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Trip Over to London

Regent’s Canal – A Leisurely Walk in London

We had gone racing down to Westminster Pier in the hopes of catching the ferry out to Hampden Court Palace for the day. But once we arrived at the ticket office we found that the ferry wasn’t going that day because the tides up river on the Thames were too low…………..so a quick recalibration of the days plans was required.

The decision was made to go to Camden Town, then walk along Regent’s Canal.

From Westminster Pier it is a short walk along the riverside path to Embankment Underground Station, where we could catch the Northern Line to Camden Town. Emerging from the station we were swept into the colourful hustle and bustle of markets and amazing shopfronts. We had a wander around this area, the Chalk Farm Markets, the Stable Markets and Camden Town Markets. We found the statue of the wonderful Amy Winehouse, then walked up to Camden Lock to see where the walking path for the walk to Little Venice and the Paddington Basin begins.




There are various companies running trips on long boats down the Canal, but as it was a beautiful spring day the walk was more enticing. It takes anything from an hour to two, depending on the speed of your stroll, and how many times you stop to take photos, chat with other walkers or just look at all the things you come across along the way.

It was a lovely stroll, and it was definitely a stroll, possibly an amble, along what was once the tow path, where the big draft horses towed barges along the canal right up until the 1950s. Regents Canal opened in 1820 and was named after the Prince Regent, who later became King George lV.

Beautiful narrow boats are moored all along the canal, some look like they are permanent homes and others would be for leisurely summer jaunts along the English canals. There were people kayaking on the canal, a few stand up paddle boarders, the occasional tour boat and local bird life that lives along the canal.

After walking under Prince Albert Rd, look to your left. There is a bright red floating Chinese restaurant, the Feng Shang Princess, it looks very comfortable nestled in there, even if a little strangely out of place!

Continuing along the path, the London Zoo is on the other side of the canal, should you decide to visit the zoo, or head off into Regent’s Park, there are plenty of bridges to cross. We walked along the canal path working up a hunger, and thirst, so took a side excursion up the Maida Vale Rd for a nice pub lunch before heading back down to the canal for the last stretch to Little Venice.



Little Venice is an unbelievably pretty, watery little area, considering it is so close to Paddington Station. Surrounded by coffee shops, bars and restaurants, some on long boats it would be very nice to visit again one day.

After walking around to the Paddington Basin, rather than jump on the tube to go back to where we were staying in St James’s, we decided to keep on walking. Hyde Park wasn’t too far away, then as luck would have it – we found ourselves at the Dorchester having a couple of cocktails!!

While in London you might like to visit the beautiful Kew Gardens, or be part of London’s amazing history at the Tower of London. Or you if you are in Lndon at the right time of year, the Chelsea Flower Show is very inspirational, even for a non-gardener like me!

While in London you might like to be part of London’s amazing history at the Tower of London, or if you are in London at the right time of year, visiting the Chelsea Flower Show or Kew Gardens is very inspirational, even for a non-gardener like me!

If you feel like a long walk through London’s History or for a leisurely day out, catch a boat up the Thames to Hampton Court

Read the PostCards I wrote on my recent Trip Over to London, shorter stories and pictures of places I visited.

