The 2nd in my new “London Walks” series, Camden Town to Primrose Hill integrates diverse scenery and an eclectic mixture of neighborhoods, beginning with crowded markets and a busy high street and ending with a quiet stroll through a park overlooking some of London’s key landmarks.
My goal is two-fold:
For Tourists: This post is for those who want to explore London beyond the usual tourist spots, where you’ll get a glimpse of some unique neighborhoods in the city
For London residents: To gain a better understanding of the city you live in, explore a new neighborhood whenever possible and see what it has to offer that’s distinct from your normal surroundings. Sometimes just turning a corner will give you a new appreciation for the city’s highs or lows.
Route Description:
This walk begins at the Camden Town tube station and continues north, then west to the neighborhood of Primrose Hill.
Total Distance is approximately 1.2 miles to the lookout point at Primrose Hill.
See map.
Camden Town “has been a residential area since the 1790s, but it was only the development of the Grand Union canal and the improved railway transport that turned it into a bustling part of London. Today, visitors and locals gather to hunt for treasures in Camden’s markets, stroll by Regent’s Canal, gaze at the beautiful buildings, sample cuisine from around the world, listen to live music and soak up the vibrant and diverse atmosphere. Many famous people, including Dylan Thomas, Walter Sickert and Amy Winehouse, have made Camden their home.” (Visit London)
Start your walk heading north (towards Camden Lock)….
Busy Camden High Street
There are no shortage of souvenir shops, thrift stores, pubs, chain coffee shops or crowded markets selling clothing along Camden High Street.
Upon reaching Camden Lock, you’ll come to a bridge. My route map involves taking a left (west) directly before the bridge, but if you want to take a slight detour here I highly recommend getting some food or browsing the markets on the other side of the bridge before continuing on the journey.
Follow the canal southwest (where you see the two people walking in the picture above).
Ahead there’s a bridge to pass over the canal. Cross the bridge and continue following the canal southwest briefly until you come to the area on the below picture.
There’s a sign pointing toward the right to Gloucester A
venue. Take this road, either up the stairs or up the walkway. Now you’re about to enter the Primrose Hill neighborhood.
I’m no expert on the Primrose Hill neighborhood. In fact, sadly enough, I’ve lived in London now for over a year and this was my first visit to the area. Known to be home to some celebrity residents, the neighborhood is obviously upscale, with expensive real estate, manicured gardens and well-maintained old beautiful houses.
Walk northwest now on Gloucester Avenue for a few minutes, then take a left on Regents Park Road to proceed southwest towards Primrose Hill.
A lively neighborhood street, I walked down Regent’s Park Road (pictured above), which is occupied by a independent shops, coffee houses and restaurants.
Finally, you arrive at the park. Consult the large map (pictured below) if needed, but it’ll be obvious which direction you should go -UPHILL – to the viewing point.
A few minutes and a short leg workout later, you’ve made it! The Primrose Hill viewing point….
To the left (south-east) , a view of some of the Canary Wharf high rise buildings, London’s financial district. In the middle far in the distance you have a view of St. Paul’s Cathedral and to the right the Shard building, currently the tallest building in Western Europe.
Above, a different perspective looking south east, where the most noticeable landmarks are the London Eye and the BT (post office) tower.
Every walk through a new London neighborhood reminds me of just how large of a city I live in, filled with so much diversity. And, more importantly, something that I often take for granted – an opportunity to see something new every single day!
Houses bordering Primrose Hill
Pubs along the way: The Bucks Head, The Oxford Arms, The Elephants Head, The Engineer, Lansdowne, Pembroke Castle, Queens pub
June 1, 2015 at 8:19 am
Tanya,
Thanks for your tour. Coincidently, we also hail from Pennsylvania after moving there from the UK in the mid-nineties. Now my son and his American wife are looking for an apartment in the area of Camden and Primrose Hill.