79-585: The North Circular Road (officially the A406 and sometimes known as simply the North Circular ) is a 25.7-mile-long (41.4 km) ring road around Central London . It runs from Chiswick in the west to Woolwich in the east via suburban North London, connecting various suburbs and other trunk roads in the region. Together with its counterpart, the South Circular Road , it mostly forms
158-517: A BBC News report said that the section between Chiswick and Hanger Lane was the most congested in Britain. The North Circular Road has a wide variety of styles and standards of junctions connecting to other roads. These range from the complex, grade-separated design at Charlie Brown's near Woodford, to at-grade junctions with traffic lights. The original road contained entirely at-grade junctions; many of these were improved and grade separated during
237-499: A Local Nature Reserve and a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation . The reservoir is an important site for breeding waterbirds such as great crested grebe , gadwall , shoveler , common pochard , tufted duck and common tern . At one stage, the reservoir was second only to Rutland Water for the most breeding pairs of great crested grebe in the UK. Other breeding birds include eight species of warbler . In 2008,
316-825: A sailing centre, home to Welsh Harp Sailing Club, Wembley Sailing Club, the Sea Cadets, and the University of London Sailing club. In 1960, it also hosted the Women's European Rowing Championships . The reservoir also hosts the Phoenix canoe club and outdoor centre. The reservoir is adjacent to the A406 North Circular Road (outside it) and the A5 Edgware Road , and a short distance to the north-east of Wembley Stadium . Residential areas around
395-634: A central point at Charing Cross (in the City of Westminster ), which is marked by the statue of King Charles I at the junction of the Strand , Whitehall and Cockspur Street , just south of Trafalgar Square . The central area is distinguished, according to the Royal Commission , by the inclusion within its boundaries of Parliament and the Royal Palaces, the headquarters of Government,
474-409: A general bypass of Central London, it would connect the communities of Edmonton , Tottenham and Walthamstow , and allow former munitions factories to be reused for industrial purposes. Further west, industrial work increased around Wembley to cater for the 1924 British Empire Exhibition , while former military factories at Willesden , Hendon and Acton would also benefit from being connected by
553-484: A major upgrade of the Henlys Corner interchange. An underpass was originally proposed but this was heavily criticised by local residents, and would have been very costly, and it was subsequently scrapped. The upgrade scheme improved on the current junction by adding extra lanes and allowing easier left and right turns, speeding up queue times. Cycle paths and safer pedestrian crossings were included. In July 2013,
632-493: A new weapon from 1916: the tank , especially the amphibious Mark IX tank . Early film of these tests was shown on British television in the late 1990s. During the Second World War , a seaplane kept on the reservoir was rumoured to be an escape route for the prime minister . Local residents have recounted swimming to the plane. A DD Mk VII Tetrarch light tank was tested on the reservoir. During construction,
711-428: A number of definitions have been used to define the scope of Central London for statistics, urban planning and local government. Its characteristics are understood to include a high-density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally, nationally and internationally significant organisations and facilities. Road distances to London are traditionally measured from
790-483: A pub on the North Circular Road on 2 May 1964. The original Ace Cafe was on the North Circular Road. Open 24 hours a day, it catered for late-night party-goers and boy racers. It was a popular place for cars to be hot-wired and stolen, as drivers knew they could make a quick getaway. IWG founder Mark Dixon's first business on returning to Britain after an extended time abroad was a hot-dog stand on
869-579: A ring road around central London, except for crossing of the River Thames , which is done by the Woolwich Ferry . The road was constructed in the Interwar period to connect local industrial communities and by pass London. It was upgraded after World War II , and was at one point planned to become a motorway as part of the controversial and ultimately cancelled London Ringways scheme. In
SECTION 10
#1732786941671948-748: A roundabout with the A13 Newham Way/Alfred's Way in Beckton . To reach the Woolwich Ferry , traffic must follow local roads to the ferry terminal – the A1020 Royal Docks Road, and the A117 named successively as Woolwich Manor Way, Albert Road and Pier Road. The Woolwich Ferry leads across the River Thames , connecting with the eastern end of the South Circular Road on the other side of the river. The junction with
