Local information
Bayswater
Named after the rivulet passing through, Bayswater was nothing but a small hamlet during the seventeenth century known for its tea gardens and water supply. The area was remote and rural, hard to believe now it is a flourishing neighbourhood in the heart of London just north of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. Its royal connections and stunning selection of gardens and crescents means Bayswater has managed to retain much of its appearance and manner of the last century.
Bayswater was a well-to-do district of the capital during the Victorian and Edwardian eras and so combines social standing with visual beauty. It preserves an impressive amount of its classically inspired terracing, much of it gleaming white with a facing stucco. Variations upon theme reflect the styles of time and, in this way, most properties in Bayswater represent a certain era and its way of thinking. Its balance, beauty and charm are admired by many and the number and diversity of gardens were a particular favourite of Sir James Barrie (creator of Peter Pan) and Charles Dickens. Furthermore, the third and last rulers of Sarawak, Borneo resided here in the 1930s showing the vast extent of its appeal. The elegance and architectural poise of Cleveland Square, the grandeur of Porchester Square, the charm of Gloucester mews and the beautiful Greek Orthodox Cathedral, designed by John Oldridd Scott all ensure that Bayswater has been, and will continue to be, timeless.
Signs of urbanisation were evident as early on as 1868 when the forerunner of Bayswater Underground station was opened, closely followed by the building of Paddington's first public baths. However, Bayswater's transformation from a rural to a cosmopolitan district was only really initiated in 1902 when rows of apartments and hotels could be seen to be developing. In this way, the surrounding area was gradually converting into the residential and affluent suburb it is today.
Queensway now separates the eastern and western parts of Bayswater and is a commercial shopping street with many late night restaurants and food shops, many of them foreign. An ice rink, bowling alley and arcade are all on offer in the Queen's Ice and Bowl, a popular yet affordable destination for children.
Queensway meets Westbourne Grove at Whiteleys, the first department store in London and is a road full of restaurants of every cuisine from Sudanese to Italian.
Furthermore, transport routes are never too far in this part of London so that mobility and accessibility are never a problem. Whatever your location within W2, you are never more than 20-25 minutes walk from a bus or train station. Seven tube stations are especially prominent within the area; Lancaster Gate, Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, Paddington, Bayswater, Queensway and Royal Oak. There are also numerous bus stations dispersed within the area so travelling to other parts of Central London is not difficult.
W2 Specialists
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