This is the second half of an 9 mile circular walk around Kensington, Holland Park, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park and another of the walks from Inner London Ramblers.
The walk starts from where I left off the previous week, the Italian Water Gardens in Kensington Gardens. Then along Peacock Walk by the Long Water down to The Arch, a sculpture by Henry Moore with the distant Kensington Palace framed by it.
Here I left Kensington Gardens via the Magazine Gate, passing the former Magazine which is now the Serpentine Stickler Gallery and the remains of the Middle Bastion. Hyde Park is entered and a memorial to the naturalist W H Hudson. The path continues past the Park Police Station and eventually reaches The Reformers Tree, a former tree remembered in black and white cobbles and signpost arrows around the park, currently fenced off which somewhat spoils it appearance.
Workmen are clearing up after Winter Wonderland and this part of the park is currently fenced off - and although it was supposed to be re-opening in a couple of days it looked quite a quagmire inside. So I had to follow the alternative route given in the guide up to Speakers Corner, itself made harder with serious works going on around that, to pick up the avenue of plane trees leading to Hyde Park Corner.
The Broadwalk down to Hyde Park Corner is quite pleasant and very busy. Half way down is the Four Winds fountain, by T B Huxley-Jones, unveiled in 1963 as Joy of Life.
At Hyde Park Corner is the Achilles Statue commemorating the victories of the Duke of Wellington. Then into and through the Rose Garden and the Boy on a Dolphin fountain created in 1862.
Joining the Serpentine I walked along its southern bank towards the Serpentine Bridge, passing the swimming lido and restaurant.
The Diana Memorial Fountain is passed and then the large Isis sculpture.
The Albert Memorial with the Royal Albert Hall behind. Then Flower Walk through pleasant gardens.
The splendour of Kensington Palace and the statue of Queen Victoria.
I made a detour here to see the Sunken Garden, much liked by Princess Diana, and the stature remembering her which was dedicated in 2021.
The Elfin Oak, the stump of a 900 year old oak tree carved with gnomes, elves and fairies. I left Kensington Gardens here and then walked along Kensington Palace Gardens, a private road with embassies and other government buildings. Photogaphy was no allowed there. At the end the magnificent St Mary Abbots church. I stopped near here for lunch which was very pleasant.
The church has an unusual covered walkway leading to its entrance. Inside it was magnificent.
Before heading home I popped into the Design Museum by Holland Park. This magnificent building was formerly the Commonwealth Institute and the design museum moved here in 2016. The main exhibition, Designer, Maker, User was reasonably interesting and there was also a free display from the artist and designer Yinka Ilori which was similar to what you might see in Tate Modern and not really my scene. Then back to Kensington High Street tube station and the journey home.