Date/Time
Date(s) - 23/08/2017
6:15 pm - 8:15 pm

Location
Knightsbridge tube station

Wednesday 23 August 2017 6.15pm-8.15pm Start: Knightsbridge tube station (Exit 2 Harvey Nichols), London SW1X 7RJ Finish: Victoria station

Join Tom Bolton, author of London’s Lost Rivers, A Walker’s Guide, in Revealing the River Westbourne. The Westbourne is buried under the streets of Knightsbridge, and Chelsea, but it still flows underground all the way from the Hampstead ridge to the Thames. This walk traces its course through the parks and streets of the West End, where it can be found hiding in plain sight. Along the way histories hidden in familiar places, once isolated countryside now town, are revealed. One of the Museum of Walking‘s London Loss series of walkshops.

The Westbourne was never a navigable river but before it became polluted, was a key source of fresh water for the gardens and farms that dotted the area.  As the area began to be developed however, the stream quickly became a sewer, and in the 17th century was buried to keep the stench away from new houses. Now no longer visible, its course is visible in the curve of streets and mis-shapen gardens and sqaures of the area.

We will be handing out a field notebook and pencils and other resources, and we will also be asking you to help us reveal the route of the Westbourne – we want you to be as creative as possible!  Come dressed in blue so we emulate the river as we flow through the City.

Our start will be from Knightsbridge tube station (Exit 2 Harvey Nichols) and will finish at Victoria station.

Tom will be signing copies of his books. A special discount for the books will be made available to those on the walk.    £1 cash back on the day if you come dressed in blue. 

Book on-line via Eventbrite £15 in advance, £20 on the day

Sign up to or learn more about other walkshops we have run with Tom Bolton.

Walking in Step with:

Tom Bolton