Marylebone Estate Agents

Nestled between London’s two largest Royal parks – Regents Park to the North and Hyde Park to the South, Marylebone is a stylish west end neighbourhood and architectural gem - effortlessly combining the international, cosmopolitan and urbane chic of a central London location with a gloriously picturesque and thriving village atmosphere - distinctively Parisian in both look and feel.Where is Marylebone?Marylebone, part of the City of Westminster, is generally defined as bounded by Oxford Street to the south, Marylebone Road to the north, Edgware Road to the west and Great Portland Street to the east. A broader definition also encompasses neighbouring Regent's Park, Baker Street and the area immediately north of Marylebone Road, including Marylebone Station, as well as the neighbourhood known as Lisson Grove to the border with St John's Wood. The area east of Great Portland Street , known as Fitzrovia has since the 1940’s also been known as EastMarylebone.Marylebone – past and presentNascenceThe name Marylebone – pronounced in a range of ways depending on who you ask – is derived from the name of an early 13th century church - St Mary-by-the-Tyburn - the Tyburn being a stream that once ran from Hampstead down through Marylebone and St James’ Park to the Thames. In the thirteenth century the language of the aristocracy was French, so St-Mary-by-the-Tyburn would have been St-Mary-a-le-Bourne (‘bourne’ being the French for a small stream) and from this we arrive at the name ‘Marylebone’ - as we know it today. Linguists continue to debate how Marylebone should be pronounced but popular pronunciations include Marley-bone (Mar-lee-bone); Mar-le-bon; Marry-le-bone; and Marry-le-bon.ArchitectureMost of the area we know today as Marylebone is owned, leasedand managed by the Howard de Walden and Portman Estates, whose aristocratic ancestors, back in the early 18th century, recognised the need for fashionable housing in this then suburb of London. As a result of the thoughtful development of the original owners and the skilful management of the current freeholder estates, Marylebone in the 21st century is one of London’s finest period architecture neighbourhoods, boasting: perfectly preserved Georgian houses; beautifully designed and manicured private residents’ garden squares; elegant Victorian terraces; and palatial mansion blocks.While most of these impressive period properties have now been converted into luxury flats there are still a handful of freehold houses remaining in all their original glory. And there are also some new developments of tastefully designed flats and mews houses coming to market. Though house values in Marylebone have risen steeply in recent years, surprisingly enough, prices here are still more affordable than neighbouring Knightsbridge.CultureMarylebone has been a fashionable place to live since the 18th century and its popularity with generations of influential and famous residents has been a guiding force in its cultural development.While in the 1700s Marylebone was particularly known for the raffish entertainments of Marylebone Gardens - scene of bear-baiting and prize fights by members of both sexes - and for the duelling grounds in Marylebone Fields, by the 19th century Marylebone had increasingly became the preferred London residence for a diverse and eclectic mix of celebrated writers, scientists, artists, musicians, and independent thinkers - which has continued to this day. Notable Marylebone residents have  included: writers - Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Charles Dickens, T.S Elliot, Arthur Conan Doyle creator of Marylebone’s best known fictional resident Sherlock Homes; actors - Jane Asher, Corin Redgrave and Norman Wisdom; musicians – Jaqueline Du Pre, all four Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Cat Stephens and Madonna; and politicians William Pitt the Elder and Sir Clement Freud .Marylebone’s patronage of the arts was firmly established at the turn of the 20th century, with the bequest of the Wallace Collection, 25 galleries of French decorative arts and Old Masters in a vast Georgian town house on Manchester Square; and the construction of Wigmore Hall – a leading international recital venue that specialises in performances of chamber music and song. And by the early 20th century Harley Street in Marylebone had become firmly established as a hub for world-class private specialists in medicine and surgery.A stroll through the heart of Marylebone today and you’ll be sure to pick up on the distinctly village ambience. Chatting with residents at one of the many cafes, delis or diminutive, independently-run, specialist stores along Marylebone Lane, you’ll quickly pick up on the strong sense of community that pervades the neighbourhood.  