THE WALKS

  • ASKEW ROAD
  • BARONS COURT 
  • BEDFORD PARK 
  • BISHOP'S PARK
  • BRACKENBURY VILLAGE  New walk 
  • BROOK GREEN
  • CAMPDEN HILL  
  • CHELSEA, North of King's Road    
  • CHELSEA,River and south side of King's Road 
  • CHISWICK RIVERSIDE
  • FULHAM
  • HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE to BARNES New walk 
  • HAMMERSMITH RIVERSIDE
  • HOLLAND PARK ARTISTS  
  • HOLLAND PARK - The Park
  • KENSINGTON - south of High Street Ken   
  • KENSINGTON - Museums and Palaces  New 
  • KEW, A ROYAL VILLAGE   
  • NOTTING DALE 
  • OLYMPIA
  • PALACE WALKS  
  • PETERBOROUGH ESTATE and Eel Brook Common  NEW
  • PORTOBELLO ROAD
  • PUTNEY RIVERSIDE AND OLD TOWN
  • PUTNEY HEATH    
  • RAVENSCOURT PARK 
  • RICHMOND ON THAMES 
  • SANDS END, FULHAM    
  • SHEPHERD'S BUSH 
  • STAMFORD BROOK 
  • THREE PALACES WALK
  • WALK THE BOAT RACE 
  • WEST KENSINGTON   
  • PRIVATE WALKS

The length of each walk varies depending on the pace of the walkers so the time given is just an indication. I will be introducing new walks during the year so do keep an eye on my web site. The cost of the walks varies between £5 and £10, depending on their length.

ASKEW ROAD

For those who live in and around Askew Road, this is definitely the walk for you. Is your road built on former brickfields, was your house a laundry and where would you have bought your bread in 1900?

Time:  Just over two hours

BARONS COURT

Famous for the Queen's Club, one of the premier lawn tennis and racquets clubs in the world, for many years Barons Court was home to the Royal Ballet School whilst Fulham Football Club was formed in a local church.

Time:  One and a half hours

 

 

BEDFORD PARK

Now regarded as the world's first garden suburb with many of the houses designed by the famous architect of the late nineteenth century, Richard Norman Shaw, come and explore the streets of this unique part of Chiswick which over the years has been home to artists, writers and poets.

Time:  Two hours 

 

BISHOP'S PARK

Overlooking the river, this delightful park complete with Margate Sands continues to give pleasure to residents and visitors alike.  It is overlooked by Fulham Football Club's stadium, the former summer palace for the Bishop of London and the church of All Saints.   Close by are some charming almshouses and the last kiln of The Fulham Pottery.

Time:  One and a half hours

BRACKENBURY VILLAGE

Once part of the Pallenswick estate which belonged to mistress of King Edward III, this now quiet residential area of Hammersmith is where builder George Wimpey was born and during the first world war some of the first 'flying machines' were built.

Time:  One and a half hours

 

 

BROOK GREEN

Once known as 'Pope's Corner', this hidden green in Hammersmith has been the home for many famous residents ranging from artists to highway men.   The walk also takes in surrounding streets and you will discover what business flourished where Olympia now stands and the building where the D Day invasion was planned.

Time:  One and three quarter hours 

 

CAMPDEN HILL

Originally known as 'The Racks' the delightful cottages were part of the Campden estate which was owned by the Phillimore family in the 18th century.  The walk weaves past a former large waterworks on the summit of Campden Hill, passing where the world's largest telescope stood and finally reaches the quiet gardens behind St. Mary Abbott's church.

Time:  One and three quarter hours

 

 

CHELSEA RIVERSIDE and along the south side of King's Road

This walk takes us past the Royal Hospital and to the river where so many famous artists had their studios, then to Old Church Street which was once Chelsea's village centre and finally along the south side of the King's Road.

Time:  Two and a half hours

CHELSEA and along the north side of King's Road

This Chelsea walk wends through Hans Town to the soaring tower of St. Luke's church returning to Sloane Square along the north side of King's Road and passing the street where John Le Carre's George Smiley lived. 

