Weymouth Mews is a historic mews street tucked away behind the grand terraces of Portland Place, Harley Street and New Cavendish Street in Marylebone. Originally created to serve these prestigious residences, it provided stabling for horses, storage for carriages and accommodation for the staff who maintained them. Today, a short walk into the mews from Portland Place offers an immediate escape from the bustle of central London. During the Second World War, Weymouth Mews played an important role in the capital’s civil defence efforts. While the surrounding area suffered significant damage during the Blitz, including bomb strikes on Portland Place and the nearby Middlesex Hospital, the mews became part of London’s emergency response network. Numbers 35 and 42 were requisitioned as an Auxiliary Ambulance Station, supporting the treatment and transport of casualties during air raids, while Number 16 provided accommodation for ambulance personnel. From here, crews operated in some of the most challenging conditions of the war, navigating blacked-out streets to reach those injured in the bombing campaigns that affected the city.

The mews is also home to the Jackalope, one of only two surviving mews pubs in Marylebone. Built in 1777 and Grade II listed, the building was formerly known as the Dover Castle, a name that can still be seen in the etched glass windows. These windows preserve evidence of the pub’s original layout, when two separate front bars were divided by internal partitions. Particularly notable are the mirrors beneath the dividing beam, which allowed coachmen waiting outside to see when their passengers were ready to depart, providing a fascinating reminder of the street’s coaching and service history.

BOROUGH: City of Westminster