The sun and warmth is beginning to return to London and after hermetic winter blues it’s refreshing to take to higher climbs and take in a panoramic view of the blossoming of spring in this wonderful city.
Alexander Palace, the highest point in London, offers fantastic views of the city as well as some historical carry on to muse over. But getting to Ally Pally requires some navigation of the transport network. One of the easiest way is hopping the Piccadilly Line east from Central London and alight at Turnpike Lane, some 20 minutes later.
Turnpike Lane, an old high street and as the name indicates a tollgate was once located on the Lane, now the title is held by the sole pub on Turnpike Lane. Turnpike is a small strip of the east/west running A504 and is lined with residential and retail shops. Also there’s a bus station in behind the tube station where the 144 via Ally Pally can be caught.
But why so fast? A short walk west along Turnpike Lane to the next stop allows for a cultural download not found in many areas in London. Turnpike Lane has a hustle, bustle and liveliness with a mash up of cultures interacting and retailing. But first, if you’re after the lens of weed to take in the views of Ally Pally and don’t want to be carrying any on the tube, duck into Ducketts Common as soon as you leave Turnpike tube station. Look out for a clusters of loitering Somali youths with soft drinks in hands. Presumably ‘cheese’ at a reasonable price and questionable quality is not far away from those hands. (http://www.duckettscommon.org.uk/History.html)
Ducketts Common was once a place for locals to graze their sheep, now its where young entrepreneurs learn a trade alongside one of North London’s few flood lit public basketball courts. The common still has plenty of grass to lazily graze upon if you have time waiting for a companion or bus.
Venturing further west, an assortment of traders line the Lane that is for the most parts of the day bustling with automobiles and local folk who patron many of the local independent retailers. And this is Turnpike Lane’s most noble trait. This short starch of bustling road is crammed with independent retailers all etching out business: Halal meats, restaurants, confectionery, Saree emporiums hairdressers, computer repairs, newsagents, jewelers and one grand light and lamp store at the western end of this grassroots and defiant corridor, where the sprit of commerce in open London survives.
Turnpike lane is a bastion of small, family run businesses in the midst of all the high street chain shops that seem to be linking together and slowly choking out small traders. It would be easy to see Turnpike Lane from the bus, but a short stroll down the lane to the next 144 stop can see you fitted out with fresh foods, beers and bohemian bric-a-brac for your venture up the Palace to take in the city.
