tourist question re walking in London
 

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.

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

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.

Many thanks for any help.

Bonnie

tourist question re walking in London
 

"clio22" wrote in message
om...
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.

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

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.

All of the above sound quite walkable. I suggest you check out this website:

www.multimap.com

I have zoomed in on Victoria station, if you can fit this URL in your
browser:

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.c...up.x=11&up.y=1

As a guide, the distance between Victoria Staion and Green Park underground
station is a 20 minute leisurely walk.

Tube stations are typically placed 1/2 to 1 mile apart, the spacing varies
much more than in other countries. But suffice to say, doing about 5 stops
takes around an hour, if that helps?


Many thanks for any help.

Bonnie

tourist question re walking in London
 

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.

[..snip..]

You will be fine with all of the examples you gave and indeed might be
surprised how little time they take to walk. From the Albert Hall
right across zone 1 to the Tower Of London on the other side is
probably less than five miles.

tourist question re walking in London
 

tourist question re walking in London
 

clio22 wrote:
[..]

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?

The transport authority for London (Transport for London or TfL) has a
Journey Planner which you can use to plan walking trips. It doesn't seem to
like requests for a "via" point in the middle of a walk, so you would have
to submit each section as a journey.

Go to
http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/use...T2?language=en

Enter your start and finish points. You can use station names such as
Victoria, or you can select a Place of Interest such as Trafalgar Square or
Houses of Parliament. Click on More Options and clear the ticks from all
Means of Transport (Rail services etc.). This will force it to offer
walking routes only. Change the walking speed from Average to Fast if your
walking speed is 20 minutes per mile, and set maximum walking time to, say,
60 minutes. Then click on Submit.

You will get an estimated time for the walk. If you click on Show These
Route Details, and then click on Start Map and/or End Map, you will get a
detailed street map (.pdf file) showing the recommended route.

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

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.

Victoria to the Royal Albert Hall via Hyde Park Corner is about the same
distance as from the Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre (straight down the
Champs-Elysées and through the Tuileries Gardens). Strand (Aldwych) to the
British Library is a similar distance.
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

tourist question re walking in London
 

tourist question re walking in London
 

"Richard J." wrote in message ...
clio22 wrote:
[..]

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?

The transport authority for London (Transport for London or TfL) has a
Journey Planner which you can use to plan walking trips. It doesn't seem to
like requests for a "via" point in the middle of a walk, so you would have
to submit each section as a journey.

Go to
http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/use...T2?language=en

Enter your start and finish points. You can use station names such as
Victoria, or you can select a Place of Interest such as Trafalgar Square or
Houses of Parliament. Click on More Options and clear the ticks from all
Means of Transport (Rail services etc.). This will force it to offer
walking routes only. Change the walking speed from Average to Fast if your
walking speed is 20 minutes per mile, and set maximum walking time to, say,
60 minutes. Then click on Submit.

You will get an estimated time for the walk. If you click on Show These
Route Details, and then click on Start Map and/or End Map, you will get a
detailed street map (.pdf file) showing the recommended route.

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

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.

Victoria to the Royal Albert Hall via Hyde Park Corner is about the same
distance as from the Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre (straight down the
Champs-Elysées and through the Tuileries Gardens). Strand (Aldwych) to the
British Library is a similar distance.

This Paris comparison proved to be even more useful than I realized.
It's just terrific! It gives me a much better grasp now when I look at
a London map.

Not only didn't I realize that the Journey Planner plotted walks, but
I didn't know it gave the times for the same. This is especially
helpful also.

Merci beaucoup, Richard!

tourist question re walking in London
 

Buy an A-Z of London!


"clio22" wrote in message
om...
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.

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

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.

Many thanks for any help.

Bonnie

tourist question re walking in London
 

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!

tourist question re walking in London
 

In article , clio22
writes
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.

Just as an aside to the helpful information you've already been given:

Walking is often the *best* way of seeing places. Indeed, I'd
recommend it as something far too few visitors do. You can plan some
delightful walks where you'll see far more than you would on the
Underground (obviously!).

Buy a book of "Saver" tickets for the buses (not valid on the
Underground). They cost GBP3.90 for six rides (valid indefinitely),
working out at 65p per ride, where the cash fare is GBP1. That way, if
you feel a bit tired or simply want to walk one way and bus it another,
you can just hop on the bus (which is *almost* as good as walking when
it comes to sightseeing, especially if you go upstairs!).

If you're familiar with Paris, they're the London Bus equivalent of the
Carnet.

Let's look at some examples:

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?
Yes and what a splendid walk that would be. You'll pass Westminster
Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Whitehall (and Downing Street), Saint
James's Palace and Buckingham Palace, the latter only passable on foot.

(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?
Even at a leisurely pace, that shouldn't fill a whole day. Unless, of
course, you get caught in the Museums at South Kensington, in which case
allow, oh a lifetime should suffice!

(3) How about from the Strand through the Inns of Court to
the British Library?
Less exciting than some.#

Instead try The Strand, along Fleet Street, via the Temple and into The
City (what Londoner's call "The City" is the "Square Mile" of the
ancient City of London, nowadays the capital's Financial District.
Here you'll find Saint Paul's Cathedral, a vast array of Churches and -
just beyond the boundary - the Tower of London.

The South Bank of the Thames is another interesting walk, from Southwark
via Tate Modern and the London Eye to Westminster Bridge.

