Things you didn't know about... Hornsey

Hornsey sparked a revolution
Hornsey Art College was the scene of what has been described as the most successful student-power movement in Britain. In 1968, students took over the college for a massive sit-in.

Another revolutionary lived in Hornsey
Ho Chi Minh, president of Vietnam, lived in Hornsey around 1917. He was supposedly working as a chef and waiter in various West End hotels and High Commissions.

The Grateful Dead played Hornsey
In 1974, the Dead played a series of concerts at Alexandra Palace in Hornsey. Other bands that have played there include Pink Floyd, The Stone Roses and the Arctic Monkeys.

Germans interred in Hornsey
In World War I, Alexandra Palace and its grounds were used to inter German civilians.

Hornsey goes Dutch
Hornsey Town Hall (which has Grade II listed status) is based upon Hilversum Town Hall in the Netherlands. When it was opened, a local journalist said it resembled a jam factory.

From Metal Mickey to Baroness of Hornsey
The actress and, later, academic, Lola Young is best known for appearing in Metal Mickey, a 1980s children's sitcom, featuring a fictional robot. Lola is now Baroness Young of Hornsey.

Bob Hoskins grew up in Hornsey
Weird, considering he's always playing East End cockneys. Even weirder when you find out he was actually born in Bury St Edmunds.

Hornsey is full of zombies
Or at least it was in the film Shaun of the Dead, which was filmed in the area. Simon Pegg, who starred in the film, lives round here, too.

Priory Park in Hornsey has a Philosopher's Garden
This little area of peace and quiet is named after the Priory Park Philosophers, a club for retired elderly men.

Have you heard the Bob Dylan/Hornsey urban legend?
The story goes that Dylan was visiting Dave Stewart of Eurhythmics fame (who had a studio here), got the wrong house, but ended up having a cup of tea with the owners anyway.

Hornsey is very proud of its local landmarks
When the clock tower in Crouch End celebrated its centenary, the local Art College made a sculpture of it out of cheese.