Allen Gardens Apartments

The graffiti by the railway is worth a look, and the buildings along Buxton St. are interesting from the outside. One is the imposing Old St. Patrick's School, dating back to the 1860's, with a walled garden that extends into Allen Gardens. Beside it, across dead end Shuttle St., is the Georgian vicarage that survived after All Saints Church was demolished. I don't know what either building is used for now. When I passed recently, workers from the building site opposite were taking a break in the sun against the old school's warm yellow bricks. Allen Gardens is useful open space just off Brick Lane, though it's really just grass, with no gardens in sight. There are benches and a children's playground, and it's a nice spot to walk the dog, sit, bring the kids, or explore the graffiti.

The park and playground are surrounded by a lot of street art, and I watched four artists working while I was there. At first I took it for ordinary vandalism, but that's not what it is, and some of the pieces are stunning. Such an unusual spot just off Brick Lane. Worth stopping for a few minutes.

What stands out to me is the graffiti all around the park. I'm not sure the walls are officially legal, but the work seems to be tolerated, and every so often, though maybe not every year, there are big graffiti jams here in honour of Robbo. It's a great place to walk around and take it all in. The park itself seems lovely for families to play football or have a summer picnic too.

A nice-sized park right by Brick Lane, London, with all sorts of street art and graffiti on the surrounding walls. They have paint jams some days. I was there on Sunday the 5th for the @wowcollective paint jam, and I love this place.