Book a tour on your Trip Over to London

An afternoon walk around Cremorne Point to cool off in the sea breeze, summer has arrived in Sydney!! Blue sky, blue water, lots of boats, Sydney Harbour showing off it's best side 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞..#cremornepoint #sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneynorthshore #sydneybythesea #sydneylocal #myhometown #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydney #sydneyinsummertime #blueskyandsunshine #walkinthesun #seetheworldthroughmylens #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldwithme #sydneyweekend #boatsboatsboats
San Terenzo castle looking over the deserted beach as the boats and chairs get rolled out ready for beach weather, that actually arrived the day after I was there...#santerenzo #santerenzolerici #santerenzobeach #lerici #lericicoast #santerenzocastle #dessertedbeach #boatsboatsboats #gettingbeachready #tripovertoitaly #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict #travelinitaly #solotravel #italytrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #daytripfromlaspezia
On your walk around the bay from Lerici to San Terenzo, this house was one of many buildings along the way where the window frames and the mouldings above the windows are 3D on the front of the building and on the sides, they are all painted on, even with the shadow!! Very talented artist...#santerenzo #santerenzobeach #santerenzochedelgolfoepiubelfiore #santerenzolerici #solotravel #solotrip #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldworldwithme #traveladdict #italianbeach #seekandyoushallfind #seeeverythingdoeverything #experiencelifethroughtravel #tompeloeil #italianarchitecture #madeinitaly #walkalongthebay
In Florence I stayed @hotelatlanticpalaceflorence , just a short walk from the railway station, and an equally short walk to Duomo Firenze, Ufizzi Gallery and Ponte Vecchio. The roof top bar at the sister hotel, Hotel Machiavelli, 50 mtrs down the street has amazing views over Florence. In the hotel foyer is an amazing vase made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Italian Constitution in 1898. The city of unbelievable art and design starts right here in the hotel 🤩. The hotel is very comfortable, safe and serves a lovely breakfast to fuel you up for a day of exploring.For more info about the hotels I stayed in on my Solo Italian Aventure, click the link to my website in the bio.#hotelatlanticpalace #hotelatlanticpalaceflorence #hotelatlanticpalacefirenze #florence #duomofirenze #viewfromtheterrace #solotravel #italytrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict #solotrip #solotravelinitaly #italianadventure #madeinitaly #italianhistory #italytravel #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #solofemaletravel #solofemalemidlifetraveller
A sculpture of a tree on the beach front in San Terenzo, in the Gulf of Poets, near La Spezia in Italy. It was a lovely place to amble around on a cool, cloudy day in early spring...#santerenzo #santerenzobeach #santerenzochedelgolfoepiubelfiore #santerenzolerici #treesculpture #artinpublicplaces #daytripfromlaspezia #beforetheseason #solotrip #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #italytrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict #travelinitaly #italytrip #madeinitaly #tripovertoitaly
For more info about train travel in Italy and where I stayed on my recent solo Italian adventure to Venice, Florence, Siena, Pisa, La Spezia and Cinque Terre - click the link to my website in the bio..#solotravelinitaly #solotravel #solotrip #italytravel #italianadventure #madeinitaly #tripovertoitaly #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict #travelinitaly #italytrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
After walking up to the top of Lerici Castle, the drizzly rain had stopped, so I decided to walk all the way around the bay to San Terenzo, this place will be packed to the rafters, but in early April the only people around were people doing maintenance to get ready for the season.... and me.......#santerenzo #santerenzobeach #santerenzochedelgolfoepiubelfiore #santerenzolerici #solotravel #solotrip #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict #travelinitaly #italytrip #italytravel #earlyspringinitaly #emptybeach #seasidewalk #passagiato
After catching the bus from La Spezia to Porto Venere, I walked to the square and saw this ancient entrance to the old city within the castle walls, this is exactly what I was hoping the villages in Cinque Terre would be like. Porto Venere beats all the villages for beauty, fantastic views, history, lovely shops and beautiful food 😍 💖..#portovenere #oldcitywalls #italianhistory #madeinitaly #medievalitaly #italianarchitecture #oldbuildingsmakemehappy #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #historicitaly #italytrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #neverstoptravelling #italytravel #italianadventure #italytravel #italiantrip #paradisefound #passionpassport
