Prioritising Stillness - Slow Crawls November Walk🐞🌀
welcome back to slow crawl club 🌀
a soft, restorative space to slow down, touch grass, and spend a few hours away from the noise.
for our november crawl, we're heading into holland park to spend some time at the beautiful kyoto garden for “stillness” 🍂🍃 a slow afternoon to notice the little things, take a breath, and make a little room for quiet as we move towards the end of the year.
stillness doesn't have to mean silence, meditation or sitting perfectly still. sometimes it's listening to the sound of water, watching leaves move in the wind, noticing a colour you might usually walk past, or allowing yourself to be somewhere without needing to do anything in particular.
this is a space for gentle connection, sensory grounding and low-pressure conversation, with a very slow, rest-focused pace. there'll be plenty of opportunities to stop, sit, look around, chat, take photographs, or simply do absolutely nothing for a while.
we'll wander through the park's gardens and quieter pathways before spending unhurried time at kyoto garden, with its waterfall, pond and carefully arranged planting. we'll leave room for little moments of observation, quiet reflection and simply enjoying being outdoors together.
you don't need to be good at slowing down, know anything about gardens, or participate in every activity. you can join in, observe quietly, or do your own thing.
the activities are invitations, not assignments. 🌀🍂
📅 date: saturday 21 november 2026
🕚 time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
📍 meeting point: outside high street kensington underground station
🍂 theme: stillness
getting there (public transport)
we're meeting outside high street kensington underground station at 11:00 am. please aim to arrive around 10:50 am so we can gather everyone together and start the day without rushing.
from the station, we'll make our way together towards holland park and the ilchester place entrance. please don't head straight to kyoto garden — we'll walk into the park as a group.
london underground
high street kensington is served by the circle and district lines.
from paddington: take the circle line towards high street kensington.
from victoria: take the district or circle line towards high street kensington.
from earls court: take the district line towards high street kensington.
from westminster: take the district line towards high street kensington.
from liverpool street: take the circle line westbound towards high street kensington.
from notting hill gate: you can take the central line to holland park and walk to the meeting point, or plan a connection via the circle or district lines.
from further east or south london: connect to the circle or district line from a convenient interchange, depending on your starting station.
please check your route before travelling, as weekend engineering works can affect services.
london buses
there are several bus routes serving high street kensington and the surrounding area. routes include 9, 27, 28, 49, 52, 70, 328 and 452, although the stops and directions vary.
depending on where you're travelling from, you may be able to take a bus directly to kensington high street rather than using the tube.
you can plan your journey using the TfL Journey Planner.
london overground and national rail
if you're travelling by overground or national rail, kensington (olympia) is another station in the area. from there, you can connect to local transport or plan an onward journey to high street kensington.
you can also travel into a central london station and change onto the circle or district line.
walking to holland park
from high street kensington station, we'll walk together towards holland park and the ilchester place entrance. allow around 10–15 minutes for this part of the journey, depending on our pace.
if you're using a mobility aid or would prefer to discuss the walking connection from the station in advance, please message us so we can help you plan.
getting there (cycling or driving) 🚲🚗
cycling: there are TfL Santander Cycles docking stations around holland park, including near ilchester place and duchess of bedford walk. if you're cycling, please plan to meet us at the station and allow time to secure your bike. cycling isn't permitted within the park grounds.
driving: parking is available in the surrounding area, including a car park just off abbotsbury road. spaces may be limited and charges or restrictions may apply, so please check before travelling.
accessible parking: disabled parking is available at the car park off abbotsbury road. please note that the entrance from this car park has a steep incline and may not be suitable for disabled visitors arriving on foot.
please allow extra time if you're driving.
our route
we'll gather outside high street kensington underground station before walking together towards holland park and the ilchester place gate.
from there, we'll take a gentle amble through the formal gardens and orangery before spending unhurried time at kyoto garden, where we'll have the opportunity to sit by the waterfall and pond, notice the planting and enjoy the surroundings.
we'll then continue through the shaded woodland pathways and quieter green spaces, finishing near the café and lawn area, where there are places to sit and take a break.
route & accessibility summary
location: holland park, kensington
distance: approximately 1.5 km for the gentle park loop, excluding the walk between the station and park entrance
duration: approximately 60–75 minutes of walking, with generous stillness stops throughout
terrain: mostly flat, wide paved paths along the main route, with optional softer woodland paths
pace: strictly slow and low-impact, with plenty of seated breaks and no expectation to keep up
our full gathering runs from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, giving us plenty of time to settle in, explore, pause, snack and enjoy the park without rushing.
here is our route map here.
late arrivals
if you're running late, please send us a message as soon as possible so we know you're still coming.
we'll aim to begin together from high street kensington station and walk into the park as a group. if we've already set off, please don't wander around the park trying to find us without checking in first.
message us and we'll let you know where we are and the easiest way to join us. please keep your phone accessible in case we need to coordinate.
