Source:  Image by Mauro Gea Shutterstock Westminster City Council is recruiting a landscape-led design team for an estimated £280,000 overhaul of the Half Penny Steps area in Kensal Green [Deadline: 25 April 2025] The winning team selected for the estimated £45,000 contract will advance existing RIBA Stage 2+ plans to upgrade the busy Half Penny Steps bridge and pocket park The project – planned to complete in 2027 – aims to transform the under-utilised public open space on the borough’s border with Kensington & Chelsea into a ‘vibrant and lush canalside terrace.’ Key aims include introducing new planting, feature lighting, amphitheatre-style seating and a community mooring point. The search for a design team comes six months after DK-CM completed a concept report looking at options for renewing several sites across the North Paddington Canalside area According to the brief: ‘WCC [is] looking to appoint a high quality creative and capable team that can work to tight deadlines and collaboratively with ourselves and the wider team to deliver this unique opportunity ‘The lead consultant is expected to be an expert in landscape design for this project The team are expected to draw together the wealth of existing work into a holistic and coherent RIBA Stage 3 design ‘The consultant will be expected to develop designs with a sound awareness of feasibility and budget The successful consultant will need to demonstrate that they have access to a multi-disciplinary skill set either in house or by bringing together specialist subconsultants and/or delivery partners.’ The latest commission comes just three months after Allies and Morrison won a competition held by Westminster City Council and the Crown Estate to overhaul the public realm on London’s Regent Street and the surrounding areas Earlier this year Hugh Broughton completed an upgrade of WCs at Victoria Embankment part of a wider programme covering eight public conveniences across the City of Westminster Bids for the latest commission will be evaluated 70 per cent on quality and 30 per cent on price Applicants must hold employer’s liability insurance of £5 million public liability insurance of £5 million and professional indemnity insurance of £2 million Tags Hutchison Ports is recruiting a design team for its new £9 million… An open international contest is being held for a major €27.5 million… An international design and build contest is being held for 25 new… The UK Research and Innovation Science and Technology Facilities Council (UKRI-STFC) has… Drone footage has been released of significant West Coast Main Line track upgrades alongside photos of Euston’s new loos after major improvements for passengers this Easter Hundreds of engineers from Network Rail and its supply chain* worked night and day at multiple locations along one of the country’s crucial rail routes over the bank holiday weekend which will provide a safer railway and improve future journeys for passengers and freight Workforce safety and the number of projects meant that no trains could run in or out of Euston station for three days over Easter That provided a perfect opportunity to completely overhaul the station concourse toilets while the station was closed The much-needed work saw upgrades made to the male and refreshing the décor along with a deep clean of all areas Network Rail also used the time to upgrade signage in the station to make getting around clearer for passengers Today (Tuesday 22 April) Euston station and the railway reopened and passengers whose travel plans were impacted by the work are being thanked by rail bosses Network Rail Capital Delivery head of track said: “We’ve invested millions of pounds to improve future journeys on the southern end of the West Coast Main Line this Easter at a time of year when we know passenger numbers are lower so we can minimise disruption to one of the country’s most important rail routes “In the short term we know some passengers were disrupted and I’d like to thank them for their patience if their travel plans were affected over the bank holiday our ongoing investments will see smoother and more reliable journeys and better facilities for passengers travelling to and from London Euston.” In just under two weeks further upgrade work will be taking place over the early May bank holiday from Saturday 3 to Monday 5 May** Euston station will once again be closed on Sunday 4 and Monday 5 May Over that weekend there will be fewer trains and the possibility parts of some journeys will need to be by rail replacement bus Passengers are being advised to check before they travel by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk so they know exactly what to expect from their journey *The track upgrades were carried out by the Central Rail Systems Alliance (CRSA) which is made up by Network Rail Network Rail will be carrying out major projects the length of its North West and Central region between Saturday 3 and Monday 5 May to improve the railway for passengers and freight Passengers are advised to check their journeys in advance with their train operator or via www.nationalrail.co.uk.  to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years Plans to demolish a Victorian building in North London and replace it with a new four-storey office block have been met with fierce opposition from residents over claims the building holds ‘historical and architectural value’ The applicant – social mobility charity Making The Leap – argue the building is ‘dated and not fit-for-purpose’ and want to build a new state-of-the-art training centre The applicant has sent its plans to Brent Council looking to demolish the Harriet Tubman House building on Hazel Road in Kensal Green to make way for a new headquarters and training centre The building is on top of the train lines serving Kensal Green Underground and Overground station which helps young people from less-advantaged socio-economic backgrounds by providing training bought the building from Brent Council in 2002 the charity renovated the site to enable it to deliver training programmes to young people However the charity says it is ‘no longer able to accommodate the needs of the charity’ by serving the approximately 8,000 young people it works with every year In documents submitted with the application the charity states: “Reuse and retrofit opportunities for the existing building are limited The current spaces are too small for [our] current programme and the building cannot be extended due to weight restrictions on the Transport for London tunnels The building turns its back on Hazel Road Green Space and a lack of active frontage that is park-facing promotes antisocial behaviour.” the proposed development would allow participants to learn and practice skills learnt in a building similar in style to buildings of some employers they may be seeking.” the plan has been met with opposition by the Kensal Green Residents Association (KGRA) who have raised significant concerns about the loss of a historical building as well as the height of the proposed new building and the charity’s ability to finance the project KGRA said: “The proposed development would tower over the surrounding terraced streets dominating Hazel Road and our park and staff and clients of Making The Leap would be able to look down into neighbouring houses and down into the children’s play area in the park […] This is a case of over-development in an already highly developed area.” They added: “Making The Leap has allowed the current building’s façade to fall into disrepair claiming they lack the funds for maintenance This raises questions about their ability to finance a large-scale office block should Hazel Road Community Centre be demolished that the site might be left undeveloped for years as has happened in other parts of Brent.” Residents have also taken to local blog site Wembley Matters to express their concern One suggested the new building may disappoint the ‘thousands of tourists from all over the world’ who come to visit Kensal Green Cemetery every year They said: “As they leave the Tube station and walk through leafy and pleasant Hazel Road Open Space to approach the cemetery the first thing they’ll see will be that monstrosity.” They added: “Kensal Green’s agreeable Victorian ambience is part of the charm and character of the world-famous cemetery; it’ll be like putting a tower block in front of Windsor Castle.” The application will be reviewed by Brent Council’s Planning Committee at a future meeting where a decision on whether the redevelopment can go ahead will be made Harrow Online is a company registered in England and Wales Two new major developments could mean Willesden’s time has finally come.. Homes & Property | Buying & Mortgages Thousands of new homes could give one of London’s eternal ugly duckling suburbs the chance to finally emerge a swan The £500m College Green scheme is London’s first major housing development to come forward since the election The high density development will create 1,600 new homes built in a cluster of 11 blocks standing 28 stories tall If approved the development will transform the skyline of low rise Willesden forever The circa 10 acre site is currently occupied by a further education college which plans to relocate to Wembley credited for breathing fresh life into central Cambridge with its CB1 development Nobody from the company was available for comment Brent Council planners are now considering the proposals, and work could start as early as next year - if the council can overlook the fact that only 20 per cent of the development is earmarked as affordable housing for people priced out of the local area rather than the 50 per cent in the council’s strategic plan have already been approved for a second site on Dudden Hill Lane Developer London Square has confirmed it will start work n March and the first residents will be able to move in at the end of 2027 New homes have a habit of smashing local price ceilings area manager of Daniels estate agents said buyers could pick up a period two bedroom flat for between £450,000 and £500,000 or a four bedroom house for around £800,000 – making Willesden one of Zone 2’s more affordable options “There is a demand because Willesden is a great location and it is also quite reasonable compared to Queen’s Park or Kensal Green,” he said Buyers are a mix of first time buyers as well as people trading up from flats to houses Local movers rub shoulders for those moving in from more expensive parts of north and west London “Prices have been pretty steady in the past year,” he added I think it is going to be steady for the next 18 months and then prices will probably start to rise if the Government doesn’t bring anything in that is going to affect the market The new Hill development will include shops, cafes, workspace, and a gym which will provide a welcome break from the tired parade of takeaways and convenience stores along Willesden’s High Road and Walm Lane – a Gail’s Bakery is the only obvious sign of imminent gentrification New arrival brings spike in searches for the Cotswolds town of Burford London house prices rise for the first time since April 2023 Comment: 'I've been seduced by space-saving solutions' Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin New visa crackdown as Home Office plans to restrict applications from nationalities most likely to overstay New visa crackdown as Home Office plans to restrict applications Man charged after London student nurse stabbed to death in Texas 'in row over cat' Man charged after London student nurse stabbed to death in Texas West Coast Main Line passengers are being advised to check before they travel ahead of important railway upgrades over the Early May bank holiday Teams from Network Rail and its contractors will carry out multiple projects to replace trackside drainage and railway track on sections of the line between London Euston and Milton Keynes Euston station will be closed on Sunday 4 May and Monday 5 May with all trains terminating at Milton Keynes* Passengers are also advised that fewer services will be running on Saturday 3 May The multi-million-pound projects to improve future journeys for passengers and freight will see: Those planning to travel should check www.nationalrail.co.uk/spring so they know exactly what to expect with rail replacement buses keeping people on the move for some parts of their journey Brian Paynter, Network Rail Capital Delivery head of track said: “There’s a lot of great work happening over the Early May bank holiday to improve the reliability and safety of the railway for passengers and freight but bank holidays remain the least busy time for carrying out complex upgrades.   “I’d like to encourage people to plan ahead at www.nationalrail.co.uk/spring and recommend to those planning journeys to or from London Euston to travel either side of the Early May bank holiday weekend for the most straightforward journey.” Long-distance rail travellers are also advised of work further north on the West Coast Main Line impacting journeys through Warrington and north of Carlisle For latest travel information and to plan ahead please visit www.nationalrail.co.uk/spring Pre-recorded broadcast interview opportunities Trackside broadcast interviews are available near Euston station Thursday 1 May at midday. Please contact Viant Siddique before 3pm on Wednesday 30 April to get accreditation *Rail replacement information between Milton Keynes and London on Sunday 4 and Monday 5 May Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 27th August 2024 by ianVisits in London Ticket Alert and the annual festival of Death and the Arts will return with a month of tours MOVING PARTS £12 – Exhumation and Repatriation with John Harris MONUMENTS BY MOONLIGHT £20 – An Evening Torch-lit Walk and Storytelling in West Norwood Cemetery with Caroline Swan and Giles Abbott DEATH, DISEASE & DOCTORS £12 – Tower Hamlets Cemetery tour with a focus on the Medical with Kenneth Greenway FROM SHIP TO SHORE Tower Hamlets Cemetery tour with a focus on the Maritime with Kenneth Greenway DEATH AND DEBAUCHERY £12 – A Guided Tour of Smithfield with Pete Smith AVIATORS OF THE NIGHT £65 – A Bat Skeleton Mounting Workshop with Suzette Field DEATH’S-HEAD HAWKMOTH £50 – Lepidoptera setting and preservation in the cemetery with Suzette Field THE ARCHIVE OF DREAD £15 – Ghost stories by candlelight with Nunkie Theatre DEAD MAN’S PLACE – 2,000 Years of Death in London £12 – A Guided Tour around Bankside and Old Southwark with Caroline Swan DYING WITHIN THE SOUND OF BOW BELLS £12 – A Tour of East End Undertakers T SHADOWS OF THE BLACK DEATH £12 – The Plague Pits of East London – A Guided Tour with Sam Perrin HEXIT £12 – Witch Trials in England and Europe with Naomi Ryan WITCH BOTTLES PHANTOM FIGURES, PALE SHADOWS £15 – A torchlit walk through the cemetery and magic shadow show at Kensal Green THE GOLDEN AGE OF DETECTION £12 – The Dawn of Modern Forensic Science with Angela Buckley GHOSTS OF THE TEMPLE £12 – A Tour Through Legal London’s Dark Past with Kate Davey THE MYSTERIES OF THE MAUSOLEA £20 – A guided tour inside some of the mausolea of Highgate Cemetery West led by Dr Ian Dungavell THE WATERS OF ETERNITY £12 – A Guided Tour of Nunhead Cemetery with Keith Turpin FIRES, FEASTS & FUNERALS £12 – Death and Burial Before the Romans with Sophia Adams BOG BODIES £12 – Stories of the Mummified Dead with Melanie Giles RENDING THE VEIL £20 – A Seance at the Dissenters’ Chapel with Christopher Howell CEMETERY OF ALL SOULS £12 – A Guided Tour of Kensal Green Cemetery with Robert Stephenson KENSAL GREEN NE’ER DO WELLS £12 – The Victorian Underbelly Underground at Kensal Green – A Guided Tour with Robert Stephenson THE MEDIEVAL OSSUARY £12 – A Guided Tour of Spitalfields Charnel House with Jane Sidell THE OUTCAST DEAD £12 – Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Crossbones graveyard with Jelena Bekvalac DEATH ON THE THAMES £12 – London’s Human Flotsam and Jetsam with Jane Sidell TAMING THE BEAST £15 – A Workshop on the Psychology of Fear with Britain Stelly THE ARCHIVE OF HOMICIDE £12 – The Metropolitan Police Crime Museum with Dr Clare Smith THE AFTERLIFE OF ANIMALS £12 – Exploring the Museum’s Hidden Collections with Richard Sabin At Highgate Cemetery Chapel MORTALITY, DEATH & BEYOND £12 – A Guided Tour of West Norwood Cemetery with Caroline Swan A LIVING DEATH £12 – London’s Lost Anchorites with Dr Matthew Green BURIED ALIVE £12 – The Horror of Premature Interment with Robert Stephenson DEATH AND THE MAIDEN £20 – A torchlit walk and candlelit concert of Schubert’s string quartet No 14 in D minor A TOMB WITH A VIEW John-at-Hampstead Churchyard with Dr Roger Bowdler THE BLOOMSBURY TOMBS £12 – A Guided Tour of St George’s Gardens Graveyard with Roger Bowdler A GREAT GARDEN OF SLEEP £12 – A Guided Tour of Brompton Cemetery and visit to the catacombs with Robert Stephenson UNDERGROUND ARTISTS £12 – A Guided Tour of Brompton Cemetery Exploring its Creative and Cultural Residents with Robert Stephenson FACING UP TO DEATH £12 – The Ancient Art of the Death Mask with Nick Reynolds BOOKS OF THE DEAD £12 – A Travel Guide with Gary Lachman SHOT DEAD £12 – Crime Scene Photography in Art and Culture with Catriona Byers FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH £12 – Pet Cemeteries and Animal Burials with Dr Paul Koudanaris THE WEARY DEATH (also known as Destiny) £15 – An Evening of Silent Horror with Live Music Accompaniment GRIM RESETTLEMENTS £12 – Following the Dead to Bone Hill BARDS, BAWDS AND BLOOD £12 – A Guided Walk through Historic Southwark with Pete Smith UNREAL ESTATE £12 – Victorian Haunted Houses with Emma Liggins BEYOND THE GRAVE £12 – Changing Trends in Burial Practices with Roger Luckhurst SATAN’S ROUT £20 – A Halloween Ball Inspired by Mikhail Bulgakov’s Master and Margarita THE TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS £12 – Margravine Cemetery Tour with Robert Stephenson AFTER THE BALL £12 – A Guided Tour of Abney Park’s Music Hall Muses RIVER OF DEATH £12 – A Haunting Walk Along the Thames with Pete Smith DISSECTION AND DISSIPATION £12 – Life as a Medical Student in Victorian London with Caroline Rance BAD SCIENCE £12 – The Quacks and Charlatans of Medicine with Dr Jenny Lange THE PHANTOM CARRIAGE FEAST OF THE DEAD THE SKULL OF ADAM £12 – Anatomy and the Catholic Church with Cat Irving IN AT THE DEATH £12 – The Funerary Fashion of Georgian London with Dr Dan O’Brien THE PHANTASMAGORIA £15 – A Day of the Dead Magic Lantern Show This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy London without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. London The Overground’s newly rebranded lines have officially started being rolled out Tube maps have been redrawn (or at least updated) countless signs have been changed – all welcome the Lioness The Overground’s splurge of orange is now neatly divided into yellow But what do those services all look like on a map And exactly which stops are on which lines?  If you’ve been searching for answers to those questions Below you can find a full list of all the stations on each newly-rebranded line Here is each newly-rebranded Overground line Here’s what those lines all look like on a map And then here’s what all those look like on TfL’s general map.  Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! tiktokfacebooktwitteryoutubeAbout us Contact us SEARCHJOIN CLUB As trains whistle by Willesden Junction station a sleek black Range Rover with a gleaming exterior glides smoothly down the road Sitting comfortably in the driver’s seat is British rapper and actor Bashy and head bopping to “Blessed“ – an anthem of gratitude and triumph on the album and Bashy presents a euphoric demeanour when he hops out on the pavement to greet me Perhaps his jovial attitude is linked to his new album being released less than 12 hours before our meeting It’s been 15 years since Bashy dropped his last album Since then he has enjoyed a successful career as an actor His latest album is an 11-track political yet personal chronicle of Black male experience in Britain; it’s a story of home Bashy kicks off the tour of his childhood stomping grounds with the school he would be tutored at on weekends and Steve McQueen explored that well in Small Axe,” Bashy says referencing the director’s 2020 film documenting racial biases in British schools in the 20th century “I remember watching that episode with my mum and burst into tears and said this is what happened to me,’” he continues Our discussion on school exclusion is suddenly cut short by a stop-and-search taking place right in front of the car Even though Bashy’s childhood neighbourhoods in west and northwest London hold a nostalgic tight-knit multicultural village for Bashy has now shifted to a hotspot of gentrification What were traditional bakeries and stores are now filled with modern coffee shops such as Gail’s dotted with young professionals and new families with strollers that embody this changing demographic Bashy reminisces on attending Cardinal Hinsley High School pointing at commuters lining up across the road The slightly worn appearance of his secondary school is one of the few things gentrification hasn’t wiped away still carries with him the teachings he picked up in Catholic school “It’s still within me; when I go to church But his beliefs have now been shaped beyond the teachings of his youth: “I’m not really into one religion I grew up with a lot of Muslim brothers and saw how they operate and you start to take on how they operate their feelings there’s a song called ‘Lost in Dreams ft Roses Gabor’ and Dreams was a nightclub just back there” “It’s like a triple entendre; it’s like Lost in Dreams and then lost in my dream of acting and making music Many people were lost in different kinds of dreams” Bashy’s experiences are recounted with depth “We just drove by Roundwood Park opposite my school I say ’Them fun fairs weren't fun affairs but were hard to ignore / Stand by the bumper cars and screw the other side till you’re bored / Physically or mentally quoting his lyrics on “Sweet Boys Turned Sour“ “everything about this area pours into the album” Kensal Green Library was once a revered sanctuary of quiet intellect and dusty tomes no more than a four-minute walk from Bashy’s childhood home it too stands as a testament to the sweeping tides of gentrification Over 120 libraries have been closed in London alone in the last ten years stopping his car next to a grand old building with stately pillars exuding a sense of historical divinity before they had the whole building,” Bashy says He taps on his driver seat window with one finger three times pointing and examining how the house has slightly faded with traces of weather-worn brick They haven’t changed the wall,” Bashy smiles “I’m so thankful for my life; when I was growing up so many people lost their lives at a young age and I hope they feel that I articulated our feelings about looking like us I hope it gives an understanding of what we’ve experienced” – Bashy The next stop on our tour through the scrapbook of Bashy’s childhood is in west London each corner and street giving a snapshot of stories of his past and present and this was my primary school,” Bashy recalls It was the heart of much political activism that took place from the 50s to the 70s you can find a blue plaque commemorating Caribbean restaurant Mangrove a vital Black history landmark founded by activist Frank Crichlow and located on the same site as the 1958 Notting Hill uprising which became the impetus behind the creation of Notting Hill Carnival “When I’m saying on the album ‘It feels like it’s 1970 / I’m searching for moments of levity’ I’m saying that there’s not one lie told on this album,” he says I really was on pirate radio; I really did grow up in west and northwest London “How Black Men Lose Their Smile“ is a poignant track on the album diving deep into the intricate layers of identity and struggle capturing the moments in which the carefree joy of childhood began to wane under the pressure of societal expectations and systemic adversity something many who live in Britain have experienced and I hope they feel that I articulated our feelings about looking like us,” Bashy says I hope it gives an understanding of what we’ve experienced and can feel empathetic towards that.” Bashy looks back proudly at his evolution as an artist and actor “I was a young man still trying to figure out my life and who I am as a person and I was just trying to figure my way out of the hood,” he says “Catch Me If You Can has elements of who I am but maybe if I didn’t make my previous album as it is I wouldn’t be able to make the album I created now.” Bashy’s process of selecting roles is as nuanced and thoughtful as his current music is indicating his desire to tell meaningful stories “Something that I haven’t tackled before is usually quite interesting to me when selecting roles,” he says “Something that I know nothing about is good sometimes as I can get beneath the layers of the characters and see what the writer is