Combined with the sumptuous bijou restaurants and beautifully designed boutiques that line the High Street, juxtaposed with the thriving weekend farmers’ and vintage markets - and you cannot fail to be struck by the true uniqueness of this inner London locale – simultaneously charming; independent; artistic; luxurious; epicurean and architecturally magnificent.Living in MaryleboneWealthy professionals, foreign investors, international business students and the rich and famous continue to be enticed by Marylebone’s charm, and the range of beautiful properties that the area offers. The following is a brief summary of what you can expect if you decide to become a resident of the Marylebone neighbourhood. Be sure to also check out our Features, Local Schools and Transport sections belowIn this section we have put together a list of some of the most persuasive reasons why we think Marylebone trumps any other Zone 1 location for the best all round central London living experience.Visually stimulating – a locale bursting with classically charming Georgian and Victorian period mansions skilfully restored and converted into luxury flats equipped for 21st century living, interspersed with exquisitely manicured private resident garden squares – and still more affordable then Knightsbridge.Village life paired with urban chic - while just a stone’s throw from Oxford Street and abundant with its own very stylish designer stores and fine dining experience, Marylebone is still able to preserve a real community vibe that residents really treasure. A great example of this is the annual Marylebone Summer Fayre, when the High Street is closed to traffic and residents and visitors alike enjoy a classic village type fete complete with live music, market stalls, and children’s activities.Culturally rich – with the Wallace Collection - home to one of Europe’s finest collection of 18th century art - and Wigmore Hall - with almost perfect acoustics and one of the world’s most important recital venues – on your doorstep, Marylebone  offers patrons of the arts and music two spectacular settings. And the slew of independent shops, delis and cafes that offer anything from a speciality cheese to a fishing line to a piccolo create a unique and alluring ambience that adds to Marylebone’s very distinctive village culture and sweetly eccentric character.  Shopping Utopia – Within walking distance of shopping meca - Oxford Street, Marylebone residents can also just stay put in their own neighbourhood and pick up anything from a designer dress to hipster vintage; curious-shaped buttons to the latest paper-back; or oak-aged whiskey to locally-produced onions. See Shopping section for our recommendations.Green spaces galore – although Marylebone sits in the heart of central London, it nestles between the two largest Royal parks in London – Regents Park to the North and Hyde Park to the South. Whether you’re inclined to get out your jogging shoes, or the pic-nic basket, enjoy the sensual pleasures of the Regents Park Rose Garden, or a leisurely row on the Serpentine, a summer weekend will pass by with ease in one of these green oases.  And if you’re looking for a brief respite during the Saturday morning shop, then Paddington Street Gardens, just off the High Street is a great place to enjoy some peace and quiet while your kids run off some steam in the playground.Site of the very first London ‘Omnibus’ route in 1829, which connected Paddington to bank via Marylebone Road, Marylebone has always been well served by public transport links that seamlessly connect it to the rest of the City and to places further afield.Marylebone is currently served by three tube stations – Marylebone, Baker Street and Edgeware Road which provide access to the Bakerloo, Jubilee, District, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines. A host of buses provide a web of transport links across town, while over-ground trains from Marylebone station offer connections with the Chilterns and Birmingham.For new residents with children, Marylebone offers a range of both State and privately funded options including:International Community School– part of the SKOLA Group – a private international baccalaureate world school for ages 3-18 years.St Vincent’s– a mixed Roman Catholic Primary School.Hampden Gurney- a mixed Church of England Primary School.North Westminster Community School – a mixed comprehensive for ages 11-18 years.Portland Place School-  private school for children aged 9-18 years.DLD College-  an independent sixth form college.St Marylebone Secondary School– a multi-faith comprehensive school for girls aged 11-18 years.Other private school choices include:AbercornWetherbyFrancis HollandThe Sylvia Young Theatre School is also located in Marylebone.

