The ultimate area guide to Maida Vale
This leafy pocket of west London that claims the W9 postcode, has just the right blend of elegant chic meets laid back village charm. Imagine leisurely strolls along the canal banks that meander through the southern part known as ‘Little Venice’, acres of green open spaces and within walking distance of Regent’s Park. This neighbourhood has a sense of history mixed with a boho feel, excellent amenities, a café lifestyle and irresistible independent shops and boutiques. It’s punctuated by many tree-lined streets and broad avenues graced with Victorian and Edwardian stucco-fronted villas, elegant mansion blocks, modern apartments, and of course, is home to its own share of discreet mews streets. Let’s go explore…
The ultimate area guide to Maida Vale
History of Maida Vale
The unusual name of ‘Maida’ dates back to 1810 and is a nod to an area in southern Italy, when ‘The Hero of Maida’ opened as a pub at 435-437 Edgware Road. The name celebrated Major General Sir John Stuart, who had led his troops to a British victory in the Napoleonic Wars against the French army in 1806 at the ‘Battle of Maida’ – a remote plain in the south of Italy.
Like so many swathes of old London in the 18th century, Maida Vale as we know it today, was covered in fields where cattle grazed prior to 1800 and a steam called the River Westbourne flowed. In 1801, the opening of the Grand Union Canal started the very gradual process of urbanisation, and the first Regency villas began to appear on the highest part of Paddington parish, known as Hill House fields.
Records reveal that other than a short row of houses in Harrow Road dating back to 1828, the north west section of the parish of Paddington was still rural in 1840. During the first half of the 19th both Maida Hill East and Maida Hill west, which we have come to call ‘Maida Vale’ were owned by the Bishop of London and the majority of land to the west of River Westbourne came under Westminster Abbey’s Westbourne manor. A proportion of Queen’s Park belonged to All Souls’ College, Oxford. Once the River Westbourne was pumped underground in the 1850s, new building began to appear in the 1860s north from Westbourne Green.
By 1868, a stretch of Edgware Road near the area had been officially named Maida Vale. In 1960, the ownership of the area’s freehold passed from the Bishop of London to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whose function was to administer the church’s assets.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Maida Vale had a significant Sephardic Jewish community, to the extent that an 1878 magazine report recorded that it was commonly called “New Jerusalem”. The 1896 Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue, a Grade II listed building, is also British Sephardi community headquarters and today remains situated on Lauderdale Road.
In 1915, the Maida Vale tube station opened on the Bakerloo line. The distinctive exterior of the building is designated as a Grade II listed building being of architectural and historic interest. The successful modernisation of the station was recognised in 2009, when it won a National Railway Heritage Award in the London Regional category.
Maida Vale Roller Skating Palace and Club was created in 1909 in Delaware Road. By 1934, it was replaced by eventually a total of seven recording studios and became home to the BBC Symphony Orchestra – the largest classical recording studio in London. The BBC News station broadcast from here during World War II. The late legendary John Peel’s sessions recordings for Radio 1 happened here and in 1963, The Beatles recorded several times for Radio 2. The Corporation continued to occupy the studios for over 80 years until announcing its departure in 2023 and selling off the Grade II listed buildings for £10.5m to a partnership between British film producers, Tim Bevan & Eric Fellner, and German film composer and music producer, Hans Zimmer and his business partner, Steven Kofsky.
Famous faces in Maida Vale
Maida Vale’s past and present residents include poets, actors, and inventors. Following the death of his wife, Elizabeth Barrett Browning at their home in Florence in 1861, the poet Robert Browning returned to London with his 12-year old son and settled at 17 Warwick Crescent. Browning remained in Maida Vale until 1887.
The actor Alec Guinness was born on Lauderdale Road and the actress Joan Collins was a local resident at one time. The first Prime Minister of Israel, David Ben-Gurion, lived within sight of the synagogue on Warrington Crescent, while the pioneer of modern computing, Alan Turing, was also born in the same crescent at what is now the ‘Colonnade Hotel’. Sir John Ambrose Fleming who invented the wireless valve lived in the area while writer, comedian and actor Jennifer Saunders, supermodel Kate Moss, singer/songwriter Paul Weller and even Jarvis Cocker have also called Maida Vale home.
Maida Vale Mews Property & Prices
Mews homes in Maida Vale are highly sought after, blending period charm with discreet, tucked-away locations. Prices typically range from around £900,000 to over £3.5 million, depending on size and finish, with recent sales and listings showing values often falling between £1,000–£1,400 per sq ft. Streets such as Pindock Mews, Elnathan Mews, Abinger Mews and Maple Mews offer a mix of compact two-bedroom homes through to larger family houses, reflecting the variety and appeal of mews living in the area.
Things to do in Maida Vale
Clifton Nurseries – something of a London institution for gardening enthusiasts and those wanting to wind down after a hectic working week. Clifton Nurseries is the capital’s oldest remaining garden centre, providing an enchanting source of inspiration for creating your window boxes, planters and mews oasis. Their beautiful glasshouse is brimming with blooms, buds and bulbs, flowers, and houseplants for those lacking outdoor space. Part of the nursery contains a friendly café and a wonderful shop – ideal for finding unusual gifts or Christmas presents ahead of the festive season. There are also wonderful event spaces available to hire for weddings and parties.
The Cafe at Clifton Nurseries – once you’ve chosen your plants and got your seasonal growing ideas sorted, ‘The Café’ on site is one of the most relaxing places to sit and enjoy your surroundings. It offers a tasty brunch and lunch menu featuring local ingredients and artisan bakes and breads, delicious pastries and cakes. In autumn, the homemade soups are guaranteed to give you a warm glow and keep you going for hours.