Time:  Two hours

 

 

CHISWICK RIVERSIDE

Chiswick Mall has some of the finest riverside houses in west London. On this walk you will visit one of the smallest squares in London, see where the first torpedo boats were built and find the final resting place of some famous artists.

Time:  One and a half hours

 

EMBANKMENT GARDENS

 

The gardens which run alongside the Embankment from Westminster to Temple are a joy in the spring time when the flower beds are full of tulips, daffodils and wallflowers.  The many statues contained within these gardens tell the history of the men and women who have done so much for others.

Time: One and a half hours

FULHAM

Fulham was once known as 'the market garden of London' but in time orchards gave way to houses and shops, a polo ground disappeared underneath blocks of flats but part of the walls of a former womens' prison still remain.  

Time: Two hours

HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE TO BARNES

Starting at Sir Joseph Bazelgette's magnificent bridge, the walk up Castlenau leads to the former entrance to the long gone Kitkat Club and the charming village of Barnes where old houses look over the pond.    Meander through the The Leg 'O Mutton Reservoir nature reserve and then finally to St. Paul's boys school overlooking the river. 

Time:  One and a half hours. 

HAMMERSMITH RIVERSIDE

Rowing clubs and artists studios, fine houses and fishermen's cottages, schools and industry have all jostled for space along this beautiful stretch of the river Thames.  Discover where Queen Catherine of Braganza entertained her guests and William Morris wove his Hammersmith Carpets.

Time:  One and three quarter hours

HOLLAND PARK ARTISTS

At one time six high profile Victorian Royal Academicians and one Associate lived next door to each other in the area around Melbury Road.    Their houses were designed by the top architects of the day and the area continues to be home to artists in different creative spheres today.

Time:  One and a half hours

 

 

HOLLAND PARK - THE PARK

Hidden in this lovely park are the remains of a Jacobean mansion and an entire Japanese garden.... and much more.   

Time: One and a half hours

KENSINGTON - mews and mansions, squares and studios

This quiet wander in the area just south of High Street Kensington takes you through beautiful squares, along cobbled mews, past tucked away artist studios, the site of a former hospital, to an Armenian church surrounded by Victorian mansion blocks and a hidden military drill hall.

Time:  Two Hours

 

KENSINGTON - museums and a royal palace

Starting at Kensington Palace which for many centuries has been the home to many members of the royal family including the late Princess of Wales, the walk then leads to the magnificent Albert Hall and Albertopolis which was the site of the Great Exhibition in 1851.  Discover the history of the three magnificent museums and one the largest colleges in England as we walk along Exhibition Road.

Time:  One and three quarter hours

 

 

KEW VILLAGE

 

Once a small fishing hamlet on the bend of the Thames, over the centuries Kew has been favoured by nobles and royalty and is now visited by thousands of visitors from all over the world who journey to enjoy the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Time:  One and three quarter hours

 

 

NOTTING DALE

As the hill slopes down from Notting Hill Gate to Shepherd's Bush lies Notting Dale where crowds once came to enjoy a day at the Hippodrome Race Course.   It was also known for it's piggeries and potteries - the pigs have long gone but there is still a reminder of it's pottery history.

Time:  One and three quarter hours

OLYMPIA

Once the site of an 18th century garden centre, Olympia's Grand Hall opened with a circus in 1886, over the years the site expanded to include several other large exhibition halls as well as trade fairs and entertainment shows.  Close by Joseph Lyons took over a disused piano factory and his catering business expanded into 13 acres spread along the Hammersmith Road.  In 1899 the Post Office opened a savings bank and for sixty years employed more than 4,000 staff, it currently houses items from the V&A Museum and British Museum.

Time:  One and a half hours

 

 

PALACE WALKS

Every year I organise one or two central London walks which take in some of the city's lovely palaces. 

THREE PALACES WALK My  favourite one starts at St. James's Palace, passes Buckingham Palace and ends at Kensington Palace.   It can be done in one go, but a break for lunch by the Serpentine makes it a more leisurely walk.   Time:  Three hours including lunch break or two hours in one go.

