One of the finest Art Deco buildings in London

Mornington Crescent

Near this station, famous for its association with the famous surreal panel game, is one of the finest Art Deco buildings in London, the old Carreras cigarette factory,  now offices. The building dates from 1928 and apart from its amazing trademark Egyptian cat theme is remarkable for being the first pre-stressed concrete factory in Britain and the first to have air-conditioning installed. A real stunner.

A trail from Mornington Crescent Underground, with many other beautiful/fascinating buildings to be found along the way,  can be found by clicking here.   




To find other interesting places to visit, go to www.londontuberambles.co.uk

Big Brother is watching you - in Richmond (antique optician's sign)

 

Richmond, Surrey

An antique optician's sign found while wandering round this lovely riverside town which has so many beautiful buildings and historic connections.  For full details of the walk that includes this wonderful sign, click here.  Other interesting places to visit can be found at
 Rambles from the London Tube 

Artesian Well house, Wimbledon Park

When the octagonal well was first built in 1763 by the Lord of the Manor, Earl Spencer, it was only about thirty feet deep. A horse was set to turn the mechanism that pumped the water up to the storage tank under the dome for use in Wimbledon Park House. In 1798 the decision was taken to deepen the well in order to improve the supply but it took over a year to strike more water – the rush of which then nearly drowned the workmen. The well silted up in the early nineteen century and was finally converted to a dwelling in 1975.

For full details of the walk that includes this odd building, click here.  Other interesting places to visit  can be found at Rambles from the London Tube 

Morden - beautiful parkland walk and wetland wander

 






Morden Hall  itself is not open to the public, but you can wander freely through the beautiful parkland (National Trust) and find all kinds of surprising things - including an old snuff mill and some fascinating wetlands. A splendid free day out! For full details click here. To find other interesting places to visit, go to London Tube Rambles







Photos: 
1.Morden Hall
2.Bridge over the River Wandle
3.One of the buildings associated with the Snuff Mill

River watchman's hut by New River, Islington

You might wonder what a circular brick building resembling a giant pork pie is doing perched on the bank of the New River Park Islington. In the days when the New River was an important source for clean water, a guard occupied this watch house to ensure that nobody swam or fished in the channel. He also had to keep a look out for people throwing dead dogs etc. into the stream or stealing the stopcocks and other fittings. You can reach this oddity from central London via the Tube. For full details of the walk that includes this strange building, click here. Other interesting places to visit can be found at  Rambles from the London Tube

River walk from Kew Gardens to Richmond

There's more to Kew than the famous Royal Botanic Gardens - here are some photos of the riverside walk from Kew to Richmond - full details can be found  by clicking here.



The pink summer house is on the Duke of Northumberland's estate - the next photo shows Syon House, his main residence. The bright red building (I'm afraid it really is that colour) is Kew Palace, which is actually in the Royal Botanic Gardens.


To find other interesting places to visit, go to Rambles from the London Tube 

Rambling round Old Amersham

Old Amersham on the Metropolitan line is a small town set in rolling Buckinghamshire countryside. Its High Street and Broadway are full of 17th and 18th century houses, with even older ones hidden behind later facades or tucked away in little side streets. Several of the inns have archways large enough for stagecoaches to pass through - a reminder of Amersham's past importance as a coaching town. (If any of the inns seems vaguely familiar, it might be because some scenes in Four Weddings and a Funeral were shot here.) Yes - you really can reach all this from central London via the Tube! For details of this walk click here.  Other interesting place to visit can be found at  Rambles from the London Tube

Photos: Town Mill, High Street

Chimney Cottage, The Platt/Three Gables, Rectory Way

Turpins Cottages, High Street/King's Arms inn

King's Church, off The Platt/Market Hall.