Finally, another walk. It’s not been the easiest year physically. My pesky medical condition meant I had constant pain for about 3 months, but things are looking up. I’m a little plumper than I was so ripe for a wintery walk. My lovely friend Jo came along for the giggles. This was the walk we were planning on doing.
First, we got the tube all the way to the end of the line…….Uxbridge. Jo used to live in this area so it was a bit of a memory trip. Here’s the station.
Sadly, the buffet sign pointed to a tiny little food stall, not one of the famous Vegas all you can eat style buffets.
We waved at the Waterstones as we passed, and were intrigued by the signs for the Battle of Britain bunker.
The bunker is actually a museum. We didn’t have time to pop in, but if you want more info, click here.
Hillingdon next. Between the mid-1930s and the mid-1950s the station was named Hillingdon (Swakeleys), a name which is still displayed on the platform roundels. This is not the original station, but a much bigger, swisher, glassier one.
The slightly naughtily named Ickenham next; though it looks like some of the locals prefer an alternative mode of transport.
Two Ruislip stations followed…
Eastcote, originally known as Eastcote Halt, then Rayners Lane.
Fun fact; Rayners Lane was NOT named after Agony Aunt Claire Rayner. However, I was.
Just beyond Rayners Lane, the Metropolitan Line and Piccadilly Line part ways. South Harrow is the first station past Uxbridge that’s solely on the Piccadilly Line.
I was a bit weary now, so I took the chance to relax on a nearby log.
Sudbury Hill and Sudbury Town were the next to stations to tick off the list. These two photos were taken just 20 mins apart. Night falls fast this time of year.
We were beginning to get tired now, and looking forward to our dinner. The next station we walked to was Alperton. Between 1903 and 1910, it was known as the snappier title, Perivale Alperton.
Next Park Royal, built to serve the Royal Agricultural Society’s Park Royal show grounds.
Proper cold now, we were happy to quickly complete the walk to the final two stations of the day, North Ealing and Ealing Common.
This took us just under 6 hours and was about 28km long. Did we ache once we sat down?! Luckily, we had the delicious food at Tibits to make us feel all good again. Tibits is an amazing vegetarian buffet restaurant, with heaps of vegan options too. Omnivores, give it a go.
This walk finished all of the tendrils of the Piccadilly Line, I’ve just got the relatively easy central London stations to do to complete this line. Whoo!
Many Strides and Bus Rides 