Desktop Pilgrimage 2021 | Day 3


In which we start where we stopped on Day 2, St Marks Place in north Kensington.

Where we went

  1. From autumn to summer, in Blenheim Crescent (jump to 6 mins 30 seconds in the video below)
  2. From the scruffier part of Ladbroke Grove, over the hill to the smarter bit, and the police station (14 mins 20 secs);
  3. Through Notting Hill Gate (16m 12s);
  4. The Round Pond in Hyde Park (20m 35s);
  5. Knightsbridge, and a tiny detour to my therapist’s office (24m);
  6. Holy Trinity Sloane Square, the so-called Arts and Crafts Cathedral (26m 50s).

Topics, stories

  • the stunning difficulty of choosing stories about an area that I happen to know well;
  • the reason pilgrims followed traditional pathways, and why I’m following Google instead;
  • the identity of the garden that Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts broke into in the film Notting Hill;
  • the names of some of my schoolfriends, and the places where they lived;
  • what has happened in the 10 years since Google captured this photo (above) of the Round Pond in Hyde Park
  • my 2018 breakdown, and subsequent therapy;
  • the church I used to sit in because it’s cheaper than sitting in cafes, and the artworks inside it

Videos

Summer to autumn in one second


Jump the red light!


Going back in time


I came here for therapy


Churches are free


Today in full


Map


Weather report

Bright, but still very cold on my (real, actual foot-to-pavement) walk outside.


Up next

From Sloane Square to Borough Market via Westminster Abbey

Spectators: this is live on Facebook every weekday in April, 14.30 to 15.15 UK time.
Participants: get in touch if you’d like to join me “on camera” (via Zoom). This would be a lot more fun. Don’t be shy.