Urban Wanderings around London

During my various Psychogeography inspired urban wanders over the past months, I have inevitably amassed a fair number of individual pictures which I have not included in a coherent blog post, or series of posts. However, not wanting them to be left on the digital shelf, I have decided to combine a few into one or more blog posts. Some may follow a theme whereas others may be more random and follow a drift of their own. I can recall where some were taken, but others remain a bit of a mystery.

I do remember this first one though. We had spent pretty much all day wandering the streets and were most definitely flagging by the time we reached this café, somewhere near Clerkenwell. A comfy sofa, sustained by a flat white coffee and some cake, 30 minutes later we were ready to hit the streets once more.

Tap Coffee, London

I have walked past this sandwich bar near Kensington Olympia endless times, but only ever ventured in recently. Just over the wall is the railway line running south from Olympia station. Not only is it a great life café, but it also acted as a good wind up for one of my friends who works for Pepsi.

Frank's Sandwich Bar, Kensington Olympia, London

Frank's Sandwich Bar, Kensington Olympia, London

Making a nice segue from food to cars, here's a food van parked up during the University open day at Queen Mary's, East London.

Food van, Queen Mary's University, East London

A lovely old Morris Minor convertible, somewhere in Shoreditch if I recall rightly. Only just spotted the wonderfully distressed looking door in the background. Shame I didn't see that at the time as that would have made an interesting picture.

Morris Minor, Shoreditch, London

No distressed doors in this picture.

An MG near Shepherd's Bush, London

    

An Urban Wander around Islington, London N1 (part 2)

Hot(ish) on the heels of my Psychogeography inspired first installment of an Urban Wander around Islington, is part two. First up, we have a couple of pictures of the former entrance and exit to Highbury Station. The station itself is still used, but this entrance is no longer in use itself, although has been refurbished over the past few years from the crumbling mess it once was. Also, as I was posting this, I noticed the interesting looking dome to the left-hand side of the station. Not sure what that is though.

Disused entrance to Highbury Station

Disused entrance to and exit from Highbury Station

I assume at one time these houses towards the end of Calabria Road were all shops of some.

Calabria Road, Islington, London N1

Calabria Road, Islington, London N1

I suspect this coffee shop is a real little gem, but alas we did not have time to sample its wares. Maybe another time perhaps.

Little Gem Coffee Shop, Corsica Street, Islington, London N1

An unusual ghost sign, displaying nothing more than the street name and number.

55 CORSICA ST. 55

Ghost sign, Corsica Street, Islington, London N1

Ghost sign, Corsica Street, Islington, London N1

Not as ornate as many utility buildings I've come across, but there is still something about this electricity substation that appeals to me.

Islington Electricity Department building, Islington, London N1

A former pub, the Old Parr's Head, now home to various clothes shops, which I suspect do not offer luncheons daily.

Ghost sign for former pub, Islington, London N1

Curiously the same building also has the signage

BARCLAY PERKINS & CO LTD

Ghost sign for former pub, Islington, London N1

Ghost sign for former pub, Islington, London N1

And finally on this installment we have a most impressive old sign 

ESTABLISHED 1850

P.B.SPOONER & G.A.BUSHMAN.

M.R.C.V.S.

VETERINARY SURGEONS

AND AT 18, HOLLOWAY ROAD.

Ghost sign for Veterinary Surgeons, Islington, London N1

Part three to follow soon ... hopefully.

    

Final part of my recent urban wander in and around Shoreditch, London

This is the third and final installment of my Urban Wander in and around Shoreditch. Starting with lunch ... I had a fantastic curry and my wife ordered from the brilliant Ethiopian stall in the first picture.

Indoor food market, Shoreditch

Indoor food market, Shoreditch

We didn't get chance to go in here for coffee but it's on the list for next time.

Coffee shop, Shoreditch, London

I can only partially quite make out what the writing above this shop says

....TOMS 18

Ghost sign, Shoreditch, London

I should have taken more notice about what this was as unfortunately I have no idea. Hopefully one of my observant readers will know.

Art installation(?), Shoreditch, London

The chimney of the Truman Brewery can be seen from various angles in and around Shoreditch. This is probably my favourite one.

Ghost sign, Truman Brewery, Shoreditch, London

Ghost sign, Truman Brewery, Shoreditch, London

Not quite sure was this building is/was, but clearly seen better days.

Abandonment and decay, Shoreditch, London

This is one of those buildings I've walked past plenty of times but only noticed the old signage this time.

WELLS & COMPANY COMMERCIAL WORKS

Ghost sign, Shoreditch, London

This next ghost sign is one of the more frequently photographed but until this wander I had no idea where it was, and in fact I only spotted it by chance as having realised my wife was no longer with me I turned to wait for her and spotted it.

BLOOMS PIANOS

PERFECTION

Ghost sign, Shoreditch, London

I was instantly reminded of The Prisoner when I saw this along the Regent's Canal near De Beavouir town.

I am not a number, I am a free man

Further along the canal, with the big white ball having stopped me from escaping, we came across this rather impressive urban topiary on a canal side apartment block.

Urban topiary, Regent's Canal, London

And for the final picture of the wander, another ghost sign as we concluded our walk in Islington.

Ghost sign, Islington, London