London on foot - why use a Tube?

Arriving in London for a meeting - could use a Tube, but why not try a three mile walk instead?
Coming out of Euston Station...

...the roads are very busy.

But take the back roads (easy to navigate - central London is basically a grid), and it is quieter. 

Tavistock Square is one of many green squares to walk through.

The architecture is interesting too.

Passing the British Museum, on Great Russell Street

Interesting shops and inns along the way

I always like to pass this one: James Smith and Sons, est 1830. Umbrellas for the discerning.

Then on through Covent Garden Market

I hadn't been before

Plenty of shops and cafes. 

From there, past Trafalgar Square

...and the National Portrait Gallery. Good job we didn't try to visit yesterday - only 30% of the rooms were open, owing to industrial action!

Walking down Whitehall

This is Horseguard's Parade

A memorial to the Women of World War II

A throng of people trying to peer through the Downing Street railings

The Cenotaph

We arrived at Westminster, and the Houses of Parliament, just as some clouds appeared.

The clouds made the statue of Boudicca look all the more awesome

Then, quickly the sky turned blue. The London Eye looked huge from here

Looking back across Westminster Bridge

To be continued tomorrow. 
Today's walk: from Euston station to Westminster Bridge - about 3 miles. And about 100 times more interesting than using the Tube! You can navigate without maps if you're brave, by just heading at about 1 o'clock from the station. But London maps are about £2 if you're not that confident.