As many of you know, London is my home and west London is where I have lived for most of my life, my walks are informal, full of interesting and unusual facts and, most of all, are to be enjoyed.  It has been frustrating not being able to continue with my walks since March but now that some of the restrictions have been lifted, I am starting my tours again but will limit numbers to six people, contact me for the meeting venue and a donation of £5 is suggested which goes towards supporting local charities.  As these charities have suffered over recent months due to the lockdown, any additional donation is very welcome.

• Saturday 24 October 10 am:  PUTNEY HEATH  This is a new walk, and I mean ‘a good walk’ but with history, starting at the Heath at the top of Putney Hill and wending past Roehampton and finally to the old burial ground tucked behind Putney High Street.
• Monday 26 October 10 am:  CHELSEA RIVERSIDE  The river was where so many famous artists had their studios, the walk takes us past the famous Royal Hospital, through the old village of Chelsea and finally along part of the busy King's Road.
• Thursday 29 October 10 am:  THE ARTISTS OF HOLLAND PARK   Some of the most famous British artists of the Victorian era lived in houses designed by the top architects of the day in this quiet corner of Kensington's Holland Park.
• Saturday 31 October 10 am:  SANDS END  This little known part of Fulham is undergoing amazing redevelopment and gardens now replace many of the former factories and warehouses which once lined the river's bank.   
• Saturday 7 November 10 am: ASKEW ROAD  Due to popular demand, I am doing this walk again, it is a perfect way for local residents to discover how fields and orchards gave way to laundries and brickworks and finally…. their home  Walk now fully booked
• Tuesday 10 November 10 am:  WEST KENSINGTON  new walk - During the nineteenth century a couple of speculative builders developed former orchards and market gardens and it became home to a famous artist, a family of musicians, several authors and an otter (and his owner), St. Paul's Boys School and the depository for a well-known London store.
• Thursday 12 November 10 am:  CHELSEA and north of the King’s Road.   Wending through Hans Town to the soaring tower of St. Luke’s church, the walk returns to Sloane Square passing the iconic Pheasantry and the street where John Le Carre’s George Smiley lived.
• Saturday 14 November 10 am:  RICHMOND   This is one of my favourite walks, it takes around two and a half hours but after exploring the hidden lanes and streets of old Richmond it is worth walking up the hill to enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the River Thames.
• Wednesday 18 November 10 am:  HAMMERSMITH RIVERSIDE.  From traffic free Hammersmith bridge to Chiswick’s boundary, fine houses and fishermen’s cottages jostle for space along this delightful stretch of the Thames.
• Saturday 21 November 10 am:  FULHAM  Once known as 'the market garden of London' in time orchards gave way to houses and shops, a polo ground and a womens' prison.
• Monday 23 November 10 am:  PORTOBELLO ROAD.  Learn why the road is so named, how the now famous market has grown over the last 150 years and where one of the country’s well known authors once lived.
• Thursday 26 November 10 am:  CHISWICK MALL AND RIVERSIDE.  Fine houses line this riverside walk, famous people rest in the graveyard of St. Nicholas church and as traffic rushes along a major road, tucked away nearby is one of the smallest square in London
• Saturday 28 November 10 am:  PUTNEY RIVERSIDE  The walk takes in Putney’s riverside where Thomas Cromwell was born in 1485 and grand houses once stood in Tudor times.   Former country lanes leading to the  river have now been absorbed into picturesque Victorian streets whilst alms houses have been in the same location since the 17^th century.   Learn about The Putney Debates, the history behind the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race and the lasting legacy given to Putney by a generous Victorian publisher.

• PRIVATE WALKS
• If you would like a private walk, maximum six people, I am very happy to arrange this for a day and time to suit you, email me for more information.

I have also written some books which take you on a photographic and historical trip around west London and make a perfect gift so do contact me if you would like a signed copy, special price £20.   The six titles in the “Wild about” series cover the following areas:   Chelsea, Fulham, Hammersmith and Brook Green, Shepherd’s Bush and Askew Road, Notting Hill and North Kensington, Richmond and Kew.

Caroline

Click on the arrow below to listen to the podcast I recently recorded for Radio Gorgeous.   Sorry about the advertisement at the beginning but am unable to remove it.