london routemistress

Discovering the lesser-known parts of London by bus

Bus route 4

The adventure continues

Archway to Blackfriars

Monday 6th December 2021

Easy route to the start of the bus journey this time – hopped on the northern line straight to Archway station from where the number 4 bus starts.

First stop was Finsbury Park station, from where I walked to the Park Theatre to see what they’ve got on and coming up over the next few weeks. Having seen many plays there over the past few years – until Covid put a temporary stop to it – it was good to go back and soak up the atmosphere.

Upstairs at the Park Theatre, notice on the entrance to the theatre and pretty mosaic near Finsbury Park station

After a pleasant amble along Fonthill Road, looking at the bling shops, I got back on the #4, getting out at Percival Street and headed for Islington Museum. This little-known gem portrays the history of Islington, from its inclusion in the Domesday Book in 1086, to the arrival of Music Halls such as Collins’ on Islington Green.

Entrance to Islington Museuem, how Islington appears in the Domesday Book, what went on at the Islington (Collins) Music Hall

This museum is well worth a visit – lots of information about the area during the war, famous people who lived in Islington such as Mary Wollstonecraft (18th century pioneer feminist – see also the end of Route 21 in Newington Green where there is a statue dedicated to her) and the history of the Whittington hospital.

History about the local area from Mary Wollstonecraft to residents’ objectors during the war and history of spas and hospitals

Back on the bus and got out at St Paul’s station. I decided not to do the obvious and visit the cathedral but found my way to Postman’s Park, a small public garden in King Edward Street, which is a memorial to unsung heroes – it’s G.F. Watts’s Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice, containing plaques to those who heroically lost their lives trying to save others’. It’s very touching and poignant, each one telling its own story.

Statue of Rowland Hill and plaques at Postman Park nearby

After this, I hopped back on the bus to the end of the line at Blackfriars, passing the Black Friars pub on my way to the station and back home.

Blackfriars pub – built in about 1875 on the site of a former medieval Dominican friary

I realise that it’s best to travel the whole route from start to finish, to get a feel of all areas of London. Sadly the weather today was cold and raining which meant it wasn’t the best time to spend outdoors walking through the various parks that the bus passed such as Finsbury Park and Dartmouth Park. I expect some of the other bus routes will take me to these parks so I’ll look out for them then.

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