Situated just outside Central London in Zone 2 and ridiculously well served by public transport, West Hampstead has in recent years deliberately stepped from under the shadow of its more celebrated North London neighbour – Hampstead. Now the residence of choice for young City professionals, couples and families with young children, the West Hampstead locals appreciate the safe, friendly, and sophisticated feel to this community-focussed neighbourhood, which is characterised by large pockets of beautifully maintained Victorian and Edwardian terraces, semi-detached houses and gloriously palatial red brick mansion blocks.Where is West Hampstead?West Hampstead is a neighbourhood in the London Borough of Camden in north-west London. It is situated between Childs Hill to the north, Frognal and Hampstead to the north-east, Swiss Cottage to the east, South Hampstead to the south-east, Kilburn to the west and south-west, and Cricklewood to the north-west. The heart of West Hampstead comprises the retail area of West End Lane, which filters off into numerous residential side streets. West Hampstead – Past and PresentNascence The area now known as West Hampstead started life back in the 16th century as the ‘west end’ of a large estate. By the early 17th century it had been developed by London merchants into the village of West End and it was during this development that West End Lane, originally the boundary between adjoining estates, was named. With the arrival of the railways in the 19th century the area was transformed from farmland into housing estates. In 1879, the Metropolitan Railway adopted the name West Hampstead for its station on West End Lane, to avoid confusion with the main shopping area in central London - and West Hampstead was born.ArchitectureWest Hampstead owes its development to the coming of the railways in the second half of the 19th century, which saw the insignificant village of West End, comprising a few grand mansion houses, transformed by the first decade of the 20th century into a residential suburb of London. A limited amount of further development took place in the period between the wars and then again after the second world-war, to re-build bombed out sites.  Today, West Hampstead streets are lined with beautifully-preserved red brick mansion flat buildings, Victorian and Edwardian detached, semi-detached and terraced housing, and a smattering of more contemporary 21st century designs.CultureHistorically, West Hampstead was inhabited by a mix of wealthy, middle-class families and skilled workers with a sprinkling of more bohemian types – including by the late 19th and early 20th centuries the author brothers Alec and Evelyn Waugh; the painter David Bomberg; and the conductor Sir Adrian Boult.During the post-war years, as was the trend in many London neighbourhoods, the big Victorian and Edwardian houses and the grand red brick mansions were gradually refurbished and converted into spacious flats, which has in recent years skewed the demographics of the area towards younger, professional singles and couples, drawn by the excellent transport links and proximity to Central London.However, despite this influx of residents who spend most of their time elsewhere, West Hampstead definitely has that distinctive London village vibe that continues to bind long-time residents to the neighbourhood, while simultaneously attracting new ones. Indeed, if you take a wander on a sunny afternoon down the spine of the neighbourhood – West End Lane, you’ll be sure to see a real blend of people – from stylish mums with buggies in tow to elegant seniors taking a stroll, to overseas visitors, professionals and the odd celebrity perched outside one of the numerous cafés and restaurants.Indeed, the locals love West Hampstead so much that they organise regular community meet-ups, coordinated by their very own blog – West Hampstead Life  (www.westhampsteadlife.com) – run by resident journalist - Jonathan Turton. West Hampstead also has an active local business community - boasting a slew of independent shops, restaurants and cafés, as well as a thriving Saturday farmers market, and early evening ‘street food’ market – both located outside West Hampstead’s Thameslink train station. The long-established Hampstead Cricket Club is a bed-rock of the neighbourhood and residents’ community group, Friends of Fortune Green - who engineered the renovation of West Hampstead’s largest green space, continue to maintain the Green for the whole community’s daily enjoyment and a host of annual community events. Combined with the cultural  delights of nearby Hampstead and Tricycle theatres; the new JW3 -bringing the Jewish cultural experience to the whole community; the glorious Heath; and the celebrated charms of Hampstead village, just a stroll away –- and it’s little wonder that West Hampstead is fast becoming one of the most popular London localities to set up house.  