1. Hayes & Harlington station bus stop

A few minutes from the station is the Grand Union Canal which connects London to Birmingham. This part of the canal has a tow path so it’s easy walking and a lovely way to spend some time, watching the boats chug by and the ducks and other birds glide gracefully by. The canal flows underneath Printinghouse Lane, presumably named as it formerly housed part of the HMV complex and the EMI factory. Under the bridge here is the usual graffiti – it seems that some people just can’t resist the blank walls!

2. Hayes Town Centre bus stop

It’s possible to walk from the Grand Union Canal to the next place or you can hop on the bus for 2 stops to get to Lake Farm Country Park. This land was originally part of Botwell Common, when it was used by local parishioners as common land. It was then enclosed in 1814 and subdivided into a number of parcels. By around 1850 the Shackle family were operating brickworks over most of the current Lake Farm site. These were backfilled with clay and other materials. The site was subsequently used for radar testing and, during World War II, was an Air Raid Precaution (ARP) centre. More recently, after years of campaigning by local residents to protect it from development, the site was officially designated a country park in September 2002.

Lake Farm was so-named owing to an ornamental lake that was located beyond the north-east corner of the site, in the grounds of Lake House, which was owned by Thomas Shackle. The lake was filled in 1954.

3. Shaftesbury Way bus stop

There’s more open space here so if you intend to ride the 140 bus, make sure it’s a non-rainy day. It’s amazing that there is so much green space in this part of London, all of it worth a walk, just for the beauty of the flora – and fauna if you’re lucky. So from this bus stop, you’ll find yourself at Yeading Brook Meadows, a local nature reserve and a site of metropolitan importance for nature conservation. It’s mainly grassland and has a variety of wild flowers. The meadow is alongside the brook, which itself is a dominant source of the River Crane.

4. Target Roundabout bus stop

This is the gem on the route. The bus stops outside the Star Wars Shop and if you have any interest in the brand, films, characters, you’ll absolutely love this place. The owner is Wayne who is an absolute authority on all things Star Wars. Of course you can browse through the different costumes from each of the films, you can purchase any number of figures, toys, sabres and other memorabilia. Wayne opened his shop in 2008 and has online presence in 20 countries. He makes the costumes himself, he’s helped on the making of the films and on top of that, is a really great guy who will provide you with a cup of tea and make you very welcome. Even as someone who isn’t a besotted fan, I totally got why the shop is such a success and would definitely go there again and recommend it to anyone who has an interest in Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, C-3PO and all their friends. Thanks Wayne!

5. Alderney Gardens bus stop

The bus stops more or less outside Islip Manor Park and although there have been many open spaces already on this route, this one is pretty special. The park is a piece of the old Islip Manor Estate and boasts pretty flower beds, shrubs, and a mix of old native and non-native trees. Among the many flowers you’ll see – as long as you’re there during the summer months – there are some striking poker plants. These are native of Africa but have been introduced here and enhance any garden with their vibrant colours.

Also set within the park are a number of seasonal ponds, which provide important habitats for wildlife as well as helping to reduce the possibility of footpath flooding. The ponds supply necessary water for thirsty small animals and a safe bathing place for birds. The surrounding plants attract bees and butterflies, water snails and pond skaters – these in turn provide food for other creatures such as spiders, bats and shrews. These ponds bring a little bit of the countryside to an otherwise urban environment and as well as allowing visitors to the park to get closer to wildlife, they also help creatures adapt to climate change.

It might be worth looking at my blog about route 120, when I visited the park in the winter and the ponds were full of water. As can be seen below, they are quite dried up in June.

Now take an easy stroll to St Mary’s Church in Northolt, which is also on bus route 120. The blog will go into details about the church and its history, but although I had been there before, I found it worth visiting again for its beauty and the surrounding area. It’s thought that when Christianity came to the area, a wooden church would have been built, quite probably as early as the 11th century. According to The Domesday Book of 1086, a certain Geoffrey de Mandeville had held ‘Northala’, as it had become known, since the Norman Conquest. At that time there was a priest who had about sixty acres of land and (presumably) a house.

