This is a 4-mile walk around a charming area of London north off Regents park (look out for loads of commemorative blue plaques).  However, the route can evidently be made shorter.  I planned to end at Camden Market – heading straight back to the starting point (Chalk Farm underground) but got distracted by a wander up towards Kentish Town (as will be apparent on the map above).  It’s a good walk to do on a Sunday for appreciating the quiet of the streets (but, on the hand, the bustle of the canal towpath and the Camden Market are the opposite at the weekend)

The main point is to savour the bijou residential housing that runs through this area – much of it painted in a rich range of colours and particularly well looked after. The whole area is both cosmopolitan and fashionable at the same time.  Many bands have written songs to celebrate it and movies often use it for a certain sort of representation of London (Paddington Bear, Bridget Jones etc).

The walk starts by heading for Primrose Hill. A famous piece of parkland established in 1841 on behalf of the poor people of north London, offering them open air recreation.  It was also a spot where duels were often fought. But you will mainly want to enjoy the panoramic view of London – protected by ensuring the trees are kept an appropriate height.

There are a number of distinguished buildings on the route.  The first is St Marks Church (1851).  Destroyed in the Battle of Britain but restored in 1957.  Some interesting stained glass inside and, outside in the summer, you might find a pleasant coffee and cake service.

Next you enter the towpath of the Regents Canal. Take a left turn through an opening to Camden Market (or Camden Lock if you like. Plenty of food stations here although big developers have perhaps undermined some of its charm. 

Then St martins church (1864) which Pevsner says is “the craziest of London’s Victorian churches” this may be because of the tower with its unexpected pinnacles.

Then St Dominics Priory  (1867).  A community of Dominicans live in the adjacent priory. The nave is surrounded by 14 side chapels with suitable stone carvings and paintings – a design based on the structure of the Rosary prayer.

On the way to your conclusion you pass the mid-Victorian set of buildings that are  St Pancras Almshouses