Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Ally Park's a bit posh innit.
On a pleasant 2 hour stroll through much of Alexandra Park today, taking in the cricket ground, the deer enclosure and then to our surprise the beautifully improved boat lake, cafe and children's play area, complete with skateboard zone and graffiti wall, I've come to the conclusion this park easily rivals Finsbury Park to the south.
They have done a fantastic job of presenting an inviting area at the back of Ally Pally with the boat lake improvements (no smelly bird bank here), a beautifully refurbished Victorian building housing the cafe, which serves up excellent milkshakes, cappucinos and the like, complete with very nice landscaping.
We passed around to the front of the palace (which as we all know desperately needs care and attention), the kids enjoyed using the 50p for 2mins telescope which shows up incredible detail right into 'the city'. We then dropped down into the park with its bright newly planted flower beds and freshly mown grass, where a young Dalmatian was hurtling around and grabbing all the attention (I want one!).
Then headed back into the fields below where the race course used to be and a helipad now is. It's a strange empty space around these parts. Could do with a couple of football pitches and an area for much in demand allotments .... or something at least.
But all in all a pleasant afternoon with a few nice surprises. Investment in our largest park and in our grandest building must increase. Ally Pally and its park have the potential to be our true 'heartlands'.
They have done a fantastic job of presenting an inviting area at the back of Ally Pally with the boat lake improvements (no smelly bird bank here), a beautifully refurbished Victorian building housing the cafe, which serves up excellent milkshakes, cappucinos and the like, complete with very nice landscaping.
We passed around to the front of the palace (which as we all know desperately needs care and attention), the kids enjoyed using the 50p for 2mins telescope which shows up incredible detail right into 'the city'. We then dropped down into the park with its bright newly planted flower beds and freshly mown grass, where a young Dalmatian was hurtling around and grabbing all the attention (I want one!).
Then headed back into the fields below where the race course used to be and a helipad now is. It's a strange empty space around these parts. Could do with a couple of football pitches and an area for much in demand allotments .... or something at least.
But all in all a pleasant afternoon with a few nice surprises. Investment in our largest park and in our grandest building must increase. Ally Pally and its park have the potential to be our true 'heartlands'.
Tags for Forum Posts: alexandra park, ally pally, parks
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by matt on
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Yes there is an ice rink. I've been in but never used it. The huge entrance hall just before the rink itself is incredibly shabby with it's worn and stained carpet tiles! Another part that could do with a little extra investment. I do plan to take the kids to the rink some time and know plenty of people who use it.
On a separate point, as one walks down the main steps from the road and into the park itself(perpendicular to the centre of the palace) you'll see that those steps have been refurbished. They have painted the railings black which is of course correct. Why oh why did they choose to paint the rest of the metalwork on Alexandra Palace and its environs (railings, lamp posts etc) sky blue!?
On the point regards promotion of the Palace I can't recall Haringey People mentioning it much in their 'informative' articles.
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I think it's the design or pattern of the iron work that should stand out, not the colour. Black works for the royal parks.
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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Oh MUCH better than Finsbury Park :-)
I'm a great fan of AP and if I have out-of-town visitors I take them up there for the views over London.
I believe there was a zoo there at one time, hence the statue of Leo the lion by the lake.
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Ah, was a wondering about Leo the Loin yesterday. Ally Park would be the perfect location for a Haringey city farm. Yes the views are fantastic, right down to Forest Hill.
Does the jazz on Sundays still happen at that little cafe in the park? (behind Capital Nurseries)
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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The music was organised by Richard Landes who retired from Haringey several years ago. He ran the Actual Workshop for kids and - with Haringey Mencap in his 'spare' time - the vegan café Popcorn in the Park in The Grove Alexandra Palace Park.
Photo and some comments here. If anyone has some more photos, do please post them on Flickr.
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Thanks for the info Alan. Pity there's nothing around like that any more. I feel privileged to have sampled the eccentric workings and food of Popcorn in the Park! Great link to photos and particular the comments from past customers.
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And here's their Sunday menu from Golebnik.
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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on
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Looks interesting - but I wonder why they thought it necessary to use Louisiana instead of U.S.A. and of course, I noticed there seems to be a certain central European country missing from the menu...
i.e. Roast Pork with beer sauce with carrots, krautsalat and dumplings w... (OK not possible for everyone) but delicious..
and straightforward, tasty and easy to make...
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Permalink Reply by Danzigger on
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It's a lovely park. I wish that The Pheonix was a nicer pub - it's a smashing spot with fantastic views, but somehow the pub always seems scruffy and a bit run down. Bit like the palace itself, I suppose.
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Permalink Reply by Caroline on
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Has anybody tried the pitch and putt?
I have been to the ice rink and it is incredibly shabby but otherwise good fun. I quite like the fact that it's run down: there is something very 1940s central Europe about it and I keep expecting Orson Wells to wander through offering black market goods!
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