1027-576: A section east of Southgate used existing streets. By the end of the decade, the area surrounding the Park Royal estate had become the largest industrial estate in the south of England, and the London Passenger Transport Board was receiving regular complaints about the excess traffic levels. Due to laxer laws that allowed housing to be built on major roads, as London suburbs developed, residential properties were built on
1106-680: A site in London. The next prominent ornithologist was William Glegg from the 1920s onwards and he wrote a paper for the London Naturalist in 1930 called 'The Birds of Middlesex since 1866, then a follow-up book to Harting's in 1935, called A History of the Birds of Middlesex . After the Second World War, a new generation of ornithologists took an interest, such as Professor Warmington , and Eric Simms , who lived just south of
1185-795: A task force set up by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson proposed that long sections of the North Circular (as well as the South Circular ) should be put underground in road tunnels, freeing up space on the surface to provide public space, extensive cycle routes, and better links to existing communities currently severed by the road. Caroline Pidgeon , deputy chair of the London Assembly's Transport Committee, responded, "It doesn't make sense and it won't add up – [there's a] £30bn estimate, but I'm sure it'll cost at least double that, and
1264-675: Is a six-lane dual carriageway that connects the industrial estates in the area, and passes beneath the West Coast Main Line near Stonebridge Park . Beyond this, there is a junction with IKEA and the Neasden temple to the southeast, and the road runs alongside open land south of the Welsh Harp Reservoir . Beyond the reservoir, there is a large interchange with the Edgware Road ( A5 ) and junction 1 of
1343-554: Is buried near the reservoir. In past winters the reservoir froze for skating; national and international ice-skating events were held. In February 1893, Jack Selby drove a coach and four horses across the reservoir. Towards the end of the 19th century, urbanisation led to fewer informally organised frolics. Naturists gathered at the Welsh Harp from 1921, until in June 1930 about 250 sunbathers were attacked by 200 objectors. This
1422-433: Is described as "a unique cluster of vitally important activities including central government offices, headquarters and embassies, the largest concentration of London's financial and business services sector and the offices of trade, professional bodies, institutions, associations, communications, publishing, advertising and the media". For strategic planning, since 2011 there has been a Central London sub-region comprising
1501-577: Is fed by the Silk Stream and the River Brent . Its main outflow is the River Brent. Its smaller outflow is a feeder channel to the canal system. It holds an estimated 1,600,000 m (57,000,000 cu ft). In 1994 when the reservoir was drained more than 3,000 kg (6,700 lb) of fish were captured, 95% of which were roach . However, fishing is prohibited. The reservoir has
1580-706: Is generally referred to as the North Circular throughout for route planning purposes. The route is mostly grade-separated dual carriageway from the A40 at Hanger Lane to the A13 in Beckton except for the Drury Way/Brentfield Road junction, the Golders Green Road/Brent Street junction, Henlys Corner and the section from Bounds Green to Green Lanes. In areas where improvements made slowest progress and upgrades are unlikely,
1659-401: Is present. Neasden Recreation Ground is a park of 4.5 hectares (11 acres) on the southern shore of the reservoir. It is mainly grassland with woods, a sports ground and a children's play area. There is access from Aboyne Road and from the North Circular Road, opposite Brook Road and close to Staples Corner . Welsh Harp Open Space is a park and nature reserve of 9.43 hectares (23.3 acres) on
SECTION 20
#17327869416711738-527: Is referred to as "The Sun-Bathing Riots". The Midland Railway built its Welsh Harp station in 1870 on its new line from Bedford to St.Pancras . The area lost its attraction with the development of West Hendon between 1895 and 1915 and the station closed in 1903. The Mechanical Warfare Department , part of the War Office based nearby in Cricklewood , used the Welsh Harp for secret tests of
1817-495: The East Coast Main Line , and continues as Telford Road towards Bounds Green . Traffic on the North Circular Road must turn right from Telford Road into Bowes Road, which causes problems with heavy goods vehicles . The road continues past densely packed housing and business areas before widening at Green Lanes and assuming the North Circular Road name again. At Great Cambridge Interchange, its most northerly point,
