Loki, Teddington and a Sunday Roast Worth Remembering

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Sunday 29 and Monday 30 March 2026. We’d barely got over the excitement of my very first visit to London when the pace changed completely. Instead of red buses, famous bridges and crowds of tourists, we were house-sitting in Teddington, looking after a rather lovely golden dog called Loki. And I was more than happy with that arrangement.

Meet Loki

Loki was a gorgeous shaggy fellow and very good company. One minute he was spread out on the sofa, looking completely at home, and the next he was ready to come along on an outing. He certainly knew how to make himself comfortable.

Loki lying back on the sofa with one of his house sitters
Loki lying back on the sofa with one of his house sitters.
Close-up of golden shaggy dog Loki indoors
Close-up of golden shaggy dog Loki indoors.
Loki enjoying the sunshine with his tennis ball
Loki enjoying a sunny day with his tennis ball.
Loki resting on the grass with his ball
That happy face! Loki taking a breather between games.

House-sitting has given us the chance to see a different side of travel. You get to know an ordinary neighbourhood, find the local shops and walk the sort of streets you might never visit as a tourist. And of course, you get the company of someone like Loki.

The Sunday roast that set the standard

While we were out getting groceries, Deb and I stopped at The Red Lion for a drink. I had a wine, Deb had a beer, and we got chatting to the barman. He told us about their Sunday roast, so we booked ourselves a table. Very good decision, as it turned out.

The Red Lion pub on Stanley Road in Teddington
The Red Lion pub on Stanley Road in Teddington.
A narrow Teddington lane with fairy lights strung overhead.
A narrow Teddington lane with fairy lights strung overhead.
Another look down the lane.
Another look down the lane.
Old shopfronts along a quiet Teddington lane.
Old shopfronts along a quiet Teddington lane.
The Red Lion on the corner.
The Red Lion on the corner.
The Red Lion from the other side, with tables outside.
The Red Lion from the other side, with tables outside.

The pub has been part of Teddington since the nineteenth century. According to the local CAMRA pub guide, The Red Lion dates back to 1869. That’s a fair bit of local history to go with your lunch.

On Sunday we returned for that roast, and goodness me, what a meal. Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, vegetables and gravy. We were not disappointed. In fact, after all our travels since, Deb and I still haven’t found a Sunday roast that beats it. That’s a pretty strong recommendation from two people who’ve done some serious eating along the way.

Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and vegetables at The Red Lion in Teddington
Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and vegetables at The Red Lion in Teddington.
A closer look at that Sunday roast.
A closer look at that Sunday roast.

A walk along the Thames with Loki

The next day we took Loki out along the River Thames towards Teddington Lock. What a contrast to busy central London. There were riverside paths, boats tied up along the bank and houseboats that made me wonder what life on the water must be like.

Loki standing on his lead during a walk in Teddington
Loki standing on his lead during a walk in Teddington.
Loki getting up close to the camera.
Loki getting up close to the camera.
Loki sitting nicely on the footbridge.
Loki sitting nicely on the footbridge.
A quiet path beside moored boats on the River Thames at Teddington
A quiet path beside moored boats on the River Thames at Teddington.
Boats moored along the Thames near Teddington.
Boats moored along the Thames near Teddington.
A Thames Cycle Route signpost along the river path.
A Thames Cycle Route signpost along the river path.
The river path with the Thames alongside.
The river path with the Thames alongside.
Boats and a crane along the riverbank.
Boats and a crane along the riverbank.
Spring blossom over the river path.
Spring blossom over the river path.
Houseboats lined up along the grassy bank.
Houseboats lined up along the grassy bank.

Here’s a little bit of river history I learned: Teddington Lock marks the usual limit of the tidal Thames. Downriver, the tides influence the water; upstream is the non-tidal stretch. Locks have been operating in this area since the early 1800s. It gives this peaceful-looking part of the river quite an important job.

Houseboats moored on a quiet tree-lined stretch of the Thames near Teddington
Houseboats moored on a quiet tree-lined stretch of the Thames near Teddington.

Even the little spring flowers caught my eye. After the big sights of London, it was rather nice to enjoy something as simple as a few daisies in the grass.

White daisies and bright yellow dandelions growing in the grass
White daisies and bright yellow dandelions growing in the grass.
A large stone church along our walk.
A large stone church along our walk.
A small old brick church behind a wooden fence.
A small old brick church behind a wooden fence.
Pretty white terraced houses on a Teddington street.
Pretty white terraced houses on a Teddington street.
Another look at the white terraced houses.
Another look at the white terraced houses.
The sign for Riba Lebanese Cuisine.
The sign for Riba Lebanese Cuisine.
Shops around a roundabout in Teddington.
Shops around a roundabout in Teddington.

So that was the next part of my first UK adventure: a lovely house-sitting companion, a wander along the Thames and a Sunday roast that set the bar rather high. Some of the best travel days aren’t about ticking off famous attractions at all.

There were plenty more discoveries during our Teddington house sit, including our walk to historic Ham House and a day exploring Kingston upon Thames.

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