Parkland Walk

Crouch End station.

Tucked away in the urban landscape of North London lies one of the city's most enchanting secrets: the Parkland Walk. More than just a path, this stretch of reclaimed railway line is a unique ribbon of wilderness, a haven for nature lovers, history buffs, and anyone seeking a tranquil escape from the city hustle.

So, if you’ve ever wanted to walk through a genuine urban jungle where the past meets the present, this is the perfect place.

Mother Nature reclaiming the railway infrastructure.

The history of the Parkland Walk is as fascinating as its present-day beauty. It follows the disused track of the former Great Northern Railway line that once connected Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace. Opened in 1873, the line was meant to be a transport artery, but plans to integrate it into the London Underground (as part of the Northern Line extension) were eventually abandoned.

Passenger services ceased in the 1950s, and the final service ran in 1970. The tracks were pulled up soon after, and Mother Nature began her incredible reclamation project. Recognising its ecological value, the area was protected and, in 1990, was officially declared London's longest linear Local Nature Reserve.

Walking here, you are literally strolling on the remnants of Victorian ambition, where steam trains once chugged and now, only the rustling of leaves and the song of birds remain.

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.