1896-741: The Edgware Road , near where it crossed the Brent. Warner, who fought with distinction in the Crimean War , created the tavern along the lines of the London pleasure gardens (ironically at the same time when the most famous of all, the Vauxhall finally closed). For 40 years, Warner made the Old Welsh Harp Tavern one of London's most popular places and it was celebrated in song by the music hall star Annie Adams as 'The Jolliest Place That's Out'. The amusements were focused not just on
1975-717: The Grand Union Canal and the Regent's Canal so having obtained an enabling act of Parliament in 1819, the Regent's Canal Company decided to dam the River Brent to create a reservoir and cut a feeder channel from it to an upper point on the Grand Union Canal. It now holds an estimated 1,600,000 m (57,000,000 cu ft). The reservoir was constructed by contractor William Hoof between 1834 and 1835. The water flooded much of Cockman's Farm, to supply
2054-683: The Great Western Main Line west of Paddington to the Hanger Lane gyratory system, a large roundabout on top of the Western Avenue (the A40 ) with Hanger Lane tube station . This is one of the busiest junctions in London, used by 10,000 vehicles an hour. The A406 runs on purpose-built road to the north of the Hanger Lane Gyratory, and is referred to as "North Circular Road" on street signs. The road
2133-769: The Herbert Commission and the subsequent passage of the London Government Bill , three unsuccessful attempts were made to define an area that would form a central London borough . The first two were detailed in the 1959 Memorandum of Evidence of the Greater London Group of the London School of Economics . "Scheme A" envisaged a central London borough, one of 25, consisting of the City of London, Westminster, Holborn, Finsbury and
2212-718: The Law Courts , the head offices of a very large number of commercial and industrial firms, as well as institutions of great influence in the intellectual life of the nation such as the British Museum , the National Gallery , the Tate Gallery , the University of London , the headquarters of the national ballet and opera, together with the headquarters of many national associations, the great professions,
2291-777: The M1 motorway at Staples Corner , and a junction for the Brent Cross Shopping Centre at the Brent Cross Interchange (joining the A41 from Finchley ). This section of the North Circular was used for filming the car chasing sequences in Withnail and I . Northeast of Brent Cross, at Henlys Corner , the North Circular briefly shares carriageways with the A1 , which joins it from the northwest and leaves it to
2370-566: The M11 and A13 ) opened in 1987. Previously, the A406 extended along Southend Road and Woodford Avenue as far east as Gants Hill . The current route of the North Circular Road turns south, passing Eastern Avenue ( A12 ) on a flyover at the Redbridge roundabout . It passes Romford Road (the historic Roman Road from London to Colchester ) to the west of Ilford and London Road, Barking , and ends at
2449-723: The Welsh Harp ) is a reservoir in North West London. It straddles the boundary between the boroughs of Brent and Barnet and is owned by the Canal & River Trust . The reservoir takes its informal name from a public house called The Welsh Harp, which stood nearby until the early 1970s. It is a 68.6-hectare (170-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the only SSSI in either borough and among more than 30 SSSIs in Greater London. The reservoir
North Circular Road - Misplaced Pages Continue
2528-434: The blue-winged teal in 1996; the lesser scaup in 2003; and penduline tits in 1996 and 1997. Remarkably for an inland site, it also attracts rare vagrant warblers, notably the aquatic warbler in 1955, Hume's warbler in 2004 and yellow-browed warblers in several winters since 1994; however, most significant was an Iberian chiffchaff on 3 June 1972, the first recorded in the UK. The current list of birds recorded at
2607-527: The red fox are common; the latter mostly nocturnal. Muntjac have been present since the beginning of the 21st century but are shy, their presence noted mainly by tracks, one or two are occasionally seen in daytime. The reservoir is notable for bats: noctule , Leisler's bat , serotine , Daubenton's bat and three species of pipistrelle were recorded in one day in September 2007. Regular bat detection evenings in 2008 have shown that Nathusius' pipistrelle
2686-438: The 1961 census. It consisted of the City of London, all of Westminster, Holborn and Finsbury; and the inner parts of Shoreditch, Stepney, Bermondsey, Southwark, Lambeth, Chelsea, Kensington, Paddington, St Marylebone and St Pancras. The population was estimated to be 270,000. 51°30′N 0°08′W / 51.50°N 0.13°W / 51.50; -0.13 Brent Reservoir The Brent Reservoir (popularly called
2765-672: The A13 has been built to enable the North Circular to be continued across the junction to the Thames Gateway Bridge if and when it is built. Proposals for a route avoiding Central London had been in place since the early 20th century due to increasing levels of traffic. In 1910, the London Traffic Division of the Board of Trade had built up schemes for new roads, including what became the North Circular Road, which
