This May the Fourth London walk was filmed on 4 May 2022, when Roberts London returned to the streets for a short spring walk through the centre of the capital. The route begins around Westminster and crosses the ceremonial heart of London. It then continues into the West End before finishing near Seven Dials with the essential reward: coffee.
The date provided the title — May the Fourth be with you — but this is less a themed tour than a compact portrait of London in motion. Buses pass Whitehall, visitors gather beside Parliament, commuters move through Charing Cross and the quieter streets around Seven Dials offer a change of pace.
From Whitehall to Horse Guards
The walk takes in Whitehall, where the Cenotaph stands between the traffic lanes and the government buildings. Even on an ordinary spring afternoon, this part of London carries a formal atmosphere. Red buses and passing pedestrians provide the everyday movement around one of the capital’s most recognisable memorials.
From Whitehall, the route passes through the vaulted stone archway at Horse Guards. The enclosed passage frames a bright view towards Horse Guards Parade and creates one of those abrupt London transitions: traffic and offices on one side, an open ceremonial ground on the other.
May the Fourth London at Westminster
Westminster supplies the grandest view of the walk. Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster rise beyond the crowds and traffic around Westminster Bridge. The tower had only recently emerged from years of conservation work, making the familiar clock face feel newly present in the cityscape.
The pleasure of this route is not simply seeing a list of landmarks. It is the way each place connects to the next on foot. Ceremonial London gives way to transport hubs, squares, theatres, restaurants and neighbourhood streets within a relatively short distance.
Charing Cross and Leicester Square
The walk continues towards Charing Cross, one of central London’s most useful meeting points and railway connections. Outside the station, several routes compete for attention. The Strand and Trafalgar Square lie close by, while other streets lead north towards Covent Garden.
Further west, Leicester Square is busy without feeling overwhelmed. The square remains a place of arrival. Visitors pause to choose a direction, while theatre crowds begin to gather. Meanwhile, the surrounding streets lead naturally towards Chinatown, Soho and Covent Garden.
Seven Dials and Coffee
Seven Dials offers a more intimate finish. Seven streets meet around the central sundial pillar. Together, they create a small urban landmark surrounded by independent shops, cafés and historic streets. It is close to the busiest parts of the West End, yet its scale feels noticeably different.
After Westminster’s monuments and the movement of the West End, the walk ends with a coffee stop. It is a simple conclusion, but an appropriate one: much of London is best understood through these small journeys between famous sights and ordinary routines.
This brief May the Fourth London film captures the capital as it was in spring 2022: familiar landmarks, returning crowds and the pleasure of moving through the city again.
