Taking Keilyn to King's Cross: Via Swiss Cottage and Baker Street

Keilyn's LNER Azuma train to Peterborough.

Saturday July 19, 2025.

Since Keilyn had broken up from school, on Friday, we had spoken with some friends, in Peterborough, who were happy to have her come and stay for the week. All we had to do was get her there, and they would take care of the rest, bringing her home on the following Friday.

Her train was due to leave King's Cross station at 12:03, so we made sure that we left in plenty of time.

With her suitcase packed, Keilyn and I headed off to Watford Metropolitan station, in a taxi, thus avoiding the light drizzle that had begun to fall.

We boarded a Baker Street-bound train, on Platform 1, and were soon speeding towards London, as a soft drizzle fell from the clouds. 

London Transport Griffin.

As we approached Finchley Road we grabbed the bags and alighted the train, quickly boarding a Stratford-bound Jubilee line train in its last carriage. Moments later we arrived at Swiss Cottage, where we alighted and began looking for the eighteen decorative tiles, designed by Harold Stabler, that adorn this and a few other stations. Although I had photographed many of them before, two had eluded me, so we walked the length of the platform, finally capturing the last tile. 

A train at the end of the tunnel and Harold Stabler's 'Berkshire' tile.

A few more photographs of the platform and a train, that I could see through the interconnecting tunnel, were taken before our train pulled in.

A few stops later and we arrived at Baker Street. We travelled up the escalators and clambered up the stairs, towards Platform 1, and headed straight for the Starbucks kiosk. 

With drinks purchased we headed towards platform 5, where we caught a Circle line train to King's Cross.

The Great Northern Hotel.

Once we had alighted we made our way out of the station, via the subway, and came out into King's Cross Square, where we were met with torrential rain. We stood beneath the canopy for a few minutes, finishing our drinks, while watching those dressed in summer clothes running for shelter, their clothes soaked.

'Nancy's Steps', Old London Bridge

'Nancy's Steps'.

These steps, on the southwest side of London Bridge, the arch and a few remaining pedestrian alcoves are pretty much all that is left, in England, of John Rennie's London Bridge. 

Old London Bridge pedestrian alcove, Victoria Park.

One alcove sits in the quadrangle of Guy's Hospital, while another can be found in Victoria Park.

The rest of the bridge was sold to Robert McCulloch, who had it dismantled and shipped to America, where it was rebuilt in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

A surviving arch of John Rennie's London Bridge.

These steps are often called 'Nancy's Steps', in reference to the character of Nancy, from the novel 'Oliver Twist', by Charles Dickens.

In the novel Bill Sikes murders Nancy in a room, while Bill's dog, Bull's-Eye, watches on. 

However, in the 1968 movie, 'Oliver!', Nancy is murdered on the steps of London Bridge by Bill Sikes.

Shorely Shome Mishtake.

This makes the Blue Plaque, affixed to the wall of the surviving arch of John Rennie's London Bridge, incorrect.

You can read more about London Bridge by clicking on the link below.

London Bridge

MillenniuM Pathway, Archbishop's Park

Archbishop's Park, Lambeth, is a wonderful park that sits just to the east of Lambeth Palace Gardens. In fact it was once part of Lambeth Palace Gardens, before Archbishop Archibald Campbell Tait opened over 9 acres of land for use by the poor of the area.

Besides the usual sports fields and courts, there is a wonderful play area, a stunning bench, a community orchard, gardens and much more.

A path that flows through the park has stepping stone plaques, embedded in the tarmac, which chart the history of the area, along with some of the area's more famous names. 

It was unveiled in June 2000 with local residents choosing the subjects of the plaques.

Plaques Timeline

1000 - Lambeth is mainly marshland and open countryside punctuated by Roman roads and a few small settlements

1041 - The Anglo Saxon chronicle records 'This year died Hardicanute at Lambeth, as he stood drinking'.

1087 - Domesday Book lists Lambeth, or Lanchei, as belonging to Countess Goda, sister of Edward the Confessor.

