The Magic of Camden Lock
There's a great crowd of tourists and they're coming down the street
Pleased as punch with brand new Doctor Marten's on their feet
Past stalls with leather jackets, old bric-a-brac
Indian sunglasses or a Chinese bobble hat
Camden Town - Suggs
When people come to stay from out of town that don’t need to dash off on the Sunday, it’s always a great pleasure to take friends and family into Camden, even if you’ve been before it’s worth another look as the place evolves before your very eyes!
I must confess, the first trip I made to Camden some 20 years ago now was not the most edifying, it was a cold, dreary, damp Sunday in late October and I didn’t see any merit in the place what so ever!
A year or so later a friend of mine moved to Hampstead heath and invited me up for Sunday brunch, inevitably we ended up in Camden at the Camden Brasserie which is now sadly defunct! This time it was a glorious early-June day, blue skies, warm sunshine, fun, laughter, life and the general sense of pleasure! I was in love and have been ever since!
Now I visit on a regular basis and not only on a Sunday, (Although I still maintain, Sunday is the best day to go if you’ve never visited before!). Camden is my escape from the madness of London city life and the madder it gets, the more I visit, don’t get me wrong though, head up there on a Saturday or Sunday in July and August and there is more hustle and bustle than you could shake a stick at!
But even so, Camden has a magic all of its own, there’s just something about it, some intangible quality that makes it feel like an oasis, in a small and bizarre way, it makes me feel like I’m home.
Something that first-time companions notice immediately, is the avant-garde artistic expression that hits you right between the eyes, it adorns the walls, shops, streets and the clothes of the quirky, Bohemian people that reside here. The hippieville, laid back vibe could be right out of the 60s and 70s, the atmosphere is one of freedom and hope, something we all need a little of, especially at the moment!
Whether you take time out strolling along the canals, engage in the friendly market banter and barter, indulge in the world class street food offerings or listen and smile with the buskers on the streets before casting a few pound coins into their upturned hats, Camden will deliver in terms of character, personality, inspiration and entertainment.
So, where is it and how do I get there? Camden is located in North London and you can get there by many different routes. Easily and most popularly method is to arrive by Tube, jump onto the Northern Line, the black one, and simply jump off at Camden town, if you’re heading North and you miss it, chalk farm isn’t much further, both are easy walking distance from the Lock.
Once arrived, I usually start my visit at one of the many coffee bars, a favourite of mine is The Coffee Jar, lovely cappuccino and they do the gooiest, most chocolatey brownies in the world ever!!
Sometimes, if we’ve had a lay in, we head for the street food part of the Market. The street food is amazing, all is good but a personal favourite is the Halloumi Fries from Oli Baba’s – park yourself somewhere along the Regent’s canal and indulge – gorgeous!!
After Halloumi fries it’s shopping time!! I must have spent days, weeks even wandering through the lock market and then on to the Stables, all life is there, it’s vibrant, vintage, cosmopolitan, grungy, chic, loud, ecumenical, gregarious and creative and I LOVE it! There’s tons of things to do outside the markets however, if you miss the Markets, you’ve missed the point – just saying!
Don’t get me wrong, as mentioned there’s tons of other things to do, Take the twenty-minute saunter up to Primrose Hill from Camden Lock for one of the most beautiful skyline views over London. In the summer, make sure you take a picnic! London Zoo is just down the road, alternatively, you can jump on a canal barge and cruise down to Little Italy, the Jewish museum is in the borough which gives a fascinating account of Jewish life through the ages in the capital – all in all, you can spend a good day in and around Camden Lock. So what are you waiting for, go take a peep!
What I’m wearing this week;
Head, Eyes & Teeth – Catwa Head, Rigged Eyes and teeth - Catya v3.2
Hair – Little Bones. Bee - The Blondie - At this Months Fameshed
Skin – Amara Beauty - Anita - PACK A
Body, Hands & Feet – Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara V4.0
AO – [Body Language Sweet Lovely Cute] BENTO AO Kisetsu
Physics – Temptation – Maitreya Physics II 2018 Bento Realism Fatpack +
Shape – Elle et Lui SL Style, Sacha Shape for Catwa Bento Head Catya – Maitreya, (Adjusted)
Panties – Erratic / cerise - panties / FATPACK (18 colors) (maitreya)
Shoes – .:KC:. [MAITREYA] CATY Wedges / PAIR
