\n One of the best ways to discover some of the many views of
\n and from this well known corner of north London can be
\n located by heading up Highgate Hill, at the Archway junction
\n of the A1. Since living in the area, I've completed this
\n route many times and found whether I travel by foot, bus, car
\n or wearily push my cycle up the steep incline that l always
\n seem to see something different on my journey. A bonus to
\n this journey is if it can be made at the beginning of an
\n August's summer day…\n <\/p>\n
\n My first thought is that I am crossing a boundary – in
\n that I am leaving behind the modern and the utilitarian
\n accommodation of transient London and heading off into a very
\n slowly changing but more permanently rooted era. An initial
\n signpost of this change may well be the tall gothic spires
\n and high roofs of the now renamed Archway Campus, which still
\n seems rooted in its original purpose of providing medical
\n care. Or take the caged Whittington Stone, complete with
\n perched cat on the pavement just before the modern
\n Whittington Hospital, as a signpost. The statue itself is but
\n a small 1935 tribute to commemorate the mayoral achievements
\n of one Richard Whittington, but it talks of a shared history
\n for London.\n <\/p>\n
\n At the junction with Dartmouth Road, it could be said that
\n apart from the volume and nature of road traffic nowadays,
\n much of the surroundings are as they were at the turn of the
\n 20th century, when London swallowed up villages like Highgate
\n during its' suburban expansion. St Joseph's Roman
\n Catholic Church and Retreat proudly stands on its 1888 roots
\n and marks a good point to catch your breath and look back
\n across London down towards the Millennium Dome and the
\n southern cityscape. Cathedral in posture, its copper domes
\n tower above the nearby Old Crown and the now defunct
\n Presbyterian Church on Cromwell Avenue. From neighbours who
\n have a longer association with the area I have heard stories
\n of horses, their carriages and their drivers heading down the
\n hill in unconventional styles, as their wheels and legs
\n attempt to work their way across this busy crossing during
\n snow and ice.\n <\/p>\n
\n Along from St Joseph's is another landmark from that
\n different era, Lauderdale House, which was renovated in 1893
\n to become a council operated venue. Nowadays it is a popular
\n location for well attended weddings, craft fairs and views
\n out across Waterlow Park – whilst the coffee could be better
\n its' less busy nature is a welcome contrast. Facing
\n Lauderdale is the imposing Northgate House with is walls
\n struggling to support a large number of windows and the Ghana
\n High Commission with its roof top cupola, arching lines and
\n gated entrance.\n <\/p>\n
\n The Channing Schools and the art deco Cholmeley Lodge welcome
\n visitors into Highgate village proper and the high street.
\n Local shops and businesses seem to stand their own corner
\n against the undeservedly well located chain restaurants and
\n ubiquitous estate agents !\n <\/p>\n
\n Highgate becomes one of those weekend destinations that
\n creaks at the seams during the Kenwood season or as people
\n enjoy a summer day. One of my favourite aspects is that the
\n 210 allows me to alight from the bus and almost walk directly
\n through the front door of The Prince of Wales and to a very
\n good pint, whatever the choice ! Other local recommendations
\n include the frustratingly organised Highgate Bookshop, the
\n Village Bistro and the precariously perched stall of Village
\n Flowers.\n <\/p>\n
\n To extend the search for views turn left into Hampstead Lane
\n and proceed past the always green playing field of Highgate
\n School and its' numerous red brick buildings. Once passed
\n the faded blue sign of the mysterious Highgate Golf Club, you
\n find yourself walking along under broad leaf trees to the
\n entrances of The Iveagh Bequest at Kenwood – however
\n rather than enter through the popular stables entrance, head
\n towards the main gate. I found the simple pleasure of walking
\n down the sweeping drive, towards the front of Kenwood House
\n immensely appealing. This neo-classical house, remodelled
\n during the 1760s to include an archetypal, stately frontage,
\n was home to the 1st Earl of Mansfield…however it his
\n heir, the 2nd Earl, that is to be thanked for commissioning
\n Humphrey Repton's widely enjoyed landscaped garden. This
\n pleasant perimeter of Hampstead Heath makes for a perfect
\n spot from which to explore the 37 odd ponds, Parliament Hill
\n and many superb vistas of the cities of London and
\n Westminster. Depending on the day's clarity, attempt to
\n locate Canary Wharf, the ever majestic St Paul's, the
\n London Eye and the Telecomm Tower at the very least ! And
\n remember that in spite of busy periods, the main Kenwood
\n House makes itself available for excellent afternoon teas…\n <\/p>\n
\n To prolong your pleasure, avoid the exclusive, brash wealth
\n of the gated Compton, Courtenay and Bishops' avenues and
\n follow Hampstead Lane further round the heath towards the
\n still splendid Spaniards Inn and beyond towards Hampstead
\n itself. For those that wish to return down back down the
\n hill, the 210 can be caught from almost outside the main
\n house and a pleasant journey can be drawn to a close in an
\n unhurried manner !\n <\/p>\n
\n Matthew is happy to be contacted by email
\n chair@globetrotters.co.uk or at the monthly London meetings.\n <\/p>\n
One of the best ways to discover some of the many views of and from this well known corner of north London can be located by heading up Highgate Hill,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","css_class_manager_body_classes":"","css_class_manager_use_in_post_loop":false},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[63],"class_list":["post-592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-archive","category-main-article","tag-october-2002"],"yoast_head":"\n