ALPERTON Piccadilly line (Uxbridge)
The Grand Junction Canal was cut through Alperton in 1801, a local brickfield being used in the building works. Although passenger boats carried sightseers and the canal was popular with anglers, by the end of the century Alperton had become an industrialized, extremely smelly place. Its commercial enterprises included a sewage farm, 3 large piggeries and two recycling plants producing manure! With the coming of the railway in 1842 passenger barge traffic declined but the surrounding countryside was still a popular place to visit.

Today long stretches of the canal in this area provide a peaceful walk (no noxious smells) where herons and other water birds flourish.

Directions: From Alperton Tube Station turn right. Cross Bridgewater Road opposite The Pleasure Boat pub. Just over the bridge there are steps down to the towpath. At first there is a built-up section with a Sainsbury's but soon you will be walking along a quiet stretch. After about a mile you will see an old stone bridge. From here you can easily get to Perivale Tube station by leaving the canal path just before the bridge and going through a wooden gate on to Horsenden Road South. Turn left, passing a community centre and library and after about ten minutes you will see the Tube station.

If you are feeling energetic you can turn right over the stone bridge and walk up Horsenden Hill and on to Sudbury Town Tube. (see entry for Perivale.)
MAP

This is just one walk from the many to be found at London Tube Rambles. There are architectural gems, beautiful country views, historic places and whacky buildings to be found, even in the most unpromising areas covered by the Greater London Underground stations. Usually the places listed are within a mile of the Tube - often only five minutes walk away. If you reached this as an individual page via a search engine, you might like to go to www.londontuberambles.co.uk to see the other destinations explored . You'll be amazed at what's out there!

©DR2006