2844-569: The A406 crosses Great Cambridge Road ( A10 ). The disused Angel Road railway station is partially located beneath the flyover at Angel Road, in an area marked for redevelopment known as Meridian Water . This leads onto the Lea Valley Viaduct that provides a safe crossing of the River Lea 's flood plain. The viaduct is part of the original construction and was one of the first of its kind to be built using reinforced concrete . After
2923-480: The City of London, the whole of Finsbury and Holborn, most of Westminster and Southwark, parts of St Pancras, St Marylebone, Paddington and a small part of Kensington. The area had an estimated population of 400,000 and occupied 8,000 acres (32 km ). During the passage of the London Government Bill an amendment was put forward to create a central borough corresponding to the definition used at
3002-551: The Metropolis or in any provincial city, and the enormous office developments which have taken place recently constitute a totally new phenomenon. Starting in 2004, the London Plan defined a 'Central Activities Zone' policy area, which as of 2008 comprised the City of London, most of Westminster and the inner parts of Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lambeth, Kensington & Chelsea and Wandsworth. It
3081-631: The Ministry of Transport planned to increase the capacity of the North Circular Road, grade separating as many junctions as possible, particularly those connecting with important arterial routes. In the 1960s the Greater London Council developed the London Ringways Plan to construct a series of circular and radial motorways throughout London with the hope of easing traffic congestion in the central area. Under this plan
3160-705: The North Circular Road has blighted properties on and near it, particularly around Bounds Green. Around 1972, approximately 400 homes on the road were compulsorily purchased by the Greater London Council in conjunction with widening schemes that were then cancelled. The properties have suffered from a lack of long-term care. Since TfL took responsibility for the road, land for future schemes has been left dormant, resulting in urban decay with derelict properties. Compulsorily purchased properties were let out to various short-term tenants, which led to them housing prostitutes and migrant workers living in increasing squalor. Pedestrians have become too frightened to use underpasses along
3239-406: The North Circular Road was to be improved to dual-carriageway standard throughout the majority of its length by the late 1970s. The Ringway projects were extremely unpopular and caused widespread protests , which led to the cancellation of the plans in 1972, particularly after the Westway had opened in the face of large-scale protest two years earlier. In 1974, the MOT scaled back plans to improve
North Circular Road - Misplaced Pages Continue
3318-439: The North Circular Road, making his own buns. He grew the business into a full-time bakery which he sold in 1989 for £800,000 (now £2,510,000). Citations Sources 51°36′58″N 0°05′43″W / 51.6161°N 0.0952°W / 51.6161; -0.0952 Central London Central London is the innermost part of London , in England , spanning the City of London and several boroughs . Over time,
3397-447: The North Circular Road, though by the end of the decade they had revised plans to improve the route to dual carriageway throughout without any property frontages. In 1979, the Ministry of Transport planned to improve the Great Cambridge Road Roundabout with a £17 million scheme that would have demolished over 100 houses and shops. This was cancelled and replaced with a straightforward underpass in 1983, costing £22.3 million. The section of
3476-442: The North Circular Road. The land used for the route was mostly cheap, which encouraged further works and factories to be built by the road. Purpose-built sections were designed to dual carriageway standards, including a 27-foot (8.2 m) wide carriageway accompanied by 9-foot (2.7 m) verges. The original route ran from Chiswick to Southgate , and was open to traffic by the 1930s. Although it mostly ran on newly built road,
3555-402: The North Circular Road. The original purpose-built road had been designed with no speed limit, as was typically the case in the 1920s, but by 1951 a 30 mph speed limit was enforced along the route. In 1946 the North Circular Road became a trunk road , funded from a national budget set by the Ministry of Transport (MOT) rather than a local one. After reviewing traffic conditions in 1961,
3634-401: The North Circular in his constituency. Friends of the Earth have complained about rising costs and delays to junction and safety improvements. In 2003, environment cabinet member Terry Neville said that TfL's proposed improvements for improving the North Circular were "a sham" and that the local council wanted a six-lane motorway to properly solve congestion. The uncertainty over the future of
