Walking with Erin: British Film Institute to Crossbones Graveyard... and beyond

A 'Small Car Big City' Mini Cooper.

Saturday October 18, 2025.

It had been a while since Erin and I had taken a trip to London, so we needed to plan something. Erin found out about 'A Wicked Celebration' taking place at the British Film Institute, on the Southbank, so we decided that that would be our starting point.

We left home and made the short walk to Watford Metropolitan station and boarded a train for Baker Street. We changed at Finchley Road, where we boarded a Jubilee line train to Waterloo. 

Paddington Bear mural.

As we had plenty of time before the exhibition opened, we took a slow walk from Waterloo station, along Concert Hall Approach, and passed a great mural to Paddington Bear on the way. We then  explored the various external floors of the Southbank Centre. I have walked along the Southbank before, but never visited the various raised plazas that make up the Southbank Centre.

Water feature sculptures at the Southbank Centre.

The views from these raised walkways offered nice views of the River Thames, while different sculptures were dotted around, too.

Once we had seen enough we made our way down to street level and Theatre Road. For an exhibition about the phenomenon that is 'Wicked', there were no advertising signs or posters to say that it was on, which was a surprise. 

Vickers (Charlize Theron) EVA Suit, from Prometheus (2012).

We made our way into the BFI, via the Cinema and Box Office entrance, and climbed the stairs and joined a small queue of about twenty people.

Ozian coins.

After about ten minutes we were climbing the stairs to the Mezzanine Gallery and exploring 'A Wicked celebration'. Large panels, containing photographs and snippets of information, lined the wall, detailing the behind-the-scenes making of the movie. 

Erin with Glinda's costume.

Then there were the four small glass cabinets that held replica props, such as Ozian coins and Glinda's wand. At the end of the gallery were Elphaba and Glinda's dresses, protected behind glass, that allowed people to see the intricacy of their design.

Once we had seen everything, which didn't take long, we headed outside and sat and ate our lunch by the National Theatre.

Once we had eaten we decided to head towards London Bridge, by following The Queen's Walk. As Erin doesn't enjoy walking, as much as Keilyn, I thought that it would be easier if we walked towards underground stations, should she suddenly tire. Wooden huts, selling their wares, were already open and decorated for Christmas. 

Blackfriars Station commemorative plaque.

We passed Gabriel's Wharf, Thames Beach, Oxo Wharf and Sea Containers House, before we turned down Marigold Avenue onto Upper Ground. We then turned south, onto Blackfriars Road, passing the original entrance to Blackfriars station, heading to The Cut, where we stopped at a Tesco Express for some more snacks.

The Mint & Gospel Lighthouse Mission Shaftesbury Society.

From here we headed along Union Street, passing the London Fire Brigade Headquarters, an original tram shelter, which is now a 'Heard' burger restaurant, that looks rather nice. We then passed the old Ragged School building and, opposite, discovered that Crossbones Graveyard and Garden of Remembrance was open. So, we went in. 

La Catrina, donated by the Mexican Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Besides a few volunteers, and a handful of other visitors, the place was remarkably empty. While Erin picked up an information booklet I made a donation and, soon, we were exploring this historic place. As we walked slowly around I told Erin about its history.

Paddington Bear

Paddington Bear statue at Paddington station.

This statue of Paddington Bear, at Paddington station, is a bronze sculpture by Marcus Cornish. Considering Paddington Bear has been around since 1958 the statue wasn't erected until 2000.

The origins of London's most famous 'fictional' bear, Paddington, began in 1958, when Michael Bond wrote 'A Bear Called Paddington'. He had been shopping and seen a lone teddy bear, in a London shop, "looking forlorn", and based Paddington on him. It took Michael Bond just 10 days to write the first story.

Michael Bond remembered watching newsreels of children being evacuated, during World War II, who had labels around their necks, carrying bags containing their possessions, which gave him the inspiration for the style.

Paddington Bear plaque at Paddington station.

The first story, 'A Bear Called Paddington', sees the Brown family arriving at Paddington station and discovering the bear, sitting on his suitcase with a note attached to his coat that read , 'Please look after this bear. Thank you'. The Browns are unable to pronounce the bear's name in its bear language, so, they call him Paddington, as that is where they found him.

Originally, Paddington was to have "travelled from darkest Africa", but, as his agent pointed out, there are no bears in Africa, so he changed it to "darkest Peru", where the spectacled bear comes from. It is Paddington's Aunt Lucy who sends Paddington to London, as a stowaway, after his uncle Pastuzo has moved to a Home for Retired Bears, in Lima. Paddington tells them, "I came in a lifeboat and ate marmalade. Bears like marmalade."

32 Windsor Gardens, from 'Paddington' (2014).

So, the Brown family, that includes the parents, Henry and Mary, and their children, Jonathan and Judy, take Paddington home to 32 Windsor Gardens.

