Village people

Amongst the otherwise conquering conurbation there are still pockets of residential resistance in what can only be described as 'villages'. Visiting Highgate last night revealed art galleries, chocolatiers and second hand bookshops rather than the usual high street chains and kebab shops... although I notice that not even Highgate Hill has escaped the onslaught of the Tesco Metro war machine.

Wimbledon village is similar: a proper bakers, florists and butchers all of which are usually pushed, processed and packaged into supermarket counters throughout most of London.

These village havens, further defined by tree lined avenues and prestige cars, are protected by a scattering of parks and inherited land values. From Highgate Hill you can look down on the vast sprawling capital in more ways than one.