3713-450: The North Circular south of Charlie Brown's Roundabout in South Woodford is the "South Woodford to Barking Relief Road". Prior to its opening, the signposted North Circular route from the Waterworks Roundabout to the Woolwich Ferry was on local roads via Whipps Cross, Wanstead, Manor Park and Beckton. As well as delays for the ferry, traffic could also be held due to closure of bridges in the Royal Albert and King George V Docks . The road
3792-421: The North Circular was rated as Britain's noisiest road by the UK Noise Association. In 2013, the road was named in a BBC report as being the most polluted in London, including the highest surveyed levels of benzene and nitrogen dioxide . A report in the Sunday Times , referring to the North Circular, said "if you want to pull back the lid of your convertible and drink in the fresh air, look elsewhere". In 2019,
3871-427: The Regent's Canal at Paddington . Its owner gave it the name of its then parish : it was named Kingsbury Reservoir. At first it was 69 acres (28 ha) between Old Kingsbury Church and Edgware Road . Hoof, under the tender awarded for the work (including the construction of a bridge), was paid £2,740 6s 0d (equivalent to £333,000 in 2023). Additional building was completed in December 1837 to extend
3950-557: The University of London Sailing club. It also hosted the 1960 European Rowing Championships , which that year was for women only as the men competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics instead. More than 200 competitors and officials attended, with 5,000 spectators. The BBC and Eurovision televised the event. The reservoir also hosts the Phoenix canoe club and outdoor centre. The Phoenix Club provides: Canoeing, Kayaking, Bell Boating, Raft Building, SUP (Stand-up Paddleboard), Sailing and powerboat to members. The first formal cycle race
4029-433: The Welsh Harp attracted uncommon birds. James Edmund Harting and Frederick Bond were regular visitors and shot many birds. Harting documented these in his 1866 book the Birds of Middlesex . They included rare vagrants to the UK such as little bittern , squacco heron and white-rumped sandpiper . This started an interest in the birds of the Welsh Harp that continues until today, giving a unique historical perspective of
SECTION 50
#17327869416714108-467: The boroughs of Camden , Islington , Kensington and Chelsea , Lambeth , Southwark , Westminster and the City of London . From 2004 to 2008, the London Plan included a sub-region called Central London comprising Camden, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Southwark, Wandsworth and Westminster. It had a 2001 population of 1,525,000. The sub-region was replaced in 2008 with a new structure which amalgamated inner and outer boroughs together. This
4187-435: The centre of London. The most recent addition was brown argus in 2015. Scarce species include a single dark green fritillary in 1999. Prior to the construction of the reservoir, marsh fritillary used to breed. Dragonflies and damselflies have been studied and 15 species have been seen, of which 12 breed at the reservoir. The small list of the mammals is documented in The Birds of Brent Reservoir . The grey squirrel and
4266-592: The early 1990s, the road was extended to bypass Barking and meet the A13 north of Woolwich, though without a direct link to the ferry. The road's design varies from six-lane dual carriageway to urban streets; the latter, although short, cause traffic congestion in London and are regularly featured on local traffic reports , particularly at Bounds Green . The uncertainty of development has caused urban decay and property blight along its route, and led to criticism over its poor pollution record. Several London Borough Councils have set up regeneration projects to improve
4345-435: The environment for communities close to the road. The North Circular Road forms the northern part of a ring-road around Central London . It has seen substantially more investment than its counterpart, the South Circular Road , and consequently runs on more purpose-built road than urban streets, often coupled with demolition of existing houses and urban infrastructure. Although the route has alternative names at some points, it
4424-408: The first nesting attempt by great cormorant took place as well as the first nesting attempt by grey heron for several years. Neither attempt was successful, but grey heron have bred successfully since 2017. The reservoir has always enjoyed a reputation for rare birds. As well as those documented above, it attracted two black-winged stilts in 1918; the first great white egret in London in 1997;
4503-457: The inn, but around the reservoir. Warner operated a race track until an Act of Parliament made it illegal. The first greyhound races with mechanical hares took place here in 1876. In 1891 Capazza attempted to launch his Patent Parachute Balloon – it failed to take off and accounts record 'nasty incidents' among the 5,000 spectators. These activities attracted a mixed clientele and crime and violence were not uncommon. One observer described
