[1] Turn right out of the youth hostel and then first right down Judd street. Opposite a small park, turn right along Leigh Street then left on Marchmount Street to reach the traffic lights where you turn right along Tavistock Place.
You might want to make a small diversion by going straight ahead down Marchmont Street. This is an interesting shopping street which survives and thrives deep in the heart of the city. Amongst the shops is Gays the Word, the only Lesbian and Gay bookshop in London. To the left in the Brunswick centre there is a supermarket and a laundrette.
(A) The area known as Bloomsbury was originally part of the estate of the Dukes of Bedford. In 1800 Bedford House was demolished and the area developed, mainly with large terraced houses for upper-middle-class families. Many of the original houses survive and some street lamps around this area carry the Bedford coat of arms.The names of streets and squares such as Bedford, Russell, Woburn, Tavistock and Thornhaugh link the area to the Duke of Bedford. (See below for more information)
At the next set of traffic lights, cross the road and keep straight ahead with Tavistock Square Garden on your right. Enter the square through the gates and walk past the statue of Ghandi to exit the square at the far end. Turn left out of the gates and along to the next square, Gordon Square. Go in through the gates and walk through the square to exit at the far end. Cross the road at the crossing and walk through Woburn Square Gardens immediately ahead.
[2] Keep straight ahead, passing the Institute of Education on your left, into Russell Square.
(B) The green building in the NW corner of the square is a listed cabmen’s shelter, one of thirteen that still exist in London. Established in 1875 they provide shelter exclusively for the drivers of hansom cabs and later hackney carriages (taxicabs). Just before the cab shelter, on your right, is the Brunei Gallery, which is the only building in London to have a plaque on it apologising for its existence.
Continue past the Senate House gates.
(C) Senate House is the administrative centre of the University of London. The Art Deco building was built in the 1930s by Charles Holden and was the second tallest building in London (after St Paul's Cathedral) at 210 feet (64 m) high. The building's use by the Ministry of Information during World War II inspired George Orwell's description of the Ministry of Truth in his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Turn right into Montague Place to pass the back entrance to the British Museum on your left.
(D) The British Museum has one of the largest collection (over eight million works) illustrating the history of human culture. It was established in 1753, largely based on the collections of the physician and scientist Sir Hans Sloane. The present building was built in 1823-4. Entry is free.
Walk along Bedford Square to Tottenham Court Road. Cross Tottenham Court Road and turn right.
[3] Turn first left down Percy Street, cross Rathbone Place and follow the road as it bends right. Halfway along look for the arch next to the Newman Arms which goes down to a cobbled cul-de-sac leading to Newman Street. Turn right along Newman Street towards the BT telecommunications tower. Cross Goodge Street and turn second left down Foley Street.
You are in Fitzrovia Although this is not one of the more famous districts of London it has been the home of a large number of artists and represents an interesting patchwork, as it was originally built by a number of developers unlike nearby areas
Follow this street until it makes a right angle turn. Instead of following the road, go ahead under the wide arch on the pedestrian concourse and follow this round left to its end.
(E) Broadcasting House is the headquarters of the BBC. The original building in the Art Deco style was built in 1932 as the BBC's first purpose-built home for radio broadcasting. The modern extension was opened in 2013 and provides state-of-the-art, digital broadcast facilities for staff in Television, Radio (including the World Service), News and Online. (See below for more information).
To see the BBC at work, instead of turning left, go through the large glass doors into the modern extension and turn left for the Media Café from where you can look down on the BBC newsroom.
With Nash's All Souls church on your left, turn right past the main entrance to BBC Broadcasting House to walk down Portland Place.
[4] Cross to the other side of Portland Place when convenient and then walk left around Park Crescent. At the traffic lights on the main road, cross to the diagonally opposite corner, go through the gates to Regent’s Park and walk along Park Square West.
(F) One of the royal parks, Regent’s Park was designed by John Nash in 1811 as part of a larger scheme for the Prince Regent stretching from St. James's Park to Parliament Hill. The park was first opened to the general public in 1835, initially for two days a week. The south, east and most of the west side of the park are lined with elegant white stucco terraces of houses designed by John Nash. It is home to spectacular gardens and a large collection of waterfowl and wild birds as well as the Open Air Theatre, London Zoo and a large outdoor sports area.
