15 of the most beautiful mews streets to visit this Autumn
London’s Mews streets are easy on the eye and good for the soul. As we enter the season of mellow fruitfulness, now is the perfect time to enjoy a relaxed meander through the city’s cobbled mews. Bright autumnal days can offer a chance to check out the history surrounding the mews, pause to admire the decorative planting outside pretty mews houses, the wrought iron balconies, Victorian streetlights and enjoy the sense of calm and character these secret lanes and alleys share.
With the city being home to between 6,000 to 9,000 mews homes, whittling it down to a definitive ‘must-see’ list is impossible, but as London’s Mews experts, we’ve handpicked 15 of our favourites to include a mews for everyone.
15 of the most beautiful mews streets to visit this Autumn
Bathurst Mews, Hyde Park Estate, W2
Just a five-minute walk from Paddington station will lead you to this authentic mews that celebrates its equestrian heritage with two riding stables still operating from within it. The sound of horses’ hooves on the cobbles is a daily occurrence for the residents and locals as they make their way to ride in nearby Hyde Park. Bathurst Mews is nestled between Sussex Gardens and Sussex Square, only a quick stroll from Kensington Gardens. It is undoubtedly one of London’s most picturesque and traditional mews; known for its ivy clad houses with pretty seasonal floral displays and bench seating, where neighbours regularly meet up for a sundowner or social gathering.
Looking to live in Bathurst Mews? This four-bedroom mews property for sale is the epitome of living your best mews life. It’s been thoughtfully designed with living space over 2161 sq ft on three floors, to maximise the natural light and offers a large kitchen/breakfast room on the ground floor with a generous relaxing sitting room on the lower ground floor. See more information here.
Hyde Park Gardens Mews, Hyde Park Estate, W2
Virtually neighbours, Hyde Park Gardens Mews is another quintessentially traditional mews, regarded as one of the Hyde Park Estate’s finest. The sense of arrival feels grand when you enter the mews through an original brick arch. It’s a long, cobbled street with period mews houses running along both sides.
For an example of the ‘wow-factor’ hidden behind a mews facade, this mews house has it all – Lutron lighting, underfloor heating, luxurious fittings and even a ‘dumbwaiter’ in the stylish kitchen. But the star-attraction has to be the large roof terrace that offers an incredible entertaining and chilling away from the city space enjoying amazing views down Hyde Park Gardens Mews. View the property here.
Kynance Mews, South Kensington, SW7
This mews street in South Kensington dates back to the 19th century, originally known as Cornwall Mews, having been built as stabling for the large properties developed in Cornwall Gardens. Kynance Mews regularly appears as the ‘prettiest’ across social media – famed for its picturesque houses and its cascading wisteria in May; while in autumn, coppery orange rich vines take over the three Grade II listed arches. Lying close to the quaint church is a lavender garden, a quiet spot for a picnic lunch, that feels more like the English countryside than being in the capital’s busy Zone 1.
Like many other London mews streets, Kynance Mews has been used as a location for several films and TV shows – including YOU Season 4, Star!, Who Dares Wins, Scandalous, Twinky, The Black Windmill, The Big Sleep, Crooks Anonymous, and Damage. Notable residents over the years, have included Bruce Chatwin, the renowned travel writer, who spent a year living at No. 9 in 1969, and later shared the property with the antiques expert Oliver Hoare. If you like the sound of this picture-perfect mews, have a look at this lovely two-bedroom house in Kynance Mews we currently have available for sale.
Petersham Mews, South Kensington, SW7
Petersham Mews is another attractive cobbled mews only a minute’s walk from Kynance Mews. Its charming mews houses, many retaining their original garages, are painted in pastel hues and with the odd Vespa parked outside, the street has a backstreet Italian feel. The mews street has an English Heritage blue plaque at Number 5, to commemorate Sir Douglas Bader, the decorated RAF WWII fighter pilot, who lived at Petersham Mews for 30 years until his death in 1982. The plaque was erected in 2009 and unveiled by Sir Richard Branson, who cited Bader as a ‘source of inspiration as he was growing up.’
Queen’s Gate Mews, South Kensington, SW7
Tucked in amongst the embassies of South Kensington and within striking distance of the Royal Albert Hall, the Natural History Museum and Kensington Gardens, is this lovely quiet cul-de-sac bordered by trees, with its original Victorian street lamps, Juliet balconies and abundant window box displays.
Queen’s Gate Mews is the epitome of a vibrant community – residents have chairs and tables outside in the mews street, where they enjoy cocktails after work and the friendly local The Queen’s Arms is situated at the end of the mews. The street has even been home to famous residents in the past including Madonna and Guy Ritchie. Looking for a pied a terre or an idyllic bolt-hole? Then this one-bedroom mews house ticks all the boxes and even has its own private terrace that leads out from the reception room.
Adam and Eve Mews, Kensington, W8
Adam and Eve Mews was built in the 1880’s on the site of The Adam and Eve Inn, a former establishment on Kensington High Street. The mews was created to provide stables, as the original inn’s two-acre garden had a long, narrow shape that was unsuitable for building large Victorian houses. Today, this mews is another attractive cobbled street located just off Kensington High Street, so extremely central for the shops, cafes and restaurants, whilst being a stone’s throw from Kensington Roof Gardens. It’s a pleasing mix of residential and small businesses and there are several brick façade buildings adding a different character to the overall mews.