trying to say about a particular story.” Even though Bashy has recently been spending time in the booth and if or when I have something to say [musically] and I feel strongly about a particular time or topic the world of acting is his passion and imagination leading him into a future filled with endless possibilities that will reveal itself as time passes Bashy is a key speaker for the Big Team: Youth Exploitation – Road to Reform panel at this year’s FORWARDS Festival in Bristol Through the 'Open Spaces Greener Places' programme the council have supported a phased greening strategy at St John's Church which included transforming an unused tarmac yard into a new community green space commemorating the Windrush Generation Later stages of funding supported the plan to convert unused parking spaces into a new green garden along the length of the church Removing tarmac was an opportunity to lay water-absorbent surfaces and contributed to the church's ambitions to provide more Sustainable Urban Drainage strategies A new path of york stone was laid next to a new lawn and mixed species plant beds providing rich biodiversity for the church's pollinators including two beehives hidden out of sight on a flat roof Six new benches provide places to reflect and absorb the tranquillity of the grounds The greening of the surrounding church gardens including planting yew hedges known to combat air pollution was a preventative measure responding to an air quality report Additional tree planting has taken place since As the country celebrates the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush one Kensal Green church has paid tribute to those who emigrated from the Caribbean with a special musical composition held on Sunday 25th at St John the Evangelist and the Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London Stuart Shilson was sung for the first time at St John’s on Sunday by the choir of St Mark’s Hamilton Terrace accompanied by the St John’s Children’s Choir The composition was dedicated to the Windrush generation and the community of Kensal Green The Anthem was inspired by an Icon, Our Lady of Kensal Green and of the Windrush, which was commissioned in 2020 by St John’s Church, Kensal Green and has been on display in both Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral. The celebration also saw the opening of a new woodland garden £24,000 from Westminster City Council’s ‘Greening Westminster’ scheme The garden will be a base for Forest School Activities in conjunction with a local federation of Primary Schools The garden was officially opened by the Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London Stuart Shilson  “The anthem “All are One” is a fitting tribute to the Caribbeans who set sail 75 years ago in search of a new life Our new Icon tells the remarkable story of the church in Kensal Green and celebrates the contribution of all those of the Windrush generation who became a part of this church and community with the opening of our new woodland garden generations old and new can use it for many years to come as a space to learn and play.”  “It was a joy to be with the Kensal Green community for such a special commemorative service We have so much to be thankful to the Windrush generation for; on this 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush we pay tribute to their immeasurable contributions to a country where they were not accepted as equals We must build on their legacy – one of courage resilience and ambition – in the hope of creating a world shaped by equity where all of God’s children know that they truly belong.” ©2024 Diocese Of London | Manage Consent | Website Published on 3rd November 2023 by ianVisits in Architecture large plot of derelict industrial land in Kensal Green could see over 2,500 new homes built on it as part of a joint venture between Ballymore and Sainsburys The former Kensal Gasworks off Ladbroke Grove sits between the Grand Union Canal and the mainline railway out of Paddington, and there’s been a long running consultation to redevelop the site, known as Project Flourish The formal planning application has now been filed with Kensington and Chelsea council a restored canal basin and over 100,000 sqft of new commercial space around a new high street About a quarter of the new houses will be offered under an affordable housing scheme The site currently has a large Sainsbury’s store so they will be building a brand new replacement superstore next door with flats above the old store will be demolished to become another block of flats the 11-year construction programme is estimated to start in 2025 along with the new Sainsbury’s store and the neighbourhood centre around the restored canal basin The development also aims to reconnect the existing site to the surrounding area through an improved road junction at Ladbroke Grove which will be secured through a Section 278 agreement within the planning application The development also safeguards the location for a future pedestrian and cycle connection across the railway tracks to the North Pole site to the south side of the railway There are also discussions with a neighbouring development to provide a western bridge across the Canal offering a route through the Kensal Green Cemetary to Kensal Green tube station A tentative suggestion that an Elizabeth line station could be built next to the development didn’t get very far 25% Affordable — I think that’s significantly less than GLA target (did GLA call these plans in for their approval) And is all of the 25% affordable or is that actually a mix of social tenure (affordable has a specific legal definition which in practice isn’t particularly affordable in London) (Yes I probably could read through the detailed plans on various websites There would have been more affordable housing but local objections saw the size of the development reduced and that always sees the affordable housing cut deepest as stated in thr article the planning application has only just been submitted let alone approved (or not) so just a tad early for any one to call them in It’s only 20% “affordable” by number of units 25% is spin based on the number of bedrooms Should be a 50/50 split between available to buy and social rental I’m all for new homes and from a selfish point of view my own nearby property will go up in value since the development brings more facilities BUT unfortunately the project is doomed We that live here already know that Ladbroke Grove is a bottle neck with huge traffic jams so by adding around 7000-9000 residents without a close by underground station Does the 10-15 minute walk to Kensal Green and Kensal Rise tube stations not count as close it’s always the same – there isn’t the infrastructure they cry but they never suggest building just using it as an excuse I’m not sure your points are relavant to the Ian Visits site but I’m sure you’ll be making a formal objection to the plans on those grounds via the councils planning portal Note ‘I don’t like it’ isn’t a valid objection under planning rules there is always an excuse isn’t there Like there could be a ten lane highway right nextdoor and you’d just then go and find some other reason to complain Sounds like a similar set of concerns to the big development at the o2 Centre in Camden (Labour borough) Lack of supporting infra upgrades (although some tube station upgrades squeezed out of the developer as a sweetener at the end of the consultation) dogmatically vehicle free (hence independent tradespeople can’t realistically live in the social tenure I’m willing to bet the Kensal Green proposal has all the social tenure in seperate buildings with smaller room sizes and less amenities in the buildings (i.e “poor doors” rather than true mixed developments) Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times A yoga fan and artist has found peace in a cool London village not far from where she grew up Homes & Property | Renting renting and decorating in London from our award-winning experts I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice In a prime Zone 2 location and with such a variety of independent cafés Chamberlayne Road in Kensal Green was named hippest high street in Europe by Vogue — but has remained down-to earth and is still mostly frequented by locals unlike its equivalents in Islington or Hackney This is reflected in the kind of people drawn to the area: a mix of a boho-luxe crowd priced out of nearby Notting Hill and Queen’s Park with a slightly younger influx of renters who’ve “grown out of hipster areas like Shoreditch” according to local Marsh & Parsons estate agent Brian Ashe Kensal Green is becoming an increasingly popular spot for corporate relocations for Facebook and Google The area is also perennially popular with creatives thanks in part to the independent spirit of Chamberlayne Road Parking in Brent costs between £49 and £470 for two years There is a £98 diesel surcharge over 24 months Crime in Kensal Green is slightly below the London average with eight crimes reported per 1,000 residents The most commonly reported crimes are assault without injury Our featured renter Stephanie’s housemate loves the council-run Moberly Sports Centre and swimming pool The area is hot on yoga studios with Rise Yoga Space hot yoga studio Fierce Grace and classes and treatment rooms at The Yard @Gracelands Martial Arts students can also practice aikido at Notting Hill Aikikai The most popular roads for young families looking for houses to rent are Whitmore Gardens and Herbert Gardens — which lead on to Chamberlayne Road with its restaurants bars and cafés — and also Ashburnham Road and Clifford Gardens according to Brian Ashe of Marsh & Parsons Primary schools rated “good” by Ofsted include Furness Stephanie describes Kensal Green as a “food shopping desert” but there are two small Tesco Express stores in Chamberlayne Road as well as a couple of Londis convenience stores Nearer Kensal Rise station there’s Rise and Vine wine shop and Brooks Butchers and Deli Kensal Green has a surprisingly poor bus network disproves the commonly held perception of London as a swirling metropolis full of transient renters She rents in Kensal Green in NW10 and also grew up in north-west London Stephanie went to school just around the corner from where she works now She is a yoga fan and her main income is from working at Indaba Yoga Studio in Marylebone where you'll find her front of house and in the shop where she shares a flat with a lawyer friend she had rented only two stops along on the Bakerloo line "It's like when you go travelling," she says "You see people who've lived in their village or town their entire lives and you think 'wow But it's exactly the same thing for me — I'm still in north-west London I live in a very peaceful street where you never hear a car at night It's a very relaxed neighbourhood but you can still get into town very easily." for her share of a two-bedroom period conversion first-floor flat Stephanie attended art school and supplements her income now by selling her artwork and a range of jewellery that she designs herself She used to rent an artist's studio but there is enough room in the Kensal Green flat for her to work from home Stephanie's art and jewellery is available to buy on her website s-psarros.com and via Instagram @s-psarros Stephanie chose Kensal Green to remain on the Bakerloo line so she can get to work at Indaba in time to open up at 6.45am The area is also on the Overground line from Euston to Watford Junction Nearby Kensal Rise station is on the Overground line linking Richmond and Highbury & Islington Stephanie recommends Verandah for gifts and interiors pieces There are two branches — one in College Road and the other in Chamberlayne Road Paradise Plantbased is one of Stephanie's favourite places to meet a friend for tea or breakfast She also loves new opening Sonora for fresh Mexicanstyle food and breakfast and Arthur's is "a great caff close to Kensal Rise station" For an evening meal Comptoir V serves vegetarian and vegan food and the Whippet Inn is Stephanie's favourite local pub The Lexi Cinema is a volunteer-run independent venue donating all its profits to charity As an artist Stephanie loves having the London Print Studio within walking distance in Harrow Road Stephanie loves Queen's Park and Kensal Green Cemetery and which was the first of London's "Magnificent Seven" private cemeteries Inspired by Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris Dog lovers need not apply for this rental opportunity written in