A couple of weeks ago we posted our idea for a new series on the Parks and Green Spaces of London, this week we are going to do a rundown of the parks of Archway…
Archway, nestled between Holloway and Highgate on the Northern Line, is often seen as a mere stop for hospital appointments or a gateway to our next destination. However, recently, while waiting for Bob, Ash took the opportunity to explore the area and found an open space to sit and sketch. This was the spark of inspiration that started this whole series.
To clarify, Archway is a rather narrow strip between Highgate, Holloway, Crouch End and Tuffnell Park, so if you don’t see a certain green space here it’s because we intend to feature it in a neighbouring area some time. The list is a bit all over the place, claiming some areas you would assume are a neighboring area and some parks that are further away that are still considered Archway.
Archway Park – 2 acres
We start with an almost non exsistant slither of greenery outside an estate and alongside a very busy main road. Not the most picturesque start but it’s still a surprisingly busy place. We visited on a Monday morning and it was filled with kids and parents. There is a large playground for kids, with a good old-fashioned slide, one of those really long tall ones – but not for long it seems as it is being removed due to hazards! There is little else in this park, save from half a Basketball court and one singular Table Tennis Table.
So the scores (each catagory is a maximum of 5 stars to give a total of 100)
Animal Friendly – Yes, there is even a resident Cat!
Wildlife Areas – A lot of trees and ivy (& a Cat)
Ponds/Water Features – No!
Formal Gardens – No!
Specimen Trees/Plants – No!
Covered Seating Areas/Pavilions – No!
Paths – A long and winding concrete path through the entire length, with banks to either side to stop you climbing into the ivy filled grounds!
Seating and Picnic Areas – A lot of benches outside the playground but they are not nice to look at or to sit on and certainly no picnic area.
Playgrounds – Large space that takes over half the park, but only a main slide and a baby slide.
Kids Areas – A large concrete space doesn’t really count
Sports Courts/Pitches – Not even a full Basketball Court but there is a table tennis table.
Forest/Tree Walkways – Well the path goes through the trees so technically!
Coffee Shops/Restaurant – No!
Toilets – No!
Manor Houses/Buildings – A large Estate, does that count?! No!
Open Peace and Quiet – NO!
Bins – A couple
Rules and Signs – No!
Quirks – A Cat, a BIG Slide and a surprisingly green space in a truly urban area, gives it a quirk!
General Vibe/Aesthetic – This is not the greatest place to start, it was just the place this idea was born. There is better in a short distance so its better going there.
Total
15% out of 100
Gridlestone Park.
While a green space, really feels more like the area outside an estate.
So we wont include as a review just a brief nod to.
Dartmouth Park –
Two small rectangles of grass, very fenced in, looks much like an alien landing strip.
The only plus is that it has a resident Golden Labrador we cant really see much else about it.
Hillside Park –
Along St. John’s Way towards Crouch Hill is a little park that is a gap between buildings. It must have originally been an empty space of nothingness but a slope but since then has been made into a park. It has benches, well lit, has cool little sculptures and a yellow brick road that winds around bushes leading you through. Stopping at games, series of stones and picturesque scenes then ending at the top Cressida Road.
So the scores
Animal Friendly – Seems like it
Wildlife Areas –Lots of Trees and bushes
Ponds/Water Features – No
Formal Gardens – No!
Specimen Trees/Plants – No!
Covered Seating Areas/Pavilions – Only under trees.
Paths – Formal path and whimsical path.
Seating and Picnic Areas –
Playgrounds – Nope
Kids Areas – There is some small kids games spotted around.
Sports Courts/Pitches – Not at all
Forest/Tree Walkways – Tree walkways not forest
Coffee Shops/Restaurant – No!
Toilets – No!
Manor Houses/Buildings – Nope
Open Peace and Quiet – Yes it is fairly quiet
Bins – A couple
Rules and Signs – No!
Quirks –
General Vibe/Aesthetic –
Total
37% out of 100
Whittington Park –
This is an oddity, it’s down past Upper Holloway Station but still considered part of Archway. The biggest features are a Toppery Cat and sports facilities, including free gym equipment and football pitches. honestly this could be one of the best parks in the area as you will see…
So the scores;
Animal Friendly – Well it has a giant Cat!
Wildlife Areas – Nothing remarkable but you do get a fair amount of birds of all sorts.
Ponds/Water Features – Yep!
Formal Gardens – A Circular path with ivy and bushes. More the whimsical score (below) than formal score.
Specimen Trees/Plants – No!
Covered Seating Areas/Pavilions – Not really, a lot of seating under trees!
Paths – Lots of paths all around, using up a lot of the space.
Seating and Picnic Areas – Yes a number of them all around the park.
Playgrounds – A Large playground with full swings, slides, etc.
Kids Areas –
Sports Courts/Pitches – Everything from Football Pitches, Gym Equipment, Skate Park, Table Tennis Tables
Forest/Tree Walkways – some simple paths under trees with quirky circuits and routes.
Coffee Shops/Restaurant – No!
Toilets – Basic changing facilities for the Sports Pitches etc.
Manor Houses/Buildings – No!
Open Peace and Quiet – Towards the back away from Holloway Road is a bit quieter, but not really that peaceful, especially with the football matches.
Bins – There are enough
Rules and Signs – For all the sports facilities, nothing overly organised or strict, but good enough.
Quirks – The Cat, The windy path and a general hidden vibe.
General Vibe/Aesthetic – The location isn’t great, the inhabitants – namely too many drunks and druggies ruin this park.
Total
52% out of 100
Well, there we go, a round up of some of the Park of London. Did we really miss any that you would call Archway Parks? Which ones do you actually like? And where do you think we should go next?
Climbing Moss 