RAVENSCOURT PARK (District Line) LONDON TUBE RAMBLES WALK
(2 miles)
Ravenscourt Park Underground is situated very close to the park itself. Leave the 1873 station by the Ravenscourt Road exit, cross the road, go under the bridge and follow the small blue sign ‘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 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! Wander through the park, using the broad central way. At the end, go left all the way to the end of the playgrounds. Take the small path to the right - you will see Goldhawk Road ahead. Cross over this. Walk left and look over the road to see the interesting early nineteen-century villas that are a feature of the area. At Ashchurch Park Villas note the wall cut away to enable the chestnut tree to grow properly. Continue ahead and after a few minutes take the right fork, Stamford Brook Road and cross at the zebra. Walk to the right. Soon you will find No.15 - aptly named The Grotto - which is a somewhat strange cottage orné. A little further make a detour left into a short private road to find the delightful old house of Lucien Pissarro, the painter, son of Camille. At the end turn left down Stamford Brook Avenue. Soon you will see a somewhat rambling but attractive eighteenth-century building (Stamford Brook House). Opposite is a stone horse trough (now planted with flowers) placed there in memory of Queen Victoria. Continue down the avenue. After about 5 minutes you will reach Stamford Brook Tube station, but continue to King Street, as there is more to see. At King Street cross over at the lights, go left and take the second road on the right, St. Peter's Square, which boasts enormous late Georgian stuccoed dwellings, some of which are decorated with a variety of eagles, urns and pineapples etc. On the east side the houses have verandahs. 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. 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.
Photos:(click on image to enlarge)
St. Peter's Square, West side
Cafe, Ravenscourt Park
Pissarro's house
The Grotto
Stamford Brook House
St. Peter's Square, East side
St. Peter's Square, West side
St. Peter's Square, East Side
Chimneys, St. Peter's Square, East side
Cafe, Ravenscourt Park
Pissarro's house
The Grotto
Stamford Brook House
St. Peter's Square, East side
St. Peter's Square, West side
St. Peter's Square, East Side
Chimneys, St. Peter's Square, East side
www.londontuberambles.co.uk
This is just one route from the many to be found at London Tube Rambles. There are architectural gems, beautiful country views, historic places and quirky buildings to be found covered by the outer London Underground stations. Usually the discoveries 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 click on the above link and see the other destinations explored. You'll be amazed at what's out there!
This is just one route from the many to be found at London Tube Rambles. There are architectural gems, beautiful country views, historic places and quirky buildings to be found covered by the outer London Underground stations. Usually the discoveries 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 click on the above link and see the other destinations explored. You'll be amazed at what's out there!
© DR
