Growing up in London’s W2 area, there were a few areas we were always warned not to go. Basically, anything west of Westbourne Grove or north of Lord Hills Bridge. In fact, travelling home on what is now the Hammersmith & City line (formerly the Metropolitan line) I would almost hold my breath until we were at Royal Oak. Despite the intense gentrification of these areas in the last few decades, that early conditioning is carved deep.