4582-456: The inner parts of St Marylebone, St Pancras, Chelsea, Southwark and Lambeth. The boundary deviated from existing lines to include all central London railway stations , the Tower of London and the museums, such that it included small parts of Kensington, Shoreditch, Stepney and Bermondsey. It had an estimated population of 350,000 and occupied 7,000 acres (28 km ). "Scheme B" delineated central London, as one of 7 boroughs, including most of
4661-474: The junctions along the route. Improvements were also made to walkways and cycle paths along this route. However, unlike elsewhere on the North Circular, the new junctions are not grade-separated and have been designed with environmental concerns in mind. The opened scheme is a reduced specification from 1960s plans, which projected this section of the North Circular to be dual carriageway. In April 2011, after many years of proposals and delays, construction began on
4740-433: The late 1970s and early 1980s. There are four bus routes that largely serve their routes on the North Circular Road: The North Circular Road is mentioned in the poet Louis MacNeice 's 1938 piece, Autumn Journal . In it, he describes the features along the road, including factories, prefabricated buildings, bungalows and petrol pumps "like intransigent gangs of idols". Keith Moon played his first gig with The Who at
4819-488: The original names such as Gunnersbury Avenue and Bowes Road are used. The road begins in Gunnersbury at the Chiswick flyover (junction 1 of the M4 ), from which the South Circular Road (A205) heads south over Kew Bridge, and the A4 heads east towards Chiswick and west towards Brentford. The first section runs along Gunnersbury Avenue through Gunnersbury Park to Ealing Common , with a mix of single and dual carriageways, where it becomes Hanger Lane . The road crosses
SECTION 60
#17327869416714898-414: The races as a 'carnival of vice'. The reservoir, like nearby Hampstead Heath , was also famous for Bank Holiday fairs. During its Victorian heyday a bear escaped from the menagerie. The reservoir was popular for speed boat and other water sports, until its size became unsuitable. The reservoir has a sailing centre, which is home to the Welsh Harp Sailing Club, Wembley Sailing Club, the Sea Cadets, and
4977-402: The reality is we'll lose homes around these roads and so on." The North Circular Road has received regular criticism over its poor safety record and piecemeal improvement schemes due to a lack of funding since it opened to traffic. In 1989, Michael Portillo , then a Member of Parliament for Enfield Southgate , complained that 367 houses were scheduled for demolition as part of improvements to
5056-453: The reservoir in Dollis Hill . They were joined by Dr Leo Batten in the late 1950s. He was one of the movers in setting up the Welsh Harp Conservation Group (WHCG) in 1972 to fight off development. The WHCG has worked to protect the area as a nature reserve, including preventing a golf course and driving range from being built. The WHCG produces an annual report and in 2000 published a book, Birds of Brent Reservoir, which includes chapters on
5135-405: The reservoir include: Neasden , Kingsbury Green, West Hendon and Cricklewood . Plans for the construction laid in 1803 were abandoned because of cost. Canal branches and wharves continued to be dug in the early 19th century. Regular traffic meant lock openings draining the local canals (several feet above sea level) leading to canal-water shortages. By 1820 there was not enough water to supply
5214-403: The reservoir numbers 253 species. The most recent species added to the list are Caspian gull (2015), Ring-necked duck (2017) and cattle egret (2018). Many other forms of wildlife have also been studied and were documented in the Birds of Brent Reservoir. There have been 31 species of butterfly at the reservoir, including breeding marbled white and ringlet , the closest site for these to
5293-413: The reservoir. In 1841 after seven days of continuous rain the dam head collapsed, killing two people. It was after this that a supervisor was employed for the first time, with a cottage near the dam, which remains. At its greatest extent it covered 400 acres (160 ha) in 1853. It was reduced to 195 acres (79 ha) in the 1890s; later to 110 acres (45 ha). In 1859 the famous Welsh Harp tavern
5372-448: The road, but received criticism for not approving earlier plans for widening the often heavily congested road at critical sections. In 2009, it was announced that major works between the Bounds Green Road and Green Lanes junctions would finally go ahead, having been proposed for over 90 years, and was completed the following year. The work improved the carriageway between these junctions, widening Telford Road to two lanes and improving all of
