citylikeyou — God's Own Junkyard — London by Nathan Hackett

London / Gallery / Cafe / Art

At the end of the Victoria line at the Walthomstow station, and then a 15 minute walk through some suburban streets with some lefts and at other times rights is an industrial estate. Through the gate and buried at the very end of the units where you are convinced you are lost and doubting it’s existence at all is God’s Own Junkyard. It’s a worthy pilgrimage and actually sort of where you expect God would put a junkyard. The warehouse is a monument to neon and the life works of the late Mr Neon, Chris Bracey. It’s littered to the rooftop with cables, plug sockets and choice words with neon epigrams, the whole collection is stacked, I suppose how a junkyard of the sort would be. Full of sex, religion, americana, sci-fi and nostalgia that all blend together surprisingly well, It’s a visual feast that you can take in with a coffee and an open mouth. It is a gem of a place. It is really great.

Website
godsownjunkyard.co.uk

Address
God's Own Junkyard, Shernhall Street, London, United Kingdom

Illustrator

Current city: London

Other cities: Birmingham

nathanhackett.co.uk

Illustrator and doodler unsettled in London via elsewhere

More Places in London 471

London / Restaurant

Colourful, crowded and charmingly bonkers café-cum-deli proudly located in Peckham. This little café inside Peckham’s Persian delicatessen, Persepolis, is a fun place serving fun food. Not many table to sit down so I would definitely recommend reserving a table a head.

London / Park

I didn’t know it existed until I moved to Brixton. Brockwell Park has been a revelation to me, it’s beautiful with many secrets. Check out the outdoor theatre in the summer up by the old house - Midsummer Night’s Dream last year on a midsummer’s night was astoundingly good.

London / Architecture

The power station is a ghost like ruin that stands on the banks of the Thames. Its right next to the train tracks rolling out of London to the rest of the south of England. I pass it every time I go back to where I grew up and every time I arrive back in London. It has become symbolic with arriving and departing, a constant in my life. I used to joke and refer to it as my lover - seeing me off and welcoming me home.

London / Place

I'm a big fan of Richard Serra. As this is the train station I use to pass in and out of London. I think it's safe to say i've spent more time gazing and contemplating this art work than any other on earth! The steel monolith sits in a rather petite amphitheatre with surrounding step/seats. During the week, it's packed with picnicking stray commuters. I just love sitting there.

London / Restaurant

Morito is a few doors down from it's well know sister restaurant Moro. This not long open tapas restaurant feels like it could be in a little back street in Barcelona. The food is great, and it has a buzzy but relaxed atmosphere. You might need to wait a little while for the table, but I promise it's worth it.