Cross the road ahead and go through the gates into the park. At the first crossroad turn right to reach a fountain. Either turn left here or go left by the next fountain or along the main Broadwalk in the middle. (The flowers are different along each path but they all meet up at the end of the Broadwalk).
[5] At the end of The Broadwalk, go out through the park gates, turn left along the road and walk through the large, ornate gates at the end into Queen Mary’s Gardens. Take the first path on the left and walk through the rose garden before turning right to cross over the bridge at the end of the lake. On the other side, turn left. When the path ends you will see the multiple roofs of the Garden Café ahead. Cross slightly right over the grass to the circular flower display surrounded by hedges. Turn left on the path here and walk out of the park with the café on your right.
[6] Go straight across the road and back into the park through the gate opposite. This path takes you to a bridge. Cross the bridge and turn right, back along the other side of the lake. After passing the Boathouse Café, turn right, cross two bridges and then take the path towards Primrose Hill Bridge and London Zoo. Walk straight ahead, ignoring any paths off. Once past the cricket nets, look out for wooden sculptures under the trees.
(G) Artist Tom Harvey used a chainsaw to carve the sculptures from oak sourced mainly from Richmond Park. Local children created sketches and clay models, on the theme of ‘play in nature’ providing Tom with inspiration for the sculptures, 'Girl and Jaguar', 'Girl and Fox' and 'Boy and Butterflies' accompanied by six timber seats.
Walk out of the park, cross the road and go down the pedestrian path opposite to cross the Regent’s Canal. As you reach the next road, head right to cross it and enter Primrose Hill to the right of the lodge.
[7] Take the path slightly left up the edge of the park. Once past the next gate, keep taking the right fork at each split in the path until you reach the viewpoint at the top of the hill.
(H) The top of Primrose Hill, 256 feet high, provides a spectacular view over central London. A former hunting ground of Henry VIII’s, it was opened to the public in 1842. Once popular with duellists, it was used for anti-aircraft guns in 1939. It is now part of an expensive residential area. A view point plaque is provided showing the main landmarks visible.
Cross the paved viewpoint area and turn right and right again to head down the hill. Keep going in a straight line, ignoring crossing paths and any forks to the left to exit the park by the junction of Prince Albert Road and Albert Terrace next to a red telephone box. Turn right to cross Prince Albert Road and then walk left past the bus stop towards the Zoo. Go past a pedestrian bridge over the Regent’s Canal and go through a gap in the fence and down a slope to the canal towpath.
(I) Part of Nash's grand design, Regent's Canal runs through the northern end of the park to connect the Grand Union Canal to the former London docks. A branch to the right served Cumberland Market Basin near to Euston which replaced the original Haymarket, near Piccadilly Circus. Hay and straw, vegetables and cattle were transported along the canal here and ice from Norway was stored in vaults over 25 metres deep but all that remains of this now is the short stub-end housing the red Chinese Floating Restaurant.
[8] Turn left at the bottom and follow the path left and under the road. Follow the canal to the arched entrance to Camden Lock Market. Walk round the market in a clockwise direction until you come out on the canal on the other side of the inlet. Continue along the canal, walking under all the bridges and avoid climbing up to street level. After about 20 minutes you should pass the next lock behind St Pancras Station.
[9] Go past large steps on your left and under the next bridge to the York Way bridge. Walk under this bridge and then immediately up the slope to street level. The steepest part of the slope is at the bottom but for completely step free access continue along the canal to the next exit towards the school. Turn left through the estate and take the second road right. Then go left, right, left and left again and walk down the main road, York Way, to rejoin the main route. Cross over the canal and cross the road at the traffic lights opposite Kings Place, (an Arts Centre/Music Venue with a terrace for refreshments next to the canal). Walk down Goods Way and turn first left, just before the pedestrian crossing, to go along Kings Boulevard and then left along Pancras Way. Cross over the Euston Road and turn right to return to the YHA hostel.