The Lord’s Cricket Ground – bordering the well-heeled neighbouring area of St. John’s Wood, this quintessentially English landmark is a piece of sporting history. Take a tour available seven days a week to see the Grade II*-listed Victorian Pavilion, the renowned Long Room, the Players’ Dressing Rooms and the MCC Museum, home of the Ashes Urn.
Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill – just a short stroll up the road from Lord’s isRegents Park, offering everything from formal gardens to sports facilities, a wetland area and playgrounds. If you feel like taking in more of the sights, amble down toPrimrose Hill, where you can witness a stunning view of the city skyline.
The Waterway – this bistro-style gastropub perched on the canal bank has been a popular haunt for locals since 2002. It certainly boasts one of London’s best outdoor terraces with wonderful views overlooking the Grand Union Canal and truly brings Venice to Maida Vale. It serves a Modern European menu and the cocktails are delicious.
The Warwick Castle – this welcoming local pub dates back to 1867 and is located in a Grade II listed building featuring original wood panelling and Victorian stained glass. There are open fires to cosy up when the cooler months begin, a relaxing mews-side terrace and seasonal dishes to enjoy. Both locals and visitors are welcome at this authentic English pub.
The Summerhouse – another waterside restaurant located on the banks of the beautiful Grand Union Canal. This stylish venue has a coastal vibe evoking a Nantucket feel. The cooking is sophisticated yet relaxed, pairing seasonal ingredients and produce with excellent fine wines. Whether it’s a Sunday roast or some fresh fish, you will find a menu bursting with flavours all year round.
The Brimful Store – just around the corner from Warwick Avenue on Formosa Street, sits this independent lifestyle shop, voted by Vogue in 2010 as one of Britain’s Best Boutiques. It sells gorgeous things – from stylish womenswear, little luxuries and gifts, candles and homeware. It’s relaxed, friendly and their stock changes all the time, so you can always find something new.
Canal Cafe Theatre – for an entertaining night full of one-man shows, music and cabaret head to Maida Vale’s own 60 seat theatre venue situated on the Little Venice canal, set above the The Bridge House pub in Westbourne Terrace Bridge Road – amazing views here looking down the canal. The café theatre is famous for hosting News Revue – the world’s longest running live comedy show every week from Thursday to Saturday.
The Lauderdale – the Lauderdale is an art gallery in Maida Vale that aims to promote and showcase the work of emerging and established artists. A great source of inspiration if you want to find something to hang at home in your mews.
Abbey Road Studios – on the cusp of where Maida Vale meets and greets St John’s Wood, is the genuinely iconic Abbey Road, made forever famous by The Beatles’ walking across the zebra crossing on their album. This world-renowned recording studio has been making music since 1931, and tours can be booked to visit the studios.
Out and About Green Spaces
Tamplin Mews Gardens – located off Abinger Mews W9 is a pocket-sized park with lawned areas, ornamental trees and shrubs that screen the park from surrounding roads. It’s wheelchair-friendly and offers both benches and a corner playground equipped for young children.
Rembrandt Gardens – situated off Warwick Avenue, these peaceful gardens are sunken from the road and offer a peaceful place and a roof terrace to sit and look out at the canal boats and across Little Venice. The design is relatively formal with lawns, planted flowers and shrub borders with access to the canal towpath. Originally created in the early 1950s, the park was called Warwick Avenue Gardens, but changed to Rembrandt Gardens in 1975 when the City of Westminster was linked to the City of Amsterdam.
Paddington Recreation Ground – located off Randolph Avenue and is spread over 27 acres in W9. The ground is very well maintained and boasts an enormous range of facilities including a brand-new gym, a group fitness studio, and a range of outdoor tennis courts. Cricket fans can enjoy the pitch at the centre of the park and four practice nets, while the site includes an outdoor bowling green and a multi-use Tarmac court, a 400m athletics track and a full-sized 3G artificial football pitch.
Mews of Maida Vale
Pindock Mews – today this partly cobbled, S-shaped through road mews is one of few surviving original mews in this area. It’s a chic, trendy address, but back in the 1970s it was a little more louche and home to punk rocker Sid Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy. Other famous occupants include Boy George and journalist Janet Street Porter. More recently, it featured as the home of James Norton, who played the lead in the BBC drama, ‘McMafia’. There are around 27 dwellings in this mews – a mix of residential and commercial buildings. It’s a desirable spot for those looking for a mews home with history and kerb appeal handily near the cool shops and cafes found in this leafy postcode of west London.
Elnathan Mews – nestled in the heart of Little Venice, this cobbled through road is just off Formosa Street and is home to 49 properties, although none are the original mews houses. It is near Pindock Mews and within easy reach of Clifton Nurseries and has a pub/restaurant on the corner called The Hero.
Bristol Mews – in striking distance of Clifton Nurseries, this mews is configured around a courtyard made up of 26 properties and accessed through an entrance under a building on Bristol Gardens. The mews has been redeveloped in a mews-style, the original buildings having been demolished in 1989. Today, the existing mews properties are part of the Maida Vale Conservation Area.
Chippenham Mews Рwithin a casual stroll of three sought after neighbourhoods РMaida Vale, Little Venice and Notting Hill, this traditional cobbled mews is home to 49 buildings, both residential homes and commercial premises and is spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a bar, caf̩ or restaurant, or indulging in some retail therapy.
Are you looking to live in Maida Vale? Contact our team at enquiries@lurotbrand.co.uk to see how we can assist you with your search.
