5 walkers met on time, with 1 other starting a bit later. The gates into Kensington Gardens were still open and plenty of cyclists and dog walkers were about. The 6 walkers joined up at Kusama's pumpkin sculpture by the lake and walked on to the Serpentine Gallery. Gerhard Richter's Strip-Tower was indeed still there, as suspected, but the gallery had erected a sturdy metal fence around itself and the Summer Pavilion, which we therefore could only admire from about 20 metres away. It looks magnificent.

Out through the still open gates and past the one-way turnstile near the Serpentine into Hyde Park. The air was still pleasantly warm and light levels were sufficient to not having to use torches at all. Just as well, as that way we could see the plentiful bats in the air above.

We reached Whitehall at 7.45 and opted for a fashionable pizza joint near Charing X. That though had no tables available for the next 2 hours, so off to Prezzo on the other side of the street we went.

4 met at Queensway and followed the route, making a detour to the pumpkin sculpture in Kensington Gardens in sunny weather. En route we heard music from British Summer Time in Hyde Park and regimental march in St James Park. One left at Westminster, three went to Old Shades as the Red Lion was full.

I'm hoping to go on this. However am at a meeting in central east london til just after 7.

The suggested eating end place is the Lord Mall on the Moon, which is now a different pub.

Does anyone intend to go on this?

Yes, get in touch when close, usual number

The walk poster and 2 rather rare evening walkers met up at the alloted time and went about entering Hyde Park. Upon seeing plenty of people coming up the way from the direction of Kensington Gardens, we decided to check out the "one park is closed and the other open" situation, i.e.: had gates and fences been erected where there normally aren't any? They hadn't.

So we took up the path along the west side of the Italian Lake and enjoyed the marvellous dry evening with barely a few fluffy clouds and plenty of (near full-) moon light. The moon reflected off the lake then off the Serpentine, making for good photo opportunities. Back in Hyde Park (one can slip through a one-way turnstile to get out of Kensington Gardens), the gate to the lido's water access was open, suggesting someone was swimming, but we didn't see anyone. What we saw where the usual swans, geese and ducks, plus several bats. And lots of people milling about on the benches and paths, enjoying the wonderfully quiet (compared to daytime) and scenic environs. On into Green Park (watch the cyclists!), then St. James's Park, and after an hour of (fast) walking we reached Whitehall.

2 of us decamped to The Clarence's top floor, which seemed ot be the only quiet-ish place on Whitehall. 1 walked on to Charing X. Food and drink for 2, then 3 once the delayed-by-work 4th walker had joined. A rather superb outing, and - certainly with clear skies and moonlight about - a first class evening walk.

3 clear skies and some serious moonlight (apologies for the Bowie reference)

From the website: "Pavilion will be closed to the public all day on 27 June and until 1 pm on 28 June."

Indeed. Thank you. I overlooked that note when posting.

No drinks then there and only views of it from the outside...

8 walkers met at Queensway for a walk in warm but grey weather.

Kensington Gardens was busy and the event at the Serpentine that shut off the pavilion to the general public turned out to be not a corporate shindig but an all-out celeb haunt with see-through-proof fencing erected just for the day, paparazzi lining the exit, and plenty of minders shielding the VIPs from the hoi polloi. Read all about it in tomorrow's Evening Standard...

On we walked to then pick up walker 9 at The Lodge by the exit from Hyde Park. 2 then peeled off to look for nourishment, and 7 went their way to Whitehall, where we ended up in The Clarence as on previous occasions, there bumping into the 2 that had peeled off earlier!

This was the party that was:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/serpentine-galleries-annual-summer-party-london-2023-2330212

Perhaps it was the torrential downpour about 18:00, but just 3 assembled at the Queensway Tube station to set off across the Royal Parks. We were soon caught by number 4 who had been caught in delays on the Central Line. The walk proceeded as usual...in mainly dry clearing conditions . Saw among other things some herons, coots, swans and Eguptian Geese -- the latter with adorable chicks...And of course, in St. James Park -- the giant white pelicans whose numbers seem to have swelled to 6! Our inspection of works revealed lots of work going on by Green Park and Buckingham Palace....but still loads to do in a few short days! The evening light was fine and after its recent refurb Ben and its tower looked stunning....At the end of the walk, three carried on to the Polish place in the Waterloo arches for food and beverage...a nice night out.....