I'm from New York City and am very familiar with Paris,
They're probably the only other two true "World Cities", so you need to
complete the set!

Have a very pleasant visit!
--
Ian Jelf, MITG, Birmingham, UK
Registered "Blue Badge" Tourist Guide for
London & the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk

tourist question re walking in London
 

This will determine whether I need to pick up 7-day
Travel Cards or just work with day offpeaks.

Just to make sure, did you notice there's a special Visitor Travelcard?
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/promo-visitor-overseas.shtml

I had one for Zone 1&2 each time I traveled to London, making things a
lot easier for me, as I never needed to care about daytime or whatever
but just could use the underground or a bus when I liked to.
Even if - or especially when - you're walking a lot, you'll be glad not
having to walk all the way.


Regards,
Joachim

tourist question re walking in London
 

Ian Jelf wrote:

In article , clio22
writes
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.

Just as an aside to the helpful information you've already been given:

Walking is often the *best* way of seeing places. Indeed, I'd
recommend it as something far too few visitors do. You can plan some
delightful walks where you'll see far more than you would on the
Underground (obviously!).

Buy a book of "Saver" tickets for the buses (not valid on the
Underground). They cost GBP3.90 for six rides (valid indefinitely),
working out at 65p per ride, where the cash fare is GBP1. That way, if
you feel a bit tired or simply want to walk one way and bus it another,
you can just hop on the bus (which is *almost* as good as walking when
it comes to sightseeing, especially if you go upstairs!).


snip

If noone else was going to do so, I would recommend the bus network.
Grab the Central London and other areas bus maps as soon as you can on
arrival, and that'll help plan your walks as the main roads even when
not served by a bus service are clear.

Also think about wandering along the Thames Path through west as well as
central and east London, and walking the parks, the canals, Hampstead
Heath, Epping Forest, Highgate Woods, and other 'green lung' areas.

If you can go further afield, London Transpire used to publish (and may
still do) a series of books entitled 'Country Walks". I picked up Book 1
(1974 edition priced at 50p) for 1 pound $1.60 in a second hand bookshop
in Pembrokeshire recently.

These walks range from around 5 to 10 miles, and are around the
periphery of the Underground network - which is mostly above ground
anyway, in terms of route mileage) - but still served by the red bus
network. Indeed there's also the country bus and Green Line networks to
consider .....


--
Dominic Pinto
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tourist question re walking in London
 

Dominic Pinto wrote:

Ian Jelf wrote:

In article , clio22
writes
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.



snipped

And I just came across http://www.beerintheevening.com/ which could be
quite useful in planning walsk and refreshment stops!

tourist question re walking in London
 

"Dominic Pinto" wrote in message
...

If noone else was going to do so, I would recommend the bus network.
Grab the Central London and other areas bus maps as soon as you can on
arrival, and that'll help plan your walks as the main roads even when
not served by a bus service are clear.

You can download them at:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/buses/buses_map.shtml

They are PDF files

tourist question re walking in London
 

In message , Dominic Pinto
writes

These walks range from around 5 to 10 miles, and are around the
periphery of the Underground network - which is mostly above ground
anyway, in terms of route mileage) - but still served by the red bus
network. Indeed there's also the country bus and Green Line networks to
consider .....
I haven't lived in London for 30+ years, and remember Green Line express
coaches well, I'd thought they'd finished when wide integration came in.
Are they still running as the express LT.. country buses then, or is
this something else?
--
Clive

tourist question re walking in London
 

In message , Dominic Pinto
writes
useful in planning walsk and refreshment stops!
I see what you mean.
--
Clive

tourist question re walking in London
 

Clive wrote:

In message , Dominic Pinto
writes

These walks range from around 5 to 10 miles, and are around the
periphery of the Underground network - which is mostly above ground
anyway, in terms of route mileage) - but still served by the red bus
network. Indeed there's also the country bus and Green Line networks to
consider .....
I haven't lived in London for 30+ years, and remember Green Line express
coaches well, I'd thought they'd finished when wide integration came in.
Are they still running as the express LT.. country buses then, or is
this something else?
--

see http://www.greenline.co.uk/

Green Line provides fast, frequent and friendly scheduled coach services
between London and the Home Counties. Stop off at this page now and plan
your journey using our Green Line timetables.

London Country Buses (until around 1970 part of London Transport) was
absorbed by the National Bus Company - see
http://www.ampyx.org.uk/lcountry/history.html - now all run in one form
or another by ARRIVA Crawley & East Surrey, ARRIVA East Herts & Essex,
ARRIVA The Shires and ARRIVA Kent Thameside, apparently.

tourist question re walking in London
 

"Henry" wrote in message ...
"Dominic Pinto" wrote in message
...

If noone else was going to do so, I would recommend the bus network.
Grab the Central London and other areas bus maps as soon as you can on
arrival, and that'll help plan your walks as the main roads even when
not served by a bus service are clear.

You can download them at:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/buses/buses_map.shtml

They are PDF files

Yes, I have these, thanks. Problem is they're not particularly legible
or utile in a printed 8.5x11 paper format.

The Tfl website has been quite responsive. They're mailing me bus map,
tube map, etc. They seem to be out of the walking maps, however. I'll
use the walking journey planner in the meantime, as suggested above.

I thank those who suggested various other walks. As a history scholar
I'll be doing quite a bit of walking in London. I just threw out those
few walks to get an idea of distance/what was walkable.

Bonnie