A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north-west London

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

My trip to see Dulwich Hamlet play Harrow Borough on Saturday took me through Northolt Park, a singularly characterless suburb of north west London.

It didn’t help that the rain never ceased, but apart from the pleasant oasis of Alexandra Park, the walk to the football ground took me through a bleak rolling landscape of relentless, soul-crushing suburbia.

Almost every front garden had long since been paved over, with multiple shiny cars replacing the rose bushes and carefully tended lawns. Barely a soul was seen on the pavements, with motorised transport – even for the shortest distances – seeming the norm here.

Feeling peckish, I popped into a Londis mini store and had what I can only describe as a wet cheese sandwich. The label said ‘cheese and onion’ but it turned out to be a bizarre and thoroughly inedible semi-liquid mush peppered with bright orange bits.

Sorry, Northolt Park, but I hated you. All I could think of was this poem and this song.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Speared cans on the walk from the station.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Closed business.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Skewers.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Station Parade.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Rusting mail box.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Dry cleaners with signage that appears to have come from the 1950s.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Always good to know.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Both old and new Chung Wah have left the building.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Harrow Nail post box.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Spicy nights for Northolt Park.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

A  walk around the deserted Alexandra Park raised the spirits.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

A lone cyclist passes by.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Autumnal hues.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

These trees looked startled.
A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Empty baseball court.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

This was just about the only house that had anything left of its front garden.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Every garden paved over for miles.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Discarded fridge.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Not sure if the idea of a ‘messy church’ appeals.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

Station sign at Northolt Park. There’s only one train every hour and I’d just missed that, so I walked up to the bright lights of South Harrow.

A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north London, Saturday 15th November 2014

South Harrow. It was still raining when my train came in.

3 Comments on “A depressing trudge in the rain around Northolt Park, north-west London”

  1. Great photo blog – London needs to up its game when it comes to the visual attractiveness of some areas! Contrast this with cities like Munich which is absolutely gorgeous, and its residents have a real pride in their city.

  2. Think one can understand how important parks are in a city such as London. Even when things are bleak it has that connection to nature that many in a city lack. Nice pics.

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