Cresswell Place, The Boltons, Chelsea, SW10
For all Agatha Christie fans, it’s worth making a pilgrimage to visit this tucked away refined enclave that lies within The Boltons Conversation Area. The world-renowned crime writer Agatha Christie bought the property in the 1920s, and converted it from stabling for a large house in Drayton Gardens into a double-fronted country-style mews cottage. It is believed that living in this quiet mews was the author’s inspiration for her book, ‘Murder in the Mews’, and a blue plaque marks the period when she lived here with her young child and nanny.
Reece Mews and Kendrick Mews, South Kensington SW7
When you enter the cobbled lane that joins these two mews streets together, you are met with a beautiful large hand-painted ski mural on the wall of the house at the beginning. This is in fact a tribute to the history of Erna Low, who pioneered the ski travel holiday concept back in 1932, when as an Austrian Jew from Vienna living in London, she founded Erna Low and its offices were situated in the mews for many years. The art connection continues as you wander into Reece Mews, where a blue plaque signifies that this is where the celebrated artist, Francis Bacon, set up his studio at Number 7 in 1961 and where Bacon continued to live and paint until his death in Madrid in 1992.
St Luke’s Mews, Notting Hill, W11
If you’re a film buff, you may recognise one of the pretty houses in this Instagrammable Notting Hill mews from the 2003 hit film Love Actually, which was used as Keira Knightley’s house. There is even a quirky sign outside saying, ‘Love Actually – please give £1 per camera for charity.’ This mews is full of quirkily painted houses and has a fun trendy feel making it popular with buyers and renters who love this hip location. St Luke’s Mews is also situated very close to Portobello Road, Biscuiteers (one of the cutest cafés in London) and several other Notting Hill filming locations, so it’s worth a visit.
Denbigh Close, Notting Hill, W11
Made up of just 18 residential properties, Denbigh Close is a cobbled cul-de-sac with mews houses dating back to the 19th century. It runs off the prettiest part of Portobello Road with its cafes, eclectic mix of shops and restaurants. Number 18 in this little mews was also used in the original film, The Italian Job, in which Michael Caine played a cockney character called Charlie Croker living there.
If you’d like to live in a location steeped in film history, then this corner mews house with three bedrooms could be the ideal home for you, and it’s currently on the market at £1.8m. You can find more information about this property here.
Atherstone Mews, South Kensington, SW7
There’s something wonderfully individual and unique about this secluded cobbled mews adorned with plants and shrubs, with its stunning array of brightly painted front doors and mews’ exteriors painted in colours from lilac to midnight blue. It’s such a tranquil spot that it’s hard to believe it’s just around the corner from Gloucester Road tube and the busy Cromwell Road. Much of this mews had to be rebuilt after a WW11 bomb destroyed most of the original road.
This property in the mews showcases how versatile accommodation in a mews house can be; currently arranged as a one-bedroom flat and two-bedroom maisonette, it offers enough space and potential to be reconfigured as a family home with the added bonus of having its own outside space and a useful garage. You can have a look at the property here.
Junction Mews, Paddington, W2
To really imagine how a mews was back in the 1800’s, take a walk to Junction Mews in Paddington. A visit will evoke a sense of how a working mews would have been in the Victorian era – a hive of activity, of noise and smells with people going about their business and the sound of horses’ clip-clopping over the cobbles. Junction Mews is attractive and relatively small with around 25 period properties and a mix of residential and commercial buildings.
The mews includes an original former hayloft and warehouse that was previously converted into a design studio. Now it is a truly inspiring street steeped in history, that features an original bridge on the first floor that connects to the house opposite. The building also houses one of London’s oldest original basements with a light well – one of the rarest properties in our opinion. Junction Mews seems to attract creative spirit, as a red brick building, originally ‘The Boatman’s Institute’, has been lovingly restored and is a one-off architect-designed home. During Victorian times, boatmen working on the nearby Grand Union Canal would meet here in the Paddington Basin area. The mews available here can offer flexible layouts that can be altered to suit different lifestyle requirements.
Lancaster Mews, Bayswater, W2
This lovely mews street can be found just off Craven Terrace not far from Hyde Park, and is ideally positioned to enjoy the amenities in Bayswater. Originally, it was built as stabling for the large grand houses at Lancaster Gate and today has about 60 traditional mews houses laid out in a triangular shape. Residents and passers-by love the local pub that guards the entrance to this mews. The Mitre Lancaster Gate occupies a Grade II listed building dating back to 1850; inside there are original Victorian mosaic floors, etched glass and a delightful basement speakeasy.
Leinster Mews, Bayswater, W2
So discreetly tucked away is Leinster Mews, that you may not spot the cobbled mews entrance built into the original archway shared with the popular Leinster Arms pub. There are around 29 properties in this quiet community at Leinster Mews, many of them original houses and some more modern in style, all benefitting from a backdrop of the prominent church spire of St Mary’s Church in Bryanston Square, a Grade I listed Georgian church.
Elnathan Mews, Little Venice, Maida Vale, W9
This mews in the heart of Little Venice is a former winner of our annual Mews in Bloom competition back in 2006. Elnathan Mews occupies a prime location just off vibrant Formosa Street and is conveniently near to the wonderful Clifton Nurseries, where you can spend infinite hours choosing plants for your mews windows boxes or receive expert tips for your particular mews aspect. Elnathan Mews is a peaceful, cobbled residential street which can serve as your base for lovely walks along the nearby Regent’s Canal, and is situated close to Warwick Avenue tube station. The properties are known to benefit from an abundance of sunlight, and often feature striking vaulted ceilings and sweet Juliet balconies. Have a look at the property we have for sale in Elnathan Mews here.
If you want to feel like you’re far away from the frenetic pace and noise of the city, remember there’s always a mews around a corner for you to seek out in London. Which mews street is your favourite?
