Monday, December 16, 2013

Northwest London - An Underrated Tourist Hub

By Mark Sean


Wembley

Wembley is home to two vast entertainment spaces. Wembley Arena and Wembley Stadium. The Stadium first opened in 2007. The Arena first opened in 1934, has seen such frequent use that it has undergone a lb35 million upgrade, with works finally completed on 2nd April 2006.

Wembley Stadium

The second largest football stadium in Europe, narrowly beaten by FC Barcelona's Camp Nou, the new Wembley Stadium is worth a visit just for the stunning architecture. This was built to replace the Empire Stadium demolished in 2003, and is now the national stadium of England.

Cricklewood Area

Once a sleepy country town, Cricklewood has been enveloped by London as the city grew. The bustling main street in Cricklewood is juxtaposed with gorgeous Victorian dwellings, pointing back to a simpler time. Cricklewood Studios, first opened in the 1930s, made the town what it is today. Eric Morecambe has commented that "it's not Hollywood, it's Cricklewood!".

Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath is a 790 acre park famous for its rambling green fields interspersed with natural ponds and manmade outdoor pools. The heath includes an incredible host of wildlife to satisfy even the most avid nature lover.

Little Venice Area

Found at a junction of two of London's canals, the Regent and Grand Union canals, Little Venice is situated within Maida Vale. If you are a fan of canal boats, Little Venice is a perfect place to spot them from a caf'e or restaurant along the waterway. For those not inclined to go boat spotting, a floating puppet barge is situated at the junction and a number of gorgeous canal walks can be embarked upon from this location.

Maida Vale Area

Maida Vale in the north of Paddington is an alluring residential area consisting of a mixture of Edwardian apartments and redbrick mansions, with trees lining the area's expansive streets. Maida Vale is popular among celebrities who are attracted by the presence of the BBC Maida Vale Studio branch opened in 1946, which was the site of the recording of many of John Peel's early programmes, and today is a classical music hotspot.

St. John's Wood Area

St. John's Wood is well known among local residents as an affluent area, within the city's exclusive NW8 district. There are a large number of expensive celebrity homes in this part of the city, along with the Abbey Road Studios and Lord's Cricket Grounds. Several famous artists such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Cliff Richard have recorded albums at the Studios.

The Abbey Road Studios

The famous Beatles album takes its name from Abbey Road, and image on the cover of the album was even taken on the crossing here. This is mimicked by thousands of tourists every year.

Willesden Region

This up and coming area of London houses a large contingent of Irish nationals, and is beginning to see an increase in house prices and a welcome influx of investment. The area has several interesting attributes: the Willesden Cycling Club is the largest in London and the award winning novel White Teeth written by Zadie Smith is set in this area.




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