National Grade:Leisurely Distance: 6.5 mi /10.5km  Leader: John L. Date: Sept 22nd 2026

John welcomed fourteen ramblers, including visitors from other groups,  to his London walk. We set off at a brisk pace down the Kingsway towards the Aldwych where we turned right weaving our way through the many tourists enjoying a beautiful Autumn morning.

Today’s walk was going to take us past many famous London landmarks but one of the pleasures of walking in our capital city is noticing those almost insignificant items of history that present themselves at almost every corner.  Quite by chance, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a note outside the Lyceum Tavern on the Strand claiming that more than 100 years ago Bram Stoker lived there while writing at least part of his famous novel Dracula.  One of the attractions of this pub is “no phones, no noise just mystery, memory and a proper pint”.   But John was pushing on ahead; there was no time to stop and enjoy this oasis of calm.

Our first stop was at St Martins-in-the-Fields.   Before looking at the church and its crypt some us crossed over to Trafalgar Square to see the latest statue, Lady in Blue, to occupy the fourth plinth.  The artist, Tschabalala Self, has described her statue as “a woman walking forward into our collective future with ambition and purpose”.    I think she has succeeded in her aim.

Back at the church some of us visited the crypt where there is a small exhibition on the church’s history.  Although a religious site for centuries,  the present church  is celebrating this year its 300th anniversary.  The church is well known for its work with the homeless.  This was formalised back in 1948 with the foundation of the Social Service Unit.  Today the church continues to care for around 7500 homeless people.

The next stage of the walk took us through Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus and on to Regent Street.  Here the shops are famous and so pricey that there is never anything as vulgar as a price tag attached to the displays.  Eventually we crossed Oxford Street.  The crowds became lighter as we continued north reaching Portland Place home to Broadcasting House and a number of embassies.  

Skirting around the beautiful Park Crescent we crossed the busy, noisy Marylebone Road before finding the peace and quiet of Regent’s Park where we enjoyed our picnic lunches. After lunch we headed north towards Finchley Road passing yet more famous London landmarks including Regent’s Park mosque, Lords and an impressive statue of St George and the Dragon, a monument dedicated to the men and women of Marylebone who died in World War I.   We also passed less obvious pieces of London history, including the disused and unmarked Underground station at Marlborough Road.  Those of us who use the Metropolitan Line pass by the now deserted platforms of that station on our way between Finchley Road and Baker Street. 

We reached the end of our walk at  Finchley Road station where we thanked John for leading such an interesting ramble through our capital city. 

Report by:  Rob Jones-Owen