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The train arrives for St. Pancras International station. –This is London, your final destination – I hear over the loudspeaker, and I feel a tril. Moments later, we’re traversing the narrow underground corridors. And we’re getting off at Chalk Farm. What a beautiful station building.

And here we are, in the heart of Camden – the rock & roll part of London, famous for its huge food Camden Market. But Camden isn’t just about colorful stalls, alternative culture and musical legends. You’ll also find a peaceful local atmosphere and plenty of green landscapes. And the district itself stretches over quite a large area. I could say it’s London’s down town.

At first, it’s nice to sit down at the Enterprise pub and enjoy an English Pale. Beth Gibbons concert at the Roundhouse in the evening is electrifying. You can read about it in privous post.

But we especially love the area north of Camden Town, which are Chalk Farm and Primrose Hill near Regent’s Park.

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In the morning, we have delicious bagels at the local Time Art Cafe. Then we wander the streets lined with Victorian tenement houses.
One corner is called Sunny Meows. Immediately, I think of my cat and look at my tattoo.

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The streets are intimate and full of greenery, old trees, shrubs, thick hedges, perennials, flowers, and single palms.

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We pass a wide bridge with interesting graffiti. And finnaly, we reach Primrose Hill and head up a grassy hill offering a stunning panorama of central London. Locals lounge on the grass, someone flies a kite. We all enjoy the peace in the shadow of the empire.

From the park, we take onto Regent’s Park Road, bustling with local life. People zip by on bicycles, someone carries a cat in a voyage rucskack. Cats are even taken to pubs and restaurants here.

We sit in the streetside garden of the Sweet Things bakery and café. Opposite the greengrocer’s. There are plenty of places to eat nearby, where you can buy fresh sandwiches and salads cheaper than in Camden Town.

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Summer sun lights Saturday. We wander further. At a café on the corner, I spot bowler hat shape lamps. We reach Camden Lock on the Regent’s Canal, which seems like London’s Venice. A gondola glides across the water, accompanied by a bard singing songs with a guitar. There’s already busy, as the canal path lead to Camden Market.

Because in Camden, you have to try street food. I stumbled upon something amazing. At the Teoshi Sushi Burgers stand serves up sushi burgers, completely vegan, and instead of a bun, they use fried seaweed and rice. You can also choose something with shrimp or meat.

The rock & roll part of Camden is crowded and colorful. I’m wearing a green dress. And suddenly, I hear: You must be from Ireland. That’s how I meet an Irishman living in London on the way to one of the oldest London’s pubs and legendary music venue – The Dublin Castle.

Pub was established in 1856, possibly to serve Irish laborers working on the nearby railway construction. And in the 20th century, the pub became popular for its music scenes. Famous Coldplay, Blur, Madness, among others started their careers here. Today, you can still listen to great live music and have fun, because even the bar woman fonding a drink. True rock & roll surrvived.

Seriously, places like this are slowly disappearing. Although a lot of people in Camden wear band T-shirts. However, there are also too many tacky tourist stalls. One man walk the district with alone protest banner:

ROCK’N’ ROLL RESCUE!

Camden is also a space for graffiti

One of historic Banksy’s Maids appeared next to the Roundhouse. Unfortunately, the mural was scratched out by vandals. However, you can admire almost hundreds of pieces of graffiti around.

My favorite is “Rude Kid Selfie” by Dotmasters on Harmood Street and the lyrical billboard under the viaduct, part of an artistic billboard campaign.

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The billboard’s message weaves itself into our times. Despite chillout, estonish summer, alternative atmosphere and freedom, this banner reminds passersby of wars and divisions in the world. Under the great roof of the sky we share.