Out & About Gay Group - Exploring London and the South East

The Historic Houses, Gardens, and Walks Gay Group

WALKS THROUGH THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS OF LONDON AND VISITS TO HISTORIC HOUSES AND GARDENS IN THE HOME COUNTIES

The group aims to bring together gay people who are interested in the history and architecture of London and the Home Counties. It has been operating for about ten years. The programme consists mainly of walks in the various districts of London, though there may also be occasional visits to historic properties, museums and gardens.

There is no membership fee nor any charge for the walks. Also, there is no need to book in advance The emphasis is on informality. The Sunday walks usually begin at about 2.0 p.m. (1.30 p.m. during the winter months) and last about a couple of hours, usually finishing at a convenient pub. (The pub attendance is not compulsory!) Typically 30 plus people attend these walks. The mid-week walks usually start at 11.0 p.m. and finish at a local pub for lunch (though once again the pub lunch is not obligatory). As the mid-week walks usually have only about a dozen people, these walks may include a visit to a museum or other building of interest en route.

Walks normally start and finish near an Underground, Overground, DLR, or Rail station, though very occasionally a short bus journey may be involved. It is most unusual for a Sunday walk to be cancelled because of the weather, but in the case of the Wednesday walks during the winter months, please do ring 020 8989 5295 on the evening before, or on the morning of the walk, or check the website, if there seems any doubt.

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

Sunday 12 February 2012 – Regents Park and St John’s Wood Walk. Click here for details.

Sunday 11 March 2012 – An East End Ramble – Whitechapel to Aldgate

Wednesday 21 March 2012 – A Stroll through Petersham and Ham

Sunday 15 April 2012 – A Stroll from Westminster to Holborn

Wednesday 25 April 2012 – Geffrye Museum and Gardens

Sunday 13 May 2012 – City of London Cemetery (Manor Park)

Wednesday 23 May 2012 - Woolwich Arsenal Gardens

Sunday 10 June 2012 – A Kensington Walk

Wednesday 20 June 2012 – Chelsea Creek and Chelsea Harbour

Sunday 8 July 2012 – A Walk through Old Street and Hoxton

Wednesday 18 July 2012 – A Walk in Forest Hill, including the Horniman Gardens and Museum

Sunday 12 August 2012 – A Walk from Kentish Town to Hampstead

Wednesday 22 August 2012 – A Walthamstow Walk, including the Vestry House Museum and William Morris Gallery

Sunday 9 September 2012 – A Barnsbury Walk

Wednesday 19 September 2012 – An Enfield Walk

St John’s Wood Walk – Sunday 12 February 2012

Licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

As the name implies, St John’s Wood was once a wooded area owned by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem. The area developed in the 19^th century with the formation of Regent's Park and the construction of the Canal. There are attractive buildings in a wide variety of styles to be seen. Church Street is lined with stalls and shops, including antiques shops. The former churchyard of St John's Wood Church has been made into a pleasant park. The London Central Mosque with its copper dome and minaret was built in 1977. The area is however perhaps best known as the site of Lords Cricket Ground and as the home of someone who never existed, namely Sherlock Holmes, who lived at 221B Baker Street with Dr Watson his friend and Mrs Hudson his housekeeper.

The walk starts at Baker Street tube station, skirts Regents Park, and eventually finishes near St John’s Wood station.

Please meet near the exit/entrance to Baker Street tube station on Baker Street – The Station Arcade – next to Boots at 1.45 p.m. Please however avoid blocking the pavement.

For detailed directions of the walk click here.

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar

Transport for London Journey Planner

MORE INFORMATION

020 8989 5295 or 07785 773917

To be added to the circulation list for regular updates email: info@outandabout-london.org

Updated: 1 February 2012