the voice of a pair of feline live-in landlords The London rental crisis keeps breaking all records but this sublet advertisement has to take the (fish-flavoured) biscuit Two cats in Kensal Rise have apparently gained the keyboard skills to type out an advertisement on Spareroom subletting a single bed in the living room of their one-bedroom flat — for £1,000 a month “We are a couple of Siamese cats that live in a large one bedroom ground floor flat with a private garden on a quiet street in a great location,” opens the listing “We live with a lovely couple of humans who take care of us The furry live-in landlords go on to elaborate that “it’s a very large room with high ceilings A single bed sits in the corner of the living room “The couch can also open into a double,” said the cats “You even have a desk in the corner if you do some work from home.” The generous feline property barons stress that their human companions rarely use the communal space “The female human is not around much so it’s just us and the male,” they said “Aside from watering the plants he never goes into the living room so we thought we’d rent it out on a room-only basis.” which is modelled by the furry slumlords prowling around an outdoor table Funky cat accessories can be spotted in many of the accompanying photographs including a scratching post disguised as a tree and a hammock in a sunny window spot Potential tenants must be an “animal lover” and “cool to share with us cats” The twee wording belies the increasingly feral situation that the London rental market has descended into Private rents in the capital rose 11 per cent between April 2023 and 2024 according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 'Shocking' advert for a room for rent demanding free babysitting reveals extent of London rental crisis London rents 'out of control' with a record-breaking 11 per cent rise in a year cleaners and other key workers can no longer afford to rent in London Twitter user Eloise Hendy said the room advert which she spotted cross-posted to the Facebook group “London sublets” was proof that “the london rental scene is the wild west” Still, if you like cats, it’s probably a better deal than the room advertised earlier this year that required free babysitting services Published on 29th September 2020 by ianVisits in Transport News The slumbering plans for an additional Crossrail station to be built in North Kensington have taken a modest step forward. The council has confirmed that it is in talks with Network Rail to commission a feasibility study for the station which would sit at the northern end of Ladbroke Grove a very early stage of the process and would only work out if it’s possible to build the station and how much it would cost — there’s no money to pay for the station itself Although not originally included in the Crossrail Act, the railway track at Kensal has been ‘plain-lined’ meaning that no signalling or technical equipment will be located in the vicinity which would allow for a station to be slotted into the space there A preliminary study suggested a cost in the region of £33 million as a rough estimate although that’s based on 2012 pricing the feasibility study would at least let the council know how many housing developments and offices need to be built to cover the cost of the station The Kensal Gasworks off Ladbroke Grove has long been proposed as a site for a possible Crossrail station but in 2013 the Mayor and Transport for London came to a view that it would not be feasible It’s not that the area lacks transport options but that the planned redevelopments are likely to be larger if there’s a future Elizabeth line station in addition to the existing Bakerloo and Circle line stations in the area a Transport for London spokesperson said: “This section of track into Paddington is one of the busiest in the country and a new station in the area would cause delays and increased journey times and would have significant hurdles to overcome in its delivery The main priority remains delivering the railway in its existing planned form.” “The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea will benefit from the nearby Old Oak Common super hub station which will provide connectivity between the Elizabeth line and HS2 services Even if the railway congestion issues could be overcome going from talks about a feasibility study to cutting the ribbon on a new station is going to take many years to complete Updated 29th Sept – included TfL statement Why have a another station whilst it will be nearby Old Oak Common station that is to be built as part of HS2 Both stations are needed because there are loads of people living in both locations This can also cut down on car use and having the stations make it convenient insight and opinion from the world of restaurants 08-Apr-2024 Last updated on 08-Apr-2024 at 07:22 GMT In a post on social media the Parlour and Six Portland Road chef described the Kensal Rise restaurant as a “career defining project” but said that it had now closed due to a lack of custom Writing on Instagram he said it had been “a complex week” and compared the closure to a break up “Walking away from something you have invested yourself into [is] pretty painful.” Dunford Wood took on former Indian restaurant Bawarchi on Chamberlayne Road in Kensal Rise to open Harvest restaurant in the spring of last year “We created a beautiful restaurant - the remodelling of the space the interiors and details were such a considered effort,” the chef added “We cooked wonderful food and incredible drinks - great staff - literally a career defining project for me “I have worked towards this over the last 25 years in hospitality but sadly we were not consistently busy enough.” Harvest was conceived as an all-day venue that was a hybrid between Dunford Wood’s other two London restaurants, Portland Road and Parlour. Located close to Parlour he said at the time that it would be a similarly approachable offer but was designed to not cannibalise Parlour’s business. In the post Dunford Wood said that Parlour and Six Portland Road were “in a strong position,” and that “there is still a bright future for us all here”. Dunford Wood opened Parlour in Kensal Green in 2012, followed by Six Portland Road, which opened in Holland Park in November 2020. “We will move on to better, greater things I am sure - but let’s take a moment to admire, remember and salut [sic] all that we created,” he said. “As was said so often by tennis legend Billie Jean King ‘pressure is a privilege’”. Jesse Dunford Wood to open Harvest restaurant next year07-Nov-2022By Stefan ChomkaParlour and Six Portland Road chef Jesse Dunford Wood is opening a third venue in the capital next year. Jesse Dunford Wood: “This is stretching my flexibility to the max” 16-Dec-2020By Joe LutrarioThe chef behind west London’s Parlour on taking over the nearby Six Portland Road, endless pivoting and his frustration at being left in the dark over Christmas. The Parlour chef's guide to the British pork and egg filled classic Whet your appetite with beers from the European UnionPaid for and content provided by European Union Lost Revenue from Downtime: How It Cripples Your Delivery App Visibility and SalesPaid for and content provided by Deliverect Staffing costs rising — how smart hiring solutions are helping UK restaurantsPaid for and content provided by YoungOnes View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jesse Dunford Wood (@dunfordwood) On the same day as the UK General Election four candidates are set to fight it out for a North London council seat after a recent resignation triggered a by-election The candidates have thrown their hat into the ring to replace a councillor who has represented the area for a decade who also previously held two Cabinet positions on Brent Council stepped down from her position as councillor for Queens Park last month Her departure means the ward is in need of a new representative with a by-election set to take place on July 4 – the same day that the electorate will go to the polls in the national election and Green Party have now been revealed – which includes relatives of actress Helena Bonham Carter and former PM David Cameron Meet the candidates below and hear what their priorities are for Queen’s Park… I’ve lived in Queen’s Park ward for 20 years brought up a daughter here and been a governor of local schools It’s a friendly neighbourhood and we love living here high-commitment business career but now I want to make more time to support our community But far too many families find it hard to make ends meet I’m glad Brent’s Resident Support Fund (RSF) can help give families a lifeline when they need it.  We also need affordable housing Brent’s homeless caseload is rising and I want to help the council’s efforts to create more affordable housing The private landlord licensing scheme will make a real difference to tenants’ security living standards We have great transport links but we’ve waited far too long for Queens Park to be made accessible Parents are still lugging pushchairs up stairs 17 years after I did and people with disabilities and older residents have no step free access have been pressing DfT for step free access for years and we need to keep the pressure up.  We also need to work with local residents to make sure that we manage traffic to keep children safe and reduce congestion where we can As its most southern ward it’s easy for people here to feel overlooked.  We’ve got two great councillors in Neil Nerva and Steve Crabb and I want to work with them to make sure that from Kensal Green to Queen’s Park we make local voices heard My name is Virginia and I have lived in the Queen’s Park ward for over thirty years a chair of the residents’ association with which I am still involved and I am a trustee of the Queen’s Park Book Festival I’m standing in the by-election in the Queen’s Park Ward to help the small but active Liberal Democrat council group led by Cllr Anton Georgiou. We can provide opposition and scrutiny to the huge Labour majority on Brent Council Labour has been in power for over 12 years while also controlling the Greater London Authority I’m writing this at 8.30am and there is total and utter traffic mayhem due to an ill-thought-out scheme We need an origin and destination study to properly understand and solve the problem Related to this is that Kensal Green & Queen’s Park stations need lifts – if public transport is to be used by all it needs to be accessible to all – a promise often made and not kept Failed waste management arrangements have led to dirtier streets awash with fly-tipping fragile blue bags and waste that has spilled out of them We have to work on providing safe streets for our young people if we wish them to walk or cycle to and from school We must protect our doctors’ surgeries so people can telephone for an appointment with a GP locally The environment we live in matters – whether it is the condition of our roads and pavements quality of local waterways or the air we breath The Liberal Democrats stand up for all these things with a proper I’m only sorry this by-election takes place on the same day as the general election which gives us less time to talk about local issues important to those of us who live and work in Queen’s Park Queen’s Park is our target council ward, I understand how impactful and important it will be to have a Green councillor in Brent I’m a northerner who first moved to London in 2019 first visiting the area and later in 2020 moving to Queens Park The ward is representative of some of the best aspects of London great local independent business and some of the best green spaces in the city Whilst there are great things about the ward and the wider borough there are issues such as deprivation and inequality As a young renter I have been massively affected by poor quality housing and the wider ongoing housing crisis This motivated me to be proactive and making change in the community and I’m an active member of the Brent London renter’s union organising committee My involvement in the union has brought me all around the borough and allowed me to engage with the wide and wonderful communities we have in the borough I want to be the candidate that represents the best of our borough and want to show what the Green Party can do for Brent Queens Park and Brent deserve a councillor who wants to deliver for the people We need a councillor who will hold the complacent Labour majority to account designer Matilda Goad spent her twenties living