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LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD


Derek Harwood's Walking Records

If you have any queries about the pictures or descriptions e-mail me at: derek@harwoodonline.com

CITY SIGHTSEEING
CENTRAL LONDON


Thursday 30th November 2006
.......................Walk No. 685

Unclassified Walk No 38                      Total 1014.5 miles


Time Taken:   11 hrs    Distance:      Enjoyment:        Weather:    Dull & Misty
 10:00 am - 21:00 pm     10 miles             85%            Care Required in the Dark

Temp:   Cloud:     Rain:   Visibility:  Ground Conditions:   Wild Life: Squirrels
 13oC     100%       None         Dull            Pavement              Pigeons, Cormorant

Total AA:      Total MH:    Total LD:       Total AW:     Other:      Total Distance:
1027.5 mls     931.5 mls    1823.5 mls       162 mls     1014.5 mls       4959 miles

Companions:  (Derek)  Colin Middleton,   Ross James

Points of Interest and LINKS:

Victoria Coach Station Harrods Science Museum Hyde Park Queen Elizabeth Gate Wellington Arch Green Park Buckingham Palace Queen Victoria Memorial Buckingham Palace St James's Park Birdcage Walk Westminster Abbey Big Ben Tower Houses of Parliament Westminster Bridge County Hall London Eye Hungerford Bridge Trafalgar Square Piccadilly Circus Shaftsbury Avenue Soho Cambridge Circus Leicester Square Whitehall Downing Street London Cenotaph Victoria Station
Description:
Arrived in London opposite the Victoria Coach Station by MEGABUS. Walked along Elizabeth Street, Chesham Street, Pont Street, & Brompton Road to the Science Museum. Colin continued to the Vietnam Embassy to collect his visa, while Ross & I browsed round the museum. Steady walk from the Museum past a plaque on the Victoria & Albert Museum Wall explaining that the pit marks on the walls were due to shrapnel from the war years. Continued past Harrods Department Store to Knightsbridge and Hyde Park. Walked along 'Rotten Row' by the cycle path and Horse Ride to Hyde Park Corner & 'The Queen Elizabeth Gate', passing the people friendly Grey Squirrels. Used the underpass to 'Wellington Arch' and the War Memorials, then onto Constitution Hill with a very strange traffic light pedestrian button eight foot high for horse riders. Rounded Queen Victoria Monument by Buckingham Palace from Green Park to St James's Park with its Black Swans and Geese. Onwards along Birdcage Walk to Parliament Square, passing the 'Institution of Mechanical Engineers' in George Street & Westminster Abbey. Stopped at the square to catch the amazing views along Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament, including Big Ben. Crossed the 'Embankment' road with care to the River Thames, with the historical and varied views up, down and across the river. Excellent views towards the 'City'. Over the Westminster Bridge to County Hall and a 'flight' on the London Eye. Watched a Cormorant bird from the bridge diving for fish in the murky water. What a wonderful experience on the Eye, a fantastic half an hour of amazing views of London. With feet firmly on the ground we passed the 'Living Statues' on our way along the river bank to the pedestrian Hungerford Bridge and Whitehall Place, passing the original Scotland Yard, to Trafalgar Square and refreshments at the 'Wetherspoons' Lord Moon public house. Fully refreshed we crossed Trafalgar Square to the National Gallery, for a cultural walk around the paintings. We left the gallery as darkness fell upon the capital, with a completely different circular walk back to the Lord Moon via Haymarket, Piccadilly Circus, Shaftsbury Avenue, Dean Street, Soho Circus, Greek Street, Cambridge Circus, Charing Cross Road and Leicester Square. A welcome snack and a tasteful pint of 'The Dogs Bollocks' in Wetherspoons, before a stroll down Whitehall past Downing Street and the Cenotaph, back to Parliament Square, Birdcage Walk and onto Buckingham Palace Road, before returning to the Megabus Terminus at Victoria Coach Station. A prompt departure on the coach to Coventry with an exciting ride through the London traffic and along the M1/M45 motorways. Very few vehicles passed the bus, but the bus passed many vehicles, some on the inside lane. We were not late at Cannon Park Coventry. An excellent different and varied long day spent in London with Colin and Ross. Must return again using the same mode of transport.

Location: www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start & finish from Victoria 434360/268445, - via Trafalgar Square 433350/265810, - via London Eye 436045/269200. (Click on a location and use Zoom).

Hazards: Another enjoyable day in Central London by foot. Care required at all times, especially when crossing the roads and streets at night. The traffic is horrendous, with amazing volume of vehicles & cyclists arriving from all directions, often ignoring the signs and traffic lights. Take care of your belongings.

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Derek Harwood: Copyright 2006
Devised: December 2006