1. Great Western Road

Decided to travel on a Sunday this week as we have a visitor arriving on Monday, so I made my way to Westbourne Park via Euston Square on the Hammersmith & City line.

Before getting on the bus, I did what I’ve started doing each week – exploring the immediate area near the bus terminal. I wasn’t disappointed either – I found part of the Grand Union Canal at Paddington Basin and Meanwhile Gardens with a sculpture and skate park. Interested in the name of the gardens, I discovered that the council didn’t want to give permission to transform the derelict land into a garden but said they might do something in the future. So they agreed that in the meanwhile, Jamie McCollough, the artist and visionary, could go ahead.

2. Golborne Road

From there I went to Trellick Tower, a grade II listed tower block. Construction began in 1968  in order to replace sub-standard local Victorian housing. However, by the time it opened, high-rise tower blocks were becoming unfashionable. By 1991, it had again won favour and became a respectable place to live. Round the corner from the tower, I discovered a lovely Moroccan garden.

3. Bosworth Road

It’s possible to get out at Bosworth Road but I walked round to Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance, a lovely park which is where the Notting Hill carnival starts from. The park and garden was the brain-child of Emslie Horniman around 1911 who wanted to give something to the poor of the area.

4. Portobello Road

Back on the 23 and I got out at Portobello Road – as it was raining quite heavily, there weren’t too many people walking about. To get some cover from the rain, I popped into St Peter’s Church, Notting Hill which was really pretty inside. Whilst in the area, I went round to Arundel Gardens. Built in the 1860s, it formed part of the Ladbroke Estate and was bombed in both WW1 and WW2.

5. Royal Albert Hall and 6. Palace Gate

By the time I got off the bus at my next stop, at the Royal Albert Hall, the rain had eased so I went over to Hyde Park to take a closer look at the Albert Memorial. It was shining very brightly! I also walked round to Kensington Gardens where I went to see the Esme Percy Fountain. This is a memorial to London-born actor and producer Esme Percy (1887-1957), who featured in 40 films. He was born in London to French parents, studying acting under Sarah Bernhardt and at the Brussels Conservatoire before making his debut in 1904. The fountain is in memory of his love of dogs …

7. High Street Kensington

Back on the bus to High Street Kensington to visit Japan House. What a wonderful find this was! As the Japanese cultural centre in London, it was more like a museum with exquisite designs and craftsmanship on display.

8. Phillimore Gardens

I wanted to visit Freddie Mercury’s House and Studio in Logan Place so I took the bus to Phillimore Gardens and walked round to Garden Lodge, his home where he lived before he passed. Unfortunately it’s not possible to go inside the garden – there were quite a few of us who had made the detour to see if it was possible. On the way back to the bus, I passed Pembroke Square, the whole square of which is Grade II listed for its architectural merit.

9. Hammersmith bus garage

Final stop of the day was St Paul’s Church, Hammersmith. As it was a Sunday, I didn’t go inside but the exterior is certainly impressive and I think merits a further visit on a different day.

It was strange going on a Sunday but it made a pleasant change. One thing I had planned to do that I wasn’t able, was to visit the Carmelite Monastery Gardens again. I had attempted to find them on route 7 and couldn’t find the entrance then. Nor this time! I think I’ll have to contact the Monastery so they can give me explicit instructions ….