GREEN PARK

Dragged along Piccadilly Green Park is a lush park almost rubbing up along The Mall. Within walking distance of Piccadilly Circus my friend used to work in an office in the vicinity and it is a truly majestic part of town.

BRIXTON

Situated in deep, dark South London at the end of the Victoria Line for the longest time Brixton could be described as considered the hardest place in London. Indeed as you exit the thankfully refurbished station you find yourself immediately hit by noise and confronted by an increase of pace and furious activity.

LEYTONSTONE

Leytonstone these days is perhaps best known for being the birthplace of David Beckham. I used to have a Filipino friend who was a nurse at Whipps Cross hospital and I used to ask if there was a plaque or shrine there in his honour.

Over the years I have had many friends live (and still live) in Leytonstone. As a result I have become familiar and fond with the place as it sits comfortably and conveniently on the Central Line. Indeed I have almost moved to there a couple of times.

Until 1965 it was part of Essex.

HIGHBURY & ISLINGTON

At the top of Upper Street tucked away is the Highbury & Islington tube station. This used to be a station very close to the Arsenal ground Highbury and as a result on matchdays would house scores of pubs full of Gooners.

Highbury & Islington is also well known for music venues with the Buffalo Bar directly to the right of the station upon exit. Also within view is The Garage which is the only venue that ever caused me to miss my last train home. A little way down Upper Street is also the Hope & Anchor which is a pub with a punk music legacy but not much of note going on currently. Also very close by is the Union Chapel which is an almost unique venue housed in an old church.

A little way down the road are various KFC rip offs but I have to say the chicken at Dixie Fried Chicken is some of the best chow I have ever sampled from a greasy fast food gaff.

ANGEL

At one end of Upper Street is the Highbury & Islington station and at the other end (South) is Angel.

NORTH GREENWICH

This is where the O2 Centre (“The Dome”) is housed. Before that there was fuck all here and now as a result this station and line (Jubilee) is now often rammed even though the line is rarely/seldom fully working at the weekends.

SWISS COTTAGE

North of Maida Vale and St Johns Wood comes Swiss Cottage. There is an actual Swiss Cottage but it is really an inn.

To me its best known for being a place where Stephen Merchant lived and his many anecdotes that came with on his XFM radio show with Ricky Gervais and Karl Pilkington.

CHANCERY LANE

A little way down from Holborn is Chancery Lane. It’s a very legal centric area of the city. I once did a kickboxing lesson at the Fitness First there. I did not return for a second.

ST PAULS

An outstanding fixture on the London landscape St Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most recognisable buildings along the Thames skyline.