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| The Annual Commemoration of the Execution of King Charles I. |
Sunday January 25, 2026:
Cloudy with light rain, with winds at 4 mph.
7°C (44.6°F)
It was a chilly morning as Keilyn and I climbed into my uncle Martin's car for the short drive to Croxley station. My mum was already in the car, having been picked up first.
After the car was packed we made our way to the southbound platform and waited for our train. It was a Harrow-on-the-Hill-bound train, meaning that we would have to change to a Baker Street-bound train there. We took this train to Finchley Road, where we boarded a Jubilee line train the few stops to Green Park.
On leaving the station we entered Green Park and made our way down towards The Mall and St James's Park. We stopped to grab a hot drink from the Marlborough Gate kiosk, at which point a fine rain began to fall. With mum and Martin taking shelter beside the kiosk, Keilyn and I decided to go for a wander.
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| The old guard on leaving Buckingham Palace. |
We crossed the Blue Bridge, passed the St James's Park drinking fountain and made our way onto Birdcage Walk. We then headed west, passing the barracks, before turning onto Spur Road and making our way to the corner of The Mall. It was from here that we watched the Guards marching by, having just completed the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. After they had passed us we continued along The Mall and found mum and Martin, with the slight rain finally stopping.
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| The King's Army of the English Civil War Society getting ready to march. |
Along the north side of The Mall the King's Army of the English Civil War Society were mustering in preparation for their march. Small cannons, horses and all manner of weapons were being cleaned, groomed and inspected.
We meandered along the tree-lined street taking photos and enjoyed the wonderful period costumes.
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| King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. |
We then took some time to look at the Queen Elizabeth and King George VI memorial, before we made our way onto Horse Guards Road, where we selected our vantage points from where we would watch the march. Keilyn decided to cross the road, standing on the St James's Park side, while mum, Martin and I were spread out on the parade ground side.
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| The King's Army of the English Civil War Society on Horse Guards Road. |
At exactly 11:30 we could hear the drums begin to beat and knew that the march was underway. A few minutes later the King's Army rounded onto Horse Guards Road, from The Mall, led by mounted Cavaliers and followed by various regiments carrying pikes, dragging cannons or carrying flags.
They then took to the parade ground, where the ceremony continued with prayers being said, before each regiment paid their respects to the wreath.
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| The Wreath with King Charles I. |
Once the ceremony was completed we made our way through the Horse Guards building and out onto Whitehall. By now the wreath was affixed to the railings of Banqueting House, so we crossed the road so that we could see it more clearly.
It was here that mum and Martin went off to get some food, so Keilyn and I went for a wander. We had packed rolls and snacks, which we had eaten while waiting for the march to begin.
So, Keilyn and I headed along Horse Guards Avenue and made our way to the Victoria Embankment, which we followed eastward.
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| Sandbag art at Tyburn Quay. |
We stopped at the newly opened Tyburn Quay, checking out the views and the various pieces of public art on the steps. Two huge vents twisted upward, releasing the gases from the new Tideway Tunnel into the sky.
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| The National Submarine War Memorial. |
We then continued along the embankment, exploring the various memorials that adorn the walls. There were memorials to Joseph Bazalgette (engineer), William Schwenck Gilbert (playwright and poet), Sir Walter Besant (novelist), William Thomas Stead (journalist) and the National Submarine War Memorial. Soon we were approaching Bazalgette Embankment, another newly opened public realm that sits atop the Tideway Tunnel.
Unlike the smaller Tyburn Quay, Bazalgette Embankment is quite a bit bigger. There is plenty of seating, impressive views of Blackfriars Bridge, which is being given a fresh lick of paint, huge pieces of public art and planted areas, with flowers and trees.
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| A bronze mooring lion. |
As these new public realms are above the Tideway Tunnel, which is below the River Thames, the bronze lion mooring heads, not normally easy to see, are now visible and accessible. Having only seen them from an angle, while leaning over the embankment walls, or occasionally from a river boat, I was quite shocked at their size. I can see this new realm, and the others that stretch from Putney to Shadwell, becoming quite popular in the warmer months.
After a thorough exploration we made our way to Blackfriars station, to use the conveniences, before we headed along Tudor Street to Dorset Rise, so that Keilyn could see the huge statue of St George slaying a dragon, which stands in the grounds of Premier Inn London Blackfriars. We then headed along Whitefriars Street, into Ashentree Court and then Magpie Alley. We have to visit at least one alleyway, when wandering through the City of London.
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| The Old Curiosity Shop. |
We exited Magpie Alley onto Bouverie Street and headed north to Fleet Street. From here we headed west, before turning north along Bell Yard, passing the Old Bank of England and the Royal Courts of Justice. Carey Street brought us to Portugal Street and onto Portsmouth Street, the London School of Economics and The Old Curiosity Shop.
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| Keilyn is about to be flattened by a collapsing wall. |
Sardinia Street brought us to Kingsway, where Keilyn stood beneath some falling bricks, before we crossed the road and headed along Keeley Street to Wild Street, at the end of which stands the impressive Freemasons Hall.
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| One of the Mercers' Maidens, on Long Acre. |
From here headed down Long Acre, keeping an eye out for the Mercers' Maiden who peers down on the pavements from her vantage points on various buildings, posts and bollards. Eventually Long Acre brought us to Cranbourn Street and Leicester Square, with its street entertainers and tourists.
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| A sponsorship deal for 'dry January'. |
Keilyn and I decided that it was probably a good idea to head towards home, so we made our way to Piccadilly Circus station, from where we could catch a Bakerloo line train to Baker Street. As we descended the steps to the platform Keilyn noticed that, on some of the signs, 'Bakerloo' had been changed to 'Bakerl0.0'. Even the next stop on the map was changed to 'Oxf0.0rd Circus'. Intriguing.
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| A Baker Street roundel, sponsored by Heineken 0.0. |
Everything became clear as we noticed that the roundels on the platforms were being sponsored by Heineken 0.0 for two weeks. It turns out that TFL has rebranded the Bakerloo and will be giving out free 0% beers on the tube as part of a partnership with Heineken 0.0.
Arriving at Baker Street we were disappointed to find the snack shop and the Starbucks kiosk both closed. So, we headed up to the ticket hall and grabbed drinks and snacks from Wenzel's instead. It was then that we noticed that there appeared to be no trains going to Watford, so we boarded an Uxbridge-bound train which would take us to Harrow-on-the-Hill.
I messaged my mum to let her know what was happening with the trains and found that they were on the train ahead of us. And, to Keilyn's and my surprise, they waited for us to arrive, so that we could travel back together.
Arriving back at Croxley we climbed into Martin's car and made the short journey home.
It was a great day out with family, seeing new places and introducing Keilyn to a historical reenactment.
Distance travelled:
- Bus - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Cable Car - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Car - 2.6 miles (4.1 kms)
- DLR - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Ferry - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Overground - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- River Boat - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Taxi - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Train - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Tram - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Underground - 38.7 miles (62.3 kms)
- Walking - 6 miles (9.6 kms)
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