Protests nothing new for London

Protests are nothing new to London, so yesterday's demonstrations during the Olympic Torch relay were unsurprising. Thankfully, the relay has left Britain's shores and residents, workers and visitors to the capital can go about their business relatively unhindered, again.

One man continues to protest against the British Government's decision to invade Iraq in Parliament Square. Brian Haw is joined in the Square by several household names from the past, and indeed the present. Visitors to London can learn about Britain's great wartime leader, Sir Winston Churchill, who is commemorated with a statue in Parliament Square with a Walk Talk Tour downloadable travel guide. To hear an audio sample of our commentary from the Palace Trail Walk Talk Tour please click here

Nelson Mandela is the first black person to be immortalised in sculpture in Parliament Square. Mandela unveiled his own statue in August 2007.

Protestors and well wishers alike saw the Olympic Flame outside 10 Downing Street. Unfortunately, even tourist with a Walk Talk Tour mp3 guided tour cannot go and pose for pictures outside the most famous front-door in London. Visitors listening to the Palace Trail can find out why the security gates were erected and also discover the various functions that Number Ten serves today.

Resume your walk and head up Whitehall towards Trafalgar Square. En route you will have the opportunity to stop and see the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards Parade. The pagentary and professionalism displayed by the sentries is something that visitors are drawn to time after time. It must be difficult trying to stand or sit still in the case of the mounted sentries - let alone keep a straight face - when countless tourists want to have their picture taken with you.

Continue up to Trafalgar Square - by way of Charing Cross - where people have gathered down the years to celebrate and to protest. You will learn about some of the more memorable and menacing on the Palace Trail Walk Tour podcast guided tour. Thankfully, most of the time, people can wander freely through the Square. The only thing that you are likley to get reprimanded for is feeding the pigeons...

To read more about the Palace Trail please click here