Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Walking with family and friends: King's Cross to Hampstead Heath... and beyond

Japanese Garden Island

Saturday January 18, 2025.

Keilyn and I headed off to London, earlier than usual, as we were to meet my friend who was travelling to King's Cross from Peterborough.

K8 Telephone Box

As we reached Northwick Park Keilyn took a photo of one of only four remaining K8 telephone boxes left on the London Underground.

Our timing was almost perfect with Keilyn and I exiting onto King's Cross plaza just ten minutes after Gary. After a walk through St Pancras International we began our walk. 

The Hardy Tree

We headed north along Midland Road and onto Pancras Road, where we stopped at St Pancras Old Church to see the remains of the Hardy Tree. The graves that the ash once stood over are now covered in weeds, while the Hardy Tree lies in pieces on the grass. Such a loss.

Dots Music

We left St Pancras Gardens and followed Camley Street which led us to Murray Street, our route taking us ever northward. Camden Square brought us onto Camden Road, where we turned onto Royal College Street. It was here we discovered 'Dots Music'. The steps, to the shop, were painted like piano keys, so Keilyn pretended to play them.

Keilyn with a hot chocolate

Up Royal College Street we went, before finding ourselves on Kentish Town Road where we stopped to grab a hot drink each, from an independent coffee stall.

After spotting a camel, on Highgate Road, we noticed a LFB Fire Investigation van, with its occupant in a white coverall, which fascinated Keilyn. We passed Parliament Hill School and William Ellis School, before we turned in to Hampstead Heath, where school children of all ages were playing rugby, while their parents watched on. Other people were using the running track as we dodged the joggers and dog walkers.

Orientalist Camel

We left Hampstead Heath, via Savernake Bridge, and headed along Roderick Road, at the end of which, on the other side of Mansfield Road, was the London School of Mosaic, which is situated in 'Waxham House'. It was here that we made the mistake of turning left, following Mansfield Road onto Gordon House Road. Eventually we reached Highgate Road, where we turned left. Keilyn started laughing as we approached a LFB Fire Investigation van, with its occupant in a white coverall, as she had realised, long before us, that we had taken so many left turns that we had completed a circle!

World Peace Garden

Amused, but unperturbed, we turned into Hampstead Heath, via the Parliament Hill Fields Lido entrance, and, ignoring Savernake Bridge, continued though Hampstead Heath, exiting at Nassington Road, which we followed westward, reaching Parliament Hill and the World Peace Garden, which is situated beside Hampstead Heath station.

After exploring the World Peace Garden we headed across the road to buy some refreshments, from an independent newsagent, before heading south along South End Road.

London School of Mosaic sign

Elm Terrace brought us to the junction of Constantine Road and Agincourt Road, with us picking the latter to walk along. As we neared the end of Agincourt Road, Keilyn began to laugh hysterically saying "Waxham". I knew what had happened, but Gary was perplexed as to what was going on, with each of his questions being answered with the word "Waxham" and more laughter. It wasn't until we reached the road junction, that Gary noticed the sign for the London School of Mosaic, which is situated in Waxham House. We had, unwittingly, completed another circle!!

Keilyn with her pet rock on Camden High Street

As we were at a junction, again, we decided to head along Southampton Road, passing through the Maitland Park Estate, until we reached  Haverstock Hill and the Camden Roundhouse. 

With us all feeling peckish we followed Chalk Farm Road onto Camden High Street, where we stopped for lunch at Subway.

Matilda Fountain

Suitably filled with food we left Subway and headed along Parkway, passing the Matilda Fountain and entered The Regent's Park, at Gloucester Gate.

Keilyn in Gloucester Gate Playground

Our first stop was the Gloucester Gate Playground, where Keilyn used the facilities before exploring this wonderful, well-kept, little park. We then headed along the path to The Broad Walk, peering over the fence to see if we could see any animals within London Zoo, but unfortunately we couldn't.

Turning right, at the Ready Money Drinking Fountain, we followed the path around the lakes, crossing the bridge that would bring us to the Inner Circle and Queen Mary's Rose Gardens.

Waterfall

The roses had all been cut back, so we continued through to the Japanese Garden Island, following the meandering pathways through wooded areas, crossing bridges and admiring the waterfall. Many of the bridges were sealed off, as they are under repair, but it was still a wonderful place to visit, and was quite deserted.

Heron

We rejoined the Inner Circle and followed York Bridge until we reached the lakes. A heron, at the water's edge, took off at our approach, while two others stood motionless on the grass, as if waiting to be photographed.

With one more bridge to cross we left The Regent's Park and made our way onto Baker Street. Besides Camden this was the busiest place that we had encountered, all day, as tourists waited in a long queue to enter 221B Baker Street, home of Sherlock Holmes.

Shortly, we headed down to platform 1 of Baker Street station, purchased drinks and snacks, and boarded a train to Watford.

A different area was walked (some of it twice), but it was still a great day out.

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 - 0.0 miles
  • Train - 0.0 miles
  • Underground - 35 miles
  • Walking - 12 miles

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