In Focus – Eaton Square

Sloane Square tube station, London

Guided by Stephanie

BLURB

Streets Ahead! More trail blazing by the best urban walking tour guides on the planet. In Focus walks are an extremely detailed look – "what I love about London Walks is the degree of granularity you get" (as that American visitor memorably put it) – at the most famous streets and squares of London. And their tributaries. Today's In Focus walk explores Eaton Square, past and present. Think of the way the chess pieces are arrayed on a chess board for the start of a chess match. That was the breakthrough insight that made it possible for us to "see" Eaton Square for what it is – and thus guide it properly. The thrilling thing about this walk is that to understand the architecture here – what it amounts to and the way it's set out – is to understand the English class system. Here that extraordinary, unique, infinitely gradationed, human social beehive is translated into bricks and mortar and stucco. Reason enough for going on this walk. But what almost goes without saying is the flavour is made even richer, even more intense by the lives that get stirred into this walk: two James Bonds; one Pussy Galore; two Prime Ministers; the English aristocrat at a summit in Berlin who handed Hitler his coat thinking he was a servant; the grandest funeral (and it's spontaneous popular accompaniement) in 19th century London, an occasion that was all the more astonishing because at that moment this country was  that close to going to war with the country of which the deceased was a national; Vivien Leigh; Lord Lucan (to take "a reading" of his doorway – and see what's just around two corners from it is to suddenly see the world through his eyes, to get it about how he "felt" and why he did what he did); well, the list goes on and on. In short, this extremely grand square – which of course is a rectangle – is quite possibly the most interesting square in London. The walk – which forms a natural pair with Stephanie's In Focus Belgrave Square walk that takes place the week before – has been created and is curated (guided) by our Belgravia and Chelsea specialist, star Blue Badge guide Stephanie.

PRACTICALS

The Eaton Square – In Focus walk takes place on Sunday, September 18 at 10.15 am. Meet Stephanie just outside the exit of Sloane Square Tube.