happily in the heart of Notting Hill founder of building and design company Blockhouse Build were ready to upsize in 2018 and they wanted to stay in the area Kensal Green was admittedly further than planned “I’ve got a really lovely group of friends here,” she explains “We’re all in similar stages of life; juggling work and being parents.” Goad recounts the meet-cute first viewing of their now-home “I’d viewed another house in a more central area but it didn’t feel right so I was just walking around and when I saw this one I thought it looked quite interesting and rang the doorbell!” she says The homeware designer doesn’t make a habit of spontaneously ringing doorbells — she recognised the four-bedroomed house having seen it online but discounting it because of the busy road He was in the middle of breakfast but he kindly offered to show me around,” Goad laughs “He worked in the theatre and so did his wife — the house hadn’t been altered for about 35 years and they had collected so much stuff,” she says “But I could see it had great bones and there were original features such as the architraves I also loved that it hadn’t been ripped apart.” Goad deftly wipes the remnants of her young daughter’s breakfast from the Saarinen marble dining table The mid-century classic looks at ease in the Victorian kitchen’s sunny bay window surrounded by custom banquette seating that feels pleasingly sofa-like The design is a stroke of genius as it maximises every inch of space Goad agrees: “I love this table as you can sit here comfortably with just two but we’ve also squeezed 12 people around it.” Another striking piece in the room is a huge vintage display cabinet with a micro floral print at the back of shallow shelves “It was £80 from Ardingly and covered in mud but I lined it in this Howe wallpaper and it fits the space perfectly,” Goad says It’s easy to imagine happy weekends spent in this generous but comfortable kitchen-dining room soft pink limewash walls and dual-aspect view (doors at the back look over a tiny hidden courtyard which functions as a charming potting area with an outdoor sink) What do guests comment on when they first visit “Probably the kitchen being at the front of the house as it’s not typical for Victorian terraces.” This alternative layout means there’s a peaceful sitting room at the back a pitched roof and three sets of French doors opening out to the garden The house likely looks familiar to Goad’s circa 250,000 Instagram followers who take inspiration from her creative styling and decorating ideas What began with the enormous success of a scallop-edged lampshade in 2017 is now Matilda Goad & Co an eponymous homeware brand with a full range of accessories plus a growing team and previous pop-up shops in London and New York Goad’s infrequent studio sales draw queues down the street the house acts as a test kitchen of sorts for the couple’s homeware and joinery ranges plus a utility room where elegant fitted cupboards by Blockhouse Build (painted in Farrow & Ball’s Hay) are complemented by blackened bronze knobs from Goad’s new handle collection From a TV cabinet resembling a Thirties fridge to a large reeded bookcase hiding a radiator there’s evidence throughout the house of the couple collaborating to create interesting design solutions A dedicated play area on the landing (with a clever pocket gate) came to be after sacrificing a small bedroom “Everyone told me I was crazy to lose a bedroom but it’s such a well-used space,” she says “The kids play there every day and eventually Do they typically share the same vision for the house “Not always but I can be quite persistent,” Goad smiles “The Nordic Knots zebra print rug in our pink bedroom took some convincing but I knew it would work and now Tom loves it The porthole window in our sitting room is something that I wasn’t sure about initially but he felt strongly about the shape and the view from the kitchen It’s actually one of my favourite details.” Colour has been trickier to always get right Goad picks up a brown fabric sample as she says: “I saved up and bought my dream sofa but it’s bright yellow and I’ve realised that I dislike primary colours It just wasn’t meant to be a blue room,” Goad says with absolute certainty you can love them on a swatch or a sample but on a larger scale You have to accept that it happens sometimes and fix whatever is fixable.” Goad’s motto is that every room should have something a little bit “off” to stop it from feeling too perfect and pretty She also believes in spaces evolving as you need them to a giant sunflower lamp from a flea market and our new mother of pearl mirrors either side of the bed I love how the space feels now.” The bedroom is accessed via an en-suite bathroom which was a practical decision to capitalise on space but the subsequent discovery element makes it feel particularly special From mini marble lamps to apple-shaped ice buckets new product ideas usually spark after searching for — but failing to find — specific pieces for the house I’ll design it” determination led to the ever-growing hardware collection Goad has no interest in launching products for the sake of it She has a clear focus on pieces that balance functionality with design Out of curiosity, where else would they live in London if money was no object? “Hampstead!” Goad says without hesitation “We go quite a lot on weekends as the kids love getting the train and I love the village feel and the heath I think it probably comes from growing up in the countryside.” matildagoad.com XFASTINDEX Developer Ballymore and retailer J Sainsbury have submitted a planning application for a major canalside neighbourhood in Ladbroke Grove The proposed new neighbourhood has been designed to deliver 2,519 new homes plus two parks and a high street with a reinstated historic canal basin Plans also include more than 90,000 sq ft of shops cafes and restaurants as well as a new 130,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s supermarket Much of the site has been closed off to the public for more than 40 years as a former gasworks In addition to the current Sainsbury’s Ladbroke Grove supermarket the site has most recently been occupied by industrial uses including a scrap metal processing facility and commercial storage Bordering the Grand Union Canal to the north and railway tracks to the south the 19-acre site is part of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea’s Kensal Canalside opportunity area Ballymore and Sainsbury’s agreed a 60/40 strategic partnership in 2021 to develop the site the 11-year construction programme should start in 2025 with the first homes and new supermarket ready in 2030 along with the neighbourhood centre around the restored canal basin Ballymore group managing director John Mulryan said: “Kensal Canalside is one of the last remaining major brownfield sites to be developed in London and the largest in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea The scale and location of the site – in one of London’s 48 opportunity areas – presents a real opportunity to create a thoughtfully designed accessible and sustainable canalside neighbourhood with strong transport links.” Sainsbury’s group property and procurement director added: “The plans will allow us to deliver a brand new state-of-the-art Sainsbury’s supermarket for the local community to enjoy and we’re proud that we are providing continuity to our customers by keeping our existing store open until the new one arrives.” The masterplan has been produced by FaulknerBrowns Architects Partner Ben Sykes said: “The masterplan is inspired by its characterful setting where Ladbroke Grove meets the sweeping Grand Union Canal and the open space at Kensal Green our design has been built around public spaces play spaces and adding gardens and groves to the borough to create a series of smaller neighbourhoods with a rich mix of uses and a strong sense of personality and place “We are delighted to see the proposals submitted Sainsbury’s and the entire project team for almost four years Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk 2 hours Ebbsfleet Development Corporation is undertaking early market engagement for infrastructure works. 19 hours Following a recent expansion into North America, Murphy Group has now entered Australia. 2 hours Innovative tracked carrier manufacturer among 2025 King’s Award for Enterprise recipients 2 hours Modular construction business Integra Buildings has received royal recognition for its approach to sustainability. 3 hours MTX Contracts has been selected as the preferred bidder to build a diagnostic centre in Pitsea, Essex. 3 hours House-builder Springfield Properties has promoted Darren Thomson to construction director for its north of Scotland operations. © 2025 The Construction Index [Company No ' + response[i].created_nice + ' ' + response[i].description + ' Nicholas Cranfield sees an unusual series of Stations of the Cross The complete collection of Stations of the Cross created for St Martin’s looking at Velázquez’s Kitchen Scene with Christ in the House of Martha and Mary (NG 1375) of 1618 I wondered what the utensils might say if given a voice — about having been the spoon that served our Lord the raffia-wrapped earthenware bottle for his wine or the metal pestle and mortar of bitter herbs The animated world of Maurice Ravel and of Paul Gallico confronted with Mark Cazalet’s recent installation of Stations of the Cross for the Dean Vaughan church of St Martin I found myself drawn to the kitchens supplying the Upper Room The artist has used ordinary and everyday wooden utensils Cazalet uses the natural rhythm and scoop of the wood are accompanied by short poems by another parishioner These serve as meditations in their own right deceptive in their simplicity as they draw us into the world where we find that God’s Law “makes drudgery divine” As Pilate washes his hands in a latticed bowl restless in her dream-world beneath a coverlet The Governor had married a local Levantine or African woman doubled over beneath a weighty green cross Passover time is party time in Jerusalem (Station no the mesh of a painted J-Cloth that is pinned to a breadboard “Veronica’s veil/shroud” hangs next to the church’s kitchenette area I am less certain that the women of Jerusalem would have been paid weepers (“the custom in days gone by”) at the execution of three criminals to wipe the face of Jesus with her own sad veil of tears” Cazalet and Leaf have Jesus laid in the tomb “while another was hanging from a tree he was not beyond forgiveness.” That comes after the heart-wrenching meeting of Mary and Judas’s mother “united in a grief that could swallow entire oceans” The Stations of the Cross are at St Martin’s, Kensal Rise They will remain on display until 19 May (Pentecost) Station 3: Pilate’s wife’s dream and Christ sentenced Station 7: Simon of Cyrene takes the Cross Station 17: Mary comforts Judas’ mother Save money on books reviewed or featured in the Church Times > Click on the “Church Times Bookshop” link at the end of the review The reader discount is valid for two months after the review publication date run jointly by Sarum College and The Church Times tickets available This online seminar, run jointly by Modern Church and The Church Times discusses the theology underpinning the drive for growth tickets available We are a partnership of six diverse and welcoming congregations in the northern districts of Milton Keynes offering a rich tapestry of worshipping traditions – Anglican USPG is looking to appoint 3 Trustees (lay or ordained) committed to global mission within the Anglican Communion The Diocese of Gloucester is looking for a practical team member to join the Department of Mission and Ministry who brings a creative and flexible approach as we seek to develop and implement innovative approaches to collaborative ministry across the Diocese The Bishop of Lincoln seeks an ordained colleague to lead in vocational discernment within the Diocese The Diocese of London is delighted to welcome applications for the position of Area Director of Ministry (Willesden) and Diocesan Clergy Wellbeing Adviser Read reports from issues stretching back to 1863 search for your parish or see if any of the clergy you know get a mention Explore the archive Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month it's no wonder that the once-gritty Kensal Rise is becoming a fashionable magnet for celebrities Homes & Property | Where to live The craziness of the London property market is perhaps illustrated