South Kenton

This is the 23rd station on the Bakerloo Line. It is the only one on this line that doesn't have a ticket barrier. The station opened in 1933 and has an island platform with lines running either side of it.

 In the middle of the platform is this wonderful waiting room which, unfortunately, was closed for refurbishment. It is very different from the usual brick built waiting rooms.

This covered walkway takes you down a slope to a tunnel which is the access subway for the station.

This is the entrance to the station.

One side of the station leads to this large expanse of open parkland, Northwick Park. It also has a number of sports fields separated by mature trees.

Other than the park it is a residential area with some large detached houses.

Walking through the subway in the opposite direction you pass this large pub- The Windermere. Built in the 1930s it has many original features including these wonderful lamps outside.

Across the road from the pub is a small row of shops with flats above them. Architecturally they are nothing to write home about.

I wandered down this road thinking there might be something of interest at the end but it was a vehicle repair business with a school opposite. Lots of barbed wire and razor wire protecting the building.

Maybe they have lots of expensive vehicles inside that they need to protect.

Walking on I came to another park on this side of the station called Preston Park. The Preston Park estate was laid out from 1927 and completed soon after the opening of the station in 1933.

Walking back to the station I saw this sign post for the Capital Ring. The Capital Ring is a 78 mile circular walk divided into 15 easy to walk sections. The aim is to take you through open spaces, nature reserves and places of interest around the outskirts of London. Each section starts/finishes close to public transport. Section 9 of the walk is from Greenford to South Kenton and section 10 from South Kenton to Hendon. That would explain why I saw a couple of walking groups crossing the parks.

North Wembley

 This is the 22nd station I have visited on the Bakerloo Line. It is a small station, built in 1912 with the Bakerloo Line arriving here in 1917.

You emerge from the  station onto a busy road


 There are a few shops next to the station and across the road

Walking in the opposite direction I passed this  large business park.

It soon became obvious that this is mainly a residential area with very little out of the ordinary.

I did notice this large building which is now a Tesco Express store. I discovered that it was once a pub called The Hop Bine (Hop bine is the climbing stem of the hop). It then became the Chequered Flag, the Dog and Duck, then The Bootsey Brogans and then for a short time a restaurant called Desi Dons.  The building was designed as a Truman's pub by A E Sewell in the 1930s.

Truman's Brewery was founded in 1666 in the East End of London when it was mainly fields. It remained an independent brewery until the 1980s when it merged with other companies and ended up closing down in 1989.

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Wembley Central

This is the entrance to Wembley Central, the 22nd station I have visited on the Bakerloo Line. It doesn't look much like a station from this photo but the front is currently being replaced. It lacks the character of the other stations I have seen and just looks part of the shopping complex which is probably what the designers wanted. Behind this small station front is a much larger station than you would think. It even has public toilets! British Rail, the Overground as well as the Bakerloo Line use this station.



The station is the white section at the bottom right of this coloured mixed block of shops and apartments.

Across the road from the station is a much older block of shops known as Central Parade. More interesting architecture but not sure how long this block will remain before it is also redeveloped.

Another interesting building around the corner.

Walking from Wembley Central station you soon see Wembley Stadium. In fact the arch has been visible since leaving the station. These are light poles in the foreground. I'm sure it looks wonderful in the evening when they are all lit up.

This is the new Wembley Stadium opened in 2007. The previous stadium was opened in 1923 and was one of a number of concrete structures built for the British Empire Exhibition of 1924. The stadium was also used as the main venue for the Summer Olympics of 1948. It is perhaps more well known for its association with football, hosting the annual FA cup finals; a number of European cup finals and the world cup final in 1966. The present stadium is still mainly used for major football matches. The 134m arch can be seen across London.


Opposite the stadium is the Designer Outlet so if you're not interested in football there are plenty of shopping opportunities here.

A reflection in the Designer Outlet gives a better view of the Stadium.

Walking in the opposite direction from the Underground station I came across this Mosque and was surprised to see a Shiva Temple next door.

There is a strong Asian presence in this area as you can see from the local shops.

A few Irish pubs as well.

The church of St John the Evangelist just off the Harrow Road looked a charming old church. Built in 1846, a graveyard was added in 1887 which is now referred to as Wembley Old Burial Ground.

Further along the road is this art deco fire station.

Next to the fire station is this large modern police station

Although a modern building it has retained the old blue lamp, the Victorian symbol used outside police stations. They first appeared outside police stations in 1861.

Across the road from the police station is Barham Park. A large open space with formal gardens

Also in the park is this Georgian building used as a local library until 2011 and now housing 31 studios.

Whilst wandering through the walled gardens I came across a group of Nepali Ladies. They were watching another lady showing them some keep fit movements. There was a lot of laughter but I only saw one of them trying some of the movements.

In another part of the garden their husbands were sitting on a couple of benches chatting away.

Back at the Underground station to make the long journey home.