JOST A MON

The idle ramblings of a Jack of some trades, Master of none

[There once used to be a neat little website for the North London Walkers describing some interesting walks in this great city. It no longer exists. Luckily the time machine that is archive.org has snapshots of it from before it went kaput. I’m reposting the (slightly) re-edited versions here, with added pics.]

This Trail starts at Marble Arch Tube Station and is 12 Kilometres Long. The first part of the route takes you through Hyde Park, emerging by the Royal Albert Hall. This is then followed by a walk through the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, passing on the way the Natural History Museum, Harrods Department Store and the Chelsea Royal Hospital (designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th Century).

You then enter the City of Westminster and pass by Buckingham Palace, St.James's Palace, Trafalgar Square (with Nelson's Column) and the Royal Courts of Justice before finishing at the Temple Tube Station.

Start:- Marble Arch Tube Station (Central Line)

Upon emerging from the Station leave the subway by exit No.9, via exits 3 and 10, which will take you past The Marble Arch. Enter Hyde Park through Cumberland Gate and follow the Ring, North Carriage Drive (the road just inside the park) to Victoria Gate.

Q1 - There is a building next to Victoria Gate. What is it called?

Where the Ring turns left, continue along it until you reach the Serpentine. Turn right here and follow the road between the Serpentine and the Long Water (across bridge), to Alexandra Gate. Turn right through Coalbrookdale Gate passing in front of the Albert Memorial, with the Royal Albert Hall and Royal College of Art opposite, and exit Hyde Park through Queens Gate.

Q2 - Opposite Queens Gate there is a statue. Who does it commemorate?

Cross over Kensington Gore and walk along Queens Gate, past the Bulgarian Embassy, the Imperial College of Science and Technology and the Sultanate of Oman Embassy to Cromwell Road and the Scout movement headquarters, Baden Powell House. Turn left here and pass in front of The Natural History Museum. Continue along Cromwell Road, past the Venezuelan Embassy, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and The Oratory where Cromwell Road joins Brompton Road, passing Harrods as you walk up to Knightsbridge.

Q3 - What is the name of the Hotel opposite Harvey Nichols Store and Knightsbridge Tube Station?

At Knightsbridge turn right into Sloane Street. Follow Sloane Street all the way down passing the Peruvian Consulate and the Royal Danish Embassy and emerging in Sloane Square. Go straight across the square and exit into Lower Sloane Street. At the junction with Royal Hospital Road turn right and continue down to the River Thames passing the Chelsea Royal Hospital and the National Army Museum on the way. Once at the River Thames turn left into Chelsea Embankment.

Q4 - Above the door to No.9 Chelsea Embankment there is a blue plaque. Who does it commemorate?

On the opposite bank of the Thames you can see Battersea Park and the Peace Pagoda; continue along towards Chelsea Bridge. At the Bridge turn left into Chelsea Bridge Road; on this corner there is a memorial to the VI Dragoon Guards (The Carabiniers). Take the first right turn, Ebury Bridge Road, passing along the side of Chelsea Barracks. At the end of Ebury Bridge Road go straight across into Buckingham Palace Road. Continue up Buckingham Palace Road passing Victoria Coach Station, The National Audit Office, Victoria Railway Station and The Grosvenor Hotel. At the end turn left into Grosvenor Gardens, leading to Grosvenor Place.

Q5 - On the corner of Grosvenor Gardens and Hobart Place there is a First World War Memorial. To which Regiment is it dedicated?

At the end of Grosvenor Place you will come to Hyde Park Corner with the Wellington Arch and on the opposite side the Wellington Museum (Apsley House). Turn right here along Duke of Wellington Lane and go down Constitution Hill with Green Park on your left and Buckingham Palace Gardens on your right (the other side of the big wall). This will bring you out at the Queen Victoria Memorial and Buckingham Palace. Go around the Memorial and along the Mall, past Lancaster House, Clarence House, St.James Palace and the Duke of York Column on your left and St.James Park on your Right to Admiralty Arch. Pass through the Arch.

Q6 - Just through Admiralty Arch on the left is Uganda House, above the door there is a plaque. Which bird is depicted on the plaque?

Continue straight ahead and leave Trafalgar Square by the Strand, passing in front of Charing Cross Railway Station, past the Savoy Hotel.

Q7 - Just a little beyond the Savoy Hotel, and opposite the Strand Palace Hotel, there is a small turning called Savoy Buildings (Pedestrian Access only). On either side of the entrance there is a plaque. What was the former name of this alleyway and when did it change?

Then cross over Lancaster Place and continue along past St. Mary-le-Strand, Somerset House and Kings College. Turn right into Arundel Place (the turning just before St. Clement Danes) and continue down to

Finish:- Temple Tube Station (District and Circle Lines)

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