Winter Walk
Sun 19th January 2025 at 10:30am
Join us for a winter walk through four Royal Parks in central London. Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, The Green Park and St James Park.
A pleasant walk of approximately 5.2 miles (8km) through London’s parklands. The walk will mainly follow the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Walk but will be somewhat shorter. Some of the sights we will see are:
The Wellington Arch – The Wellington Arch, also known as the Constitution Arch or (originally) as the Green Park Arch, is a Grade I-listed triumphal arch by Decimus Burton that forms a centrepiece of Hyde Park Corner, between the corner where Hyde Park meets Green Park.
The Serpentine -The Serpentine (also known as the Serpentine River) is a 40-acre (16 ha) recreational lake in Hyde Park, created in 1730 at the behest of Queen Caroline. Although it is common to refer to the entire body of water as the Serpentine, the name refers in the strict sense only to the eastern half of the lake.
The Albert Memorial – The Albert Memorial, directly north of the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington Gardens, was commissioned by Queen Victoria in memory of her beloved husband Prince Albert, who died in 1861. Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the Gothic Revival style
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground – The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground is a memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales. It was erected after her death at a cost of £1.7 million on the site of the existing Peter Pan children’s playground which had been founded in the time of JM Barrie (author of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens), but it is larger and more elaborate than the original.
The Old Police House – The Old Police House in Hyde Park was built in the 1870s and is still home to an operating police unit, as well the Royal Parks office.
The Canada Memorial – The Canada Memorial commemorates members of the Canadian Forces killed during the First and Second World Wars. It was designed by the Canadian sculptor Pierre Granche, erected in 1992 and unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994.
The Queen Victoria Memorial – The Victoria Memorial is a monument to Queen Victoria, located at the end of The Mall in London by the sculptor Sir Thomas Brock. Designed in 1901, it was unveiled on 16 May 1911, though it was not completed until 1924. It was the centrepiece of an ambitious urban planning scheme, which included the creation of the Queen’s Gardens to a design by Sir Aston Webb, and the refacing of Buckingham Palace (which stands behind the memorial) by the same architect.
Starting Point:
Just inside Apsley Gate left entrance to Hyde Park which is at the exit of Hyde Park Corner Tube Station.
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What 3 Words ///skills.vast.frost
Finish Point:
The Albert pub, 52 Victoria St, London SW1H 0NP
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What 3 Words ///stands.usage.prove
Getting There:
By Car – Are you mad!
By Bus – Buses 2, 8, 9, 10, 14, 16, 19, 22, 36, 38, 52, 73, 74, 82, 137 all stop at Hyde Park Corner.
By Tube – The Piccadilly Line goes to Hyde Park Corner. Green Park Station is a 500m walk from Hyde Park Corner and is served by the The Jubilee Line and The Victoria Line.
The Route:
The route is mainly on smooth track and paths as you would expect in a park. It is all pretty flat, There is some pavement walking between parks and at the end to the pub but it is minimal.
Dogs:
Well behaved dogs are welcome. The walk is dog friendly as is the pub at the end. Dogs will need to be kept on leads at certain places and are not allowed at King Henry’s Mound. (We can look after your dog while you go and take a look).
Cost:
Free, Nada, Nothing, Gratis.
Just let us know you are coming by booking here so we can reserve the space in the pub.
Non members can book by emailing us at info@sundowners.org.uk