A Local's Guide to Charing Cross & Embankment, London

Staying at our Charing Cross - Embankment apartment (also known as Eleanor's Cross) puts you right at the historic centre of London — literally. The nearby Eleanor Cross monument marks the spot from which all distances to London have traditionally been measured. Here's how to make the most of the neighbourhood during your stay.

Getting Your Bearings

Charing Cross sits at the meeting point of the West End, Covent Garden, and the River Thames. Within a 10-minute walk you'll find Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, and the start of the South Bank — making this one of the most central bases you can choose in London.

Walk the River

Embankment station is just a few minutes from the apartment, and from there it's a beautiful walk along the Thames Path. Head east towards the Golden Jubilee Bridges for views over to the London Eye and the South Bank, or continue further to Blackfriars and the Millennium Bridge. In the evening, the riverside is beautifully lit and much quieter than the daytime crowds around Trafalgar Square.

Eat and Drink Nearby

• Covent Garden Market (8-minute walk) — a mix of independent stalls, cafés, and restaurants, with regular street performers in the piazza
• Villiers Street, right by Embankment station, has a good stretch of casual restaurants and pubs
• For a proper London pub experience, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street dates back to the 1600s and is a short walk away

Culture and Sights

• The National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery — both free to enter, and a 10-minute walk from the apartment
• Somerset House — regularly hosts exhibitions and has a lovely courtyard, especially nice in summer
• The Savoy Theatre and several other West End theatres are within easy walking distance if you want to catch a show

Getting Around

Charing Cross and Embankment stations both give you fast access across the city — Zone 1 connections mean you're rarely more than 20–25 minutes from most major London attractions. Black cabs are easy to find on the Strand, and it's a flat, pleasant walk to most Central London destinations if you'd rather explore on foot.

From the airports and Eurostar:

• Heathrow: Piccadilly line to Piccadilly Circus, then the Bakerloo line to Charing Cross — or the Elizabeth line to Tottenham Court Road, then the Northern line to Charing Cross/Embankment
• Gatwick: Gatwick Express to Victoria, then the Victoria line to Oxford Circus, then the Bakerloo line to Charing Cross
• Stansted: Greater Anglia to Tottenham Hale, then the Victoria line to Oxford Circus, then the Bakerloo line to Charing Cross
• Luton: Thameslink to St Pancras International, then the Northern line from King’s Cross St Pancras to Charing Cross.
• London City Airport: DLR to Canning Town, then the Jubilee line to Waterloo, then the Bakerloo line to Charing Cross
• Eurostar: from St Pancras International, take the Northern line directly from King’s Cross St Pancras to Charing Cross.
  

Good to Know

If you're planning a stay near Charing Cross, our own apartment (also known as Eleanor's Cross) sits right at the heart of everything in this guide — on the third floor with views over the surrounding rooftops rather than the river directly, but the location more than makes up for it. Bring comfortable shoes; this part of London rewards walking.