a walk into town

We've become quite ambitious with our walking during lockdown. Without a car - an our desire to walk further than our usual loop around the common - we have decided to wear comfortable shoes, slather on the suncream and enjoy a good 4 hour walk most weekends. We've covered Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park and so our eyes were set on something a little different this weekend. We decided to walk into Mayfair, to explore the area before it got busy again. When else would we see empty streets other than on Christmas Day?! 

So, on Sunday morning we had a good breakfast and set off for Green Park. Meandering along the river side, we crossed into Chelsea and drooled over the houses along Cheyne Walk and spied into the back of Chelsea Physic Garden (which coincidentally is firmly on my list of gardens to visit once lockdown is over). The weather couldn't have been more perfect with crystal blue skies humming above our heads and relatively few people along the roads to dodge. The Royal Hospital looked perfectly preened with a few residents ambling around the grounds like something from Georgian Britain.

Heading up Pimlico Road we took a quick stop to ogle to antiques and interior shop window displays. I love the Pimlico Road - as someone who works in the interiors world, this street is mecca, lined with all the big names and dreamy window displays. Colefax & Fowler have taken gardening expert, Alexander Hoyle, under their wing this year and he regularly updates the doorway display. The woven baskets overflowing with lupins, foxgloves and rambling roses; a heavenly vision that I would love to recreate in my own patio. 

From here we cut across Belgravia and mused about what its residents do aside from robbing banks to afford the white fronted villas and townhouses. Before we knew it we were rounding the Royal Mews, gave a quick wave to the ponies and took the opportunity to take a snap of Buck Pal whilst the crowds were relatively quiet - there were more people there than I thought there would be but it was still manageable and not too overwhelming. 

And one shot looking down The Mall. 

By this point I was getting rather peckish and we were in need of a break. We decided that since we had walked all this way, a Tesco sarnie wouldn't cut it so Fortnum it would have to be! We wound our way up Pall Mall and towards Piccadilly, enjoying the empty streets where it was possible to stand in the road for a picture or two. 

Picking up sausage rolls from F&M we found a spot in the dabbled shade of Green Park which was being visited by a v chic ice cream van. 

Restored, it was time to make the journey home and rather than do the exact reverse of our inbound journey we decided to cut across Belgravia, across Eaton Gate and to Sloane Square before walking up the King's Road and hitting Cheyne Walk once again (I just can't get enough of those houses!!). 

For anyone looking for something to do on a Sunday morning, I'd really recommend walking into town. Of course the glorious weather helped as whilst I write this, it seems the sun has disappeared, but I reckon even on a cloudy day this would still be a fantastic walk and it feels very special and rare to be able to enjoy London this quiet. 

L.