Sue

I, too, am a great Dickens fan. A few years ago I took a daytrip to Rochester on the train. There's a great Dickens museum there, along with many other interesting things to see. Also, London Walks does a couple of "Dickens" themed walks you could check out.

Carol

Intriguing ideas, and so little time. I don't imagine I'll be blackberry picking anytime soon, but the walks sound worthwhile if our schedule permits.<BR>I'll be sure to stop at the Dickens museum in London. <BR>Come to think of it, I think Dickens and Diana would have been interesting friends...<BR>Another tidbit for Dickens fans- I met his great, great grandson, Gerald Dickens when he was touring. He did a one man show - some skits from the books and some about his great, great grandfather's life. He is enormously talented and funny (reminded me of an intellectual, British version of Tim Allen, when Tim did stand up comedy (I saw him too before he started his show)). Anyway, if you have the opportunity to see Gerald Dickens, it was a lot of fun.<BR>Thanks again for your ideas.

elaine

I have not done this, but I read and made note of the following<BR>There is a Princess Diana Walkway laid with 90 metal disks marking a path of significant places in her life. The entire walk is seven miles. Starting from Kensington Palace, through Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Spencer House, etc.<BR>An illustrated guide called &quot;A Walk for Diana&quot; is available in London bookstores. For more info, www.royalparks.gov.uk <BR><BR>also I HAVE done the following; Diana never lived there but...<BR>www.spencerhouse.co.uk/tourist.htm<BR>Ancestral London home of the Spencers, Princess Diana's family, though the family hasn't lived in this house since 1926. They had to rent it out as offices to raise money, and now it is run by a trust. Seeing this house was one of the best things I did on my Feb 02 trip. The house was magnificently restored in the late 1980s and I can best describe it as a miniature palace: rich furnishings, mirrors, gilded or silk-covered walls, etc. Admission with a tour guide only, tours last about 80 minutes. Go early in the day (it opens about 10:30) because as the Sunday goes on you'll likely have to sign up and then wait for a tour.<BR>

elaine

I should have mentioned that Spencer House is open on Sundays only, and closed entirely in Jan and Aug

ron

Carol, since you mention you might do a London walk, I suggest you look at Sue Gane’s website, http://www.dickens-and-london.com/index.htm. She offers an excellent Saturday morning walk, which I took in October as the only client, where you won’t get the crowds that the “now much too popular for their own good” Original London Walks gets. She also develops and sells London walking guides. Nice, knowledgeable lady.

Carol

Thanks for the additional information on walks. I've printed the info and will look into that.