Prince Diana Walk - Part 2 - 3.2 miles

This walk starts where Part l left off, at Lancaster Gate Tube station. This half is more serene than the first, because it avoids many of the more crowded places and gardens. It visits some superb statues and takes you across vast expanses of parkland and along lakes which are rich in wild fowl.

In the second half you rejoin the hustle and bustle around Hyde Park Corner and Buckingham Palace to walk down the Mall past Clarence House, the home of the late Queen Mother.

At the end we deviate from the official memorial walk to pass between the Treasury and Foreign Office to walk up Whitehall past Downing Street and the Cenotaph.

If you have already done Part I you will know to look out for the Memorial Walk discs which point out the way.

1 Start.

Leave Lancaster Gate Tube station, cross Bayswater Road, turn R and then L through gates. At the Water Gardens go L then R by Queen Anne's alcove to walk with the water gardens (and Jenner's statue) on your R. Continue along Long Water until the path forks, here go L and, at the top of the rise, go through gates and turn L to walk around the Magazine and, after l00m go R over a road crossing and a horse ride to turn L. Take the next turning R towards a wooded area and go R in front of gates passing Hudson's memorial bird sanctuary and going straight ahead at the junction to join a narrow road where you go left up the hill to pass the Old Police House, the headquarters of the Parks' Constabulary, to reach cross tracks where the road curves to the L.

2. 0.7mile/1.1km

Go straight on to reach the crossing point of several paths marked by a tree emblem formed by pebbles on the ground (this is the site of a tree which was burnt down in the riots of 1866). Take the route to the R labelled 'Hyde Park Corner, the Bandstand' and pass a drinking fountain which commemorates the Children's Party of 1979 (180,000 children attended). Just past the end of the railings turn L and keep ahead over cross paths to reach a road and turn R. Here you should deviate slightly to examine the striking Four Winds Fountain.

3. 1.1 miles/1.7km

Continue down the road and again deviate to look at the magnificent statue of Achilles over to the L (the metal for this statue, erected to the memory of the Duke of Wellington, was obtained from a captured cannon). At the junction you will see the rather garish gates commemorating the Queen Mother over to the L but you go R at the barrier then L over the pedestrian crossing through the gates of the park across two more pedestrian crossings to the central island of Hyde Park Corner. Go under Wellington's Arch, cross the road by the traffic lights to reach the new memorial pillars at the top of Constitution Hill.

4. 1.6 miles/2.5km

Instead of walking down Constitution Hill, fork L going across other paths and passing the drinking fountain depicting Diana the Grecian Huntress on your L. Eventually you reach the blue and gilt Devonshire Gates which you pass but immediately turn R to walk up towards the Victoria Memorial. On reaching the wall of the memorial (with Buckingham Palace over to the R) turn L to reach the Mall where you turn L to walk down past Clarence House and turn R across the road at the first junction.

5 2.3 miles/3.7km

Go through the double gates of St James's Park walking ahead with flower beds on the R to cross a bridge over the lake and turn L (on the island you can often see pelicans amongst the hundreds of other water fowl). Towards the end of the lake fork L to follow the railings round. Now ignore the plaques on the ground to go straight ahead across the road, up the steps pass Clive's statue, to walk between the Foreign Office and the Treasury out into Whitehall where you turn L to walk up to Trafalgar Square, passing Downing Street on the way. On reaching the square look over to your R to find the entrance to Charing Cross Underground station.

Walk Information

Starting Point/Parking: Lancaster Gate Tube on the Central Line. You will finish at Charing Cross Tube on the Northern and Bakerloo Lines.

Distance: 3.2 Miles/5.1km.

Time: 2 hours.

Terrain: Good dry paths.

Refreshments: Kiosks on the route, several good pubs in Whitehall.

Public Toilets: At the start and at two places along the route: see map.

More Information: The London Royal Parks Office produces an excellent free leaflet with a map of the whole walk: 020 7298 2000. West Essex Ramblers: memberships and free programme of walks with leaders: 020 8524 2737 (Redbridge Group: 01708 456 771 and Lea Valley Friends: 020 8529 7328).