what we'll be doing
our theme for this crawl is stillness 🍂
rather than filling the afternoon with an activity, we'll leave space for things to happen naturally. there may be little invitations to pause and notice our surroundings, but nothing that requires preparation or participation.
you might find yourself:
noticing the sounds around you: the waterfall, birds, wind through the trees or conversations passing by.
looking a little closer: taking in the colours, shapes and textures of the garden that you might otherwise miss.
spending time by the water: watching the movement of the pond, noticing reflections or simply sitting for a while.
making something of the moment: taking photographs, sketching or jotting down a thought if you feel like it.
connecting gently: having a conversation with someone, or enjoying a little quiet on your own.
resting without an agenda: sitting down, having a snack and letting yourself be without needing to make the most of every minute.
there's no sharing circle, no expectation to speak and no pressure to be vulnerable. if something turns into a conversation naturally, lovely. if you'd rather keep your thoughts to yourself, that's completely okay too.
you can take part, observe or ignore the activities entirely. the activity is an invitation, not an assignment.
what to bring 🎒
november can be chilly, damp and unpredictable, so please come prepared to spend a few hours outdoors.
feel free to bring:
a warm coat and comfortable layers.
comfortable walking shoes with a good grip.
a waterproof jacket or umbrella in case of rain.
a water bottle or warm drink in a flask.
snacks or a packed lunch for yourself.
a notebook and pen if you'd like to jot down thoughts or observations.
a camera or your phone if you enjoy taking photographs.
a small bag for your belongings.
you may also want to bring a book, sketchbook or something small to occupy yourself during a rest stop.
please bring whatever will help you feel comfortable. you don't need to purchase anything special or prepare for the activities in advance.
the weather 🌧️
a little rain won't necessarily stop us 🍂
we'll aim to go ahead in light rain, so please come prepared with suitable waterproof clothing and footwear. november weather can be cold and damp, and paths may be wet or slippery.
if conditions become too heavy or unsafe — including severe rain, strong winds or other dangerous conditions — we'll adapt or postpone the crawl.
any changes will be shared through the slow crawl announcements on whatsapp & social media, so please check before setting off.
holland park closes at dusk, and some gates may close up to 20 minutes beforehand. we'll aim to finish our crawl by 3:00 pm so everyone has time to leave the park before it gets dark.
toilets & facilities 🚻
holland park has public toilet facilities, including accessible toilets and a Changing Places facility in the stable yard. there are also facilities near the adventure playground.
we'll keep the location of the facilities in mind as we plan our stops, but please be aware that you may need to walk to reach them.
a note about kyoto garden: the garden is a popular spot and may be busy, especially at weekends. we'll be considerate of other visitors, keep to the designated paths and follow any instructions displayed in the garden. dogs are not permitted inside the japanese garden.
accessibility
slow crawl is intentionally slow and rest-focused. we'll have plenty of opportunities to stop, sit and take our time.
the main route is approximately 1.5 km and follows mostly flat, wide paved paths. we'll prioritise the more accessible paths, with softer woodland trails treated as optional rather than essential.
holland park has level-access entrances, including ilchester place, and accessible toilets are available in the park. however, surfaces and access conditions vary between areas. some paths may be uneven, wet or slippery, and access around individual garden features can be more limited when the park is busy.
we'll do our best to make the gathering comfortable and welcoming, but we can't guarantee that every part of the park or kyoto garden will be fully accessible at all times.
if you have specific access needs, use a mobility aid or aren't sure whether the route will work for you, please get in touch before booking. we'd much rather help you plan ahead than have you arrive feeling uncertain. 🌀
a few things to know before you come
slow crawl is a soft, low-pressure space. you can come alone, bring your curiosity and settle into the afternoon at your own pace.
you don't need to be particularly social, know anyone beforehand or feel a certain way when you arrive. you can talk, listen, take a quiet moment for yourself, or simply enjoy being outside.
we ask everyone to be kind, respect one another's identities and boundaries, and help us create an atmosphere where people can feel comfortable being themselves.
if you book a place and can no longer make it, please release your spot or let us know as soon as possible. our gatherings are intentionally kept small, and this gives someone on the waiting list the opportunity to join.
🐞 three-strike no-show rule
if you reserve a spot for one of our events and don't show up without letting us know, it will count as a strike.
we plan our gatherings around the number of people who RSVP, and when someone reserves a place but doesn't attend, that spot could have gone to someone else.
if you realise you can't make it at any point, no worries at all — just update your RSVP or let us know so we have an accurate idea of numbers. 🤍
after three no-shows without notice, you won't be able to reserve a place at future slow crawl events.
this isn't about making anyone feel bad for missing a walk — things happen! we simply want to make sure our little community stays fair and that people who want to come actually get the chance to. 🌀
if you'd like to keep up to date with future walks, activities and little slow crawl things, join our slow crawl whatsapp community and follow us on instagram @slowcrawls 🐞🐞🐞
let's make a little room for stillness.
see you in the garden 🌀🐞🍃