5451-535: The road, particularly to access North Middlesex Hospital . Areas close to the road, such as the alleys behind properties on the Telford Road section, have suffered from fly tipping and anti-social behaviour. In 2011, Enfield Borough Council proposed a North Circular Area Action Plan, which would regenerate the area immediately around Telford Road and Bowes Road, and encourage growth. This includes new pedestrian crossings and improved access to existing open spaces, including Arnos Park and Broomfield Park . In 2002,
5530-408: The silting up of this part of the reservoir prevented a safe approach to the rafts, and the group works with Brent and Barnet councils on the management of the site, including applying for National Lottery funding. The reservoir and much of its shoreline is a Site of Special Scientific Interest , mainly due to the diversity of breeding waterbirds. The reservoir and much of the surrounding area are
5609-405: The social history, the effects of urbanisation and the habitats, as well as a study of the birds and other wildlife. The book's information on birds is regularly updated in an electronic publication, Birds of Brent Reservoir: Facts and Figures. All WHCG publication are available through its website. The WHCG also organises management work, which included an annual refurbishment of the tern rafts until
5688-643: The southeast to head into Central London. The junction complex also serves the Finchley Road and pedestrian traffic, and consequently is a major bottleneck on the route. Transport for London have invested in the junction, including a special hands-free pedestrian crossing for the local Jewish community, who can then cross the road on the Sabbath . The road passes north of St Pancras and Islington Cemetery towards Friern Barnet and Muswell Hill . The road narrows to two-lane single carriageway to pass under
5767-485: The trade unions, the trade associations, social service societies, as well as shopping centres and centres of entertainment which attract people from the whole of Greater London and farther afield. In many other respects the central area differs from areas farther out in London. The rateable value of the central area is exceptionally high. Its day population is very much larger than its night population. Its traffic problems reach an intensity not encountered anywhere else in
5846-594: The viaduct the road becomes Southend Road, passing north of Walthamstow , and immediately before the Crooked Billet junction, the former site of Walthamstow Stadium . It continues eastward, cutting through a southern section of Epping Forest and meeting the Woodford New Road at Waterworks Corner , before an elevated junction with the M11 motorway and Southend Road heading to Gants Hill . The South Woodford to Barking Relief Road (the section between
5925-413: Was altered in 2011 when a new Central London sub-region was created, now including the City of London and excluding Wandsworth. The 1901 Census defined Central London as the City of London and the metropolitan boroughs (subdivisions that existed from 1900 to 1965) of Bermondsey , Bethnal Green , Finsbury , Holborn , Shoreditch , Southwark , Stepney , St Marylebone and Westminster . During
6004-477: Was built on the site of an earlier coaching inn called the Harp or the Harp and Horn. The tavern was demolished in the 1970s, but the reservoir is still colloquially named after it. During the second half of the 19th century the area became a destination for recreation and evening entertainment, almost entirely due to W.P. Warner (1832–1899), who in 1858 became licensee of the Old Welsh Harp Tavern. The tavern stood on
6083-518: Was designed to skirt the extent of urban development along suburbs. The North Circular Road was originally designed as an unemployment relief scheme following the First World War . Various manufacturing industries, including furniture production, had moved away from the East End in the early 20th century and started to be based in areas on the fringes of outer London development. As well as
6162-526: Was held at the Welsh Harp grounds on 1 June 1868. It was won by Arthur Markham . He received a silver cup from the licensee of the Welsh Harp Hotel, the sponsor of the race. For many years Markham had a bicycle shop at nearby 345 Edgware Road. The race was held the day after what is often referred to as the world's first race, in the park at St Cloud west of Paris. It was won by another Englishman, James Moore . His grandson, John, believes Moore
6241-495: Was originally planned to be a continuation of the M11, but the standard of road was decreased to a basic dual carriageway. It was proposed to be built in the 1980s concurrently with the controversial M11 link road . The North Circular Road ceased to be a trunk road in 2000, when control of all roads inside Greater London passed to Transport for London (TfL). In 2004, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone promised limited improvements to
#670329