Camden Walking Route

How Camden Got Its Character

Camden developed rapidly during the 19th century after the opening of the Regent's Canal in 1820 and the arrival of railway connections shortly after. The area became a centre for industry and working-class housing. Its transformation into a hub for alternative culture happened gradually from the 1970s onwards, as cheap rents attracted artists, musicians and independent traders. The music venues that grew up around the High Street and Lock — the Electric Ballroom, Dingwalls, the Jazz Café, the Roundhouse — helped establish Camden as one of the most important live music areas in London.

The Music Scene

Camden's association with live music stretches back decades. The Roundhouse on Chalk Farm Road — a former railway engine shed — hosted some of the most important concerts of the 1960s and 70s, including early performances by The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. The Electric Ballroom on Camden High Street has been a venue since 1938. Amy Winehouse, who lived locally, was a regular presence around the area's music scene. The Hawley Arms pub near the Lock became particularly associated with her and with the Camden indie scene of the mid-2000s.

From 16 Stalls to Millions of Visitors

Camden Market began in 1973 with just 16 traders selling arts and crafts on a Sunday. It has grown into one of London's most famous markets, attracting around 100,000 visitors on a busy weekend. The Stables Market — built into the former horse hospital and stables that served the canal — is the largest section and covers around 450 stalls. The market has been through several fires and redevelopments over the years but has retained its character as a destination for independent traders, street food and alternative culture.

The Regent's Canal

The lock sits on the Regent's Canal, which opened in 1820. The canal was built to connect the Grand Junction Canal at Paddington with the River Thames at Limehouse, providing a route for goods to bypass the congested streets of central London. At its peak, the canal carried coal, timber, building materials and manufactured goods. Commercial traffic declined after the railways arrived and had largely ceased by the mid-20th century. The canal is now used almost entirely for leisure — narrowboats, kayaks and the occasional tourist boat. You can walk the towpath west from Camden Lock all the way to Little Venice in Paddington.

The World's First Scientific Zoo

London Zoo opened in 1828, making it the world's oldest scientific zoo. It was originally established by the Zoological Society of London for scientific study rather than public entertainment — the public were not admitted until 1847. The zoo has been home to some famous animals over the years, including Winnie the bear, a Canadian black bear who lived at the zoo during the First World War and inspired A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories. Paddington Bear's name also has a connection to the area — the Paddington station terminus was the starting point for many journeys that passed through this part of London.

The Best Free View in North London

The summit of Primrose Hill stands around 63 metres above sea level and provides one of the finest panoramic views across London. The hill has long been associated with artists, writers and bohemian London — Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes lived nearby, as did W.B. Yeats and H.G. Wells at various points. The hill is part of Regent's Park and has been open to the public since 1842. The view is protected by law — buildings cannot be constructed that would obstruct the sightline from the summit towards St Paul's Cathedral.

Primrose Hill Village

The streets around Regent's Park Road and Fitzroy Road form what is sometimes called Primrose Hill village — a cluster of independent shops, restaurants and cafés that give the area a distinct neighbourhood character. The area has been popular with creative and media professionals since the 1980s and property prices reflect that. Fitzroy Road, a short walk away, has a blue plaque marking the house where Sylvia Plath lived and died in 1963. W.B. Yeats also lived on the same street at number 23 — the two plaques are a few doors apart.

Camden's Most Famous Resident

Amy Winehouse became closely associated with Camden during her career. She moved to Camden Square in 2005 and was a regular presence around the area's music scene, pubs and recording studios. She died at her home on 23 July 2011, aged 27. The bronze statue in Stables Market was unveiled in 2014 and was sculpted by Scott Eaton. Camden Square is a residential street — fans visit regularly but the neighbours are ordinary residents, so the informal memorial is best visited quietly and briefly.