An adventurous traveller with a thirst for beer and an epic quest is on a journey to visit a pub close to EVERY one of the 270 London Underground stations.
Sam Cullen is nearly two thirds of the way through his odyssey that began in March 2013.
He was inspired to start by the 150th anniversary of the Tube’s opening, having wanted to write a pub blog and been looking for the right hook.
Sam, 27, a local government worker, is visiting the stations in the order they opened and then having a drink in a boozer close to each one.
He began in Paddington, close to where he lives, with Hillingdon being his next and 180th stop. The journey will eventually finish at Wood Lane.
It all started at The Fountains Abbey
Sam, originally from Brighton, who moved to London in 2006, said: “My rules are simple: it doesn't have to be the closest pub to the station, but it can't be closer to any other station.
“I review both the pub and the station itself, especially where there are interesting architectural designs, like many of Charles Holden’s on the Piccadilly line, in particular the striking façade and station building at Uxbridge.
“It’s been a fantastic experience so far as it’s taken me from historic taverns down narrow streets in the Square Mile to rural landscapes at the end of the Metropolitan line and traditional country pubs.”
The Goldsmith Arms near East Acton is the latest stop
In the order he plans to visit them, here are the stations Sam has left on his list:
Hillingdon, Colindale, Edgware, Burnt Oak, Croxley, Watford, Clapham South, Colliers Wood, Morden, South Wimbledon, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, Balham, Becontree, Dagenham Heathway, Upney, Arnos Grove, Bounds Green, Manor House, Turnpike Lane.
Wood Green, Canons Park, Kingsbury, Stanmore, Oakwood, Southgate, South Kenton, Cockfosters, Northwood Hills, Queensbury, Upminster Bridge, Elm Park, East Finchley, St John's Wood, Swiss Cottage, Woodside Park, Finchley Central, High Barnet, Totteridge & Whetstone, West Finchley.
Highgate, Mill Hill East, Bethnal Green, Stratford, Leyton, Leytonstone, Greenford, Hanger Lane, Perivale, White City, Gants Hill, Newbury Park, Redbridge, Snaresbrook, South Woodford, Wanstead, Woodford, Barkingside, Fairlop, Hainault.
Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell, Grange Hill, Loughton, Northolt, Roding Valley, West Ruislip, South Ruislip, Ruislip Gardens, Debden, Epping, Theydon Bois, Blackhorse Road, Highbury & Islington, Seven Sisters, Tottenham Hale, Walthamstow Central, Brixton, Vauxhall, Pimlico.
Hatton Cross, Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3, Heathrow Terminal 4, Canning Town, North Greenwich, Bermondsey, Canada Water, Canary Wharf, Southwark, Heathrow Terminal 5, Wood Lane.
Sam is after recommendations for the best pubs to visit near to the stations, so give him a shout on Twitter @innsidetrack.
You can read his full adventure so far on his blog at innsidetrack.wordpress.com
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