on the same side of the road and continue along Old Kent Road until you reach a large Tesco store on the opposite side of the road.
You will then be next to a bus stop, where this part of the challenge finishes..
Stage 2 – Bus, Tube, DLR 1.54 miles (2.5 km) Walking
From the bus stop catch a No 21 bus to London Bridge Station, then catch the Eastbound Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf.
Spend some time strolling round Canary Wharf before heading to Canary Wharf DLR station. Go to platforms 5 or 6 and catch a train heading towards Bank.
Get off the train as Shadwell (4th stop)
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Take the station exit nearest the front of the train and turn right exiting the station, heading along Watney Street, this will take you through Watney Market.
At the end of Watney Street you will reach Commercial Road, turn right and cross at the crossing, turn left into Sidney Street.
Walk the full length of Sidney Street and you will reach Whitechapel Road.
You will be facing the Blind Beggar pub. Cross Whitechapel Road, turn left and stroll through the market.
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Continue along Whitechapel Road for 0.75 miles (1.2 km) until you reach Aldgate East tube station.
Stage 3 – Tube, 1.25 miles (2 km) walking
Enter Aldgate East tube station and head to the westbound platform. Catch a Hammersmith and City line train to Liverpool Street (one stop).
Emerging from Liverpool Street Station look ahead to the right and Old Broad Street will be ahead of you, carry on down there to the big junction and turn left into Wormwood Street.
Continue along Wormwood Street until the next big junction (there will be a Sushisamba restaurant opposite you), cross towards the sushi place then immediately cross the road again, so you’re diagonally opposite where you started.
Continue along what is now Camomile Street and take the 1st right into St Mary Axe and you will pass The Gherkin building on your left.
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You will reach Leadenhall Street, turn right and cross the road, after a short while you will reach Whittington Avenue on your left.
Turn into Whittington Avenue and you enter Leadenhall Market.
After exploring the market, exit on the opposite side to which you entered and you will reach Fenchurch Street.
Turn left along Fenchurch Street and cross the road.
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Continue along Fenchurch Street, passing a Sainsburys Local. After Sainsburys take the second right into London Street and you arrive at Fenchurch Street Station.
At the far end of the station square is a flight of steps leading to New London Street.
Continue to the end, turn left then immediate right into Seething Lane.
Continue to the end of Seething Lane and turn left into Muscovy Street.
You will then reach Trinity Square Gardens. Walk through the gardens, views of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge to your right, to Tower Hill tube station.
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Stage 4 – tube and 6.93 miles (11.15 km) walking
At this point you may begin feeling a bit downbeat, you’ll have been going for around two and a half hours and only done four locations …… fear not, on this next stretch the locations come thick and fast – depending how fast you walk. I did this next stretch in about 2½ hours, including rest stops.
Enter Tower Hill Station and catch a westbound train to Mansion House (3 stops)
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At Mansion House, take Exit 2 (signposted St Paul’s)
Head along Canon Street passing St Paul’s Cathedral to your right.
Continue past St Paul’s into Ludgate Hill.
Continue along Ludgate Hill and just after City
Thameslink Station it becomes Fleet Street.
There are plenty of old inns along Fleet Street if you feel like having a rest and refuel.
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Continue along Fleet Street until you reach the Royal Courts of Justice and the road becomes The Strand.
In front of you will be Australia House and The Strand forks to the left and right – keep right, into Aldwych.
Cross Kingsway and Drury Lane before turning right into Catherine Street.
At the top of Catherine Street turn left and Bow Street is on your right, explore Bow Street and return to Russel Street, which takes you into Covent Garden, with plenty of places to eat and drink.
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After exploring Covent Garden leave via Tavistock Court, which is between Jubilee Market and the London Transport Museum.
Turn left into Tavistock Street then right into Burleigh Street, continuing to the end where you re-join Strand.
Turn right and cross Strand and you will soon pass The Savoy Hotel.
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Continue along Strand, past Charing Cross Station.
The next major road you reach will be Northumberland Avenue, cross Northumberland Avenue and turn left along it.
Take the first right into Great Scotland Yard, which leads to Whitehall.
Turn right onto Whitehall and head back towards Trafalgar Square and have a mooch around.
Head towards the 4th plinth, home to varying artistic displays (top left facing the National Gallery).
Head along Pall Mall East, which eventually becomes Pall Mall.
Pass Waterloo Place with it’s various military memorials and turn right into St James’s Street, where you will reach St James’s Square, a delightful garden where you can rest your weary feet for a while.
Leave St James’s Square, at the top end, via Duke of York Street, turn right into Jermyn Street the left into Church Place and you have reached Piccadilly.
Across the road and slightly to the left is Swallow Street, go down it and the underwhelming Vine Street will be on your right.
Double back into Piccadilly, heading left towards Piccadilly Circus.
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Pass Eros and the iconic big screen displays, crossing Haymarket and into Coventry Street.
Continue along Coventry Street and you will reach Leicester Square – plenty of fast food joints here.
Look out for statues of iconic film characters as well.
Leave Leicester Square on the north side via Leicester Place, then turn right into Lisle Street, the heart of Chinatown and with loads of Chinese Restaurants to enjoy.
Turn left into Wardour Street, then right taking you back into Coventry Street.
Go back into Piccadilly Circus and enter the grand Regent Street.
Pass all the big shops until you reach Hamleys Toy Shop, the next major road on your right will be Great Marlborough Street.
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Return to Regent Street to Oxford Circus and turn left into Oxford Street, London’s main shopping street.
Continue along Oxford Street before turning left into New Bond Street.
Continue along New Bond Street until Brook Street where you turn right.
Claridge’s Hotel will be passed on your left before reaching Grosvenor Square, where the road becomes Upper Brook Street, you are now in the heart of Mayfair.
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Shortly before the end of Upper Brook Street you will pass the famous La Gavroche restaurant.
You will now reach Park Lane, cross Park Lane noting the very emotional War Memorial for animals killed in war.
Once across Park Lane you will be in Hyde Park, turn right, walk past Speakers Corner and Marble Arch and arrive at Marble Arch tube station.
Stage 5 - Tube, walk 0.5 miles
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Enter Marble Arch tube station and catch a westbound train to Notting Hill Gate (three stops).
Remain in the station and change to the northbound District and Circle lines, it's a fair walk, taking a train to Edgeware Road (three stops)
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Exit the station by the A40 Westway and cross using the underpass.
Coming out of the underpass hang a right and walk along the Westway, heading east until you reach Harewood Avenue.
Turn left into Harewood Avenue and Marylebone Station will be on your right.
Stage 6 - Tube and walk 0.75 miles
Enter Marylebone Underground Station and catch a southbound Bakerloo train to Baker Street (one stop)
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Change to the eastbound Circle and Hammersmith line, another trek I'm afraid, and be careful the signage is a little bit confusing and if not careful you could very easily end up on a Metropolitan Line train wending your way to the northern suburbs, and take a train to Kings Cross & St Pancras (3 stops).
Once here change to the southbound Northern Line and take a train to Angel (one stop)
Exit Angel Station into Islington High Street, turn left and cross the road. The New Angel Islington pub will be on your right (the original is now a Co-Op store)
Continue to the crossroads and turn right into Pentonville Road.
Walk along Pentonville road and as you approach Kings Cross Station it becomes Euston Road .
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Enter Kings Cross Station and your quest is complete.
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