In about 1300 the Lord of the Manor built the first stone manor house on the clay ridge and surrounded it by a moat which can still be seen behind the east end of the church. Various extensions and extra fittings were added over the next two centuries and it was in the 16th century that a small bell tower with a spire was added. Inside the tower there is a miscellaneous collection of four 17thC bells which are surprisingly large for their cramped home. It would definitely be worth finding out when the church is open to the public, because the inside looks just as interesting as the outside (judging from the website).

Again, take a look at Willow Cottages, two small dwellings dating back to the early 1800s. There were originally three cottages providing homes for agricultural workers and their families. They certainly look small from the outside so it’s a stretch of the imagination to read that at one time, there were as many as 12 people living in one of the cottages. They were residential properties up to the mid 1900s when they were abandoned around the time of WW1. Although they no longer seem to be in use, the garden in which they are situated is certainly being maintained. It’s very peaceful and a fitting place to sit, contemplate and admire the area.

Adjacent to the cottages is Northolt Mandeville Memorial, containing remains of the early medieval village of Northolt, dating between about 600 and 1300 AD, surviving below-ground. Partial excavation between 1950 and 1974 revealed three inhumation burials, a complete stratified sequence of pottery from the 7th century to the 18th century, some 14th century window glass, daub, tile, brick, nails, knives, horse-shoes, buckles, sickles and coins. As it’s not possible to gain entry to the nearby church or to talk to anyone who might be in the know, I’m not sure where all these artefacts are situated or whether they are on display somewhere.

6. Moat Farm Road bus stop

It’s possible to walk from St Mary’s Church and Willow Cottages to this stop, or get back on the bus for just one stop. The Clock Tower near Northolt station sits boldly on a plinth which doubles as a bench – this was being set up when last visited on the number 90, so it’s good to see it finished. It was built in 1937 to commemorate the coronation of King George VI and is situated in what was once the site of Moat Farm’s pond, which was filled in when the locality started to be built up. The clock tower is part of the Northolt Village Green Conservation Area, highlighting its historical and architectural value. 
The local council (Ealing) has also worked hard at improving the surrounding area, with some very pretty flower beds and plants.

7. Wood End Lane bus stop

There was once a horseracing course in this part of London, or to be more precise, a pony-racing course. Pony racing had been in existence for centuries in various parts of the country, but was not well regulated and had a serious reputation for cheating and corruption. In 1923, the Pony Turf Club was formed In an attempt to organise and gain respect for the sport and was henceforth recognised as being a legitimate regulated sport. The Club provided venues for smaller horses to race, as well as making it possible for those with more “limited means” to be able to enjoy the sport. As a result, admission fees were significantly less than those at established horse racing venues, and by providing high standard facilities, it was hoped to attract more female supporters.

Northolt was chosen as the national centre and HQ for these activities, and a completely new racecourse was created for it in 1929. The course was 1.5 miles long and was founded by William Bass (of the brewery fame). Money was spent on making stands that were the envy of the sporting world and there were 56 races set for each year.

In June 1938, the BBC televised the Northolt Park Derby race, only the second live broadcast of a race in the country and it was hoped, a source of much needed publicity for the sport. In fact 1937 had been a record year and attendance records show that 235,942 passed through the turnstiles. So despite the publicity, soon after this numbers started to dwindle and with the onset of WWII, the racing was stopped. After the war, it was hoped that the course could go back to its former glory but at a convened meeting, attendees were shocked to discover that London County Council had purchased the land for housing.

And so it is that more or less all that’s left of the race course is an entrance gate with a Racecourse sign and most of the streets within the estate are named after racing courses, such as Wincanton Avenue.