HIDDEN PALACES The second one wends through the wonderful hidden gardens along the Embankmemnt running from Westminster (Palace) to Somerset House (a former palace) and there are the sites of a couple more en route.   The gardens are lovely all year and especially in the spring time.    Time:  Just under two hours.

PETERBOROUGH ESTATE

Parsons Green was once the home of Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII and in time the green was surrounded by houses belonging to merchants and bankers.  Cricket was often played on the green during the 18th century and Fulham Football Club played there until they found a permanent home by Bishops Park.  There was a medieval house there in Tudor times and was the home for several centuries of the Earl of Peterborough, the house was sold at the end of the 18th century.   Affectionately known as 'lion country', the Peterborough estate in Fulham takes its name from a house of the same name which stood here in the time of Charles I, eventually the house together with its gardens and surrounding park land was sold and now delightful Victorian houses line the streets.

Time:  One and a half hours

 

PORTOBELLO ROAD

Learn why the road is so named, how the now famous market has grown over the last 150 years and where one of the country's well known authors once lived.

Time:  One and three quarter hours

PUTNEY RIVERSIDE AND OLD TOWN

The walk takes in Putney’s riverside where Thomas Cromwell was born in 1485 and grand houses stood in Tudor times.   Former country lanes leading to the  river have now been absorbed into picturesque Victorian streets whilst alms houses have been in the same location since the 17th century.   Learn about The Putney Debates, the history behind the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race and the lasting legacy given to Putney by a generous Victorian publisher.

Time:   Two hours

 

 

PUTNEY HEATH

Starting at Putney Heath, the scene of many duels in years gone by and the haunt of highwaymen, the walk skirts by Roehampton's lovely church, then through a well designed early 19th century council estate and to the old burial ground just off Putney's busy High Street.   

Time:  Two hours plus

RAVENSCOURT PARK

For five centuries Ravenscourt was a private house set in the middle of a vast estate. A king's mistress, Lord Mayor of London and Dutch builder have all owned the land, developing gardens around the house which have helped to create the park we know today.

Time: One and a half hours

 

 

RICHMOND ON THAMES

Enjoy the beautiful Richmond riverside, see the remains of a former palace which was a favourite with many of our monarchs, there are almshouses tucked away in quiet roads and finally that famous view from Richmond Hill.   It is a lovely walk and there is so much to enjoy, a real gem.

Time:   Two and three quarter hours 

 

 

SANDS END

This tucked away part of Fulham was once home to Nell Gwynne, mistress of King Charles II and later the headquarters of the Imperial Gas Works.  It is now part of a major regeneration scheme with garden walks beside the river and former factories now providing much needed accommodation to residents and local businesses. 

Time:  Two hours

SHEPHERD'S BUSH

After exploring the Green, the walk takes us to the site of the 1908 Olympics, through a hidden Japanese Garden and to Lime Grove where many films and television programmes were made and Charles Dickens saved some 'fallen women'.

Time:  Two hours and a quarter

STAMFORD BROOK

During this easy stroll around Stamford Brook you will pass the home and studio of a famous French painter, see where horses that pulled trams were stabled and cricket was once played a hundred years ago.

Time: One and a half hours

WALK THE BOAT RACE

Keep your feet dry on this walk (though they might get a little muddy on the tow path) as you follow the course of the annual University race from Putney to Mortlake. On the river's banks you will pass a former furniture depository, tapestry factory and several breweries.

Time:  Two and a half hours

WEST KENSINGTON

During the nineteenth century a couple of speculative builders developed former orchards and market gardens until it became home to a famous artist, a family of musicians, several authors and an otter (and his owner).  It was also the site of the former St. Paul's Boys School and the depository for a well known London store.

Time:  One and three quarter hours

 

 

PRIVATE WALKS

If you would like a private walk on a day and time to suit you and friends, I am very happy to do this, just get in touch with me.

 

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