SWISS COTTAGE, Jubilee Line


There are two separate walks from this station, one goes to the neighbourhood of the Freud Museum and the other, in the opposite direction, leads to Primrose Hill and Camden Lock.

For either route take the station exit marked ‘Finchley Road’ and in the underpass go on to the one marked ’Finchley Road West’. Turn right up some brick steps and you will see the famous Swiss Cottage pub. It has had some sporting connections, as the first landlord in the 1840’s was a former pugilist. Later the pub became well-known as the starting point for pedestrianism (walking races) along the Finchley Road. The pretty wooden structure of today sits somewhat forlornly at the apex of a triangle of roads with traffic roaring on either side. It was rebuilt in the 1960’s and continues the style of a Swiss chalet, the original having been built during a craze for alpine designs following the success of the opera ‘Le Chalet’ in Paris in 1834. (Trivial Pursuit time!)

To more serious matters - for the Freud Museum (10 minutes walk) cross at the lights to Avenue Road and turn left, continuing into College Crescent, with Northways Parade on your left. As you cross Buckland Crescent notice the large stuccoed houses. You will then pass a terrace (which has seen better days) with wrought iron balconies. At Belsize Park cross College Crescent by the zebra to see the 1904 granite drinking fountain erected in memory of Samuel Palmer (as in Huntley and Palmer biscuits) Opposite is a large red-brick building, Palmer’s Lodge, built for Samuel Palmer in the 1880’s. At his death it became a charitable institution and now provides budget accommodation for backpackers.





Continue down College Crescent. At the junction with Finchley Road is the large North Star pub, while facing you is an unusually pleasant parade of shops, clad in golden stone. Turn right to pass the pub,with its entertaining sign of a Polar bear and star. Just past this is a small, steep path, Trinity Walk. Go up here to see a primary school with little bell tower.






As you get to the end of Trinity Walk, turn left into Maresfield Gardens, full of enormous late Victorian houses. The Freud Museum is at No 20. Freud (’the father of psychoanalysis’) went to live there following his escape from Austria with his family in 1938, but died the following year.


Turn round and return, following the road as it turns left, passing South Hampstead High School, an impressive brick building with a terracotta relief proclaiming that it was built in 1883. At Fitzjohn’s Avenue cross at the zebra. On the corner of Belsize Lane is a bronze statue of Sigmund Freud (by Oscar Nemon). From here retrace your steps to the Tube.





To get to Primrose Hill, about fifteen minutes walk from the Tube station: after crossing to Avenue Road, walk right for a few yards then turn left , passing the modern Library and Leisure Centre. Cross the road and walk down Winchester Mews. At Winchester Road turn right, passing a stretch of modern flats. Cross at the lights to Harley Road. Continue until Wadham Gardens, which curves into Elsworthy Road.

Although this is a comparatively long walk, there are some good late nineteenth century Arts and Crafts houses on the way - well worth seeing in their own right. Go on walking until Elsworthy Terrace on the right. This leads directly into Primrose Hill. The hill itself is not all that fascinating, but the view from the top (256 feet) is spectacular, with St Pauls and the Post Office tower clearly visible.

Those wishing to explore further, might like to wander in the direction of Camden Town Tube Station, (fifteen minutes actual walking, but allow more for pottering about this fascinating area). The route will take you through Camden Lock market where you may be tempted by some of the exotic food, clothes and jewellery stalls. To get to the market, from the top of Primrose Hill head for the road on the left (Regents Park Road), taking the path that exits the hill near Albert Terrace (see map below).* Pass a granite drinking fountain erected in1870 by the Band of Hope (a temperance organization) and cross to go to the right up Regents Park Road with its handsome coloured stuccoed terraces and detached houses. Turn left up Princess Road, passing a large school. At the junction with Gloucester Avenue turn right, passing The Engineer pub on the corner. To get to the canal, take the ramp (directly opposite the pub) or go to the bridge and take the steps down to the water. You can now walk through the market to reach Chalk Farm Road. Turning right here will take you to Camden Town Tube Station.

MAP

Swiss Cottage 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

*For Regent’s Park and the London Zoo turn right at the drinking fountain and go down Albert Terrace to Prince Albert Road. Walking left here will bring you to the park and steps down to the Regent’s Canal towpath where you get a good view of the Feng Shang - a picturesque floating Chinese restaurant in the style of a pagoda. I should point out that this is not the most interesting end (North East) of the park itself and it takes about fifteen minutes to get to the cafes, gardens, boating lake, etc.