Langdon Park Road

Set just seconds from the bustling Archway Rd - or the A1, to give it's technical name - sits Langdon Park Rd, a quiet suburban street which you would be forgiven for not noticing unless you lived there. On first inspection Langdon Park Rd appears to offer nothing more than any one of the many comparable suburban streets in the north London area: mid-level hatchbacks, Georgian architecture, plenty of cats etc. However, look a little closer and you will discover the unique characteristics that make Langdon Park Rd stand head and shoulders above the no-man's-land of Hornsey Lane Gardens and the dreary excesses of Milton Avenue. Starting at the southern end, the first thing I noticed was the not inconsiderable downslope of the road, which makes for easy walking. By the time the road levels out, even the most cynical city-dweller would be hard pressed not to be won over by subtle charms of this street. I was pleased to notice a good amount of daytime activity around me; the presence of people going about their daily business imbued Langdon Park Rd with a warm, community atmosphere without making it feel crowded and, thankfully, without any unpleasant lurking. On a clear day the light is just right, bright enough that I could easily read house numbers and number-plates, and not too bright that I was blinded in the process! When I reached the corner of Milton Park, the road had another surprise waiting for me - an incline, just sharp enough to be called a small hill, leading to Northwood Rd and bringing Langdon Park Rd to an abrupt finish. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Ironic, then, that the road should be situated so close to Archway Bridge, known locally as "Suicide Bridge", as suicide really couldn't have been further from my mind. 7/10