8. Safari Cinema bus stop

The bus leaves Harrow and heads out towards Wealdstone but before reaching there, it’s worth getting out at this stop to look at the old Safari Cinema, currently being converted into flats. The architects have wisely decided to maintain the fascia of the lovely art deco building. Originally the Dominion Cinema, it opened on 9th January 1936 with Seymour Hicks in “Scrooge”. The original seating capacity was for 2,500 in stalls and circle levels. The façade consisted of numerous alcoves with columns, windows which curved around corners and the name ‘Dominion’ set above the entrance which was backlit from a recess. The interior, by all accounts, was nothing like as grand.

The cinema in its original form, existed until the early 1970s, when it was divided into two units, showing mainstream films and this existed until 1995 when it was taken over and started to show Bollywood movies. As with so many things during the covid pandemic, the cinema had to close. Since then, planning permission was granted to convert the building into approx. 80 flats and with a smaller cinema.

9. Harrow and Wealdstone station

Outside Harrow and Wealdstone station is a remarkable mural, installed in memory of the 112 victims of the Wealdstone train crash on October 8th 1952. The plaque states” in gratitude to the services and volunteers who helped save many others”.

Local people had been asked what they would like to see in a mural that was commissioned by the local council, and they suggested something historic involving trains. The result was a number of scenes showing how the buildings and businesses in Wealdstone have changed since 1800, and how the railway running through Wealdstone helped turn the area into a vibrant town. A local community artist led the work, receiving a lot of help from children and young people in the area.

There are so many different scenes, each one telling a story. There’s the coal mine with the spire of Harrow on the Hill church in the background, Queen Victoria, a reference to the glass-blowing era of days gone by and many tributes to the different modes of transport including the tram and of course the railway (though sadly, no mention of the buses!). There are paintings of the wars, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and a tribute to the Beatles and even the 1966 World Cup final. It’s a fantastic mural and one that shouldn’t be missed if you find yourself on the 140 or just visiting this part of town.

10. Long Elmes bus stop

The final stop on the route has the actual Weald Stone that gives the area its name. According to the plaque placed on a wall of the Bombay Central restaurant, outside of which the wealdstone is situated, it is “A stone of antiquity, once known as the Weld Stone in the court rolls of Henry VII and VIII. Subsequently placed at border between Harrow Weald and Harrow Parish. Gave name to village of Wealdstone after the coming of the railway in 1837”.

You could be forgiven for walking straight past it, as it sits on and is indeed buried in the pavement outside a restaurant, though no-one know how far down it goes, only that it’s deeper underground than it is overground.
The “Weald” part of the name is an Old English word meaning wooded hill or high land — so the Weald Stone is the stone from the wooded hill. In fact the rising ground to the north of the stone is still heavily wooded.

Walk up towards the bus garage and you’ll come to Harrow Weald Recreation Ground, a small but pretty area. As the name suggests, it’s an ideal place for sports with tennis courts and football pitches as well as an amble along its paths. Just outside the ground is the Parklife café that not only provides welcome nourishment to you and your dog/s, but it is also a hub of life happenings. It covers everything from art and learning to health and community celebrations. One of their projects is Off the Wall, a partnership with local artists and the people at Harrow Arts Society. There is a permanent rotating art gallery where you can admire the different paintings and crafts. 

So if you’re in Harrow Weald and fancy a stroll in the park, followed by some delicious cake to go with a cup of tea or coffee and some art work to stimulate your brain, you could do worse than visit the Rec Ground and Parklife Café.

Before embarking on the 140, I wasn’t sure if I would find things that I hadn’t already seen or that were interesting enough. In fact, the first few stops were fairly repetitious in that I mainly found a lot of – admittedly very pleasant – open spaces. The light went on when I arrived at the Star Wars shop and it got better from then on. It might have been helped that from there, I had the company of my friend Sue, who was the one who had told me about the Star Wars shop in the first place! I did revisit some of the places seen before but it was at a different season so I was able to see them with fresh eyes. My take on this is that there is almost always something of value to see along each route and if there is only one “special” thing, then it’s still worth it and makes for a fun day out.

Toilets that are open to the public and free:

• Star Wars shop
• The Crown pub in Northolt
• Parklife Café