Walks
The walks organised by the Out and About Group take you to green areas in London and the surrounding countryside and places of literary and historical interest. The pace is steady rather than fast.
It is helpful, but not essential, if you can let the leader know in advance if you are coming, otherwise just turn up at the meeting place on time with your Freedom Pass. Please let the leader know if you want to leave early.
The walks organised by Hazel Beale take place in any weather and generally last around 4 hours including lunch stop, starting around 10:30 and finishing around 2:30/3:00 p.m. Walks are generally around 5 miles, with dropping-out points if wished. Start and end of the walks are close to relevant tube stations.
Thursday 16 January 2020 –Hidden River Westbourne walk.
Leader: Hazel Beale.
A fascinating walk following the course of the river Westbourne from the Italian Gardens at Lancaster Gate, Hyde Park, to its outfall in the Thames at Grosvenor Embankment, about 3-4 miles. The Westbourne rises on Hampstead Heath and is nearly all covered in, but its course can be seen in various places such as the pipe over the tracks in Sloane Square tube station. We go through Knightsbridge, past Cadogan Hall and Royal Hospital Chelsea, finishing at Bazalgette’s Western Pumping Station, Grosvenor (buses to Victoria). We will visit cafés/pubs for coffee/lunch; bring packed lunch if wished. Meet at Lancaster Gate underground station (Central line) at 11 a.m. (toilets across road at Italian Gardens). Finishing around 2 p.m. Hazelbeale2@yahoo.co.uk
Thursday 20 February 2020 – Walk from Hammersmith to Fulham Palace. (admission free).
Leader: Hazel Beale.
Two miles to Fulham palace or four miles (total) to Wandsworth. Meet at Hammersmith tube station main exit (Piccadilly and District lines) from
10:45 for 11:00 start. We will follow the river Thames to Bishop’s Park and Fulham Palace, home to former Bishops of London, with its Tudor walled garden. Bishop Henry Compton (1675–1713) and his gardener George London introduced many new plant species to England including Luquidambar trees and the first American azalea grown in England, Rhododendron viscosum. There is a café where we can have lunch/coffee (or bring packed lunch if wished). Either leave the walk here (nearest tube Putney Bridge) around 2 p.m. or continue to Wandsworth via Putney Bridge, Wandsworth Park and Wandle Creek, finishing around 3 p.m. Hazelbeale2@yahoo.co.uk.
Wednesday 11 March – Bohemians and Bluestockings: Literary London.
Leader: Diane Burstein.
The Bloomsbury set were described as people who lived in squares and loved in triangles. Stroll through the Georgian squares of Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia to see the places where famous writers lived, worked and loved. Virginia Woolf, Lytton Strachey, George Bernard Shaw, T.S. Eliot, W.B Yeats and Charles Dickens are some of the writers you will meet on this 2-hour walk led by Diane Burstein, a registered London Blue Badge Guide. The cost is £10 per person (minimum of 12) to be paid on the day. Book by 10 February at the latest. The walk will be cancelled if we do not reach the minimum. Meet at 10:20 a.m. at Warren Street underground station.
To book, phone Ann Barlow 020 8658 3729. Mobile on day: 07981 768 844. Arranged as Out and About Group’s last outing.
Monday 16 March – King’s Cross to Paddington Basin.
Leaders: Stuart and Angie Weir.
A linear walk of approximately 5 miles from King’s Cross station to Paddington Basin along well-maintained footpaths & towpath and generally level with few steps. Meet outside the ticket office of King’s Cross station (by the five white roof supports) at 10:30 a.m. We will have coffee at the German Gymnasium before commencing the walk with a brief look around the regenerated King’s Cross area including Thomas Heatherwick’s Coal Drops Yard before heading along the Regent’s Canal towpath to Paddington Basin via Camden Lock and Little Venice where there are several places for lunch.
Please email stuartweir@btinternet.com, Mob. 07715 394 045 if you are planning to come.
Tuesday 21 April – A walk through Westminster.
Leader: Julia Larsson. We start at the Houses of Parliament and finish at the Cabinet War Rooms. The walk is just under three miles and is level. Meet at Lewisham mainline station at 10 a.m.
Contact Julia Larsson on 020 8851 6272 or at jklarsson@btinternet.com to reserve a place. Walk arranged by the Architecture Group.
Wednesday 22 April – Richmond to Osterley Lock.
Leaders: Stuart and Angie Weir. A linear walk of approximately 5 miles from Richmond to Osterley Lock along the towpaths of the Thames and the Grand Union Canal. Meet under the clock at Waterloo Station at 10:30 or at Richmond Station at 11:06. We will be passing Richmond Green, crossing Richmond Lock (Grade II* listed structure opened 1894), passing Old Deer Park, Syon Park and the Brentford Gauging Lock before a pub lunch at The Weir (no relation but where painter J.M.W. Turner lived for a short while and produced his first watercolours). We will then continue beside the Grand Union Canal up to Osterley Lock and return from Boston Manor underground station at approximately 15:00.
Please email stuartweir@btinternet.com Mob. 07715 394 045 if you are planning to come.