1197 - The Manor of Lambeth is acquired by  the Archbishop of Canterbury. The building of Lambeth Palace begins during this period.

1339 - Edward III gives Kennington to the Black Prince, who builds a palace.

1534 - Sir Thomas More refuses to swear allegiance to the King at Lambeth Palace.

1605 - Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators store their gunpowder in a house in  Lambeth.

1634 - Tradescant opens his museum of curiosities to the public.

1661 - John writes of his 'Pretty Contrived

1731 - Birth of Henry Cavendish who weighed the world at Clapham.

1740 - Death of Margaret Finch Queen of the Norwood Gypsies aged 109.

1760 - Dr Johnson stays with the Thrales at Streatham Place.

1770 - Campaign tp abolish slavery is spearheaded by the Clapham Sect.

1771 - Opening of Astley's Amphitheatre in Westminster Bridge Road. The first indoor circus.

1793 - William Blake writes of 'Songs of Experience' while living in Hercules Road.

1802 - A hermit called 'Matthews the Hairyman' lives in a cave in the remote Norwood hills.

1820 - Henry Potter breeds leeches at Streatham to supply the London hospitals.

1826 - Doulton and Watts begin making pottery from premises in Lambeth High Street.

1848 - Mass meeting of Chartists on Kennington Common to present a petition to Parliament

1853 - The Crystal Palace moves from Hyde Park to the Norwood Ridge and the surrounding area develops rapidly.

1880 - Clapham Rovers win the  FA Cup.

1898 - Charlie Chaplin leaves Kennington Road School to join a Clog Dancing Troupe, aged nine.

1902 - WG Grace plays at Streatham Cricket Club, known as one of the most attractive grounds in the country.

1936 - Lupino Lane sings 'The Lambeth Walk' in the show 'Me and My Girl', and it becomes an international dance craze.

1938 - Alfie Howard, Lambeth's Town Crier, attends his first function. He's still working at the age of 87 as this path is made.

1945 - Lambeth Baths receives a direct hit from a V2 rocket. Thirty seven people are killed in Lambeth's worst incident of World War II.

1948 - The Empire Windrush docks in Southampton, the post-war immigration from the West Indies begins and Brixton's black community flourishes.

1951 - The Festival of Britain and the redevelopment of the South Bank.

1981 - The Brixton Riots act as a catalyst for change and regeneration in the inner city.

1990 - Brixton produces its first Prime Minister, John Major.

2000 - Ken Livingstone, Lambeth born and bred, becomes London's first elected Mayor. The London Eye transforms the London skyline.

Walking with family: Green Park to Victoria Tower Gardens... and beyond

Theodore outside Buckingham Palace.

Saturday July 12, 2025.

Keilyn and I had planned today's trip a few weeks back, not realising how hot the day was going to be. But, instead of cancelling, we continued with our plans.

All aboard!

My grandson, Theodore, who will be eight in September, was dropped off just after 08:00 and, once lunches were made and snacks were packed, Emma ordered us a taxi to Watford Metropolitan station, ready for Theodore's first walk around London.

We changed to a Jubilee line train, at Finchley Road, which would take us to our starting point of Green Park.

Theodore's photo of Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial.

Even with our early start the temperature was already in the mid-twenties centigrade, so we kept to the shade of the trees, as we made our way towards Buckingham Palace. On Friday Keilyn had charged a digital camera, which we gave to Theodore, so that he could take some photos, too.

Theodore's photo of the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Walk marker.

From Buckingham Palace we entered St James's Park, still keeping to the shade. Squirrels, ducks, moorhens, coots, various breeds of geese and more were sheltering in the shade, as we made our way towards Horse Guards Parade, where we were going to see the guards.

Members of the Belgian military, and dignitaries, prepare for their parade.

As we reached Horse Guards Road, opposite King Charles Street, we noticed that barriers were in place, with a heavy police presence. There was also a large contingent of military uniforms, of all styles and ranks, but they weren't British Army. I politely asked one of the police officers what was going on. He informed me that it was the annual Belgian Cenotaph Parade, so Horse Guards Parade and Whitehall were closed off. 

