Primrose Hill

and remembered that Primrose Hill was on my 43P list. It’s a brisk 25 minute walk from Baker Street station round the edge of Regent’s Park. If you walk along the Outer Circle, there’s much less traffic than on Prince Albert Road. Or, for the most picturesque route, go through Regent’s Park itself and walk beside the boating lake.

I thought that the view was lovely. It’s very different to those that you’d get from the London Eye or any other building in the centre of town, where you’re looking down upon London. Here you’re looking across to the horizon where the highest points of the London skyline which appears in minature from east to west.

On your left (east), you can see Canary Wharf and the City – Canary Wharf Tower with its pointed roof and the Gherkin are the most recognisable. Then as you pan to your right, there’s the tiny but perfect dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the tall spike of the British Telecom tower and, of course, the London Eye.

There’s a plaque which describes all the landmarks, which was definitely needed for some of the smaller buildings. What surprised me (and also many of the other visitors, judging by their murmurs) was the sheer number of building cranes across the city. They seemed to be mainly in the centre of town (new office blocks perhaps) rather than out towards the site for the 2012 Olympics.

On the way down, I came across the lyrics of the Blur song that reference Primrose Hill (see the entry posted by Supashoppa below). I completely agree with them :)

There are meant to be some great views over London from here!

I definitely want to see this, heard great things about the place

i was born at Primrose Hill..my family loved it so much that as my surname is Hill they gave me the middle name Primrose :) i love it there xxxxx

Beautiful buildings and lots of beauitful people.