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A London Walk: From South Kensington to World’s End

True summer has finally arrived in London. Evenings are warmer this week, so I decided to take the long way home and make the best of it before it sneaks away again. The morning light made even two of the ugliest buildings I pass on my morning commute somewhat charming (first two photos below).

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Earlier in the day, I spent lunch break with a colleague wandering around the Natural History Museum (which I’ve written about before, during the colder winter months).

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

As many times as I walk past this stunning building, I never find it any less impressive with its gargoyles perched along the front, its curlicue gates and intricate detailing. Indoors, beneath the amazing ceiling and cool tile patterns on the floor, Dippy the Diplodocus takes centre stage.

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

I headed down into Chelsea on my walk home, down charming Clareville Grove and past the grand white columned houses and ice cream cone chimneys of Onslow Square.

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

I detoured down Sydney Street where we used to live and into St. Luke’s Gardens where the roses are starting to whither and there were plenty of empty benches on which to sit and reminisce. There was always early morning tea and a book in the grass, our engagement in the rose gardens, and the spring days when the cherry blossom petals flutter through the air like pink confetti.

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

I could spend forever in this well-cared-for nook, tucked away from the bustle of the King’s Road, a slight breeze flowing through. It is, as I’ve said before, quite possibly my favourite place in all of London.

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

And what better route to head west than down along the Chelsea Embankment? Though it is traffic-filled, I love the walk along my old running walk down Oakley Street (for which our Oakley the cat is named) from Kings Road to the Thames with the brick mansions, leafy side streets and finally the boy and dolphin sculpture at the end.

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

The Albert Bridge was looking marvelous as always, stretching over the river to the summer green lushness of Battersea Park, with its Candy Land pastels in pink and green, framed by the trees that grow along the bank and the carved lampposts that line the walk.

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

I wonder how many times I’ve walked over that bridge, under bright blue skies and at night with its charming fairground lights.

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

On the side of the street opposite the river a little ways down is the medieval mansion of Crosby Hall. It was originally built in Bishops’s Gate in the 1400s but I believe it’s now privately owned in its current location. It has a long and interesting history, so head over to Google if you want a longer read.

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Battersea Bridge came next, with its tall lamp posts, rumbling red buses and commuters heading home one way or the other, joggers dodging past. I stopped to watch the mesmerising ripples from passing boats, the reflections, not quite as colourful as they are in the inky black water at night.

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Just past the bridge, a community of colourful houseboats line up, anchored in place with a long boardwalk for the residents to come and go.

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Across the street, the seven hulking brown tower blocks of the World’s End Estate.  I wouldn’t mind one day looking across the city from one of the “streets in the sky” that connect the buildings. It must be an amazing view.

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

When I used to live on Finborough Road nearby back in 2010, I would often wander the few minutes down here and sit by the river in Cremorne Gardens.

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A London Walk from South Kensington to World's End by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

I didn’t take many photos from the rest of my walk down to Fulham, so I’ll leave you there for now!

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9 Comments

  • Reply
    Amanda Aude
    July 20, 2016 at 8:31 pm

    London is so dreamy!! Love your photos. I visited a few years ago and tried to cram in as much as possible, but my visit just wasn’t long enough. I love the shot of the purple flowers and the purple house!

    • Reply
      littleobservationist
      July 21, 2016 at 8:20 pm

      Thanks so much Amanda. Definitely stay for longer if you can next time. I’ve been here almost a decade now and still so much to explore…

  • Reply
    Mia Sutton
    July 20, 2016 at 9:15 pm

    Wow, these photos are breathtaking!! I haven’t been to London before, but I absolutely would love to go.

  • Reply
    Rebecca Hicks
    July 21, 2016 at 3:59 pm

    You are an amazing photographer! I love all the details you captured and it made the city come alive. I want to go back to London so bad now!!

  • Reply
    Colleen | ColleenWelsch.com
    July 21, 2016 at 5:59 pm

    Wow girl your city photography is top notch! London looks so cool…so different from what I’m used to seeing every day! I want to go to there!

    COLLEENWELSCH.COM | An LA Lifestyle Blog

    • Reply
      littleobservationist
      July 21, 2016 at 8:24 pm

      Thanks so much Colleen! 🙂 I haven’t been to LA in years. I’d love to get over there again one day and hope you make it to London too!

  • Reply
    mccormic
    July 22, 2016 at 4:35 pm

    I’ve never done this walk, Steph. I’ll have to head that way next summer. Have you read Jeanette Winterson’s latest? Titled The Gap of Time, she’s redone A Winter’s Tale. Top notch.

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