November 2024 – Gospel Oak.
One new GBG tick in the bag by 3pm, my first for a fortnight, and a route mapped out for my second an hour later. London ticking is the best ticking.
Time to explore that mysterious bit between Camden and Hampstead,
a place of contrasts,
and curious fonts,
and undemanding pleasantness.
Some legends have lived in Gospel Oak;
none more legendary than Ivor Cutler, here pictured chained to railings in NW5 in protest at the closure of the Oak’s main pub.
Ivor would have been delighted to hear the Lord Southampton (not to be confused with its more famous NW5 neighbour) is finally to re-open.
John Wesley preached here (and everywhere else, to be honest), but it’s the Catholic Church of St Dominic I popped into so this blog isn’t totally pubs.
Not actually that ancient,
but graceful, and quiet, two of Mrs RM’s top qualities.
Some beautiful memorials to the fallen of World War I the highlight.
Anyway, just a preview of another essential church visit to add to your list when you’ve ticked your pubs. And it allows me to play you a bit of Van the Man.
Five minutes to Belsize Park tube, a first ever visit,
and possibly my last.
retiredmartin 
Nice part of town.
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Belsize Park – been through up & down the lifts in there several times over last couple of days. The Premier inn over the road is very handy for visits to Hampstead- walked to Kenwood House this morning but didn’t have time to have a proper look. The walk through the Heath was lovely though. Pauline
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Thanks for the Premier Inn tip, Pauline.
Have had very little reason, pub wise, to visit Hampstead this century (think only the Spaniards and the Magdala) which seems a shame.
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Thanks for pointing out the Van Morrison reference thus robbing me of the chance to congratulate you on it.
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I find people these days have to have things pointed out to them, Bill.
Need a pub called Tupelo Honey now…
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Yes indeed.
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