h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This is a particularly nice Sunday afternoon walk that takes in some of the most interesting sights and sites of central London, and has many nice pubs en route for those who might like a leisurely pint or bite to eat mid-walk.

Starting from Cannon St station, look out for the 'London Stone' as you head eastwards towards the monument. This is quite difficult to spot, as it is in a small and dirty window set very low into the side of (if I remember correctly) a Hong Kong or Singaporean bank. This stone is reputed to be the keystone of the Roman gatehouse, or possibly to date from an even earlier age. It has certainly been thought of as a mystical and ancient symbol of pre-Dark Ages London for as long as records began. To the best of my memory, there sre a couple of informative paragraphs which reveal some of the stone's history on display in its window.

Upon reaching Monument tube station, walk south along King William St towards the Thames. On the left rises the Monument itself, a golden statue of fire atop a 222-ft column. Its height is also the distance it stands from the reputed source of the Great Fire of London in 1666, which it commemorates.

Walk across London Bridge, paying particular attention to HMS Belfast to your left on the South side of the river. This is a decommissioned British naval warship from the Second World War which now has a permanent mooring on the bank of the Thames and is open to visitors.

On the South Bank, stroll past Southwark Cathedral to your right on Southwark Street. Buried in this cathedral's graveyard is the poet John Gower, one of Chaucer's contemporaries, and (if the more scurrilous historians are to be believed) his lover too. Gower achieved poetic prominence mainly for his massive work, the Confessio Amantis, which is a huge work about love written in Middle English, Middle French and Latin. An easy read it isn't.

Turning right down Stoney Street underneath the railway line leads eventually to Clink Street, where the museum of the infamous prison (which became the origin of the slang usage of 'clink' to mean a prison) stands. Follow this road westwards and cross over Southwark Bridge Road. Staying as close to the river as possible, stroll along Bankside, noting the ill-fated Millennium footbridge swaying in the wind across the river. The views across the river along Bankside are great, but only because of St Paul's. Most of the other buildings on the northern side of the river are hideous mid-20th Century concrete monstrosities.

Along Bankside is the wonderful Tate Modern gallery. The building that houses it, the erstwhile Bankside Power Station, is a beautiful testament to how brickwork can look amazing in itself, conveying a sense of scale and power like few other buildings in this part of London. Shakespeare's Globe theatre also lies along this stretch of the Queen's Walk, and on a hot summer's day, performers in period dress keep the sightseers happy with 'olde worlde' street theatre.

Around this part of the walk are pubs like the Founder's Arms, The Anchor, and Doggett's Coat & Badge (forgive me if I've got the names a little wrong), any of which make a nice and convenient break for a meal or a beer.

Walking round Hopton Street and turning right into Southwark St, Head towards Blackfriars Bridge. On reaching the northern side of the Thames, head north up New Bridge St until reaching Ludgate Circus. Turn right along Ludgate Hill, which leads directly to the most impressive approach of St Paul's Cathedral, from the west.

St Paul's tube station lies to the north of the cathedral, on Newgate Street.

Between the pubs and Blackfriars there's also the Royal Festival Hall which always has events (steel drum bands, chinese shadow-puppet theatre etc) on at the weekend.

And it is a shame that the millenium bridge is closed
The brige a modern rope bridge between the tate modern and the N side of the river has been closed since just after it's opening because it wobbles. Funny that when they designed and built a rope bridge, didn't think it'd wobble quite as much as it did!

THere is also the Museum of ...

This is a museum that rotates its exhibits every 16 weeks and challenges the visitor to participate - this time it is the Museum of the Unknown where you have to guess what the function of various objects are, have body parts photographed etc. Previous incarnations have included the Museum of Emotion.

It's in Butler's wharf by the way. Avoid Gabriels Hwarf which is also on the way - it's good artisinal stuff but hideously over priced.

They are sorting it out though - apparently they're going to hang potatoes (or the engineering equivalent at least) from it to act as dampers.