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Jubilee-Greenway-Route-Section-One
Jubilee-Greenway-Route-Section-One
Great Exhibition of 1851 for which The Crystal Palace was constructed on the
south side of the park. The general public did not want the building to remain
in the park after the exhibition so architect Joseph Paxton raised funds and
purchased it, moving it to Sydenham Hill in South London.
At Albert Gate a short diversion leads towards the
Serpentine. Walk with the water to the right - with an optional
side visit to the nearby Diana Memorial Fountain on the right.
The Diana, Princess of Wales memorial, consisting of an
oval stone ring fountain, is near the Serpentine Gallery, and
just south of the Serpentine.
After the fountain, back on Rotten Row, go towards the
Serpentine bridge, cross over the road - and take the path that
veers slightly to the right and is open to cyclists. Go straight
ahead towards The Broad Walk, The Round Pond and
Kensington Palace.
Turn right up The Broad Walk (the wide avenue which leads
north through the park) up towards Bayswater Road and
Queensway. There are links here to The Diana, Princess of Wales,
Memorial Walk.
Kensington Palace is to the left and the Round Pond to the right, a popular attraction with all ages,
especially to sail toy boats. The route passes the Queen Victoria Statue, placed here for her
Golden Jubilee in 1887, and a little later on the left, the Orangery, which was commissioned by
Queen Anne as a great greenhouse in 1704, from original designs by Sir Christopher Wren. Further on,
to the left, is the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground.
At the end of The Broad Walk you should see the twin silver domes of Queensway Underground station
in front. There are toilets just inside Kensington Gardens here - turn right and follow the boundary path
about 50 metres.
Exit Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens at Black Lion Gate, cross Bayswater Road at the traffic lights, and
turn right; Queensway Underground Station is on the left.
Cyclists should join the carriageway here, all the way through to Paddington Station.
Walk along Bayswater Road, going over three streets
joining from the left-hand side (Queensway, Inverness Terrace
and Queensborough Terrace).
Still on Bayswater Road, immediately after the Thistle Hotel,
turn left into Porchester Terrace. Pass numbers 3 and 5
Porchester Terrace on the right, with a fine glass-domed
conservatory, where a blue plaque commemorates the
horticulturists John and Jane Loudon. Look out for the huge
bottle-shaped plane tree by the pavement.
Keep walking along Porchester Terrace and after nearly
200 metres turn right into Craven Hill Gardens.
The Uruguayan Ambassador's Residence is opposite.
Although marked as a no-through road, Craven Hill Gardens
has a cycle lane.
Go straight over to continue along Craven Hill Gardens, crossing Leinster Gardens on the left and
Leinster Terrace on the right. Deviate briefly into Leinster Gardens on the left to find a Tube curiosity!
Back to Craven Hill Gardens, go straight towards the trees which open out slightly on the left, and
turn right into the road which becomes Craven Hill.
The route is now more or less a straight line towards Paddington. This road has many fine old buildings
converted to apartments. Continue down Craven Hill, past the Church of the Annunciation of the
Virgin Mary on the right.
Staying on Craven Hill, cross Devonshire Terrace at the crossroads, after which Craven Hill becomes
Craven Road. Proceed straight ahead, uphill along Craven Road.
Cross Gloucester Terrace, and pass some attractive mews to the left and right of Craven Road.
Cross Westbourne Terrace at the pedestrian crossing and then, at the next pedestrian crossing, cross
Eastbourne Terrace on the left with Spring Street on the right.
Craven Road leads into Praed Street. Continue straight ahead; the Hilton London Paddington Hotel is on
the left, behind which is Paddington station itself. On the right-hand side of the road, observe the fine
old entrance to Paddington Underground station, with the sign 'Metropolitan Railway' above it, now
with shops underneath. The site is a historic one, having served as the London terminus of the
Great Western Railway and its successors since 1838. Much of the current mainline station dates back
to 1854, and was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Walk eastwards along Praed Street, to the corner of
Paddington station. Immediately after the station, cross the
road leading down into the station and turn left into
London Street, following the side of the station, which
becomes South Wharf Road.
Observe the Art Deco signs 'GWR Paddington', dating from
1932, on the left. St. Mary's Hospital is on the right.
Turn left into one of the hospital entrances and pass by
Paterson Wing on the right. This cobbled path leads to
the Paddington Branch of the Grand Union Canal.
Paddington Station is to the left, behind a wall. Ahead loom
some modern glass blocks silhouetted against the skyline.
To the right is Paddington Basin.
The Jubilee Greenway follows the curve of Warwick Crescent on the left, with the water on the right.
At Little Venice, continue ahead towards the ornate gold and blue bridge with little buildings at its side.
Next to the bridge on the left is the cream-coloured Bridge House, which houses the Canal Cafe Theatre.
Take the ramp up to Westbourne Terrace Bridge Road.
This is the end of section one.