The Serpentine Pavilion is up and well worth a look: https://www.serpentinegalleries.org/whats-on/serpentine-pavilion-2021-designed-by-counterspace/

8 gathered at the appointed place and set off onto a safari in the Royal Parks. Having the intention to visit the Pavilion as suggested, a magnetic force seem to pull us to the Serpentine Cafe which itself was closed -- but directed us instead to the "Rooftop" for a very pleasant hydration stop on a grassy knoll above the Serpentine Lido...Eventually, we pulled ourselves way again aiming for the Pavilion, but managed to cross the Serpentine before realizing it was actually on the south side...by now we were getting anxious to see the elephants, so decided the Pavilion would be the subject of another visit when the gallery is actually open....So, on we went to Green Park...At first, there were no signs of the giant animals....but then, they appeared lumbering along through the trees -- fantastic sight in Central London....We bumped into one more walker while we were admiring them and contemplating the option to "provide them a home", making for a total of 9. Eventually, we carried on to St. James' Park, where we were welcomed by 3 of the resident Giant Pelicans, another marvelous sight....as they tend to stick to their island at the far end of the lake....we spotted a few more elephants, one about to drink from the lake and some others grazing nearby....At last, with the safari over, we popped out onto Whitehall where some headed for the tube and 4 to the traditional Wetherspoons....which has changed hands and is currently closed....so we paid a visit to the pub across the road, the Silver something.....A fine evening walk in perfect warm sunny summer evening conditions .

Only 1 walker was there on time, but 4 others trickled in within a few minutes, ie 5 on a warm for the time of year evening, with clear skies and no wind.

We walked for a bit more than an hour through Hyde, Green and St. James's Parks, which were all near deserted, so quite eerie to walk through, and with lots of the grand buildings surrounding the parks well lit and providing for some fine scenery, to end on Whitehall, where the first pub was closed, the second one had all in-service tables occupied, but the third one (The Old Shades, a Young's pub) had tables available. So we enjoyed a meal and a few drinks. 2 then walked on to London Bridge/home.

7 gathered at the appointed alternate start location for this outing and after exchanging details set off in socially distanced groups within sight (given the improvised route). Another caught up with us along Portobello Road, making for 8. As with most of central London, Notting Hill was somewhat subdued for a Thursday night....Eventually, we arrived at Kensington Gardens and more or less followed the suggested route through three grand city parks....On passing the lively Serpentine cafe, we broke with tradition and enjoyed alfresco drinks along the lakeside....Dusk was gathering as we set off on the final stretch and it was very atmospheric indeed with the old gas lights illuminated....On reaching St. James Park, a few departed to transport links while the remaining 5 continued through the park to visit the Giant White Pelicans who were getting ready for bed on their rock....a pleasant summer evening with brief sunny interludes .

14 outside the tube station, 1 other bumped into 100m along the route, so 15 in fine weather . Always amazing how busy the parks are in the evenings, but busy they are. People feeding the parakeets, the squirrels, the ducks, the geese, themselves...

We didn't fit in, really, but enjoyed the walk nevertheless. We stopped briefly to admire the summer pavilion (nice slate curvature, one should come back during daytime to check out the bar) and reached Whitehall as a smaller group, as about a handful had dropped off by then to home or public transport. The usual Wetherspoon's was vetoed on grounds of being always crowded, a bit messy and run by an explicit Brexiteer, so we eventually settled on The Clarence's upstairs dining room, which was rather nice. Some had a meal, some didn't.

I can’t stand Weatherspoon’s. The atmosphere is always dire.

18 met at the posted time, 1 lagged 10 minutes behind, catching us while still in Kensington Gardens. We veered off the gpx route to pass by the Serpentine Pavilion (the bar inside shuts at 6, unfortunately) and then admired The Mastaba, majestically dominating the Serpentine, and veered off route again in Green Park to get away from the traffic a wee bit. Bucks Palace was next, then St. James's Park including its Pelicans and through the Government Quarter. Most, if not all, turned into the Wetherspoon's for some sustenance.

19 pleasant late summer evening .

Intend going.

Does anyone go on these evening walks?

Intend going.

A little off topic here, but don't forget the Perseid meteor shower may be visible on Wednesday night.

So if the skies are clear and the light pollution is low where you are, you may want to look up in a north easterly direction where you might catch a glimpse ...

more at The Beeb

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7 dry and warm

route taken was a bit longer than advertised, but v pleasant (I certainly had never walked some of the paths before). drinks at the chain pub on Whitehall. joined there by 1 other SWC-walker. walk poster rota sorted. the stragglers left just b4 last orders.