FINSBURY PARK (Vic.and Picc. lines) LONDON TUBE RAMBLES WALK
You may be surprised by the size of this station – but it is one of the access stations to the Emirates stadium. (To check on home fixture dates which you might wish to avoid go to the Arsenal website.) You may also be surprised to see large colourful mosaics of hot-air balloons on the walls of the Victoria Line platforms. There are also tiles depicting duelling pistols above the seats. In fact, both sets of tiles are the result of an odd mistake. The balloon ascents and duels actually occurred in Finsbury Fields in central London near what is now Finsbury Square. 
When you have admired the tiles, leave the station (Station Place exit), turn left and cross over Stroud Green Road at the lights and go left again. Almost immediately there is an narrow entrance to Finsbury Park just before the railway bridge. Once in the park you can have a pleasant walk or make use of one of the many sports facilities which include excellent tennis courts, a skate-board area and outdoor gym.
More picturesque is the lake, where, unlike most other London parks, you can still hire boats and row round the central wooded island. The fact that at certain times of the year the duckweed covers a large percentage of the lake, making it look as if the rowers are in the middle of a lawn, only adds to the colourful scene! There are also splendid play areas for children and a large modern café, so if you are in the area this would make a pleasant day out for an energetic family. If you walk to the north end of this large (112 acre) park you will find mature trees, including Turkey Oaks, which create a shady place to relax. Manor House Tube station is on the left of the park gates to the east of the boating lake – a rather grander entrance than the alleyway you came in by. (Incidentally, do not follow earlier signs to Manor House, as it is more pleasant to walk through the park than to trudge down the Seven Sisters Road to get to the station.) From Manor House you can continue to Clissold Park. For details please go to the Manor House entry– a trail that has some surprises.MAP
www.londontuberambles.co.uk
Finsbury Park is just one walk from the many to be found at London Tube Rambles. There are architectural gems, beautiful country views, historic places and quirky buildings even in the most unpromising areas 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 to see the other destinations explored. You'll be amazed at what's out there!
© DR
