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Camden
Camden Town
Background
Quite what one would have to do to feel self-conscious in Camden Town is a mystery. For all the swirling cosmopolitan whirlpools of the city, this must be one of the most colourful, one of the most bohemian, and one of the most startling. Hair of all colours, piercings in places you never dreamt of. Revelling in its reputation as London’s ongoing carnival of colours, cultures, and carefree style, it would take supreme indifference to be apathetic to Camden Town. With its wide variety of pubs, shopping and dining establishments, locals and tourists flood into the neighborhood. On average, 10 million people visit Camden Town each year. The neighborhood continues to attract the artistic crowd.
Local History
Until the 19th century, Camden Town was a rural area on the outskirts of London. With the construction of the Regents Canal in 1816, it began to flourish with coal wharves, merchants, and small industry. By Victorian times, Camden Town had become a notorious slum. Nevertheless, it continued to attract artists, and in 1911, the Camden Town Group was formed by Walter Sickert. This group brought in artists such as, latterly, Lucien Freud, Frank Auerbach, and Leon Kossoff.
The last 20 years have seen the gentrification of Camden Town as professionals move into the area. Even with its recent popularity, it retains a bohemian flavour.
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