Arnos Grove, a 1930s Picadilly line suburb

On the northside of Arnos Park a large formal gate marks the entrance from the housing estate. In front of this formal entrance a large circus is situated as a starting point for the central axis of the housing estate: a street called 'Arnos Grove'.

Arnos Park is dominated by oak trees (Quercus robur). The grove that gave its name to the landed estate and subsequently the present housing estate, still survives -but only as a fragment- in the shape of some of these old oaks. It's clear that the older specimens were once coppiced (as was the practice). They have been left to grow freely within the park. This makes for picturesque stands, but greatly diminishes the potential age of the  trees. A plaque on the formal entrance commemorates the foundation of Arnos Park by the Borough of Southgate in 1928.

The park is mainly laid in grass, with planting on the edges. This creates a natural idyll in the middle of the suburban environment. The paths don't follow conventions in park design of the interbellum. This is probably due to alterations in the 1960s or '70s.

The large expanse of grass at the heart of the park creates a great sense of space and locks out the urban environment beyond the green trim of trees. Pymme's Brook runs through the park. This watercourse is large hidden behind trees and shrubbery. Only where one crosses the brook via a bridge does the water present itself. The water has not been maximised in the design of the park.

The large circus at the beginning of the northernmost part of the Arnos Grove estate is planted with trees in grass. The short terraces around is have been placed at an 45° angle thus emphasising the circular shape. The area serves as an extension of the neighbouring park, thus linking the suburban housing directly to the verdant idyll beyond.

The houses have been built in a limited number of types, with varying decor but always with a bay on the front. Here the decor is muted with a brick base and a pebbledashed upper floor in a neutral earth tone combined with a band of hung tiles. Most houses are in a white colour however. In the original design large expanses of grass planted with trees enforce the suburban character of the housing estate.

All the roads were designed with these green verges planted with trees, Here the verges are laid in grass and have been planted with birch trees. The houses form a seemingly continues facade on either side of the street. The houses are predominantly semidetached, but are all close together and often connected by garages and side extensions.

On first glance the buildings all look the same. They are not, but they are very similar indeed. Variation is achieved by using different roof shapes, differently shaped bays (round, angular and square), varying finishes and building details such as porches, feature windows, a secondary bay window and treatment of the corners and eaves.

The ideal of country living was expressed in the spacious front gardens and the planted verges. In this case the verges have been planted with shrubs and hawthorn trees. As everywhere in the London suburbs many gardens have been paved or concreted over to provide parking space. This street shows a glimpse of the original intensions.

In some places the 1930's houses have been replaced by post-war buildings in a sympathetic style, but with less detailed architecture. The colour of the bricks used is much more yellow or more orange than in the original building. The buildings do stand out but not in a very intrusive way.

Along Morton Way for instance all the buildings towards Waterfall Road are of a later date. Because the same spatial configuration was used with large front garden, these building seamlessly blend in to the older parts of the Arnos Grove estate.