London Loop

* MKT
* Top Shelf

### Course map

*This article is about the first variant of the course. For the course in the Baby Rosalina Tour see London Loop 2.*

London Loop is a race course in Mario Kart Tour. It is named after and inspired by London, England, and makes its debut in the city’s namesake tour, the London Tour. London Loop has three routes, named London Loop, London Loop 2, and London Loop 3, each with its own R, T, and R/T variant. The second route made its debut in the Baby Rosalina Tour, due to Baby Rosalina's detective outfit, which is a reference to Sherlock Holmes, a fictional resident of London, while the third route debuted in the 2021 Halloween Tour. The course features various landmarks from the cities of London and Westminster, with the first route focusing on the main metropolitan areas, the second route focusing on the outskirts, and the third route focusing on the River Thames. The first and second routes have the racers go around London clockwise; however, the third route has them go around counterclockwise instead.

The first route of this course is a favorite of Red Koopa (Freerunning), Daisy (Holiday Cheer), Luigi (Classic), Peach (Wedding), and Dixie Kong. The second route is a favorite of Baby Rosalina (Detective), Mario (SNES), Mario (Racing), Mario (Golf), King Boo (Gold), Kamek, Waluigi (Vampire), Dr. Bowser, and the Donkey Kong and Wario Mii Racing Suits. The third route is a favorite of Birdo (Black), Daisy (Holiday Cheer), Fire Rosalina, Mario (Baseball), Luigi (Golf), Dr. Mario, Cat Mario, Waluigi (Vampire), and the Gold Mii Racing Suit.

The music for this course bears similarities to that of Rock Rock Mountain, as well as being a reference to 1960s British rock music.

London Loop appears in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass as the first course of the Rock Cup.

## Course layout

The course begins to the left of Big Ben, followed by a gradual right next to a double-decker bus. The road then weaves its way around Nelson's Column, then makes another gradual right through Charing Cross and a part of Trafalgar Square before making a sharp left at St Paul's Cathedral. The player then reaches Leadenhall Market, which they exit after making a single slight right. After another sharp right with a Chain Chomp in a green space in front of the Tower of London, the player crosses Tower Bridge, then takes another sharp right to bypass City Hall and The Shard with the London Eye in the background. After a left sigmoid curve, the player returns to the finish line.

## Appearances

### Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

London Loop returns in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of the third wave of the Booster Course Pass. It is the first course of the Rock Cup. The course has been changed quite a bit, and is now set in cloudy weather. Various details on the top of Big Ben have been removed, such as windows and spires. The London Eye moves, unlike its Tour counterpart. The various Barrels and Crates on the course have been removed. The map is rotated 90 degrees clockwise and features multiple paths that are unused in Mario Kart Tour at the time of the course's addition in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, such as one to the right of Leadenhall Market, and the one going beneath the Admiralty Arch. This makes London Loop the second/third Tour city course to include roads that were unused at the time of their appearance in the Booster Course Pass, after Sydney Sprint and alongside Berlin Byways.

The first lap is based on the first London Loop route. Racers begin on Westminster Bridge, facing Big Ben. An arrow field immediately directs them to turn right and drive through Charing Cross. Unlike in Tour, racers can perform tricks off of the center of the roundabout. They can also drive the long way around the roundabout, though there is no benefit to doing so. Either way, players then drive around the front of St. Paul's Cathedral and come to Leadenhall Market. They can still drive through it, but there is now also the option to drive on a straighter path to its right unused in any Tour route. From there, they drive through a right curve past a Chain Chomp chained outside the Tower of London, across Tower Bridge, and back to the starting line taking the route past The Shard.

The second lap is based on London Loop 2. As such, racers go straight and enter St. James's Park. There is another Chain Chomp there, and an additional one chained near the left side of the gate. After leaving the park, an arrow field directs racers left through a long road, with exits with a ramp pointed toward the front door of the Bush House. Players then drive across Waterloo Bridge before taking two right turns to pass the starting line again.

The third lap is a combination of London Loop 2 again and London Loop 3R, making this the third Mario Kart Tour city course to feature a section based on an R variant from its original appearance, after Tour Paris Promenade and Tour Sydney Sprint. Players once again drive through St. James's Park. However, the Chain Chomp has broken loose and is now roaming around, occasionally crossing onto the road. The Chain Chomp outside the park's gate has also freed itself and gone through the Admiralty Arch to circle the Charing Cross. Racers, too, drive under the Arch and go straight through Charing Cross toward the River Thames (where an Unchained Chomp is swimming, of no consequence to the player). Players drive along the Thames and under the Waterloo Bridge before taking the right turn near the Tower of London again, whose Chain Chomp has also broken loose. They drive over the Tower Bridge again, turn right to drive on the other side of the Thames, and then head for the finish line to end the race.

This course being positioned in the Rock Cup may be a reference to the course's music, which is based on British rock music from the 1960s and 1970s. It is also one of two courses in the third wave to utilize rock music for its theme, alongside 3DS Rock Rock Mountain. Both of these courses are in the Rock Cup. Also, during the beginning of this course's music, a second guitar plays a few notes, panned to the left. This guitar is absent in all subsequent loops of the song.

London Loop is one of three Mario Kart Tour courses in the third wave overall, alongside Tour Berlin Byways and Merry Mountain.

## Profiles

### *Mario Kart Tour*

* ***Mario Kart Tour* Twitter:** "*London Loop 2 shows you a different side of this famous city...but this is no joyride! You'll have to dodge hungry Chain Chomps as you take in the sights. Keep your wits about you—other drivers aren't the only hazards on this #MarioKartTour course!*"

## References

1. https://twitter.com/mariokarttourEN/status/1238464835953754113 *Mario Kart Tour* Twitter