Walking London

by Andrew Duncan

"Walking London" is the essential companion for any urban explorer - visitor or native - committed to discovering the true heart of one of the world's greatest capital cities. In 30 original walks, distinguished historian Andrew Duncan reveals miles of London's endlessly surprising landscape. From wild heathland to formal gardens, cobbled mews to elegant squares and arcades, bustling markets to tranquil villages - Duncan reveals the pick of the famous sights, but also steers walkers off the tourist track and into the city's hidden corners. Handsomely illustrated with specially commissioned colour photographs and complete route maps, the book provides full details of addresses, opening times and the best bars and restaurants to visit en route.

Genres: Travel, London, Nonfiction, Reference, History

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1996

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew “Swift Shoes” Duncan has mapped out 30 strolls in and around London proper. From the short jaunt thru Covent Garden (2 miles) to the Bataan death march of Highgate to Hampstead and back (13 miles), there is something here for almost everyone. There are panoramic walks and waterside walks and shopping walks and garden walks and country walks and village walks and… I’m almost out of breath just thinking about them.

Walking London not only has descriptive bits about the local landmarks but there’s also a modest amount of London’s storied history intertwined with the thoughtfully planned hikes and amblings here. I learned things about the Great Fire of 1666 and the Blitz of WWII that I never knew. Plus, I am no longer completely ignorant of the likes of Sir Christopher Wren and Samuel Pepys and John Nash (for the record, I was already well aware of Charles Dickens—Americans aren’t worldly but some of us are semi-literate).

As much as I enjoyed this, the true test will be two months from now when I actually set foot (pun intended) in London. Four stars for now but I respectfully reserve the right to bump this rating up (or down) upon my return.

Thank you Mr Duncan for a most enjoyable read!

[Mark Speed · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are few better ways to get to know a city than to walk it. My parents bought me this for Christmas 2000, after I'd been living here for a year or two. There are some terrific walks in here - long and short, central London, greater London, parks, city... All of them are graded according to ease, and have interesting pointers about the historical sights on the way.

You're going to ask what my favourite was, aren't you? Well, since you ask, I rather liked the one along the Regent's Canal. Not a thoroughfare you'd ever think of walking for any great distance. It takes you past some amazing things, including right through the heart of London Zoo (from which you're separated). Do it in the spring, when the blooms are on the trees.

[Kariss Ainsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

FInally finished all the alks in this book and loved it! SO many great finds to so many parts on London I wouldn't usually go

[Maddie Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would be very helpful if I were to actually take it to London, I think. But it was also published in 1999 and I imagine some landmarks may have changed. With the last walking guide, I felt there needed to be more descriptions. This is quite literally a step by step walking guide and maybe 25 photos - so I need a happy medium. The neighborhood maps were helpful!

[Kevin de Ataíde]

Excellent guide to London; easy-to-follow instructions to follow precise routes through the city. This book is a walking history lesson for everyone, even London residents. Especially London residents. By far, the best routes I managed to take were through Marylebone, Chelsea and around Covent Garden. To look forward to are Notting Hill, Islington and the City East.



Walks completed: Kensington, Chelsea, Bayswater to Belgravia, Central Parks, Regent's Park, Marylebone, Mayfair, Westminster and S. James', Soho to Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Lambeth and the South Bank, Fleet Street and S. Paul's, Greenwich.



Walks remaining for a future date: Notting Hill, Regent's Canal, Bloomsbury, Inns of Court, Islington, Clerkenwell, Bankside and Southwark, the City (East), Wapping to Limehouse, Kew to Hammersmith, Barnes to Fulham, Highgate to Hampstead.



Walks too distant to be considered: Windsor and Eton, Hampton Court, Syon Park to Strawberry Hill, Richmond, Dulwich.



Seven more words and this is a super review.

[Jeroen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Did most of the walks. Very nice to see things that you normally would miss completely, like little streets and stairs. Not all the walks are equally interesting, which will depend on your interests. In a few cases the instructions are not always clear. Sometimes it mentions interesting things of the route and it is not always very clear that this will take you off the route. Will try to do another similar book next year.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Routes are clear and information helpful, but it's neither one of those "pocket" guides (i.e., easily carried) nor a voluminous "read all about it" guide -- in truth, I prefer one or the other type. This one strikes a middle ground.

[RinTinTin]

There's some interesting sites and routes in here. I wish the walks had been more easily adaptable for scenarios where you would want to start in the middle of the walk/adjust the route, but it has a nice range of neighborhoods.

[Wan Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful tool: enjoy it; informative easy to follow guide book.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this through but not done all the walks yet. Love the companion, earlier volume Secret London.