Why walking?

“For getting around Westminster, it’s practical, quick and enjoyable,” Paul says, adding with a smile that he doesn’t drive. A Westminster resident since 1973, he’s learned the city on foot: the shortcuts, the blue plaques just above eye-line, and the constantly surprising side streets. Lockdown intensified that connection: “Walking became how you exercised, got outside and made life interesting.”

A city made for feet (and wheels)

Westminster is flat, dense and richly layered, making walking both accessible and efficient—often quicker than a bus or short Tube hop. Emma and Paul swap examples (Leicester Square–Covent Garden; Euston–Covent Garden) where walking matches or beats public transport and gives you the city along the way.

The Westminster Footways map

Launched in July, the Westminster Footways map highlights calmer, greener, more direct routes via parks and quieter streets. It’s designed for residents as much as visitors and is available at Westminster libraries, housing offices and other public buildings. The aim? Help people discover better everyday routes and the hidden stories on their doorstep.

Small changes, big differences

Beyond flagship street schemes, Paul champions the everyday improvements that transform walking:

• More dropped kerbs for buggies, wheelchairs and anyone with mobility needs.

• Informal “side-road” zebra crossings (trialled in 10 locations) that reinforce pedestrian priority in the Highway Code.

• Better street lighting and targeted CCTV, plus pruning overgrown foliage to improve visibility and comfort—especially for women and girls after dark.

• More seating and planting (look at Regent Street’s parklets) to support rest, shade and sociable streets.

• A West End toilet refurb programme (eight sites; artist James Lambert commissioned for site-specific tiled designs). Paul even floats the idea of a “Lord Mayor’s Toilet Walk.” We’re in.

Favourite routes & new discoveries

• Paddington → Victoria via three royal parks (Hyde Park, Green Park, St James’s Park): about 45–50 minutes with minimal road crossings—Paul’s go-to “green corridor” through the city.

• Regent’s Park → St James’s Park via Regent Street: a tantalising north–south connection discussed in current consultations.

• Hyde Park’s Serpentine North path past the wildlife sanctuary up to Bayswater Road—an unexpected delight Paul discovered during Footways walks.

• Marylebone to Paddington via Bell Street: blue plaques, Octavia Hill’s pioneering housing and quiet West End approaches.

Themed walks: trees, pubs, plaques…and Nordic poles

Pick a theme and the city opens up. Paul recommends tree walks (Emma name-checks Paul Wood), pub heritage strolls (Paddington’s Warrington → Warwick Castle → Monkey Puzzle) and blue plaque routes. He’s also joined Nordic walkers in Hyde Park, noting how poles turn a stroll into full-body exercise.

Safer, more inclusive streets

Designing for women and girls’ safety, older residents and disabled people is central: lighting, sightlines, seating and toilets all matter. As Paul puts it, “More people walking makes it better for everybody”—a virtuous circle of presence, care and confidence.

Walk with the Walking Lord Mayor

Paul has set up monthly walks with the Westminster Guides across different neighbourhoods, plus boundary walks with the Mayors of Kensington & Chelsea and Camden. Details are available via the Westminster Guides—and you’ll find plenty of inspiration on the back of the Footways map too.

Try these this weekend

• The Three-Park Classic: Paddington → Hyde Park → Green Park → St James’s Park → Victoria.

• Hyde Park Sanctuary Stroll: Serpentine North to Bayswater Road, skirting the wildlife sanctuary.

• Marylebone Heritage Meander: Marylebone Station → Bell Street → Edgware Road, picking up plaques and Octavia Hill’s early housing.

Listen & share

Tune in to hear the full conversation—from toilets to trees, side-road zebras to streetlight strategy—and why Westminster’s best seen at walking speed. If you enjoyed the episode, share the Footways map with a neighbour, pick a themed route, and join one of the Walking Lord Mayor’s upcoming walks.