please empty your brain below
You went past the old Empire Games swimming pool, of course. That seems to have found a renewed purpose as Wembley Arena.

GB women beating Brazil was quite memorable.

Have you visited on a game day? The crowds are quite impressive.

Andrew | 22.02.13 - 8:29 a.m. | #

I understand that the old Brent Town Hall is to become the capital's third French Lycee / High School. Expect boulangeries and grocers on Wembley High Street. Is Wembley the next Stratford? The sites of the 1908 and 2012 Olympics have big shopping centres - so why not 1948?

kissenme | 22.02.13 - 9:24 a.m. | #

Planning permission has been granted for a retail "high street" including department store running from Engineers Way to Fulton Road, this would be around 100 shops. There is also permission for the London Designer Outlet centre to more than double in size should Quintain (the developer here) wish.

Flare | 22.02.13 - 12:07 p.m. | #

However, the Palace of Industry is scheduled to be demolished to make way for the NW Lands development. http://www.brent.gov.uk/regeneration.nsf/Wembley/LBB-347

Flare | 22.02.13 - 12:08 p.m. | #

Don't forget Wembley Central had a 1930s rebuild by the LMS and the sub-Moderne building survived until around five years ago. The integrated shopping mall had deteriorated into more like a souk by then, mind you.

Kim | 22.02.13 - 1:53 p.m. | #

If you went the other way to Alperton along Ealing Road, then you'd probably think you were actually in India, rather than just a part of London colonised by people originally from the subcontinent...

Also, even on a good day you can easily outwalk the buses on that road - they always seem to be changing shift at Alperton garage. I don't think I've ever been on a bus that hasn't stopped there for less than 3 minutes, and I used to take the 83 or 297 weekly for a year. If I could be bothered, I often got off the bus and walked and usually managed to catch up to the one ahead.

John | 22.02.13 - 10:08 p.m. | #

Your post made me realise how long it must be since I last visited Wembley Central and Wembley Park and walked round. I've a mental map and memories of places. Including the old Chalkhill Estate not far from Wembley Park Station.

It also got me wondering about Tottenham Hotspur's "regeneration" plans for North Tottenham near the new Spurs Stadium. As you know, their original aim was to move to the Stratford Olympic Stadium.

With that Plan A thwarted, I assumed their Plan B was to copy successful features of Arsenal's stadium. Including a hope to make Islington-level profits from nearby property development.

But maybe the model in their minds isn't Highbury but Wembley? In either case I can see why gentrification and "social clearance" are on the agenda.

In Tottenham billboards near the present stadium promise: "major sport-led regeneration" and "vibrant area 365 days a year".
http://bit.ly/PCSsxn

From Google Street View I see that all the old Chalkhill flats have gone. Of course it's too much to hope that the decision-makers have learned anything from what happened there and on the 'sister' Stonebridge Estate in Harlesden. Elsewhere tower blocks are still going up.

Thanks for your piece which has made me very curious to revisit the Wembley area and take a fresh look.

Alan

Alan Stanton | Homepage | 23.02.13 - 12:34 a.m. | #

I remember going 'uptelunnun' for a game at the old stadium in the 60s. I thought North London was a windswept dump then and nothing in your piece changed my mind, so thanks very much for the warning.

HowardGWR | 23.02.13 - 4:20 p.m. | #

Everybody calls it Wembley way, when in fact is Olympic way. It was built for the 1948 Olympics!

Colin Brown | 24.02.13 - 12:01 p.m. | #

Another interesting and informative walk, I live my exploration of London vicariously through your posts - it gives me plenty of ideas for the ties I manage to make it to the smoke.

Dave K | 25.02.13 - 9:11 a.m. | #

Oh dear Diamond Geezer you fell into the trap its not called Wembley Way it Olympic Way so named because of the 1948 games that were held at the old stadium,

Janet | 01.03.13 - 11:02 p.m. | #











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