Paddington was always polite, addressing everyone with their title, but hardly ever using their first name. He also had a capacity to innocently get himself into trouble, while trying so hard to do things right.

However, those who incurred his disapproval would be met with one of his special 'hard stares'.

Walking with Keilyn: St John's Wood to Camley Street Natural Park... and beyond

Gasholder Park.

Sunday March 2, 2025.

Keilyn decided that since she had missed out on Friday's walk, we should head to London for the day, so off we set.

Taxi to Watford Metropolitan station and a train to Finchley Road. Then two stops on the Jubilee line to St John's Wood, was how the walk began.

Keilyn at the former Marlborough Road station.

Exiting the station we walked up Finchley Road, to the former underground station that is Marlborough Road, before heading east along Queen's Grove, on to Elsworthy Road, then Elsworthy Terrace which brought us to Primrose Hill.

The view from Primrose Hill.

We then followed the path to the viewing point and took in the amazing views of London. The hazy clouds had dispersed allowing us to see everything that the city had to offer: The Clock Tower, in Caledonian Park, Camden Lock, Canary Wharf, St Pancras station, the Gherkin, St Paul's Cathedral, The Shard, Centre Point, BT Tower, the Snowdon Aviary at London Zoo, London Eye, Palace of Westminster, Crystal Palace Tower, Westminster Cathedral and so much more.

Once we had seen everything, and taken lots of photos and videos, we continued east, exiting Primrose Hill via the Primrose Hill Road exit and, after crossing Regent's Park Road, headed along Rothwell Street to Chalcot Crescent. 

Keilyn at the home of Paddington Bear.

Chalcot Crescent is full of houses, many painted in pastel colours, but we were here to see one particular house... number 30. This is the house that Paddington Bear lives in with the Brown family, in the Paddington Bear movies. After the obligatory photo of Keilyn, outside the house, we made our way back to Regent's Park Road, which we followed until we reached 'The Little One' coffee shop, where we purchased drinks: Hot chocolate and a latte.

The former Primrose Hill station and the Camden Roundhouse.

We then continued along Regent's Park Road until it brought us to Haverstock Hill and Chalk Farm Road, passing the Camden Roundhouse and Camden Stables Market. On reaching Camden High Street we dropped down onto the Regent's Canal towpath, following the meandering canal to Gasholder Park, at St Pancras Basin.

Camley Street Natural Park Pond.

Since we had made good time we decided to cross Somers Town Bridge so that we could explore Camley Street Natural Park. The park, set across 2 acres, is a wildlife habit that includes wetlands and meadows and is home to a wide variety of fauna and flora. 

Walking with Keilyn: Baker Street to Paddington... and beyond

Saturday January 4, 2025.

Today 'Keilyn and I were to be joined by a couple of friends, for our first walk through London of 2025. However, various events conspired against us, resulting in Keilyn and myself making the trip alone.

So, off we set, walking to Watford Metropolitan station as a short flurry of snow began to fall. We took the train to Baker Street, where, after purchasing warm drinks, we exited the station and headed north along Baker Street and on to Park Road, where we dropped down onto the Regent's Canal Towpath.

Having walked to Camden and King's Cross too many times we decided to walk in the opposite direction, heading towards Little Venice and from there Paddington.

The snow had by now stopped and the towpath was quiet, with us only seeing a few other walkers along the canal. We reached Lisson Moorings, where we admired the narrow boats and barges, before we reached the Maida Hill Tunnel, where we climbed the slippery metal steps to Aberdeen Place. 

We walked along Maida Avenue, rejoining the towpath at Warwick Bridge, and Little Venice. Surprisingly all of the cafes and kiosks were closed, so we continued beneath Westway towards Paddington Basin. 

A blue 'velvet' covered Paddington Bear statue provided a photo opportunity, before we reached Praed Street, where we stopped for some lunch at a KFC.

Suitably filled we headed inside Paddington Station in search of the Paddington Bear statue, which we soon found by looking out for the crowds. We waited patiently for the other children to have their photos taken before it was Keilyn's turn. 

We then headed further along the platform to Paddington's Bench, where another photo was taken. 

We then headed out of the station and headed along Praed Street to The Wild Table of Love, where Keilyn joined Dogman and Rabbitwoman with their guests of ten of the most endangered animals in the world. Just across Eastbourne Terrace, Maarten Baas' 'Man in a Clock' was busy painting hands inside the clock face.

Heading south down Westbourne Terrace we entered Kensington Gardens and the amazing Italian Gardens. Again, there were not too many people around so we made our way along the path, beside The Long Water, to the 'Peter Pan' statue.

From here we headed west towards the 'Physical Energy' statue and, from there, on to the Round Pond. It was here that we discovered the crowds who were eagerly waiting to enter Kensington Palace, so we continued along Studio Walk and turned down Palace Green towards Kensington High Street.