Sights of London

Our third tour starts with a 15 min walk from Victoria Station, or by bus, along Victoria Street to the forecourt of Westminster Abbey. From there we head for the Thames via Dean’s Yard with its Abbey association passing Westminster School and Church House to exit the passage left onto Great College Street. Crossing Millbank by Parliament into Victoria Tower Gardens we view Rodin’s Burghers of Calais and proceed along the Thames to the other side of Lambeth Bridge descending the stairs as appropriate to the foreshore. The walk continue across the bridge to Lambeth Palace, Archbishop’s Park and the historic St Thomas’s Hospital crossing Westminster Bridge to return to the Abbey and back to Victoria. Dean’s Yard By courtesy of the Dean of Westminster members of the public are allowed access to the gated quadrangle of Dean’s Yard during daylight hours. Pass through the archway from the Abbey forecourt (Great Sanctuary) into the Yard, precincts of the former monastery. It ...

Passengers arriving at Victoria by train cross the River Thames. In this second walk to Royal Hospital, Chelsea we visit that river crossing turning left out of the station and left again down Buckingham Palace Road passing Victoria Coach Station. The walk heads down Pimlico Road to the Mozart memorial on Orange Square then via Bourne Street to King’s Road and the Saatchi Gallery. After visiting the free Gallery we exit left and turn immediately down Cheltenham Terrace which ends at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. Exiting the Hospital we turn right and right again down Chelsea Bridge Road viewing Battersea Power Station near the Thames railway crossing. We return initially along the river via Tate Britain Gallery then back north via Westminster Cathedral and Little Ben clock tower outside the renovated Victoria Station. Mozart Memorial Turn left out of Victoria station, left again down Buckingham Palace Road passing Victoria Coach Station and head down Pimlico Road to the Moza...

2018 sees a new look at London Victoria now the arch is open again after years of renovation. 85 million passengers use the station each year including many from overseas heading to London’s star sights via bus and underground. You’re invited to join me this week in a 2.5 mile circular walk taking in sight of Buckingham Palace, Victoria monument, The Mall, Blue Bridge in St James’s Park, The Guards’ Chapel, St Ermin’s Hotel and the Suffragette monument coming back to the station along Victoria Street. Buckingham Palace Take a left turn from the front of Victoria station walking through the bus station onto Buckingham Palace Road and turn right continuing north for half a mile to the pedestrianised area in front of the Palace. At 11am four times a week in winter and every day in summer the Queen’s Guard changes in a fine ceremony but the colourful guard’s are there all the time. There’s a lot to take in. If the Union Jack flag flies above the Palace the Queen’s out. If the orn...