With the various roads closed and diversions in place, we headed towards Birdcage Walk and continued to Parliament Square, where Theodore was excited to see 'Big Ben', taking some photos of the Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower.

Victoria Tower.

We passed the Palace of Westminster, before we entered Victoria Tower Gardens, where we sat on a bench, overlooking the River Thames, where we ate some of our rolls and snacks. Much of the gardens were still hoarded off, while archaeological works continued. The Horseferry Playground was open, so Keilyn and Theodore took to exploring that, while I looked after the bags. 

Keilyn and Theodore exploring Horseferry Playground.

Once they had finished exploring we crossed the River Thames, via Lambeth Bridge, passing the St Mary-at-Lambeth Church Tower and the Garden Museum, continuing along Lambeth Road until we reached Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park and the Imperial War Museum.

Theodore's photo of the Imperial War Museum, with its two 15-inch naval guns.

As we passed through the gates Theodore was immediately struck by what was in front of him. Two giant 15-inch naval guns, that are so massive that they dwarfed him. He took some photos before we headed inside, with Theodore almost tripping up the steps in his excitement.

Once inside, and we had made a donation to the museum, we headed towards the stairs and the atrium. Arriving at the ground floor Theodore was visibly impressed with the V2-Rocket, Harrier jet and Spitfire as we made our way towards a small yellow trolley, where we collected two 'Story Seekers' booklets. These booklets help children explore more of the museum as they try to find clues that will help them answer six questions. Each question has a photo of what they are looking for, making it slightly easier On completion they receive a stamp and a badge.

Theodore in a World War I uniform.

With booklets and pencils, in hand, we made our way into the 'First World War Galleries'. Keilyn and Theodore set about exploring and interacting with the various displays. Just before we entered the trench, with a British Mark V tank crashing over the top, they spotted the 'Story Seekers' sticker, and so were able to answer the first question. Then it was through the trench we crept, with Theodore resting briefly in a dugout, before we exited the gallery.

The pen used to sign the armistice between France and Germany.

Then it was up the stairs to the 'Second World War Galleries'. Theodore potted another 'Story Seekers' sticker, near a lifeboat from the 'SS Anglo Saxon'. He then read out the entire story of the boat, thus discovering the answer to another of the questions.

Keilyn, meanwhile, had noticed that we had passed another of the 'Story Seekers' stickers. This one was near a large bed sheet that a nurse had used as a diary to record her imprisonment, while in a Japanese prison camp.

Keilyn takes shelter beneath a bed.

Continuing on through the galleries we explored everything, looking for the next sticker. Passing into another part of the gallery Theodore spotted the sticker and began filling in the answer. Keilyn, who had been exploring a different exhibit, soon joined us, writing down the answer.

Skateboard Graveyard, Golden Jubilee Bridges

If you look down on the northeastern support of the Hungerford Bridge and Jubilee Bridges, across the River Thames, you will see the scattered remnants of broken skateboards. 

This is not just some random littering spot, but rather a memorial to a fallen skateboarder. 

Friday June 18, 1999.

Timothy Baxter and his friend, Gabriel Cornish, had spent the midsummer day skating over and around the concrete obstacles of the Undercroft, beneath Queen Elizabeth Hall.

In the evening they went for drinks, much like everybody else, and enjoyed the summer evening. As they headed home, a little after 04:00, via the Golden Jubilee Bridges, they were confronted by six strangers; three teenagers and three young adults; five male and one female.

The strangers took Timothy's rucksack and threw it into the cold water of the River Thames, before beating on Timothy and Gabriel. The last thing Gabriel heard, before passing out, was, "Let's throw them in the river. It will be fun."

The world's longest continually-used skate spot.

Gabriel survived, by using his rucksack to stay afloat, and was rescued two miles downstream with hypothermia. Timothy never regained consciousness and his body was recovered 36 hours later.

The six individuals were caught and charged with murder and attempted murder. In April 2000, following a ten-week trial, they were all found guilty and were sentenced to life imprisonment, in May 2000.