London Parks Walk

Saturday 3 January 2026.

I hope that you had an enjoyable festive season. This walk is approx. 7 miles, with the morning longer than the afternoon.

Meet at 10am opposite Lambeth North tube station below the large bill board. Lambeth North is on the Bakerloo Line (or a few mins walk from Waterloo Station). Buses 12, 453, 53, 148, 159 and 59 also stop close by.

The walk will take us through several parks, small and large, starting with the Archbishop’s Park and finishing at Holland Park. I expect it to be busy in some areas, especially St. James Park and in Hyde Park with the Winter Wonderland in full swing. Some of the parks have loos, they are not free; charges vary and are payable only by cards/electronic means – no cash.

Lunch: We’ll stop in Bayswater (Lancaster Gate). We usually go to the ‘The Mitre’ in Craven Terrace. [NB: I’ve not made a reservation as their booking system has changed requiring my card details as a payment guarantee which I did not wish to do]. The Mitre has plenty of tables so we should be fine to get seats. But if it’s busy there is another option to go to ‘The Swan’ in Bayswater Road. There’re also a couple of cafes nearby. For picnic: there are benches by the Kensington Garden fountains, just a few minutes’ walk to any of the lunch venues.

The Mitre menu: https://www.themitrehydepark.com/food-drink

The Swan menu: https://www.swanhydepark.co.uk/food/menus

Drop-out: There are options to drop out at various points.

Wishing you a very happy and healthy new year.

Sigrid

[PS: anyone wishing to submit photo comp material on a USB stick (with your name on it, please), this will be your last chance to hand them over – I’ll collect on behalf of Christine R; closing date for online submission is 6 January]