Walking with Keilyn: Victoria to Chelsea... and beyond

Tuesday February 17, 2026: Sunny with winds at 2 mph, 7°C (44.6°F)

Another day and another trip to London with Keilyn. This time Keilyn wanted our trip and what we would visit to be a surprise, so I planned a route in secrecy,

A taxi dropped Emma, Keilyn and myself at Watford Metropolitan station, while Erin remained at home as she was going out with her friends, later in the day. Emma, meanwhile, was off to see her parents in Chesham, so left the train at Moor Park, leaving Keilyn and I travelling onward.

We boarded a Jubilee line train, at Finchley Road, and took it to Green Park, where we changed to a Victoria line train to Victoria.

On exiting the station we headed southwest, along Buckingham Palace Road, passing Victoria coach station, the National Audit Office and the offices of the British Transport Police, before turning up Pimlico Road. 

A beautiful drinking fountain, a sculpture of St George and the Dragon and a wonderful statue of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were spotted as we made our way ever westward. 

Pimlico Road brought us onto Royal Hospital Road, with the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary and Cemetery to our left, followed by the Royal Hospital Chelsea. As Keilyn is now a fully fledged Army cadet I had decided that I would take her to the building next to the Royal Hospital... The National Army Museum.

After the obligatory photo with the Challenger 2 tank, which stands outside of the museum, we headed inside to begin our exploration. 

York Square Gardens: The Inspiration for Albert Square, Walford

York Square Gardens, the inspiration for Albert Square, Walford.

In the Limehouse area of London's East End, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, is York Square Gardens. This square, which is similar to many other residential squares in the East End, has a unique claim to fame.

Back in 1984, following a lot of scouting for suitable locations, York Square Gardens and the surrounding streets were chosen as the inspiration for 'Albert Square', Walford, in a new soap opera that the BBC were going to broadcast.

EastEnders first aired on BBC One 41 years ago today, on February 19, 1985.

The Queen's Head, the inspiration for The Queen Victoria pub in EastEnders.

York Square Gardens is much larger than its television counterpart, but the similarities are quite easy to spot.

Both have terraced houses surrounding a green square, with roads surrounding the open space. While the fictional 'Albert Square' has 'The Queen Victoria' pub, York Square Gardens has two: 'The Old Ship' and 'The Queen's Head', the latter of which is the inspiration for 'The Queen Victoria'.

Walking with friends: London Bridge to Rotherhithe... and beyond

Monday February 16, 2026: Sunny spells with light showers, winds at 4 mph, 10°C (50°F)

I made my way to London, via the Metropolitan and then Jubilee line, and arrived at London Bridge station, where I met up with my friend Ashley. It had been a long time since we had seen each other, let alone made a walk together, so I was excited for this one.

Our walk began by visiting the King's College London Guy's Campus, where we saw one of the few remaining pedestrian alcoves from the old London Bridge. We left the campus and made our way along Newcomen Street, where I pointed out the coat of arms affixed to the wall above the door of 'The Kings Arms' pub. This massive coat of arms was once above the entrance to the southern entrance to the old London Bridge. From here we made our way up Borough High Street towards London Bridge, where we joined The Queen's Walk, heading east.

We stopped for a drink at 'The Vault 1894' , which is situated beneath the southern approach of Tower Bridge. The window offers a unique perspective of the River Thames and Tower Bridge. Suitably refreshed we began our walk.

We made our way along Shad Thames, which was empty of people, before we made our way onto the waterfront walk by Butler's Wharf. Relics of the history of the wharves are placed at irregular spots along this pedestrianised thoroughfare, that include propellers, anchors and the such. There are also a few pieces of public art, like 'Exotic Cargo' by Peter Randall-Page.

'Crutched Friars' by Michael Black

The Crutched Friars.

On the corner of Crutched Friars and Rangoon Street, built into the corner of a building, you will find this statue of two friars. But, what is their story?

The Statue.

Erected in 1985, the statue is made of red granite, marble and bronze and was created by the sculptor Michael Black.

The Crutched Friars: A brief history.

The Crutched Friars were a Roman Catholic religious order, who first came to England in 1244. They asked the Diocese of Rochester if they could settle in the country and, on being granted approval, founded their first house in either Colchester or Reigate, on which books you read, in 1245. They were a branch of the Belgian Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross.

They also settled in Barham, Brackley, Great Welnetham, Kildale,Oxford, Wotton-under-Edge and York, among other places.

Margaretness Pillbox

A World War II pillbox along the River Thames.

Walking along the Thames Path there is always something new to see or discover.

It was while walking east, from Crossness, that I first saw this World War II-era pillbox. It is typical of the time and was used as an observation post, with a wide 'window' which offered a wide field of vision.

There were many versions of pillbox design, with different areas and counties having their own specific design. This one was adapted, at some point, to be fitted with an anti-aircraft gun. This, obviously, has been removed.

This pillbox has a wide field of vision.

Brief History.

Pillboxes were small, hardened concrete bunkers with loopholes for firing weapons, designed as fixed firing positions. They were part of a network of defensive structures, built in the late 1930s and early 1940s, to defend against a potential enemy invasion and to protect key sites.