To Hampstead Heath and Beyond ... continued By Steve Rudd Photos Courtesy of - Vic Coughtrey and Jerry Peek

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Even outside of the zoo, Golders Park is a natural sanctuary for wildlife with squirrels scampering around everywhere and ducks practising their breaststroke wherever a free expanse of water prevails. But be warned, for this mighty charming area of parkland isn't without its bye-laws that prevent you from really having fun. For example, nowhere whatsoever on the hallowed Heath is anybody allowed to 'practise gymnastics, military evolutions or make sounds on musical instruments' to disturb the peace or lower the tone.

Surrounding the outer limits of the Heath are signs detailing a comprehensive list of things you can and can't do 'on the Heath,' with the DON'T list subliminally giving one the impression that all you can really do there is walk on by without saying a word!

Heading back towards the centre of London and turning due South away from Hampstead, I walked for a way down Finchley Road and then down West End Lane in pursuit of the infamous Abbey Road and its legendary recording studios that The Beatles made so very famous.

Paul McCartney and company managed to make a simple zebra crossing that is located right outside the studio a major tourist landmark simply by incorporating a photo of them all walking across it into the artwork of one of their albums, but as I headed down Abbey Road I initially got a little confused as to precisely which zebra crossing was the one that they 'adopted,' if you will.

There are at least three such crossings evenly spaced along the length of the road, but just as I saw the recording studio on my right hand side, I realised that THE zebra crossing was right there on my left. Yes, that had to be the one, because there was somebody else entertaining the same mind frame as I was, clearly hell-bent on taking a photo or five of the crossing to show family and friends back home.

The yard wall of the Abbey Road studios is cram-packed with special messages from fans all over the world dedicated to The Beatles, and I guess that any hardcore fan of the band really has too visit this site of pilgrimage at least once in their life. If only to have their very own photo taken on that otherwise very ordinary zebra crossing...

If you aren't a music fan however, you might be a sports fan, and if that's the case then forget Abbey Road and head literally just around the corner to St. John's Wood, for here you will find the grand Lord's Cricket Ground. If you're not a sports fan, well - what do you like? Animals perhaps?

No problem! Just head right on past the cricket ground and over Park Road, and luck would have it that right in front of you is the vast grounds of Regent's Park: the home of London Zoo.

Crossing the park with a rucksack-shaped back and jelly-jived legs I soon found myself back once more on Euston Road, having jubilantly walked full circle around a thoroughly interesting area of North London in just a few sweet hours. Sitting down for dinner, I asked myself where I wanted to go next. The answer was the bright lights of the West End, and fast... but that, my friends, is another story. www.visitlondon.com

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