Transport for London. The Jubilee Greenway. Section 1 of 10. Buckingham Palace to Little Venice. Section distance: 3.7 miles (6 kilometres). Introduction. The start of this route passes many of London's attractions and historic sites. There are cafes in Piccadilly, by the Serpentine in Hyde Park, along Bayswater Road and at Paddington Basin / Little Venice. There are toilets in Hyde Park, Little Venice and Rembrandt Gardens in Warwick Avenue. This section provides level walking on either pavements or paths and is easily accessible by public transport. Look out for the Jubilee Greenway discs in the pavement as you go round. Section start: Buckingham Palace. Nearest stations to start: Victoria , Green Park or Hyde Park Corner . Section finish: Little Venice. Nearest stations to finish: Paddington , Warwick Avenue .
Transcript
Transport for London.
The Jubilee Greenway. Section 1 of 10.
Buckingham Palace to Little Venice.
Section distance: 3.7 miles (6 kilometres).
Introduction. The start of this route passes many of London's attractions and historic sites. There are cafes in Piccadilly, by the Serpentine in Hyde Park, along Bayswater Road and at Paddington Basin / Little Venice. There are toilets in Hyde Park, Little Venice and Rembrandt Gardens in Warwick Avenue. This section provides level walking on either pavements or paths and is easily accessible by public transport. Look out for the Jubilee Greenway discs in the pavement as you go round.
Section start: Buckingham Palace.
Nearest stations to start:
Victoria , Green Park or Hyde Park Corner .
Section finish: Little Venice.
Nearest stations to finish:
Paddington , Warwick Avenue .
Directions.
Begin the journey, from outside Buckingham Palace and locate the first Jubilee Greenway disc in the pavement, which was unveiled by Her Majesty the Queen in 2012. Facing the Palace, go to the right, cross over and go up Constitution Hill, passing Buckingham Palace on the left-hand side and the splendid Canada Gate, erected in 1906, on the right.
Did you know?Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837 and today is the administrative headquarters of the Monarch. The Palace has 775 rooms including, 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms and 78 bathrooms. Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by The Queen, the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are open to visitors every summer.
At the top of Constitution Hill, the route passes the Commonwealth Gates. The Gates are four stone columns made in Portland Stone, each topped by a bronze urn, and with the names of those Commonwealth countries that gave their servicemen to help Britain in the Second World War - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Africa, Caribbean and the Kingdom of Nepal - carved into the sides.
Cross Hyde Park Corner at the controlled crossing, which also has a facility for horse riders as well (a relatively rare 'Pegasus' crossing).
From here many historical sites and memorials can be viewed. Most prominent is the Wellington Arch. Walk through the arch towards Hyde Park.
Cross by the controlled crossing towards the entrance and go through the left arch and enter Hyde Park via the grand entrance gates, passing Apsley House immediately on the right-hand side.
In Hyde Park, cross over South Carriage Drive and turn left along Rotten Row. There are information boards and maps dotted around the park as well as cafes and toilets.
Did you know?Hyde Park was created in 1536 by Henry VII for hunting and remained private until opened to the general public in 1637, by Charles Ist. The park was the place of the Great Exhibition of 1851 for which The Crystal Palace was constructed on the south side of the park. The general public did not want the building to remain in the park after the exhibition so architect Joseph Paxton raised funds and purchased it, moving it to Sydenham Hill in South London.
At Albert Gate a short diversion leads towards the Serpentine. Walk with the water to the right - with an optional side visit to the nearby Diana Memorial Fountain on the right. The Diana, Princess of Wales memorial, consisting of an oval stone ring fountain, is near the Serpentine Gallery, and just south of the Serpentine.
After the fountain, back on Rotten Row, go towards the Serpentine bridge, cross over the road - and take the path that veers slightly to the right and is open to cyclists. Go straight ahead towards The Broad Walk, The Round Pond and Kensington Palace.
Turn right up The Broad Walk (the wide avenue which leads north through the park) up towards Bayswater Road and Queensway. There are links here to The Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Walk.
Kensington Palace is to the left and the Round Pond to the right, a popular attraction with all ages, especially to sail toy boats. The route passes the Queen Victoria Statue, placed here for her Golden Jubilee in 1887, and a little later on the left, the Orangery, which was commissioned by Queen Anne as a great greenhouse in 1704, from original designs by Sir Christopher Wren. Further on, to the left, is the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground.
Did you know?Kensington Palace is another working Royal palace. Today it accommodates the offices and private apartments of a number of members of the Royal Family, including The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
At the end of The Broad Walk you should see the twin silver domes of Queensway Underground station in front. There are toilets just inside Kensington Gardens here - turn right and follow the boundary path about 50 metres.