I travelled by train between destinations on my solo adventure to Venice, Florence, Siena, Pisa, La Spezia and Cinque Terre. Very easy to use, booking through @trainline I became very adept at handling my luggage on my own, changing trains and enjoying hurtling through Italy in comfort. For more info on the art of train travel in Italy by clicking the link to my website in the bio..#traintravelinitaly #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotrip #madeinitaly #traveltheworldwithme #italytrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveladdict #travelinitaly #italiantrains #cinqueterre #cinqueterreitaly #cinqueterrenationalpark #cinqueterrecoast
Arriving in the beautiful medieval city of Siena, I checked into @relaisdegliangeli , a lovely boutique hotel. It felt like home 💖. Siena is definitely one of my favourite places in Italy, Made even better by this hotel, it is easy to get to from the railway station or the bus station, the staff are friendly and helpful, the breakfast is amazing!!Click the link to my website in the bio for more info on the hotels I stayed in on my Solo Italian adventure.I'm not an affiliate, this is just an honest recommendation.#siena #sienaitaly #sienatrip @relaisdegliangeli #italianhotels #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #italytrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring #traveladdict #neverstoptravelling #solotrip #solofemaletravel #solomidlifefemaletraveler #boutiquehotelsoftheworld #italianadventure #relaisdegliangelisiena
One of the fountains in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens up towards the NSW Art Gallery. I think someone needs to turn the tap on a bit more, it's lacking in oomph!!..#sydney #royalbotanicgardens #fountaininthepark #walkinthepark #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seekandyoushallfind #neverstopexplroring #sydneyweekend #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneystyle #sydneywalks
A great hotel in Venice for Solo Travellers with luggage, @rialtohotelvenice is easy to get to from the railway station or the airport with the vaporetto stop right outside on the Grand Canal. The staff are all lovely and so helpful. The location is perfect, at Rialto Bridge, you will always be able to find your way back, just keep following signs to Rialto!! I had the best time there looking out over the Grand Canal, either from my room or up on the terrace, it would be so easy to spend all your time just watching all the goings ever changing happenings on the Canal.I have written a story on my website about all the hotels I stayed in on my recent solo Italian adventure, all easy to access from transport, safe, friendly and comfortable. Click the link to my website in the bio.Not an affiliate, just giving my honest recommendations..#hotelrialto #hotelrialtovenice #grandcanal #hotelsforsolotravelers #solofemaletravel #solomidlifefemaletraveler #solotravelinitaly #solotravel #italytrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict #neverstoptravelling #italytravel #rialtobridge #rialtobridgevenice
As my ferry from La Spezia to Monterosso rounded the point Chiesa di San Pietro on above Porto Venere, I knew this was a place I needed to visit. This church has been here looking over the sea since 1198. After seeing the way the villages of Cinque Terre have lost their character to tourism, I imagine Porto Venere is what Cinque Terre used to be like - very few people, absolutely beautiful and so much history, a just a short bus ride from La Spezia...#portovenere #laspeziatomontarosaferry #daytripfromlaspezia #chiesasanpietro #chiesadisanpietroportovenere #medievalitaly #italianhistory #madeinitaly #italianarchitecture #oldbuildingsmakemehappy #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #historicitaly #italytrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring #traveltheworldwithme #solotravel #solotrip #solotravelinitaly #italianadventure
The railway station at Monterosso al Mare is right at the beach, don't be fooled by the lack of crowds on the platform, the train just left going north, the crowds are all behind me waiting to catch the train down to the other Cinque Terre villages, or to La Spezia, where I was staying. ..#monterossoalmarecinqueterre #monterosso #monterossoalmare #cinqueterrenationalpark #cinqueterreitaly #cinqueterrecoast #cinqueterre #solotravel #italytrip #madeinitaly #traveladdict #travelinitaly #solotrip #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldworldwithme #travelbytraininitaly #travelbytrain
Monterosso al Mare, the Northern most village on the Cinque Terre coast in Italy. I caught the ferry from La Spezia all the way up the coast to Monterosso, it was so good to see all the villages from the ferry, then I caught the train back down visiting each of the villages...#monterosso #monterossoalmare #monterossoalmarecinqueterre #cinqueterrenationalpark #cinqueterrecoast #cinqueterreitaly #cinqueterre #solotravel #italytrip #madeinitaly #traveladdict #travelinitaly #solotrip #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldworldwithme #outonthewater #laspeziatomonterossoalmare
Walking from the northern beach at Monterosso al Mare to the southern beach, on the Cinque Terre coast, there was a market setting up under the arches under the rail line and a few cafes in the square...#monterossoalmarecinqueterre #monterosso #monterossoalmare #cinqueterrenationalpark #cinqueterrecoast #cinqueterreitaly #cinqueterre #solotravel #italytrip #madeinitaly #traveladdict #travelinitaly #solotrip #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldworldwithme #outonthewater #italianbeach #travelinitaly
