On 27 Oct 2003 12:04:56 -0800, (clio22) wrote:

Hi,

I'll be visiting London for the first time and, as such, can't gauge
what's walkable. This will determine whether I need to pick up 7-day
Travel Cards or just work with day offpeaks. I'm a decent walker, but
not ready for primetime marathon walking.

I'll be staying in Victoria Station. So far it doesn't look like I'll
be sightseeing out of Zone 1 except for several sidetrips that
wouldn't be covered by a Travel Card, anyway.

You can get walking maps for Central London from TfL Travel Information
Centres - there is one at Victoria Station beside one of the main
entrances to the Main Line Station. The maps show all the interesting
buildings and show designated walking routes.

http://www.transportforlondon.gov.uk...ing/home.shtml might be
a place to start!

I'm trying to find out what's walkable. For example, (1) can I walk
from Victoria Station to Trafalgar Square, stop/rest/eat, and then
walk through Picadilly/St James, Hyde Park Corner to return to VicSta?

no problem whatsoever. Lots of parkland and interesting sites to look
at. I often walk between two offices at St James Park and Leicester Sq -
takes 20-25 mins and I'm not a very fast walker. As you're a visitor you
can amble along and enjoy the vistas - St James Park, The Mall,
Buckingham Palace, Horseguards Parade, Admiralty Arch, Trafalgar Square.

(2) Can I walk from VicSta to and through Hyde Park and Kensington
Gardens down to Albert Hall, then back to VicSta as a day's walk, with
rest stops?

no problem.

(3) How about from the Strand through the Inns of Court to
the British Library?

No problem at all.

I'm from New York City and am very familiar with Paris, so if it's
easier to juxtapose the walks I asked about to similar distances in
these two cities, that would also be very helpful.

Well I suppose Victoria to Trafalgar Square might be equivalent to 34th
Street to Greenwich Village or possibly Jardin de Tuileries to 2/3s of
the way up the Champs Elysees. Just a lot more scenic in London :-)

HTH.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!