Walking with Keilyn: Highgate to Finsbury Park... and beyond

Sunday October 26, 2025.

It was a spur of the moment idea to head to London, for a walk.

So, after a decent breakfast Keilyn and I got a taxi to Watford Underground station and boarded a Baker Street-bound train. We alighted at Finchley Road and waited for 3-minutes for an Aldgate-bound train, which we took to King's Cross St Pancras. From here we took the Northern line to Highgate.

On leaving Highgate station we headed south, along Archway Road, until we reached Holmesdale Road. This brought us to the start, or end, of the Parkland Walk (south). Parkland Walk is split into two sections, north and south. The north walk runs from Cranley Gardens to Muswell Hill 0.4 miles (750m), while the south walk stretches from Highgate to Finsbury Park 1.8 miles (3 km). In total it stretches for 3.1 miles (5 km), along with the about a 1-mile (1.3-1.8 km) gap between the two sections. The Parkland Walk is also London's longest linear nature reserve.

The first point of interest was the now sealed tunnels that run beneath Highgate, through which the train line once ran. These tunnels are now home to three species of bats: Brown Long Eared Bat, Common Pipistrelle Bat and the Daubenton's Bat.

From here we began our walk, westward, following the route of the old train line towards Finsbury Park. The next point of interest, that Keilyn spotted first, was a bench with a forlorn looking toy rabbit sitting on it, beside a tree with various charms and named disks hanging from it. This is the 'Baby Loss Tree', and was quite emotional to stand beneath.

We then continued our walk, passing old railway infrastructure, that has been reclaimed by nature, while keeping our eyes peeled for wildlife. It was a busy route, with dogwalkers, joggers and families all making the most of the unseasonably warm temperature.

We crossed railway bridges, high above the roads, looking out across London at the various landmarks that were visible. Eventually we reached the site of the former Crouch End railway station. Unlike the rest of the stations along the route, the platforms had been left for people to walk along. 

An A-board, on one of the platforms, advertised coffee, so up the steps we clambered and entered 'Merro'. This wonderful little coffee shop is housed in what is left of the old station house and had old photographs framed on the wall.

With drinks in hand we headed back down to the platforms and continued our walk. Passing beneath another bridge I spotted the sculpture of a Spriggan. A Spriggan is a legendary creature from Cornish folklore and are particularly associated with West Penwith in Cornwall. This one was placed here and was expected to be the first in a 'trail' of legendary creatures along the route. However, this never came to fruition.

Under and across bridges we walked, until we were finally stood over the main railway line out of King's Cross, with the Emirates Stadium clearly visible to the south. We continued on into Finsbury Park and decided that it was time to find somewhere to buy lunch.

With so many food options available I left it to Keilyn to decide. So, KFC it was. We ordered and left the shop, and found a bench where we could eat in peace.

Suitably recharged we headed along Gillespie Road and, eventually, turned down Avenell Road so that we could see the old Highbury Stadium. It was a place that I had never visited and I was suitably impressed with how they had kept it looking like a football stadium, while converting it to flats and apartments. Keilyn stood at the entrance to the East Stand, for a photo, before we continued our walk. We turned west, onto Aubert Park, then down Drayton Park to the Danny Fiszman Bridge.

As Arsenal were playing at home we could hear the cheers, from inside, long before we saw the stadium. Now, I have passed the stadium on a train out of King's Cross, but I wasn't quite prepared for the sheer size of the stadium, when we stood outside of it. It is an impressive building. 

With the second half of the match underway, we continued along Drayton Park until we reached Holloway Road, which we followed until we reached Highbury & Islington station.

We crossed the road and headed inside, descending into the depths until we reached the Victoria line platforms. A few moments later we were speeding towards King's Cross station, where we switched to a Hammersmith-bound Hammersmith & City line train, for the three stops to Baker Street.

We left the train and made our way over the original pedestrian bridge towards Platforms 1 & 2. A Watford-bound train was preparing to leave, from Platform 2, but we required caffeine, so purchased drinks from the Starbucks kiosk and sat awaiting another Watford-bound train. Fifteen minutes later we were speeding towards home.

It was yet another great day out, seeing new places and discovering new things.

Distance travelled:

• Bus - 0.0 miles
• Cable Car - 0.0 miles
• Car - 0.0 miles
• DLR - 0.0 miles
• Ferry - 0.0 miles
• Overground - 0.0 miles
• River Boat - 0.0 miles
• Taxi - 0.7 miles
• Train - 0.0 miles
• Underground - 35 miles
• Walking - 8 miles