Walking with family: Baker Street to Leicester Square... and beyond

Sunday December 22, 2024.

It was a cold late morning as Emma, Keilyn, Erin and her friend Summer and I made our way to the station, ready to take in the Christmas atmosphere of London.

I did give the girls' a mission for the walk. 'The first person to find a dinosaur would be given £1'.

Our first stop, after exiting Baker Street station, was to find somewhere to eat lunch. The girls unanimously voted for KFC, which we found across the road on Baker Street.

Suitably filled we headed south along Baker Street, crossing Oxford Street, until we reached Grosvenor Square. The square was remarkably quiet so we left, via its southeast corner, and headed onto Carlos Place, where we saw The Connaught Christmas tree, our first true Christmas tree of the day.

Continuing along Carlos Place we entered Berkeley Square and Keilyn, who had been slightly ahead of us, came running back to us, demanding £1, as she had found a dinosaur. Sure enough, as we reached the corner of Berkeley Square the cast of a dinosaur stood on a plinth, staring into the heart of the Square. I reached into my pocket and handed over the prize.

After admiring the display at Annabel's Members Only Club, we headed along Bruton Street to New Bond Street, passing the Coach and Horses pub on the way.

New Bond Street was considerably busier than anywhere else that we had so far visited, due to the ornate displays of the various big names along the street. Boodles, Bvlgari, Cartier, Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren, to name a few. 

The sky, though overcast, was still too light to get the full effect of the lights, but it still brought the feeling and atmosphere of Christmas to us.

Continuing on a light rain began to fall, so we headed into the Burlington Arcade, with its caped Beadles, exiting on Piccadilly, where the Fortnum & Mason building had its usual Advent Calendar display.

For a bit of a respite, Summer had never been on one of our walks, we headed into Waterstones bookshop, where we perused the books.

We then continued along Piccadilly to Piccadilly Circus and onto Coventry Street, where warm drinks were purchased. Before visiting the Winter Market, which had been erected in Leicester Square, Erin, Summer and I went off to see the various statues of Harry Potter, Bugs Bunny, Batman, etc.. After making a complete circuit, of the square, we met back up with Emma and Keilyn and entered the Winter Market. A few items were purchased, at inflated prices, before we headed off to grab some more snacks and warm food.

We wandered up Wardour Street, before turning west along Shaftesbury Avenue, which brought us back to Piccadilly Circus. The girls decided to pop into Boots to look at make-up and the such, while Emma and I took a seat outside.

We then headed up Regent Street, turned right on Beak Street and then left onto Carnaby Street. By now all of the Christmas lights were on, changing the feel and look of the city, bathing the pedestrians, shoppers and tourists in a warm glow, brightening everyone's mood.

Carnaby Street brought us to Great Marlborough Street and the fantastic Liberty London building, with its green and purple Christmas trees.

Heading up Argyll Street Erin realised where she was and what was ahead of us... Wok to Walk. So, Erin grabbed some noodles, the rest of us deciding to wait until we got home to eat, which she devoured as we continued our walk. Oxford Street brought us back to Regent Street and the 19th century All Souls Langham Place, where carols were being sung. 

Broadcasting House loomed large, and dark, with barely any discernible exterior lighting as we made our way up Portland Place, peering into the cavernous building and spotting a Dalek and TARDIS, from Doctor Who, in one of the corridors. Turning onto Duchess Street we peered, again, through the windows, spotting the BBC News studios and cameras, before crossing New Cavendish Street onto Great Portland Street, where we stopped for some refreshments at a Sainsbury's Local, before heading into Great Portland Street station.

It was a great, but chilly, day out, seeing some of London's Christmas displays and soaking up the atmosphere of the season. Summer survived and is looking forward to more walks... when it is warmer.

Distance travelled:

• Bus - 0.0 miles
• Cable Car - 0.0 miles
• Car - 0.0 miles
• DLR - 0.0 miles
• Ferry - 0.0 miles
• Overground - 0.0 miles
• River Boat - 0.0 miles
• Taxi - 1.6 miles
• Train - 0.0 miles
• Underground - 36 miles
• Walking - 5.8 miles