London Walks - Final

Top 3 Favorites:

3. Soho to Trafalgar Square

My 3rd favorite walk was the Soho to Trafalgar Square walk. Even though this was only the 2nd walk that I did while being in London, it has become one of my favorites. I loved walking through Soho and finding out what it is- because I have always heard so much about it. I also loved seeing London's Chinatown and seeing another culture of London. I think one of the reasons why I have loved this walk so much and why it has stuck out in my mind, is because throughout the past three months, I have made it back to Soho and to Trafalgar Square many times. It is a great part of town, in the center of many pubs, restaurants, plays, and shows. It is a really fun place- and I loved going on this walk!

2. Westbourne Park Station to Notting Hill

My second favorite London walk has to be the Westbourne Park Station to Notting Hill walk. I think part of the reason why I enjoyed this walk was because I led the walk. I really focused on reading all of the information and trying to get all that I could out of this walk. We walked along Portobello Road and we learned from the book how the quality of the merchandise and the stands improves as you walk along the road and down the market. Portobello market is such a fun market, and we got fun souvenirs and yummy food there. I really loved the atmosphere and the colorful buildings. Another reason why I liked this walk was that this was one of the first days that I started feeling closer with some of the girls. I loved this day out with them.

1. Bankside & Southward

My all time favorite walk was the Bankside and Southward walk. I ended up doing this walk two times because I loved it so much. The first time I went with Kinsey and Ashley; and the next time I went with a bigger group. The first time we walked around and really tried to understand all of the information and see all of the buildings around us. The second time I went on this walk, we took our time, saw the sights, and of course stopped at Borough market. If you haven't been to this market yet, you have to make sure to go there. It is so much fun and they have so many yummy treats and food. Besides the market, I loved seeing Shakespeare's Globe and of course seeing the Tower Bridge up close! Both times doing this walk have been so much fun, and I enjoyed it so much because I did it with my best friends! We're loving London!

Overall, I really did enjoy all of the walks that we had to do for this class, but those were my favorite three. I really liked this class because it got us out of the centre, and helped us see more of the city than just around our few common streets. I am so lucky to be here and can't believe that our time here in London is almost coming to an end! I will remember these experiences for the rest of my life.

#12 - Kew to Hammersmith

On Saturday afternoon, Kinsey, Ashley, and I finished up our last walk. We went on the Kew to Hammersmith walk, and even though it was a pretty day outside, it wasn't one of my favorites from the semester. We started out the walk by walking by the old church and by Kew Palace. One of my favorite parts was seeing the Strand-on-the-Green. I also liked reading about this and hearing that this is where Zoffany painted his Last Supper painting. Later, we walked past St. Nicholas's Tower and read about how many people were buried there. I enjoyed seeing the Thames, and learning that where we were was the halfway point of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race course. I wish that we could see the boat race, it would be really fun. The day out ended at Hammersmith Station (which is actually a really nice station & a big shopping place). It was a fun day with my friends, and even though it wasn't my favorite walk, we still enjoyed ourselves.

#11 - City East

A group of us started out this walk by riding bikes in the parks. It was such a sunny day outside which made it so fun, and made it so that the City East walk soon became one of my favorite days out in London! After riding our bikes around the city, we walked around the Tower of London again, which was really fun to see. We walked by many old buildings and businesses. One of my favorites was seeing the Royal Exchange Buildings. I found it very interesting as we read while we walked that they Royal Exchange was found in 1570 and was used as a meeting place for merchants. I also enjoyed seeing Tower 42- which is the tallest building in central London. As I looked up, I was surprised that this was the tallest building here. Later, we walked by the Guildhall, which we found out was heavily repaired after the Blitz and the Great Fire. We also saw where the Great Fire started. This was fun to read about and learn more about, especially because had just heard so much in our lectures and firesides about the Blitz and the Great Fire. We learned a ton from this walk, and as always, I had a fun day with my friends!

#10 - Lambeth & South Bank

Kinsey, Ashley, and I went on the Lambeth and the South Bank walk last week. Since our walk went right by the Somerset House & Courtauld Institute Gallery, we made a day out of it and spent some time at the gallery. It was a great day! This walk was really fun for me because it is right downtown, so we got to see the main part of London; and it is also kind of by where my mom and I stayed while she was here visiting. My favorite part was walking along the river and to see the London Eye. I found it interesting when we read the London Walks book that the Eye was put up to mark the millennium, and that it wasn't supposed to be permanent, but they decided to leave it up. I think that with the London Eye, it really completes the city; and without it, it wouldn't be the same. The whole walk was really fun, and I would have to say that this was one of my favorite walks.

[Picture of my mom & I when she was here]

#9 - Inns of Court

Last week Ashley, Kinsey, and I did the Inns of Court walk. This wasn't my favorite walk that we have been on, but it was still fun to get out into the city- especially when it was a nice and sunny day. We walked along Strand Street for a little bit, which was fun to see it in the day time. My favorite thing about the walk was walking along Field Court and seeing some gardens. I also loved hearing the story about Francis Bacon and how he was put in the Tower of London. It is so crazy to hear about the history in England, and then be able to see all of the things that people talk about. I really love it.

#8 - Regent's Park

This morning we went on the Regent's Park Walk. We went on the walk and then ended it by going to Camden Market. This has been one of my favorite days here in London. I loved walking next to the London Zoo and seeing Regent's Park. It really is amazing at how beautiful London is and how different each part of town is. We later saw Queen Mary's Gardens and it was actually really fun. The whole walk was really fun and interesting, but my favorite thing of the whole day was going to Camden Market. It was so close to this walk, so it was a perfect location. The market was amazing, and so unique! We found a lot of fun shops and got some lunch. It was a great day out in London today!!!!!

#7 - Bankside and Southward

Yesterday, me, Ashley, and Kinsey went on the Bankside and Southward walk. I saw a lot on this walk, and I really got a feel for the city. It was fun to walk along the River Thames. I can't believe how big it is! It was also really fun to see both the London Bridge and the Tower Bridge. I hadn't been over by the Tower of London since the beginning of our adventures here in London, so it was fun to be back in that area and experience London in a different way than we have. Another thing that I loved was seeing the Shakespeare's Globe. I thought it was cool! I loved this walk and loved spending the day with 2 of my best friends here in London!