Project Monopoly: Pentonville Road

BACKGROUND

My Project Monopoly Series continues over the summer in London. It has made me look at the capital with fresh eyes and a renewed interest in what makes this multi-faceted city unique. This is the list so far:

Each post will follow the same format.

MONOPOLY BOARD PROPERTY NUMBER 5: PENTONVILLE ROAD

(Details of books and maps at the end of the post)

Technically speaking, the order of the light blue properties if following a map east to west should run like this: The Angel Islington, Pentonville Road, Euston Road. King’s Cross Station sits where Pentonville and Euston Roads meet.

For this section of the Monopoly board I have so far written about the streets in the order as laid down, starting with The Angel Islington followed by Euston Road.

I am guessing that Pentonville Road was swapped with Euston Road on the board for convenience, as the next square is the one that players try to avoid. There are several ways to land in jail: if your playing piece/ token lands in that space, by picking up a rogue Chance or Community Chest card or by throwing doubles on the dice three times in succession. Conversely Get Out Of Jail Free is one of the most valued Chance/ Community Chest cards.

There is a prison nearby but not on Pentonville Road. Pentonville Prison, situated on Caledonian Road, is a half hour walk away.

HOW TO GET HERE

For transport options, Citymapper is invaluable as a tool to get from A to B. Pentonville Road lies between King’s Cross St Pancras and Angel tube stations. There are several bus routes that go along the road as well.

Unless there is a reason to visit a specific shop or property on Pentonville Road, I suggest you take a bus ride along its length from Angel to Euston Road as part of a tour of the light blue properties on the Monopoly board. See below for a proposed route.

ASPECTS OF MY VISIT

I did not visit Pentonville Road so much as pass through it, conveniently viewing the road from the upper deck of a London bus. One advantage is that you get to see a few of the road signs on the buildings at eye level.

Here is what I propose by way of a short tour covering the Angel Islington, Pentonville Road, Euston Road and King’s Cross Station properties on the same day. Details are covered in the Monopoly posts on King’s Cross Station, Angel Islington and Euston Road.

1. Start the day by having breakfast at one of the cafes around Angel tube station (Northern line)
2. Walk northwards along Islington High Street and Upper Street, taking the time also to venture down its side streets which offer many opportunities for eating and shopping
3. At St Mary’s Church on Upper Street, catch the bus no 30 (bus stop N/ St Mary’s Church) towards destination Euston
4. During the bus ride you will pass Angel tube station and go along Pentonville Road
5. You can alight at King’s Cross train station where there are again many opportunities for eating and shopping in Granary Square and Coal Drops Yard
6. At the final destination you are near to British Library and the Wellcome Collection if you would like a museum-type visit.

MAPS AND BOOKS

London city map 1:10,000 by Freytag & Berndt, ISBN 978-3707924268

No Free Parking: The Curious History of London’s Monopoly Streets by Nicholas Boys Smith, published by John Blake Publishing, ISBN 978-1789465389. See chapter 12 (Pentonville Road).

Do Not Pass Go: From the Old Kent Road to Mayfair by Tim Moore, published by Vintage, ISBN 978-0099433866. See chapter 13 (The Light Blues).