There are secret rivers in London, flowing underneath the streets. Their presence hinted only by the names of the roads running above them, which often have watery connotations.

Nick and I have been following some of those rivers lately. Usually on sunday afternoons, when we are overcome by the strange desire to go and explore less known parts of London (unknown to us at least), making sure to avoid the busy, touristy bits. Which we’ve managed quite easily.

The fact with these walks is that often, well, there’s not much to see, they are not really scenic. The rivers are underneath our feet, you can’t see them or hear them. Nothing at all. Just the awareness that they are indeed there.

Mostly we walk around looking up at all the different architectural styles that make London so fascinating.

While following the river Tyburn, which runs through Marylebone and Mayfair, we walked past many interesting shops. Some selling antiques from different times and countries, others packed full of jams and conserves I didn’t even know existed.

But the real showstopper was those shoes.