Roll up, roll up good people of North London for Archway is being transformed before your very eyes! Once seen, perhaps unfairly, as a bit tatty, the hideous seventies nightmare of a gyratory system opposite the station has now been turned into a pretty pedestrianised piazza. Blocks of contemporary apartments are springing up next to the more traditional Victorian housing and an increasing amount of cycle lanes are being introduced for the more environmentally and financially conscious residents.

Apparently, it was at Archway that Dick Whittington heard the Bow Bells ringing and returned back to London. There’s even a small statue of his famous cat situated outside the Whittington hospital to mark the neighbourhood’s famous past. Things have changed since Dick’s day. Little independent shops, cafes and eateries are popping up rapidly. The rather lovely Archway Market lures in those looking for a decent bit of smelly cheese, organic meat or a good bottle of locally sourced honey. The community spirit is also strong here, there’s a sense of camaraderie and fellowship among local residents, who open their arms to new neighbours and traders alike.