no better than by successful footballers models and musicians now finding themselves priced out of Notting Hill and Queen’s Park and tumbling instead into once-humble Kensal Rise This north-west London neighbourhood — home to soccer pundit Ian Wright model and author Sophie Dahl and her jazz musician husband Jamie Cullum co-founder of the Wahaca Mexican restaurant chain — has recently gained a glitzy reputation was even dubbed the hippest street in Europe by Vogue magazine Kensal Rise’s most famous landmark is Kensal Green Cemetery one of the “Magnificent Seven” giant London cemeteries built in the 19th century Modelled on Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris it opened in 1833 and is where celebrated father-and-son civil engineers Sir Marc Isambard Brunel and Isambard Kingdom Brunel were laid to rest along with father of modern computing Charles Babbage and writers Wilkie Collins It has three listed chapels and 130 listed tombs and though it is still a working burial ground Kensal Green Cemetery is a haven for wildlife describes Kensal Rise as the grittier neighbour to Queen’s Park but not to the extent that there is nobody left who grew up here,” he says What there is to buy: Kensal Rise or Kensal Green No one can say for sure where Rise and Green start and end Paul Harris says most people would say they live in Kensal Rise except if they live close to Kensal Green station when they might describe themselves as living in Kensal Green Kensal Rise has mainly Victorian terrace houses although the roads of houses off the northern end of Chamberlayne Road are later and date from the 1920 and 1930s Four and five bedroom Victorian terrace houses sell for around £1.3 million the larger 1920 and 1930s houses for between £1.1 and £1.3 million The smaller Victorian houses in the College Park area sell for £850,000 plus; while the artisans’ cottages in the Queen’s Park conservation area in the streets between First Avenue and Sixth Avenue sell for between £615,000 and £850,000 depending on the number of bedrooms Travel: Kensal Green is on the Bakerloo Line and the Overground with trains to Euston Kensal Rise is on Overground with trains connecting to the Underground at Willesden Green Both stations are in Zone 2 and an annual travelcard costs £1,284.Council: Most of Kensal Rise is in Brent (Labour controlled) Band D council tax for the 2015/2016 year: £1,353.94 The Queen’s Park Estate conservation area is in Westminster (Conservative controlled); Band D council tax for the 2015/2016 year: 3672.74 The area attracts: Paul Harris says Kensal Rise attracts a mix of young arty professionals and City workers French families are arriving in the wake of the opening this September of the Lycee International de Londres Winston Churchill in Wembley “We also get families moving over from Queen’s Park looking to buy houses to do up” Staying power: Kensal Rise is holding on to its newcomers who once here warm to their new neighbourhood What there is to rent: There are three times as many flats to rent in Kensal Rise than there are houses Flats range in rent from £800 a month to £3,000 a month Postcode: Most of Kensal Rise falls into the NW10 Willesden postcode which covers a large area including Harlesden and Old Oak Common and parts of Park Royal and Neasden; the rest falls into the NW6 Kilburn postcode that stretches from West Hampstead to Queen’s Park and Kensal Rise and the Queen’s Park conservation area is in NW10 Linden Avenue and Langler Road where the best houses are receiving top prices of up to £1.6 million What’s new: Rhapsody (Preston Bennett 020 8954 8626/Greene & Co 020 764 3200) is a development of 13 one two and three bedroom flats from Clearview Properties; prices range from £670,000 for a two bedroom flat to £949,950 for a three bedroom penthouse Claridge House (Greene & Co 020 7604 3200) in Mortimer Road is a development from Crossier Properties of 14 one two and three bedroom flats; remaining flats start at £595,000 for a two bedroom flat Donnington Court (Genesis 033 3000 4000) is a development from housing association Genesis in Donnington Road in nearby Willesden Shared ownership flats are available at £146,250 for a 45 per cent share of a one bedroom flat with a market value of £325,000 On the south side of the canal on the corner of Ladbroke Grove and Kensal Road developer Taylor Wimpey is building 133 studio two and three bedroom flats at The Ladbroke Grove (Strutt & Parker 020 3053 0734 and John D Wood 020 3031 6818) There will be three buildings arranged around a landscaped courtyard; prices in the current phase start at £620,000 for a one bedroom flat Up and coming: Paul Harris tips the roads between Holland Road and Wrottesley Road where Kensal Rise merges with Harlesden Here there are large Victorian houses which are half the prices of similar houses in Queen’s Park.Closer to the centre of Kensal Rise it is still possible to find a family house for under £1 million in College Park Photographs by Daniel Lynch unless specified otherwise Shops and restaurants: Chamberlayne Road is Kensal Rise’s high street and during the day Most shops are independent and there are no chain stores which has a large outside seating area on the bridge leading to Kensal Rise station and on the opposite side of the road there is Cable Co and on nearby Station Terrace There is a chic children’s boutique and toyshop Kidsen and Supra is a men’s and women’s boutique Scarlet & Violet is one of London’s top florists known for doing the flowers at celebrity weddings Circus describes itself as selling “interesting antiques and objects from the 18th Brooks is the local butcher and Borough Wines celebrity clientele and a programme of music events which included sets from Ms Dynamite and Neneh Cherry over Notting Hill Carnival weekend Other popular pubs are the Chamberlayne and The Whippet Inn Local restaurants include Micky’s Fish for traditional fish and chips; Comptoir Mezze for its Middle Eastern and North African menu; Rullo’s is a local Italian; recently opened by hip hop artist DJ Yoda Austen’s Smoke House does barbeque food; and in nearby Regent Street Architectural salvage is found at Retrouvious on Harrow Road and across the canal at the northern end of Ladbroke Grove there is Portobello Docks with designer Tom Dixon’s shop and chef Stevie Parle’s Dock Kitchen Away from Chamberlayne Road in deepest Kensal Rise there are shops and cafes along College Road include Gracelands a café that puts on popular workshops and Italian café and delicatessen L’Angolo Open space: Queen’s Park is the local park It is run by the City of London and has a café a children’s playground and paddling pool and a small zoo It plays host to the annual Queen’s Park Day which this year takes place on Sunday 13 September The Willesden Sports Ground in Donnington Road has a playground There are long walks or cycle rides along the Grand Union Canal Leisure and the arts: The Lexi on Chamberlayne Road is the local independent cinema a social enterprise it donates all profits to charity and relies on passionate local volunteers Nomad cinema pops up every year in Queen’s Park in September There are two local council-owned swimming pools: Willesden Sports Centre in Donnington Road and Jubilee Sports Centre in Caird Street Three things about Kensal RiseWhat did the American author Mark Twain do for Kensal Rise?In September 1900 Mark Twain opened the Kensal Rise library in Bathurst Gardens The library was the subject of a long-running campaign to save it after Brent council decided to close it The fine Victorian building has now been bought by developer Uplift Property but are also providing a library on the ground floor that will be run by the community.Where does the Rolling English Road come to rest in Kensal Green?G K Chesterton’s famous poem in defence of drinking alcohol has as its last line “Before we go to Paradise by way of Kensal Green” Paradise by Way of Kensal Green in Kilburn Lane gets its name.Where do the following radicals and reformers come together in Kensal Green: Robert Owen Thomas Paine and John Stuart Mill?Their names all appear on the Reformers’ Memorial in Kensal Green cemetery The memorial was erected in 1885 by Joseph Corfield ‘to the memory of men and women who have generously given their time and means to improve the conditions and enlarge the happiness of all classes of society founded by venture capitalist Arpad Busson runs three state primary schools in the area: Ark Franklin in Harvist Road replaced Kensal Rise primary in September 2013; Ark Brunel in Middle Row replaced Middle Row primary also in September 2013 which is the only primary school in the area judged to be “outstanding” by the government’s education watchdog Ofsted The following state primary schools are judged to be “good”: Princess Frederica CofE in College Road; Queen’s Park in Droop Street; St Luke’s CofE in Fernhead Road; Kenmont in Valliere Road; Donnington in Uffington Road and Furness in Furness Road State comprehensiveThree state comprehensive schools are judged to be “good”; they are: Queen’s Park (co-ed ages 11 to 18) in Aylestone Avenue; Sion Manning RC (girls ages 11 to 16) in St Charles Square and Newman College RC (boys ages 11 to 18) in Silchester Road opened in September last year Private schoolsThere is a small choice of local private schools; the primary schools are: Seacole (co-ed ages four to 11) in Bosworth Road; Maple Walk (co-ed ages four to 11) in Crownhill Road; The Lloyd Williamson School (co-ed six months to 11) in Telford Road; and the secondary school is Bales College (co-ed Many parents use the private schools in nearby Belsize Park and Hampstead Queen’s Park – along with Kensal Green and Kensal Rise on its blurred boundaries – has just as much creative flair as its better-known neighbours minus the hordes of tourists ticking off blue plaques The leafy park stands at the centre of the community with the bustling Chamberlayne and Salusbury roads flanking either side a variety of brews and blends and a multitude of milks on offer Have a light breakfast of Greek yogurt and granola or a lunch of old-school toasties filled with oozy mature Cheddar In the warmer months go for an affogato pick-me-up All the ingredients and even the oven are sourced from the Italian city The reclaimed wooden furniture and dangling light bulbs strip things back to let the food do all the talking friarielli or smoked mozzarella for the ultimate Italian experience Address: Sacro Cuore Pizza, 45 Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise, London NW10 3NBTelephone: +44 208 960 8558Website: sacrocuore.co.uk but supper (from 6pm Wednesday to Sunday) doesn’t disappoint either here You’ll want to order practically everything from the short list of small plates such as burrata spiked with Thai basil pesto Grana Padano and mushroom risotto and pappardelle with red wine-braised beef cheeks Choose from the eclectic wine menu of organic and vegan bottles from small low-intervention makers or opt for a coffee that’s ethically sourced and roasted in small batches on site Address: Milk Beach, 19 Lonsdale Road Queen's Park, London NW6 6RATelephone: +44 20 8144 8277Website: milkbeach.com affordable food to loyal locals (and their dogs) for the past six years Share one of their famous toasted banana breads or tuck into a decadent three-cheese toastie – Bel and Nev never disappoint There’s a small seasonal menu and only a handful of tables that are usually full Address: Bel and Nev, 15 Station Terrace, Kensal Rise, London NW10 5RXTelephone: +44 20 3720 8825Website: belandnev.com Its pared-back interiors bringing a dash of East London minimalism to north-west Queen’s Park hosomaki and sashimi are prepared in front of you by two highly trained Japanese chefs who are generous with both their sushi and sake portions A welcome Asian addition to an otherwise European-focused food scene Address: Michiko Sushino, 74 Salusbury Road, Queen’s Park, London NW6 6NUTelephone: +44 20 7604 3455Website: michikosushino.com the neighbourhood's favourite Italian was established by husband and wife Avi and Simonetta back in 2007 Hand-rolled fresh pasta – such as tagliatelle with a beef pork and chicken ragu – is served on white linen and there are vintage travel posters and paintings covering every inch of wall space At the monthly cinema night £45 will get you a film a glass of prosecco and a three-course supper Address: Ida, 222a Kilburn Lane, Queen’s Park, London W10 4ATTelephone: +44 20 8969 9853Website: idarestaurant.co.uk This place