Crystal Palace

In our quest to visit new and interesting parts of London, last weekend we took the train from Balham, 15 minutes down the line to Crystal Palace. We actually got out at Gipsy Hill and walked up the hill to the Crystal Palace town.

Crystal Palace town is based around the triangle, made up of Westow Hill, Westow Road and Church Road.

Hollybush pub on corner of Westow Hill and Westow Road

Crystal Palace is an interesting place to go in London for a number of reasons. The first that struck us was that there were proper hills which mean views over London

London town in the distance

The hills also make it a good place for aerials, such as the one below, there's a couple of these around Crytsal Palace, they're hideous but kind of landmarks of the area.

It is also interesting as it has several antiques shops and Haynes Lane Market which as a freind from work commented "the only thing weirder than the stuff for sale is the people selling it". It really was a jumble sale of the highest order with some interesting stuff and some junk. Jackie picked up a couple of items for her glass collection here.

Jackie venturing in to Haynes Lane Market

Some of the merchandise. 

Jackie in her enjoying checking out the antique and second hand shops.

Crystal Palace is also known to us as we had some friends that used to visit for a specific restaurant which is known to serve casu marzu, commonly referred to as maggot cheese in reference to the live maggots in the cheese (which you eat). We didn't go to sample the cheese but we did see the restaurant. Perhaps next time we'll go, but I don't think we'll be eating the cheese.

Most of all though, I'd say Crystal Palace is most famous for the Crystal Palace. We went to the Crystal Palace museum to find out more about it and it was really interesting. If you want the full low down check out the wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crystal_Palace. It was originally built in Hyde Park for The Great Exhibition of 1851 - essentially a trade fair. After the trade fair it was moved to a park in Sydenham Hill where it stayed for over 80 years before it burnt down. Walking around the park where the Crystal Palace was you get  a sense of the scale of the building, it was massive.

Aerial view of Crystal Palace

View of Crystal Palace in all its glory, a shame it's not still around. 

Remains at the cite of the Crystal Palace

There was a whole lot of these, unfortunately named, Routemaster buses parked up in Crystal Palace park, some red and some green.

 

We had a great time in Crystal Palace and will definitely go back, they had lots of interesting restaurants and pubs and in summer I think the park will be a nice place to be as it is on a hill and should get a nice breeze.