INTRODUCTION
This 5 Km section of the Across London Visual Marathon takes you from Covent Garden to Piccadilly Circus via the South Bank, Westminster, Whitehall, and Leicester Square. The route contains some of London's most famous landmarks.
Use this video to get an overview of the route and the information you will need to get the most out of this Photorun without getting lost.
Part 9 starts outside Covent Garden Station, then goes around Covent Garden Piazza, and then into the Aldwych by Somerset House before crossing Waterloo Bridge and dropping down onto the South Bank by the National Gallery. The route then heads east by the Royal Festival Hall and the London Eye before crossing Westminster Bridge by the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. It then goes to Westminster Abbey, St James's Park, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, and Trafalgar Square. The final section goes into Leicester Square before finishing off at Piccadilly Circus.
Best Time
The best time to do this run is first thing in the morning - and at the weekend when it is quieter. At most other times, the route will be busy and unsuitable for running - but fine for walking!
LOCATION - Covent Garden to Piccadilly Circus (5 Km)
As the map shows, this is part 9 of the 14 parts of the Across London Visual Marathon, which starts at the Thames Barrier (part 1) and ends at Hyde Park Corner in the West End of London in part 14. This shows the last nine parts in three sections, starting at the Tower of London.
This is a flexible marathon designed to let you choose which parts you want to do and when so you can do as little or as much as you want at any one time. These photorun blogs are more about the place than the pace, where creative fun is more important than a fast run.
ROUTE
Covent Garden to Piccadilly Circus (5 Km)
This is a more detailed map and summary of the route.
Start at Covent Garden Station and finish at Piccadilly Circus Station.
GETTING TO KNOW THE AREA - HIGH-SPEED VIDEOS
The Google map and the summary video are useful to have open when doing these Photoruns. They will help you remember the route and prevent you from getting lost.
Route at a Glance Video.
This short video (2:31 minutes) gives a quick overview of the route and the sights and then shows you what the route would look like if you were running it at about 25 mph. It's a great way of getting familiar with the route before you do it for real.
GETTING TO KNOW THE AREA - GOOGLE MAP
This is a 'My Google Maps' depiction of the route with photographs of the sites. This is available on the desktop or mobile by clicking on the map. The mobile version does allow you to get directions to points on the map and will show you your location. However, its behaviour does depend on the browser and application you use. (Google Chrome seems to be the best).
The Plotaroute map is an alternative guide where you can download the route to a device once you navigate past the adverts. Use the link below.
VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE AREA
Click on the maps below and go on a virtual tour of the shopping area.
Take a virtual tour of the area and see it virtually in 360. Just click on the location icons on the map, and you will be transported to the location. You can then look around and get a sense of space and place before you experience it first-hand.
PHOTO GALLERY OF THE AREA
This gallery provides a descriptive and visual reference to many of the sights you will see along this photorun route. Double-click to see the image in full screen or go to the Plotaroute link above to see them on a map.
HISTORY OF THE AREA
This video gives you a short introduction to how the Central London Sightseeing area grew during the Tudors (1560) and the Victorians (1860)
6:30 mins
This is a brief history overview of the entertainment district in the West End of London.
This video gives you a short introduction to how the West End Shopping area grew during the Tudors (1560) and the Victorians (1860)