Freedom Pass London

Book excerpt: The new, thoroughly updated second edition of Bradt’s Freedom Pass London brings to life the UK capital through 26 carefully curated walks that reveal historical landmarks, wildlife hotspots and quiet corners with fascinating pasts. As the title suggests, this travel guidebook is designed for the 1.1 million people who can enjoy free travel by train, tube and bus in central and Greater London thanks to the Freedom Pass, but its focus on walking destinations accessible by public transport makes it a must for anyone living in or visiting London. One of London’s unexpected glories is the way that the city meets countryside, not just in the surprisingly rural Green Belt, but also in the ‘villagey’ corners of suburbs, along urban rivers and amid the city’s commons, parks and woodlands. The area featured extends from Amersham, northwest of London, to Epping in the northeast, Orpington in the southeast and Epsom in the southwest. Whether you are a city-dweller keen to explore parts of Essex, Kent, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Hertfordshire, or you live in suburbs and fancy visiting central London, Freedom Pass London proposes itineraries for you. With Bradt’s Freedom Pass London, you can discover where Charles Darwin lived and the local area where he studied flora and fauna. You can meet Keats, Shakespeare, Pepys, Dr Johnson, Dorothy L Sayers and Vera Brittain on a literary tour. Or walk through ancient woodland covered with trees since Neolithic times. Or venture into murder and mayhem as you find locations from the TV series Midsomer Murders in the deceptively peaceful-looking Chilterns. Or wander along the Wandle for a throwback to the days of country estates, watermills and legendary textile designer William Morris. Or even stroll through Soho, Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury to discover how Karl Marx wrote, lectured – and fenced with a murderer. For each walk, there are tips about the best options for using public transport, along with a detailed route description, maps, options for flexibility and suggestions for pubs, cafés and museums en route. So lace up your walking shoes and let Bradt’s Freedom Pass London bring the capital to life.