is home to three adjacent dining experiences or for a tapas-style plate with knowledgeable wine pairing which serves undoubtedly the best gluten-free pizza refreshing salads and homemade ready meals Address: The Salusbury, 54 Salusbury Road, Queen's Park, London NW6 6NNTelephone: +44 0 7372 6664Website: thesalusburywinestore.com Wolfpack is in fact the retirement plan of professional rugby players Al Hargreaves and Chris Wyles No muscles required at this bar though – everyone is welcome to get stuck in Address: Wolfpack, 53 Lonsdale Road, Queen’s Park, London NW6 6RATelephone: +44 20 7624 1263Website: wolfpacklager.com eat lunch or supper at a dedicated table in the busy kitchen or enjoy £5 cocktails on Thirsty Thursdays before devouring the imaginative and seasonal menu resplendent with potted plants and bunting and the ideal spot for a summer evening drink Address: Parlour, 5 Regent Street, Kensal Green, London NW10 5LGTelephone: +44 20 8969 2184Website: parlourkensal.com serving Ottolenghi-style salads with the help of her children Their burrito is also famous – join the eager queue on your lunch hour Address: Vicki’s, 43 Kilburn Lane, Kensal Green, London W10 4AETelephone: +44 20 8964 2514Website: vickislondon.co.uk Address: Paradise by Way of Kensal Green, 19 Kilburn Lane, Kensal Green, London W10 4AETelephone: +44 20 8969 0098Website: theparadise.co.uk Yet another creative couple whipping up breakfast lunch and afternoon delights for the Kensal community Husband Olly trained at Leiths cookery school while wife Ollie was a landscape designer and the passionate pair took over Minkies back in 2017 having had huge success with their supper-club and catering company Minkies is a tranquil greenhouse oasis in the buzzing centre of Kensal Rise Address: Minkies Deli, The Glasshouse, Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise, London NW10 5RQTelephone: +44 20 8969 2182Website: minkiesdeli.co.uk Where to shop in Queen's Park and Kensal Rise There are also miniature sustainable Veja trainers and Bella Freud candles available Address: Iris, 73 Salusbury Road, Queen's Park, London NW6 6NJTelephone: +44 20 7372 1777Website: irisfashion.co.uk Shop for the coolest streetwear at this boutique on Chamberlayne Road While the menswear section focuses on utility chic – You Must Create Norse Projects and limited-edition Vans – the womenswear has a more playful approach A great place to find something a bit different Address: Supra, 71 Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise, London NW10 3NDTelephone: +44 20 8968 6868Website: supralondon.com but Queen’s Park Books has been enlightening and expanding our minds since 2004 with its selection curated by the Fergiani family Whether you’re trying to source a rare or out-of-print book or want to host a book club or attend a launch the knowledgeable and friendly staff are there to help For a weekend in the summer they also help organise the burgeoning Queen’s Park book festival Address: Queen’s Park Books, 87 Salusbury Road, Queen's Park, London NW6 6NHTelephone: +44 20 7625 1008Website: queensparkbooks.co.uk Local artists and interior designers flock here to frame their masterpieces The business has been going for almost 30 years and they will help you find the perfect frame to fit your artwork waxing liming or staining to give the look you’re after and framing treasured objects with their 3D service Address: J White Framing, 491 Latimer Road, London, W10 6RDTelephone: +44 20 8960 2660Website: jwhiteframing.com and a section of pavement brimming with the colourful booty from that morning's flower market but can cater for bunches of any size to suit any pocket and will also teach you how to replicate its voluptuous creations at its intimate workshops Address: Scarlet and Violet, 76 Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise, London NW10 3JJTelephone: +44 20 8969 9446Website: scarletandviolet.com which sets up shop in the Salusbury Primary School playground between 10am and 2pm every Sunday All 40 stalls make sustainable living easy – there’s a no-plastic-bags rule in place and you can fill up your tote bag with seasonal produce Address: Queen’s Park Farmers’ Market, Salusbury Primary School, Salusbury Road, Queen's Park, London NW6 6RGWebsite: lfm.org.uk/markets/queens-park/ When Erin moved to London from New Zealand with her husband Guy they were disappointed with the lack of high-quality meat available Provenance’s five stand-alone shops prove that hungry Londoners agreed with them It’s very much a family affair – Erin’s brother-in-law Tom runs the butchery masterclasses – and the in-store butchers are extremely attentive giving advice on all of their organic grass-fed and free-range meat Address: Provenance Village Butcher, 93 Salusbury Road, Queen’s Park, London NW6 6NHTelephone: +44 20 7624 1444Website: provenancebutcher.com What to do in Queen's Park and Kensal Rise has a bar stocking local beers and spirits and all profits are donated to The Sustainability Institute a leading learning and living centre in Stellenbosch Address: The Lexi Cinema, 194b Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise, London NW10 3JUTelephone: +44 20 3011 5523Website: thelexicinema.co.uk A lush 30-acre park that first opened to the public back in 1887 and was named in honour of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Tucked away from the high street the park is home to immaculate flower gardens putting green and a café that’s well worth a visit for its sweet crêpes and savoury galettes Website: cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/queens-park The best restaurants in London The best walks in London The best markets in London Keep scrolling for more pictures of Queen's Park and Kensal Rise Vicar General of the Diocese of Westminster has issued the following information today priests' appointments and deacons' placements.RETIREMENTSFr John Deehan - from Kentish Town summer 2024PARISH PRIESTSFr Bernard Akoeso OSB - Holy Cross Parsons Green from sabbaticalFr Allan Alvarado Gil - Our Lady Help of Christians Willesden Green and Kensal RiseFr John Byrne - Corpus Christi FelthamFr Saviour Grech - Our Lady of Perpetual Help Stephendale Road from sabbaticalFr Mike Maguire - St Lawrence Westminster CathedralFr James Neal - St Thomas of Canterbury Fulham from sabbaticalFr Pascal Sullivan CCN - Christ the King Cockfosters from Assistant Priest at Cockfosters in succession to Fr Christophe Brunet CCN from 1 August 2024Fr Nigel Woollen - Our Lady of Victories Stevenage parishesPAROCHIAL ADMINISTRATORFr Tom O'Brien AA - Our Lady Immaculate and St Andrew FIRST APPOINTMENTS FOLLOWING ORDINATION ON 29 JUNE 2024Fr Thomas Blackburn - Our Lady of Lourdes New SouthgateFr Domagoj Matokovic - Our Lady Help of Christians Stevenage ParishesASSISTANT PRIESTSFr Matteo Di Giuseppe - St Mary Magdalen Willesden Green and Church of the Transfiguration Resident at Kensal Rise from Assistant Priest Chorleywood and Mill EndFr Axcel Soriano - Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St George Harrow NorthFr Patrick van der Vorst - Precentor Westminster Cathedral from Assistant Priest EnfieldDEACONS IN FORMATION FOR PRIESTHOOD ORDAINED ON 15 JUNE 2024Rev James Boyle - Holy Trinity Brook GreenRev Sean Power - Our Lady and St Vincent Potters BarAppointments are taken up at the beginning of September Costs associated with moving are met by the parish of departure.SABBATICALFr Andrew O'Connell - from Assistant Priest New SouthgateFr John McKenna - from Parish Priest BarnetMary Immaculate and St Gregory the Great Barnet will be entrusted to the care of the Consolata Missionary Fathers (IMC) from the beginning of September 2024CATHOLIC CHILDRENS SOCIETYFr David Reilly - Chair from 11 June 2024 in succession to Fr Michael Daley RIP PERMANENT DEACONS TO BE ORDAINED ON 6 JULY 2024Paul Hewitt HollowayMgr Martin writes: "The Cardinal is grateful to the priests who are taking up new appointments and he thanks them for their service in their current appointments Gratitude is expressed to Fr John Deehan and Fr Dennis Touw as they prepare for retirement with the prayers and best wishes of us all for a long and happy retirement."We pray for those to be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday and to the permanent diaconate on Saturday week.With all good wishes,Martin Mgr Martin Hayes Tags: Westminster Diocese, Westminster, Clergy Moves, Clergy Moves 2024, Mgr Martin Hayes Westminster: Resource launched to complement Synod's Final Document Westminster: Safeguarding audit report published Westminster Diocese appoints new Head of Safeguarding We offer publicity space for Catholic groups/organisations. See our advertising page if you would like more information ICN aims to provide speedy and accurate news coverage of all subjects of interest to Catholics and the wider Christian community As our audience increases - so do our costs You can support our journalism by advertising with us or donating to ICN ORR protects the interests of rail and road users happened on 25 December 2019 as he carried out remedial ‘snagging’ works to overhead lines 2.5 miles outside Paddington Station The on-site team were unaware that they were working outside the electrical isolation and as a consequence Mr while his eyesight and hearing were also both affected and could have died because of Amey Rail Limited’s inadequate measures “We welcome this judgement and we hope it sends a clear message to anyone responsible for work on the railway about the need to safeguard those working on it.” All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 the Kilburn Road development will replace a dormant selection of Victorian brick buildings which has seen various uses including as a recording studio used by U2 and Adele a three and a half storey building will provide a mixture of one two and three-bedroom apartments with balconies of flexible commercial space at ground level which will include secure cycle and refuse storage matching the mostly Victorian vernacular of the Kilburn Road said: “The Kensal Rise area has been quietly developing over the past few years to become one of London’s up and coming hotspots This will be further bolstered by the forthcoming Kensal Corridor transport and public realm proposals led by Brent Council and TFL “Our site at 133 Kilburn Lane is well placed to benefit from these improvements while playing its own part in the revitalisation of the area to provide outstanding new homes and key employment space.” The site is located close to the Chamberlayne Road and is within walking distance of a range of amenities and transport connections This includes Queen’s Park Underground (Bakerloo line) and Overground Stations and Kensal Green Underground (Bakerloo line) and Overground Stations providing fast access into the West End and beyond with estimated completion due in summer 2021 Building & Construction Today website is the place to come for compelling and informative features news and products for a diverse audience serving a wide construction sector Three years’ worth of work to upgrade drainage track and signalling equipment over a seven-mile stretch of railway in North London has been completed in just eleven days by Network Rail On Thursday 1 April a more reliable railway reopened for passengers after the rapid renewals on the West Coast main line Network Rail teamed up with train operators to close two out of four lines on the West Coast main line while fewer passengers were travelling This amount of work would normally have taken three years of consecutive overnight weekend shifts to complete at a cost of around £19.8m The super-fast approach over 11 days brought costs down to £6m - saving the taxpayer approximately £13.8m Network Rail’s West Coast South route director said: “I’d like to thank our passengers and lineside neighbours for their patience whilst we completed this work on the economically important West Coast main line “I’d also like to pay a huge credit to our train operators and industry colleagues for enabling us to carry out this work at short notice and get the railway in the best possible shape for passengers when they return This is all part of our commitment to build back better as the country emerges from the pandemic.” executive director of operations and safety at Avanti West Coast said: “We are pleased to have been able to play our part to facilitate Network Rail’s upgrade works on the approach to London Euston These upgrades usually have to be completed one project at a time but as a