Do Not Miss the Hidden Treasure of London Called Camden
Camden is one of London’s hidden gems. Camden’s borough stretches North from Covent Garden and Holborn through Kings Cross and Euston to the stylish Camden Town quarter to the verdant and thriving Hampstead area.
Camden is prosperous quarter there are a large number restaurants and pubs that permit your dog to join you for a rest.
It is built on the old site of the manor of Cantelowes. The Manor house was acquired through marriage in the 18th century by Sir Charles Pratt a politician and radical lawyer who later became the 1st Earl of Camden. He gave leases for over one thousand houses to be built in Camden in the 1790s.
In the early 19th century Regent’s Canal was built on the land, running through the northern edge of Camden Town. Regent’s canal is very popular with dog walkers and cyclists. During the summer boat trips are well liked. Right up to the 50s the canal barges were pulled by horses and you can see the deep marks etched by the towropes into the handrails. There are also the canal ramps, not for boats, but to help the horses out of the canal. Macclesfield Bridge is the site where a barge with gunpowder blew up in 1874, London’s largest non war explosion. In the early days until the late 19th century it was not a chic area.
Camden Lock is a manually-operated working canal lock. Situated near to it are numerous weekend street markets. These are celebrated and exceedingly popular, the local small markets include Buck Street, Camden canal and Stables market as well as the Electric Ballroom which is an indoor market. They sell all types of goods, including, lifestyle, fashion, books, junk, antiques and more bizarre items.
During the last few of decades artistic and entertainment companies have moved into the area. Due to the increased wealth in the borough restaurants and pubs have prospered. One of the first major venues was the Roundhouse, which was a locomotive train engine house built in the middle of the 19th century, that had a number of uses until it was transformed into a music venue in the 1960s. With a recent re-launch in 2006.
Camden has numerous greens spaces for great dog walking, Regents Park, Primrose Hill, Kenwood Park, Parliament Hill and the big Hampstead Heath to name the big ones, so many London dog walkers are based here such as Camden Dog Walking.
The Camden Borough was formed in the 1965 by amalgamating the London boroughs of Hampstead, St Pancreas and Holborn.
The borough has a wide ethnic mix and whilst generally prosperous, there are some less well off areas.
Camden was and is the home to many artists, writers and politicians, that include the writers Charles Dickens, John Keats and Aldous Huxley, all types of politician from the politicians Karl Marx, Benjamin Disraeli, John Maynard Keynes and Frederick Engels. The artist Henry Moore and numerous of modern rock stars and actors.
One of the oldest pubs in London is The World’s End It was formerly known as “The Mother Red Cap” and shortened to “The Red Cap”, it is located near Camden Town tube station on Camden Road. Other places worth a visit is KOKO which was known as ‘The Camden Palace’ a major rock and dance venue. It was renowned as the location of the famous Goon Show. The Electric Ballroom, is another good live music venue.
Families and dog owners will love Camden Square a short distance from Camden Town station with a dog walking area and playground area.
The Sainsbury’s supermarket in Camden Road is very unusual and was designed by Nicholas Grimshaw.
Other places worth a visit include the British Museum, British Library, St Pancreas railway terminal building, Jewish Museum, Highgate Cemetery, Regents Park, London Zoo, St Pancreas Old Church. St Michaels Church.
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