I was impressed. It's not every underground station that can boast it's own customised, hand painted customer information whiteboard. And that wasn't the only cultural surprise here. But I'll get back to that, because outside, another local curio was waiting..

One stop up from Kings's Cross on the Piccadilly Line, Caledonian Road is a 'step free' station with lifts that descend directly to platform level. Once outside, turn right, and a few minutes up the road you'll find Pentonville Prison. Now, they must have a good sense of humour around here, because directly opposite the jail is a cafe called - The Breakout. I may have been tempted to go in and order a bacon sarnie with a file in, but sadly it was shut. Maybe they ran out of Porridge..
 
I reckon all prisons should have a greasy spoon outside, for all those freshly sprung and famished escapees. I can just hear hear Morgan Freeman now:  Andy crawled to freedom through five-hundred yards of shit smelling foulness I can't even imagine, or maybe I just don't want to. Five-hundred yards... and then he had a full english with an extra sausage.
 
Back in the station ticket hall, I suddenly become aware of the music, elegant, stress-busting, classical music, filling the air. I remark to a staff member how unusual and pleasant it is and that anything that enhances the passengers journey has to be a good thing, right?He then bursts my bubble somewhat by informing me that management had sent them a compilation CD to play, to try and discourage the homeless and youths from congregating..''There's a few stations do it'' he says,'' Wood Green, Elephant & Castle..''
 
And no doubt they're also hoping to discourage any outlaws from the local nick from hanging around the station trying to beg the price of a cup of tea from the nearby cafe.

I walk past the delicately hand painted whiteboard and enter the lift, the gentle strains of Debussy or someone carressing in my ears and then fading as the doors slide shut..surreal.
 
On the journey home, my thoughts return to the shuttered Breakout Cafe. Maybe it wasn't shut at all. I might just have missed the sign with the arrow pointing across the road, that said 'Enter By Tunnel Only'...

And another famous Prison I bumped into recently : http://tubeblography.posterous.com/east-acton-w12