Bob Lillie's Travels: A Stroll through London

One day I decided to walk from Westminster up to Bayswater through three of London's parks, A short stroll, I thought! It took three hours on a quite warm day.

After leaving Westminster I walked a little way along Birdcage Walk to St James's Park Lake

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._James%27s_Park

Where there were Pelicans as well as ducks and swans

Past Duck Island Cottage

To the Mall

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mall,_London

and thence to Buckingham Palace

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckingham_Palace

I then walked through Green Park towards Hyde Park towards the Wellington Arch on Hyde Park Corner. The Wellington Arch is named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington_Arch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Wellesley,_1st_Duke_of_Wellington

Apsley House, the London Townhouse of the Dukes of Wellington, is nearby.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apsley_House

The Equestrian statue to the Duke of Wellington is between the Arch and the House.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_statue

From there I walked int Hyde Park and along the Banks of the Serpentine, a lake in the Middle of the Park towards Bayswater

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Park,_London

Along the way I met this fearless Squirrel who appeared to be begging for food! It was certainly not afraid of me and waited patiently for me to take a photo.

Looking towards Bayswater Road and Lancaster Gate

An Italian Garden at the head of the Serpentine

As I mentioned before I worked in the British Civil Service from 1967 to 1970. In those years I lived in a hostel for young civil servants in Leinster Gardens.

The Hostel. I think that it is either a Hotel or apartments now

My local pub in those days, the Leinster Arms. It looks a lot more salubrious today!

Queensway, not far from Leinster Gardens looking towards Bayswater Tube Station and the Barclays Bank I used to frequent.

On another day I took a river trip down the Thames from Westminster Pier to Hampton Court

We passed the famous Battersea Power Station, immortalised on the Cover of the Pink Floyd Album Animals which featured a large pink pig floating over the building. It is now closed and is being redeveloped.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battersea_Power_Station
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHIqfArjyt8

A little further upstream we passed the London Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park

a lifeboat sped past us near Kew

The Thames at Kew. The tide was out at this point so the water levels were very low. When we came back upstream the tide was in and it was an exceptionally high tide!

All that is left of the historic Royal Palace in Kew Gardens, Home of King George II and King George III.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kew_Palace

Heading towards the first lock Richmond. When we returned, the sluice gates were lifted and we were able to bypass the Lock

In the lock

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Lock_and_Footbridge

Richmond. When we returned the terraces in front of the pubs were under water
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond,_London

The Royal Star and Garter Home in Richmond
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Star_and_Garter_Home,_Richmond

Approaching the famous Eel Pie Island. There was a pub here which was renowned as a venue for the emerging Rhythm and Blues Groups and artists of the Mid 1960s, such as The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds and Pink Floyd
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eel_Pie_Island