Living in West HampsteadIf you have your eye on a flat in a splendid red brick mansion block, you’re impressed by the plethora of public transport links, or attracted by the distinctively village ambience – here’s a brief summary of some of the amenities and attractions that you can expect to experience if you choose West Hampstead as your next home. Be sure to also check out our Features, Transport and Schools section below.In this section we have put together a list of some of the most persuasive reasons why we think West Hampstead trumps any other Zone 2 location for the best all round London living experience.Well-connected: West Hampstead boasts an underground and two over-ground stations just a stone’s throw from one-another plus a slew of buses – connecting locals to locations across London and beyond. See our Transport section for more details.Visually appealing: Probably not surprising, but we love the look and feel of West Hampstead. From the peaceful, tree-lined residential streets with their palatial red brick mansion blocks and handsome Victorian terraces, to the meandering hill of West End Lane, with its picturesque Green and stylish cafés.Community Spirit: Spend any time at all in West Hampstead chatting with the many independent shop owners or resident café regulars and you’ll pick up on their commitment to preserving the uniqueness and vibrancy of the neighbourhood. West Hampstead Life (http://westhampsteadlife.com/ ) – the local blog run by resident journalist Jonathan Turton - regularly informs on what’s happening in the neighbourhood as well as acts as an impressive catalyst for increased neighbourhood participation and community building. Other notable community projects include Friends of Fortune Green- a group of resident volunteers who initially renovated and continue to maintain local green space, Fortune Green; the West Hampstead Business Association (www.whba.org.uk) who helped bring the Saturday farmers market to the neighbourhood; and the Sherriff Centre – a unique community project that enabled the development of St James’ Church on Sherriff Road into a community space, housing the local post office, a children’s soft-play area and other events and meetings, whilst still preserving a dedicated sanctuary for worship.   Home to the arts: West Hampstead has long been the residence of choice for generations of actors, writers and musicians and we think that really adds to the flavour of the neighbourhood. Current residents include: Imelda Staunton: Emma Thompson; Jim Carter; Stephen Fry; Jonny Vegas; Slash; and Phyllida Law. West Hampstead is also a short bus ride from two of the most critically acclaimed theatres outside of the West End – Hampstead Theatre– internationally respected for bringing new plays into production that often transfer to the West End stage; and the Tricycle Theatre– well known for theatrical works that represent the cultural diversity of London. And positioned opposite one another on either side of the Finchley Road, just five minutes walk from West End Lane, are JW3 – the impressive Jewish Arts, Culture and Community Centre; and the long-established Camden Arts Centre– a venue for contemporary visual arts and education, where the public can rub shoulders with acclaimed national and international artists.Green spaces galore: Nearby parks include Fortune Green - three acre park with children’s play area next to Hampstead Cemetery; Gladstone Park - a peaceful oasis with tree-lined avenues criss-crossing the green expanse, an art gallery, cafe, sports facilities including tennis courts and pitches for team games; and Hampstead Heath - nearly 800 acres of glades, woodland, heath land and meadows with natural swimming ponds and art deco LidoLocated in zone two of the London Underground system, West Hampstead is extremely well served by public transport. West End Lane is home to three train stations: West Hampstead Underground station - served by the Jubilee Line; West Hampstead Thameslink (Capital Connect) – which offers direct services as far as Bedford to the North and Brighton to the South; and West Hampstead Overground – which runs along North London between Stratford in the East and Richmond in the West.  Plenty of buses also connect West Hampstead to other parts of London, including the 139 which operates a 24-hour service.For new residents with children, Marylebone West Hampstead offers an excellent range of both State and privately funded options including:Pre-schools:Lithos Pre-SchoolLittle Ark Montessori Nursery Primary Schools:Kingsgate Primary School– ‘outstanding’ Ofsted ranking.Rainbow Montessori Junior School– private school.Beckford Primary SchoolEmmanuel Church of England Primary SchoolSenior Schools:University College School – independent boys school for ages 3-18 years.Hampstead School– large, high-performing comprehensive.Haverstock School– alma mater of Ed and David Milliband.