TESTING DO NOT BOOK

The Neighborhood

To many outsiders, the image of Maida Vale is one dominated by popular culture; the famous Abbey Road studios which also borders along St John’s Wood. However, if you sidestep the hordes of tourists posing for photos on the zebra crossing made famous by that Beatles cover, you’ll soon discover just what it is that has lured well heeled Londoners to this leafy pocket of the city for decades. First on a very long list of attractions is surely the stunning array of properties in the area. The wide winding streets of Little Venice are full of stucco fronted homes set back from the pavements and boasting views over the canals and – although you’d never know on first glance – wonderfully secret communal gardens, while Maida Vale’s beautiful leafy avenues are lined with impressive period homes and mansion flats. The proximity of the BBC’s Maida Vale studios means that many people living here are bigwigs in the music and creative industries. So desirable are these iconic London homes that once people move in they often stay put. Eating and drinking: Tucked away in the nooks and crannies of Maida Vale’s winding streets, its pubs and restaurants are some of London’s best kept secrets all within a 20 minute walk. The outdoor terrace at The Waterway overlooks the Grand Union Canal and is the perfect summer spot for enjoying a jug of Pimm’s while watching the canal boats go by. Several of Maida Vale’s establishments have a rich history dating back to the 19th century. The Prince Alfred has been serving locals since the 1860s and show no signs of stopping any time soon. For great pizza and pasta The Red Pepper, or for something different try award winning Persian restaurant Kateh, set in a beautiful street off Warwick Avenue. Culture: Maida Vale may only be a short Tube journey from the West End, but there’s enough going on in this trendy pocket of London that locals don’t need to venture far. The Canal Cafe Theatre puts on a wide variety of performances. Throughout summer Jason’s Trip runs boat trips along Regent’s Canal to Camden Town on a 108 year old canal boat. Other things to note: The property is very closely located to the American School of London. Marylebone, situated 15 minutes away is a chic residential area with a village feel, centred on the indie boutiques and smart restaurants of Marylebone High Street. Tourists queue for the Madame Tussauds waxwork museum and the Sherlock Holmes Museum, the latter in the fictional sleuth’s home at 221b Baker Street. Just 10 minutes away is another vibrant area being Notting Hill which is one of the most iconic locations of London, the famous Portobello Road. Every Saturday you will find the popular Portobello Market where you can find everything form antiques to food, including clothes, records and books. Also home to the famous movie Notting Hill.