Walk at Kew Gardens - April 2014

For the Easter holidays, we thought that we would go to see the 'Best Spring Display in the UK.' We took the district line westward bound to Kew Gardens and enjoyed a walk in the warm spring sunshine. Kew Gardens is on a site of 326 acres and we spent the whole day walking. We enjoyed the blossoms on the cherry trees, the gorgeous flowers and smell of the lilacs, the magnificent magnolia trees and the tulip displays. We explored the trees on the treetop walkway but I don't think that will be a wobbly experience that we will revisit. It was a glorious day and we truly saw spring at it's best.

http://www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/explore/spring-kew-gardens

Walk in Hainault Forest - March 2014

Following a very wet and stormy winter, we finally got the chance to take out our walking boots and get back to walking. This month, we chose to walk in the local forest 'Hainault Forest.' It is a large country park with woods and a farm. We met at the Miller and Carter and walked a large loop. We walked through the forest, stopped by the cute animals, especially the chipmunks, in the farm, carried on around the lake and back through the forest. We narrowly avoided the galloping horse who was minus his rider. Despite the large amount of mud that we have to walk / squelch through, we had a lovely walk on a clear and bright day. The walk took over two hours and afterwards we thoroughly enjoyed our delicious meal at the Miller and Carter. The walk definitely cleared out the winter cobwebs.

http://www.hainaultforest.co.uk/

Walk to see the London Christmas Lights - December 2013

Unfortunately the December walk had to be cancelled due to the storms. However, a walk around the Christmas lights is definitely in the diary for next year.
The best London lights are usually on:
Oxford Street;
Regent Street;
Wardour Street;
Piccadily Circus;
South Molton Street;
Trafalgar Square;
Covent Garden.
The best Christmas window displays are usually at Harrods, Selfridges, John Lewis and Fortnum and Mason.

http://www.londonarchitecturewalks.com/Pages/Walks.aspx

Walk in Little Venice - November 2013

On a crisp and dry Autumn Saturday, we explored the hidden gem 'Little Venice.' The walk started at Warwick Avenue tube station and we were entertained by a fantastic tour guide from the London Walks. He guided us around the romantic and beautiful Little Venice and kept us entertained with poetry, interesting facts and sing-a-longs.

Afterwards we enjoyed coffee and cake in a cafe called 'Toast'

We also discovered that Little Venice host a festival in early May called the 'Canalway Cavalcade.'
https://www.waterways.org.uk/events_festivals/canalway_cavalcade_2014/canalway_cavalcade_2014

Walk to the Olympic Park, Stratford - September 2013

This month, the First Ladies used the London Walks to give them a guided tour of the Olympic Park. Since it was the year anniversary of the London Olympics, we felt that it was a perfect opportunity to reminisce and also to see the legacy.
We met the tour guide at West Ham station and enjoyed an informative talk and walk around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. We looked at the Copper Box and Aquatics centre as well at the art work and flowers in the park. There is now a cafe and children's park in the Olympic Park. We finished the walk with tea and cake in the John Lewis cafe in Westfield.
We all agreed that this is a beautiful park with events on all year round so we are going to return and explore the park further in the future.

http://queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/
http://www.walks.com/

Walk to RSPB Rainham Marshes - August 2013

On a very hot, Summer's day, the First Ladies of Barking and Dagenham set off on their first walk. Rainham marshes is a lovely walk of 2.2. miles. The walk is flat (on boardwalks) with wonderful birds and wildlife to enjoy along the way. The walk is a circular route and starts and finishes at the cafe. We enjoyed soup, sandwiches and cake afterwards and a good natter.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/r/rainhammarshes/

Hello and welcome to the WI First Ladies Walking Club,
We like to go for walks in London and the surrounding counties. The walks vary in length but they always finish with a scrummy piece of cake and a cup of tea. We try to go on a walk every month and they are either on a weekday or the weekend.
If you would like to join, just add your name to the list at the next WI meeting and you will be kept informed of the upcoming walks.