result of the collaborative efforts of industry colleagues we were able to complete multiple projects while operating our services for our customers who needed to travel "We would like to thank everyone who travelled with us during this time for their patience The work will help to make journeys more reliable for our customers when we look forward to welcoming them back in the near future.” customer experience director for London Northwestern Railway said: “This intense period of improvement work will improve the reliability of this crucial part of our rail network and reduce the likelihood of disruption as more people begin travelling again “I would like to thank our customers for their patience during the work and urge returning passengers to double-check their train times as some departure times may have changed.” people are being advised of work taking place this Easter to improve future journeys between London and Scotland Work will take place from Good Friday tomorrow (2 April) until Tuesday 6 April More information can be found here: £31m Easter upgrades on railway between London and Scotland Passengers are advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk to find out how the work will impact their journeys We visited North West London’s new haunt The Wealthy Beggar co-created by Emily in Paris’ Lucien Laviscount chef Gareth Drew and restauranteur Zac Lichman Setting up shop in Kensal Rise, The Wealthy Beggar offers a creative cocktail menu and seasonal dishes across their two floors are aiming to be the area’s go-to ‘five-star dive bar‘ We took a visit and here’s what we thought Lucien doesn’t greet you on arrival at this bar as you enter into this high-end-meets-urban you’ll see how the spot got its name The Wealthy Beggar pairs chandeliers and red velvet seats side by side with graffiti sprawled The low candlelight and vinyl records playing 70s disco makes for a speakeasy cocktail bar atmosphere – made even better by the impressive drinks list that any cocktail fan would be thoroughly pleased with All named after phrases customary to a wealthy beggar such as ‘Pick Pocket’ we went for the citrussy vodka based ‘Lucky Penny’ and sparkling wine and brandy based floral ‘Velvet Hand’ The drinks refresh you nicely, especially when enjoyed alongside the Pan-Asian feast of food available that is a mixture of ‘wealthy’ and ‘beggar’ there is a wagyu tartare; yuzu and caviar; and Langoustine tartare served with parmesan hijiki tuile and sake bisque foam – they were all as impressive and exquisite as they sound The truffle miso whipped foie gras on the melt-in-your-mouth wagyu tartare was a particular favourite The ‘beggar’ section of the menu includes a selection of sushi maki rolls but that’s not to say they are any less impressive The imagination and eccentricity of each of these dishes inspires surprise and delight – shown in the beef burger dumplings with kimchi ketchup the incredibly soft charred fish with cabbage avocado and jalapeño sauce taco cucumber and avocado dragon roll complete with siracha mayo eyes the next time you’re in North West London looking for somewhere to escape the cold with a great atmosphere get yourselves over to The Wealthy Beggar – j’adore the place He fired the handgun after repeatedly harassing a former girlfriend who did not want to speak to him News | Crime Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories A “dangerous” man who tried intimidating his ex-girlfriend by firing a gun outside a busy north-west London pub on New Year’s Eve has been jailed Cardell Thompson, 26, arrived at a pub in Chamberlyne Road, Kensal Green Throughout the night he repeatedly tried speaking to a former girlfriend who was not interested in engaging with him and eventually shouted that he was going to get a gun and return to the venue amid high crime and 'crowd crush risk' Six senior London MPs elected to key posts to grill Starmer super-majority Government All the winners at the National Television Awards 2024 he returned to the pub brandishing a handgun and shouting threats to his former girlfriend He fired the weapon into the air outside the pub and then attempted to fire it again Thompson tried to get inside the pub but was pushed back by staff by which time police had arrived and he was arrested The gun was recovered and Thompson’s DNA was found on it A search of his home by officers uncovered quantities of cocaine and ketamine along with a phone which provided further evidence of drug dealing who lives near the pub in Clifford Gardens was charged with firearms and drugs offences on January 2 last year He had pleaded guilty to discharging the firearm at an earlier hearing Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb, a Trident detective from the Met’s Specialist Crime said: “It is only by good fortune that Cardell Thompson was unable to discharge this firearm more than once preventing significant injury or worse from occurring “This sentencing reflects the dangerous nature of Thompson and the gravity of the offences he committed Thanks to the joined up work of Prosecuting Counsel and the Crown Prosecution Service this matter has progressed successfully through the courts and a dangerous man is now behind bars.” 31 Days of Halloween: On Atlas Obscura this month we’re celebrating Halloween each day with woeful and wickedly macabre tales all linked to a real locale that you can visit Kensal Green Cemetery in London (all photographs by Allison Meier) The following story was first published in 1936, in a collection titled True Ghost Stories “The facts of this story were vouched for by the late Hon Our aristocratic source tells the story of a publisher in London through determined networking and resourcefulness in business this individual had managed to propel himself into the upper echelons of society our protagonist had abandoned his former love Alec Carlisle as being in possession of “no working brains The publisher had decided that the company of this lowborn girl was unbefitting of his rapid social ascent By the time she was carried to an early grave the publisher was attending the funeral of a colleague held at London’s Kensal Green Cemetery Kensal Green is the oldest of London’s “Magnificent Seven,” a series of Victorian burial grounds designed to reduce the strain on overflowing graveyards in the city centre — as well as alleviating fear of disease — by removing the dead to spacious plots in the capital’s suburbs.  The cemetery at Kensal Green in northwest London opened in 1833, and by the time of our tale it was perhaps the most fashionable burial ground in the British Empire. Beneath its elaborate tombs and mausoleums sleep some of Britain’s most prestigious names: Charles Babbage, inventor of the Difference Engine (although not all of him, part of his brain is in the Hunterian Museum) as well as the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel through the winding passages and tree-shaded avenues of Kensal Green.  The publisher was startled out of his reverie when he came across Elise’s grave It lay in one of the wilder corners of this 72-acre cemetery an untended grave far removed from the grand mausoleums of Kensal Green’s more affluent interments and though the publisher tried to swallow his emotions he nevertheless felt somehow obliged to improve the resting place of his one-time love Rather than have his own name associated with the grave of a lowly girl however — and suffer the gossip and speculation that would no doubt bring — the publisher decided to act through an agent He settled on the plan of calling his stockbroker and having the man put forward funds for a more fitting memorial to Elise The publisher was out of sorts by the time he returned home that evening his mind filled with long-forgotten memories of Elise He picked up the phone to dial for his stockbroker but in his confused state found himself reciting a Kensal Green plot number to the operator but the operator had already put him through was unmistakably that of Elise.   “I won’t be long,” said Elise he poured himself a tall brandy… and then another He was already well intoxicated by the time he heard his front door open At this point the hapless publisher passed out his faint induced by a cocktail of fear and brandy.  The publisher awoke the next morning to find streaks of dark clay on his carpet tracing a path from his front door along the hallway to his study even on his jacket; but no sign of his midnight visitor.  While ghost stories of this variety often end with a moment of revelation the transformation of a character suddenly inspired towards a life of charity Alec Carlisle reported no such change in his protagonist.  the publisher remained as miserly and antisocial as he had ever been — only from this point on he suffered a strong aversion to clay no evidence has ever been found to support — or disprove — the story Elise’s grave remains undiscovered; just another faded cross amongst the 65,000 burial sites that form London’s sprawling Kensal Green Cemetery.  LIVING DEAD GIRL: KENSAL GREEN CEMETERY True Ghost Stories by Marchioness Townshend and Maude Ffoulkes The Paranormal Blog: Kensal Green  Click here for more of our 31 Days of Halloween where each day we’re celebrating the strange-but-true unsettling corners of the world.  We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world’s hidden wonders Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders Food writer’s flexible Kensal Green live-work space could be the perfect buy for a work-from-home professional with a culinary talent they’ve discovered in lockdown Homes & Property | Celebrity homes Croydon-born food writer and broadcaster Rachel Khoo is selling the ingeniously designed north-west London flat she used for filming and recipe testing Now married with two young children and based in Sweden, where she wrote her cookbook The Little Swedish Kitchen, Khoo used the Kensal Green property as a two-bedroom home as well as her office and test kitchen The entire live-work space is cleverly carved from a 572sqft Victorian garden flat with her brand built on her ability to cook Khoo’s first book and later BBC television series was called The Little Paris Kitchen The concept was based around a supper club for two guests that Khoo ran in her Belleville apartment and advertised on Twitter She later decamped to a one-bedroom Hoxton flat that converted to an office for six when required Khoo moved to Kensal Green where she bought and renovated the flat she’s now selling for £665,000 She knocked through the walls of the front room and bedroom to create a large studio and knocked the kitchen small living room and bathroom together to create another big room at the back of the flat Because the rooms needed to multitask as both living and work space The front studio has a bookcase that incorporates flap-down desks and can also swing out across the middle of the space to divide it into two bedrooms – one with a fold-down bed and the other with a bed in a velvet box seat She added a bathroom in the centre of the apartment hidden behind a reclaimed telephone box door and boasting mirrored panels “For the design of this home I wanted to focus on functionality and beauty a home designed for urban living,” says Khoo “I think lockdown restrictions are making Londoners re-evaluate the functionality of their homes and any ‘wasted space’ such as bedrooms that could be more flexible an element of European design that I love.” The kitchen is the centrepiece of the flat used for both cooking and filming with bespoke mint green deVOL cabinets matching tiling from Milagros and reclaimed school science lab counter tops in Iroko wood “I have hosted everything from cookery workshops “I think this apartment is perfect for a young professional who wants an adaptable live-work space or someone who adores cooking and wants a statement kitchen to call their own As a chef the kitchen is the most important room for me and this kitchen is truly the heart of the home.” says the estate agent is anticipating a very high level of interest from buyers attracted by the remote working-friendly set-up “This is the rare opportunity to purchase a home with a magnificent kitchen designed by an internationally acclaimed chef perfect for all those buyers who have discovered a passion for baking or cooking during the lockdown restrictions with lockdown restrictions leading to a rise in ‘telecommuting’ and working from home buyers will be looking for spaces that are adaptable and well-designed for ever-changing home working needs.”