RAVENSCOURT PARK (District Line) Quick/halfday visit

Ravenscourt Park Underground is situated virtually in the park itself. Turn right out of the 1873 station (Ravenscourt Road exit), cross the road and follow the small blue sign for ‘Ravenscourt Park Hospital’ down an alley by the viaduct. Turn right into the park. Although this is only of medium size, there is a large lake and some of the tree planting is old and interesting, having been laid out in consultation with Humphrey Repton in the early nineteenth century. Ravenscourt House itself was bombed in WW2 and could not be saved. There are some good children’s play areas and a pleasant tea house in what was the stable block, also a little nature trail at the far end. For an entertaining account of how the land for the park was saved from being built over, click here. There’s nothing new under the sun!












When you have wandered round the park, leave by the path that goes to the left of the playground near the nature trail, and cross over Goldhawk Road. This gives a better view of the interesting early nineteen-century villas that are a feature of the area. After a few minutes take the right fork, which is Stamford Brook Road and cross at the zebra. Soon you will find No.15 - aptly named The Grotto - which is an enchanting cottage orne. A little further on is the Georgian house of Lucien Pissarro, the painter, son of Camille. Turn left down Stamford Brook Avenue. Soon you will see a somewhat rambling but attractive eighteenth-century building (Stamford Brook House). Continue down the avenue. After about 5 minutes you will reach Stamford Brook Tube station, but go on to King Street as there is more to see . . .








At King Street cross over at the lights and go down St. Peter's Square, which boasts enormous late Georgian stuccoed dwellings, some of which are decorated with a variety of eagles, urns and pineapples. In the centre of the gardens (open to the public) is the bronze statue of a Greek runner (Sir William Blake Richmond ). The South Side of the square leads to the church, not a building of beauty. It comes as a shock to discover that a major road, the A4, has truncated some of the nearby small side streets, so it is all the more surprising that the area is comparatively quiet. Indeed, the cottages in Black Lion Lane (north of the church), together with the small Victorian Primary school and matching School House in nearby St. Peter's Road, create quite a village atmosphere. St Peter’s Road becomes a bit grotty later on, so it’s best to return to King Street via the first turning to the left, Standish Road.


To get back to the Tube, turn right at King Street and cross at the lights. Passing the park gates, take the second on the left (Ravenscourt Road), which is opposite the red-brick Victorian buildings of Latymer Upper School.


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!


© DR2008