San Terenzo Castle has been looking over the town and beach since the 12th century, it has seen some stuff in it's time!! All around the base of the castle is full of kayaks storage and other small boats waiting for a summer out on the bay...#santerenzo #santerenzocastle ##santerenzobeach #medievalitaly #italianhistory #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #oldbuildingsmakemehappy #castles_oftheworld #kayaksandboats #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotrip #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldworldwithme #traveladdict #travelinitaly #italytrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #historygeek #historicitaly #lookouttower #madeinitaly
This appealed to me......in the Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney. In reality it is an enormous work, but everything I see it a different size, it looks like something else. ...#artgallery #nswartgallerysydney #nswartgallery #artoftheday #artlover #explorethecityyoulivein #seekandyoushallfind #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldworldwithme #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal
The beach club on the bay between Lerici and San Terenzo, in the Gulf of Poets, Italy, just waiting for the sun to come out...#santerenzochedelgolfoepiubelfiore #santerenzo #santerenzobeach #lerici #lericicoast #lericiitaly #lericioutdoor #gulfofpoets #gulfofpoetsitaly #italianbeach #beforetheseason #solotrip #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #italytrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring #travelinitaly #traveladdict #traveltheworldwithme
Oratorio di San Rocco, the small church with the clock and bell tower in Lerici, one of the more modern churches in the area, having opened in 1523!!..#lerici #lericicoast #lericiitaly #italianarchitecture #italianhistory #madeinitaly #oratoriodisanrocco #oratoriodisanroccolerici #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #italytrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #oldbuildingsmakemehappy #historicitaly #belltower #clocktower #exploretheworld #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything
Most areas in Italy have a statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi somewhere and Monterosso al Mare is no exception, here in Piazza Garibaldi surrounded by cafes and restaurants...#giuseppegaribaldi #piazzagaribaldimonterossoalmare #monterosso #monterossoalmare #monterossoalmarecinqueterre #cinqueterrenationalpark #cinqueterrecoast #cinqueterreitaly #cinqueterre #solotravel #italytrip #madeinitaly #traveladdict #travelinitaly #solotrip #italianhistory #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #neverstoptravelling
Half way around the bay on my walk from Lerici to San Terenzo, looking over one of the beach clubs, still closed before the season starts, to Lerici Castle and the town of Lerici...#santerenzo #santerenzobeach #santerenzolerici #santerenzochedelgolfoepiubelfiore #lerici #lericicoast #lericicastle #Italiancoast #traveltheworldwithme #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #seekandyoushallfind #beforetheseason
Only this tower was left standing after a WWll bomb hit Villa Pastine in Monterosso al Mare, it was recently restored and is along with the broken statue of Il Gigante in my previous post are a feature of the northern end of the beach....#villapastine #monterosso #monterossoalmarecinqueterre #monterossoalmare #cinqueterrenationalpark #cinqueterrecoast #cinqueterreitaly #cinqueterre #solotravel #italytrip #madeinitaly #italianarchitecture #italianhistory #italianadventure #solotravelinitaly #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #neverstoptravelling #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seeeverythingdoeverything
Sea creatures carved into the rocks in a wall in Vernazza, Cinque Terre. Each of the villages has a quirky art work somewhere!!..#carvedrocks #artinpublicplaces #vernazza #vernazzaitaly #vernazzacinqueterre #cinqueterrenationalpark #cinqueterrecoast #cinqueterreitaly #cinqueterre #solotravel #solotrip #italytravel #italianadventure #madeinitaly #solotrip #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldworldwithme #traveladdict #neverstopexploring #neverstoptravelling #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Inside the 13th century Santa Margherita d'Antiochia Church in Vernazza....#cinqueterreitaly #vernazza ##vernazzaitaly #vernazzacinqueterre #cinqueterrenationalpark #cinqueterrecoast #solotravelinitaly #santamargheritadantiochia #medievalitaly #13thcenturyarchitecture #italianarchitecture #italianhistory #madeinitaly #tripovertoitaly #traveltheworldwithme #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #oldbuildingsmakemehappy #blackandwhitemarble #seekandyoushallfind
