School picnic

It was a privilege a few days ago to take a group of Southwark primary school children off to Hyde Park for a picnic. First stop after braving Lambeth Bridge was outside the UK's European Parliament and Commission building in Smith Square.

 We then passed by Westminster Abbey, where a certain wedding will take place shortly, before heading up Horse Guards Road, pointing out the Treasury, Cabinet War Rooms and the ivy clad Admiralty Citadel.

 We took the cycle path along the Mall to see the Guards outside St James's Palace

 then had to divert off the Cycle Path

 across several traffic lanes

 to cycle along the road

 to Buckingham Palace.

 We took the cycle path through Green Park to Hyde Park Corner, where we went through the Wellington Arch

 and into Hyde Park up to the Serpentine

 for our picnic

 After lunch and an informal game of football we returned, pausing in St James's Park to admire the Pelicans.

 We could take our time to see the sights and were able to stop where we chose. Visiting central London by bicycle beats the coach, bus or underground hands down!