Exit Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens at Black Lion Gate, cross Bayswater Road at the traffic lights, and turn right; Queensway Underground Station is on the left.
Cyclists should join the carriageway here, all the way through to Paddington Station.
Walk along Bayswater Road, going over three streets joining from the left-hand side (Queensway, Inverness Terrace and Queensborough Terrace).
Still on Bayswater Road, immediately after the Thistle Hotel, turn left into Porchester Terrace. Pass numbers 3 and 5 Porchester Terrace on the right, with a fine glass-domed conservatory, where a blue plaque commemorates the horticulturists John and Jane Loudon. Look out for the huge bottle-shaped plane tree by the pavement.
Keep walking along Porchester Terrace and after nearly 200 metres turn right into Craven Hill Gardens. The Uruguayan Ambassador's Residence is opposite. Although marked as a no-through road, Craven Hill Gardens has a cycle lane.
Go straight over to continue along Craven Hill Gardens, crossing Leinster Gardens on the left and Leinster Terrace on the right. Deviate briefly into Leinster Gardens on the left to find a Tube curiosity!
Did you know?Leinster Gardens has two false facades at numbers 23 and 24, constructed when the original Underground trains were steam-powered. Locomotives were fitted with condensers to reduce fumes, but 'venting off' was still needed in open-air sections to relieve the condensers and keep the tunnels free from smoke. In this upmarket area, the railway company hid this unsightly practice from residents behind a false facade. The facade is 5 feet (1.5 metres) thick with 18 blackened windows and the doors have no letter boxes.
Back to Craven Hill Gardens, go straight towards the trees which open out slightly on the left, and turn right into the road which becomes Craven Hill.
The route is now more or less a straight line towards Paddington. This road has many fine old buildings converted to apartments. Continue down Craven Hill, past the Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary on the right.
Staying on Craven Hill, cross Devonshire Terrace at the crossroads, after which Craven Hill becomes Craven Road. Proceed straight ahead, uphill along Craven Road.
Cross Gloucester Terrace, and pass some attractive mews to the left and right of Craven Road. Cross Westbourne Terrace at the pedestrian crossing and then, at the next pedestrian crossing, cross Eastbourne Terrace on the left with Spring Street on the right.
Craven Road leads into Praed Street. Continue straight ahead; the Hilton London Paddington Hotel is on the left, behind which is Paddington station itself. On the right-hand side of the road, observe the fine old entrance to Paddington Underground station, with the sign 'Metropolitan Railway' above it, now with shops underneath. The site is a historic one, having served as the London terminus of the Great Western Railway and its successors since 1838. Much of the current mainline station dates back to 1854, and was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Walk eastwards along Praed Street, to the corner of Paddington station. Immediately after the station, cross the road leading down into the station and turn left into London Street, following the side of the station, which becomes South Wharf Road.
Observe the Art Deco signs 'GWR Paddington', dating from 1932, on the left. St. Mary's Hospital is on the right.
Turn left into one of the hospital entrances and pass by Paterson Wing on the right. This cobbled path leads to the Paddington Branch of the Grand Union Canal. Paddington Station is to the left, behind a wall. Ahead loom some modern glass blocks silhouetted against the skyline. To the right is Paddington Basin.
Did you know?Paddington Basin is the terminus of the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal. It was opened in 1801 and chosen because of its position on the New Road which led to the east, providing for onward transport. In its heyday, the basin was a major trans-shipment facility, and a hive of activity. The Grand Union Canal is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 220 kilometres (137 miles) with 166 locks.
Cyclists are asked to dismount along the canal-side for a couple of hundred metres until reaching the big A40 road bridge. It is probably better to do this than take a longer, busier way around.
Sheldon Square is to the left (make a small detour for shops and to see the grassy steps in front of glass office buildings) and a pedestrian bridge across the canal is to the right. Do not cross the bridge; carry straight on along the canal. On the left are a group of smart restaurants and two sculpted men by Sean Henry (2003) facing each other, to celebrate walking.
The canal to the right has barges, and a Canal Riverside and Trust information panel.
Continue on under the Westway to arrive at the Pool of Little Venice.
Did you know?The Pool of Little Venice is a basin between the Regent's Canal and the Grand Union Canal, with an island called Browning's Island. The island is named after the poet Robert Browning, who lived as a widower at nearby Beauchamp Lodge in Warwick Crescent (now demolished). 2012 was the 200th anniversary of his birth.
The Jubilee Greenway follows the curve of Warwick Crescent on the left, with the water on the right. At Little Venice, continue ahead towards the ornate gold and blue bridge with little buildings at its side. Next to the bridge on the left is the cream-coloured Bridge House, which houses the Canal Cafe Theatre.
Take the ramp up to Westbourne Terrace Bridge Road.