As the ferry from La Spezia pulled into Vernazza, on the Cinque Terre coast, we were all mesmerised by the efficiency of this helicopter that seemed to be bringing building supplies in from just over this hill, where the closest road is. The guys who unhooked the load were so fast the chopper seemed to not even slow down as it spun around to go back for the next load, then the same at the pick up location, it just swooped in and they were ready to hook the next load on and it flew on, a well rehearsed routine!!..#vernazza #vernazzaitaly #vernazzacinqueterre #cinqueterrenationalpark #cinqueterrecoast #cinqueterreitaly #cinqueterre helicopter #deliveringsupplies #vineyardsofitaly #seekandyoushallfind #seeeverythingdoeverything #solotravelinitaly #solotravel #solotrip #italytravel #italianadventure
In the tunnel you walk through to go between the 2 beach front areas of Monterosso, on the Cinque Terre coast in Italy, they have made a few art installations in the walls along the way. ..#monterossoalmarecinqueterre #monterosso #monterossoalmare #cinqueterrenationalpark #cinqueterreitaly #cinqueterrecoast #cinqueterre #artinpublicplaces #tunnelinmonterosso #solotravel #solotrip #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldworldwithme #traveladdict #travelinitaly #italytrip
The curtains on this focacceria are made from real pasta, so clever!!! This is one of the little shops on the path in the ancient city of Porto Venere, inside the castle walls....#focacceriaportovenere #portovenere #portovenereitaly #pastacurtains #solotravelinitaly #solotravel #solotrip #italianhistory #madeinitaly #medievalitaly #italianarchitecture #oldbuildingsmakemehappy #seekandyoushallfind #seeeverythingdoeverything #experiencelifethroughtravel #traveltheworldworldwithme #daytripfromlaspezia #insidethecastlewalls
After arriving at Venice's Marco Polo Airport, I caught the Alilaguna Water Transport directly to Rialto, then when I left Venice by train to Florence, I caught the Vaporetto from Rialto to Ferrovia, the ferry stop at the station, then straight on to the train, suitcase in the gap between the seats, and off we went, so efficient. Very easy, even for an old chic like me on a solo Italian adventure!!🥂For more info on the art of train travel in Italy, click the link to my website in the bio..#venice #grandcanal #solotravel #traintravelinitaly #italiantrains #alilaguna #alilagunaferrytoairport #vaporetto #ferrovia #venicerail #venicetrainstation #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldworldwithme #outonthewater #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
The pond in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens, with glimpses of Sydney Harbour in the background....#royalbotanicgardens #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal #sydneyinwinter #sydneylife #explorethecityyoulivein #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seetheworldthroughmylens #pondinthepark #walkinthepark #sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourwalks
My walk towards San Terenzo from Lerici continues, past this very rocky section of the bay, towards the next empty beach.....I know this beach would have been a hive of activity the day after I was here, it was much warmer and a beautul sunny day.....but I was off to Pisa that day...#santerenzo #santerenzobeach #santerenzochedelgolfoepiubelfiore #santerenzolerici #lerici #lericicoast #lericiitaly #lericioutdoor #gulfofpoets #italytrip #madeinitaly #traveladdict #laspezia #italianadventure #italytravel #earlyspringinitaly #emptybeach #seasidewalk #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #neverstoptravelling
Some of the places I visited on my solo Italian adventureTop row - Venice, Florence, SienaBottom row - La Spezia, Porto Venere, LericiFor info on where I stayed and how I got there, travelling solo with luggage, click the link to my website in the bio...#venice #basilicasanmarco #florence #pontevecchio #siena #sienabelltower #laspezia #portovenere #lerici #Italy #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotrip #madeinitaly #neverstopexploring #traveltheworldwithme #italytrip #italianadventure #alianarchitecture #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #oldbuildingsmakemehappy #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #historicitaly
My Solo Italian Aventure took me out to La Spezia, my base for exploring Cinque Terre, Porto Venere and Lerici. Staying @hotelfirenzelaspezia was ideal, just 50 mtrs from the railway station, and a short walk through La Spezia to the harbour, all methods of transport to easily get around are all nearby. The room was very comfortable and spacious, the buffet style breakfast was delicious, and the Terminus restaurant served fantastic meals.For more info about the hotels I stayed in on my Italian Aventure, click on the link to my website in the bio.#laspezia #italybytrain #hotelfirenzeecontinentale #hotelfirenzeecontinentalelaspezia #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #neverstoptravelling #solotrip #solofemaletravel #solomidlifefemaletraveler #seeeverythingdoeverything #hotelsinitaly #explorecinqueterre #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict #passportready

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Itinerary for my Trip Over to London

Flew from Sydney to London Heathrow via Singapore, with Qantas on QF1, then QF2 to come home.

Stayed at the Royal Overseas League in St James’s.

Picked up at Heathrow by Naz from Black Lane Limos.

Travelled around London using a Visitor Oyster Card.

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