Saturday, January 26, 2013

Northwest London - An Underrated Tourist Hub

By John Larsson


Wembley

A name synonymous with football, Wembley is a great place to connect with sport. The newly constructed Wembley Stadium and recently renovated Wembley Arena are great attractions to visit for the atmosphere they provide and the memories they invoke. The GBP 35 million Wembley Arena renovations were eventually completed on 2nd April 2006. As well as this strong sporting tradition, the venues are also famously involved with popular artists such as Abba, Barbra Streisand, The Cure, and many more.

Wembley Stadium

Built on the site of the legendary 'Twin Towers' Wembley Stadium, the new stadium is the second largest in Europe with a capacity of 90,000. Football enthusiasts will have no trouble recalling Wembley Stadium, England's national stadium and home of the higher tier FA Cup games.

Cricklewood Area

Driving through this pretty Victorian residential area of London doesn't give you the full story about this mini Hollywood. Cricklewood was made famous by the Cricklewood Studios operating in the 1930s, of which comedian Eric Morecambe stated "life's not Hollywood, it's Cricklewood!".

Hampstead Area

A gorgeous 790 acre heath within the expanse of London provides a breath of fresh air when driving through the urban sprawl. Hampstead heath contains a variety of water features to provide a reservoir for wildlife and interest any hill walker. The assortment of water features allows a perfect space to relax.

Little Venice Area

At the point where Regent's Canal joins the Grand Union sits Little Venice, a beautiful slice of waterfront paradise nestled in the suburbs of London. A floating puppet barge graces the canal, along with several waterfront caf'es, restaurants, and the headquarters of the London Waterbus company. Taking a stroll along the canal is a great way to spend an evening while you soak in the beautiful surroundings offered by Little Venice.

Maida Vale

Among the redbrick mansions and Edwardian apartments, Maida Vale is home to a BBC Studio, running since 1946. This studio was used by John Peel, the longest serving BBC Radio One DJ, in his early career and is now the location of a wide range of classical music recordings.

St. John's Wood

London's NW8 area, of which St. John's Wood is a part, is an especially affluent area and a popular celebrity residence. The Lord's cricket ground is found in St. John's Wood, and well known artists such as Cliff Richard, The Beatles and Pink Floyd have recorded at the historic Abbey Road Studios.

The Abbey Road Studios

After recording their album at this iconic studio, the Beatles snapped the Abbey Road album cover at the crossing nearby, naming the famous album for this road. Tourists are often seeing snapping similar pictures to try and mimic the Beatles' efforts.

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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