The five-stop Compass Kebab Challenge for London’s Night Tube
5x5 London Underground will start its first regular 24-hour services this weekend, when the Night Tube keeps rolling on the Victoria line and parts of the Central line.
On Friday and Saturday nights, services will operate along the full length of the Victoria roughly every 10 minutes, and every 10 minutes between White City and Leytonstone on the Central, or every 20 minutes between Ealing Broadway to White City and Leytonstone to Loughton/ Hainault. Later this year there will be services on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines.
To launch Fun Friday, I wondered if you could visit four places to eat at the ends of the opening lines. It’s a long trip, so don’t forget your hip flask for the Night Tube Kebab Compass Challenge! I accept no responsibility for any experiences you may have completing the challenge, good or bad.
1 Oxford Circus to Walthamstow Central: Pinar Kebab It’s 12:30am and the Night Tube officially takes over from traditional tube services. Hopefully you’ve imbibed a hunger for kebabs, burgers and other delicious late night delights of London’s satellite stops, but not too much as you’ve got a long night ahead. First stop is Walthamstow’s Pinar Kebab, rated five stars by 29 reviewers on Google, although Ruby Marsh’s detailed write-up has a whiff of astroturf. It’s a 21-minute ride up the Victoria line, followed by a nine-minute walk, and I’ve allowed 20 minutes to get your order in behind all the other Friday night foodies, but you can order ahead if you’re feeling very hungry.
2 Leytonstone let-down: McDonald’s If you go by Google’s data, Leytonstone’s only eaterie open after 2am is a 24-hour Maccy D’s. You could take a short-cut by getting a night bus to Loughton (also a late night food desert), but THAT’S NOT THE POINT. So take the 28-minute walk and ride back to Oxford Circus and head out to the eastern end of Central line, then mosey up the High Road to the Golden Arches and get stuck in. You’ve earned a milk shake and you should be out just before 2:30am for a short walk and a long ride to the other side of London, so there’s plenty of time to digest and refresh.
3 Ealing’s quick shish: Laroash Kebab Wipe the drool off your chin and wake up like you know where you are. This is Ealing Broadway and it’s the end of the line tonight. The important thing to know about Laroash Kebab is that it’s supposed to be open until 4am and is just a minute’s walk from the station. We’ve allowed 20 minutes again, but based on the Google reviews I’d suggest you stick to something light that won’t repeat — chips or chicken wings. Pick up a drink for the 40-minute trip and get back into the station. Our schedule puts you on the 3:55am but you might make the 3:35am if you’re lucky.
4 Caribbean Brixton: Refill Eaterie You’ll be surrounded by tired clubbers enjoying their first Night Tube as you take your sixth trip, outward from Oxford Circus to busy Brixton and the Caribbean nosh at Refill Food. Jerk chicken, saltfish, patty, curried goat, or you might be feeling that it’s time for a Caribbean breakfast of salt mackerel and banana.
5 Return to Oxford Circus, Night Tube is over It’s just a short walk back to Brixton station and back onto the tube to Oxford Circus. You’ve been on the move for more than four-and-a-half hours and you’ve eaten four meals. By now, the trains will smell of sweat and vomit like never before, and you’ll be surrounded by sad-faced weekend workers mingled with other Night Tube pioneers ready to sleep off your Saturday and hope your body clock gets back into sync by Monday morning. Congratulations!
The Night Tube Compass Challenge should get easier and better as the Northern and Piccadilly lines open up the north and west of London, and you’ll be able to finish with an early morning pint at Heathrow before the end of the year. I might even do it myself. Cheers!
