Favorite London neighborhoods to wander

Great article here on the website that you might find useful!
https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2019/05/london-non-touristy-tips/

Enjoy!

From an architectural viewpoint, I love wandering around the City - the contrast between the old churches and the spanking new skyscrapers is incredible.

It is hard to beat Hampstead Heath for a good walk. It has everything including a massive pergola and incredible views. Huge, so best done in chunks. Everything from a formal garden to wild woods, even swimming holes.

I’ll second Marylebone, by far my favourite neighbourhood. So many interesting stores and cafes.

Couple of neighborhoods others might not recommend. I’m offering them up because they are non touristy and I’ve explored both.

EALING;

Ethnically diverse. Non Touristy.

Easy access from Paddington Station.

Take a 12-15 minute train ride on a GWR train from Paddington to Ealing Broadway. You can use your Oyster. Exit the station and cross the road keeping the Shankee Pub on your left. Follow the path through the commons walking towards the small corner flower shop, turn left, cross over the railway overpass and you’ll find Ginger and Moore directly across the road from TK Maxx’s side entrance. Hopefully they’ll have put a sign up. In January they’d not yet done so. Good pastries, coffee and people watching from Ginger and Moore’s nearly floor to ceiling windows.

You can also tube to Ealing just takes much longer.

Or if into Pho and Vietnamese food then Pho Saigon is a must. Loved that place. Almost went nightly.

Lots of charity shops in Ealing and I enjoyed a nice stroll from Ealing Broadway to the venerable Drayton Court Hotel. Across the road from the Drayton is the cozy Cafe Leemo. Loved getting Snickerdoodles there.

The Haven Arms Pub was my local. It’s comfortable, traditional and Bella the black lab will make certain to say hello. Very quiet around 2pm. Would sit and read and catch up on emails!

There is a small but enjoyable Farmers Market is on Saturday. Opens at 9am.

By taking the tube from Ealing Broadway one morning enroute to Sloane’s Square I noticed a neighborhood that seemed interesting. On the way back from the Sacchi Gallery I got off at Turnham Green. Good choice!

Chiswick

Exited the station, turned left, admired the plants and flowers, walked under the overpass and meandered windowing shopping. Walked about 4-5 blocks to Chiswick High Road and meander some more. Nice lunch at Hare and Tortise. Very nice neighborhood.

Differing neighborhood looks to enjoy.

I too say meander through the Hampstead Heath. One of my favorite spots in London.

hey hey londonbound
how fun to travel together and have fun.
few things you can check with:
b-bakery.com (pastry and afternoon tea, bus tour)
streetsensations.co.uk (markets in london map)
sussexbloggers.com (check out town of rye - east sussex, a train ride from london)
aladyinlondon.com (day trips and walks)
walks.com (different walks on different days)
"little venice" people living on houseboats, so calm and peaceful when we went.
jasons.co.uk (a barge ride on regents's canal)
a few things if you're interested in. enjoy
aloha

I’ll put forward a sunny Sunday (best day) in Old Spitalfields Market and on to Brick Lane if its not miserable weather. Street food heaven, interesting foods from around the world, done well, at sensible prices. Plenty of trinkets to buy too... but it’s mostly about the food. 100+ places to try. Recommend Monty's Deli for a pastrami Ruben or Dumpling Shack for the pork soup dumplings in OSM, or Pigling Street for the most amazing roast pork in BL. Boxpark is also nearby for an amazing chicken burger at Coqfigther, get the ‘Original’. There is also a Dishoom nearby, amazing Indian food.

Ooh yes is you are needle women you must go to V V Rouleaux! Its an Aladins cave of ribbons and trimmings. Used to work there 20 years ago😀

Following Mike J's idea, if you do the Old Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane walk (highly recommended), be sure to go all the way up Brick Lane to the Beigel Bake (yes, that's how they spell it). It's a tiny remaining sliver of the old Jewish neighborhood, and the variety of the clientele is a show in itself.

We always enjoyed the walk from the Kew Tube Station to Kew Gardens. Lots of interesting houses and some neat /quirky shops. Then the Gardens!!!!

Putting in a request for a Trip Report including details on the visit to the Royal School of Needlework. I am an indifferent cross-stitcher but I love the history of needlework and looking at other people's hard labor, lol!

I think someone upthread mentioned the blog A Lady in London. I've done several of her self-guided walks and enjoyed them thoroughly. I am not much of a "wandered" so the structure works better for me.

I did this one starting at the end on Atherstone Mews and working backward. I did about half of it and then headed to Kensington Gardens.

https://www.aladyinlondon.com/2017/04/self-guided-walk-kensington-london.html

I've also done part of this Belgravia Walk - I often stay near the corner of Ebury Street and Elizabeth Street so it's close by. I've also done the London Walks walk of this area which was excellent as well. You get a lot more of the history and stories with those.

https://www.aladyinlondon.com/2018/07/belgravia-london.html?fbclid=IwAR10aR916U0ZiGA4OUOR0cUmrzSEWRrWHAGQ4bOVOfB9qBHjDX_7KtTq_o8

South Bank: Westminster to Southwark

Tow path from Little Venice to Camden. (same route as Jason.co.uk mentioned above)

princess and pam

thanks for the links to a lady in London. Using my local knowledge of Hampstead I've just looked to see what she wrote, and about Kensington. I must say she does a good job of photography and route choice. I'll do them in person when the sun comes back next month.... I just wish that they were not mostly ads - the nuggets are there but distracted by the ads.

Oh yes Nigel...the ads are very distracting in that blog. Recently it seems she has signed on to flog a couple of travel sites. I just ignore these posts as they seem all fluff and not as well-done as her walks series. I’ll be interested to know what you think after your walk!

Thank you! You all have been so helpful. Confirmed some of our own thoughts (Hampstead Heath) and pointed us in some new suggestions. Really appreciate it.

Pam, I'll let you know about RSN. They have an exhibition called The Embroidered Home that includes a look at the studios. I wanted to take a day class, but alas, won't happen this trip. Once I've finished paying off this adventure, perhaps I can sign up for an online course!

We're doing the same thing in early November. Take a look at London Walks' selection of walking tours. Many of them are in neighbourhoods that deserve a wander. Also look at wandering along the Thames in the some of the areas upstream of central London. Older pubs, gardens and houses in this area.

hey nigel
i remember you posting about the town of rye and looked so inviting. a friend sent me the lady in london blog and she wrote a little about it. thought of you. thanks
aloha

I was just perusing an e-travel guide from my library app...I'm very sure it was the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide, London 2019 (it's borrowed right now so I can't check...and I've looked at 2-3 London guides online) - it had walking routes for each district of London - showing a walking route past notable spots and it told you how long a walk it is - some were only 20 min, others 50-60 min. I just did screen shots of all of them in case we find ourselves in one of those areas with some time to kill.

You might check your local library, or if you use a reading/library app see if that's available and see if any of the walking routes interest you.

Just reading all this great advice.

Pam, which London Walk did you do in the Belgravia/ Knightsbridge area?

We stayed in Chelsea for ten days. It was hard to leave the neighborhood to see other areas of London. Charming, loved it there.