Area Guide BayswaterChard Estate Agents - Bayswater area guide
Bayswater, W2
If you are looking for a property for sale or to rent in Bayswater, W2 we have the experience and local know how to help you.
For more information on buying or renting property in Bayswater or to arrange an appointment to view our current selection of flats and houses for sale and to let in the Bayswater area, please contact us at the offices below:
Chard Bayswater estate agents
020 7243 4500
Chard Bayswater lettings agents
020 7792 0792
If you are a local resident or business and would like to add information about Paddington and Bayswater to this guide click here
Hotels in Bayswater - The Royal Lancaster opposite the park on Lancaster Terrace, London, W2 2TY, UK - 020 7262 6737
Flats to rent & for sale on garden squares in Bayswater - Talbot Square W2
Flats for sale and to rent on Bayswater garden squares - Queens Gardens W2
Flats for sale and to rent in Bayswater - Lancaster Gate W2
Bayswater, W2
Bayswater is a busy, exciting area just off London’s West End. It is highly built up and known for being absolutely crammed with hotels. But it’s pretty much full of everything else as well – fashion shops, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, every kind of food outlet. In fact, once in Bayswater there is no reason why you should ever want to leave, unless you are suffering from excitement overload.Yet Bayswater has not always been so desirable as it is today. The area became notorious in the 1950s and 60s when slum landlord Peter Rachman operated from an office in Westbourne Grove; the first house he bought to divide up into flats was in the now highly fashionable St Stephens’ Gardens. Rachman died in 1962 and after that the area gradually started to come up, owing to its proximity to the West End. It did not become really fashionable however, until the late 1980s, by which time most of the previous slums had been renovated into high-end apartments.
The area remains extremely cosmopolitan with a long established large Arab and Greek population, particularly around the Edgware Road as well as numerous city professionals from across the globe, with a sizeable local population too.
It seems everyone heads to Queensway, the de facto centre of things in Bayswater. Queensway is dominated by Whiteleys, and at the far end is the famous Porchester Hall for events and functions. The Porchester Centre is a fitness emporium with a modern, well-equipped gym, great pool, wide range of exercise classes, plus a variety of other facilities which ensure that there is something for everyone. There is also a fabulous spa attached to the centre, the Porchester Spa, an art deco marvel housing Turkish baths, Russian steam rooms, a cold plunge pool, a jacuzzi and a sauna. The Queen’s Ice Rink and the Queensway Market are also in Queensway and notable restaurants include the Mandarin Kitchen, famous for seafood, and the Royal China. Turning left at the end of Queensway brings you into Westbourne Grove which has a trendy restaurant every other yard, plus lots of other exciting shops. Delicatessens abound in the area, and particularly recommended are the delicatessens Fresh and Wild and Tom’s on Westbourne Grove for delicious, different and expensive fresh and organic produce.
The Notting Hill end of Westbourne Grove is a fashionista’s paradise – and credit card nightmare - with Emma Hope shoes, a Jigsaw, Agnes B, L.K. Bennett and Paul Smith right at the end in the former Artiste Assoife restaurant.
There are not many whole houses left, except for some post war re development, but Bayswater offers a wide choice of properties ranging from Georgian terraces with their garden squares to purpose-built blocks and large council estates. Most of the properties, being highly valuable, are now in good condition and are eagerly sought after by young and youngish professionals who want to be at the heart of real London. There is plenty of nightlife and two recommended clubs are the Notting Hill Arts Club at 21 Notting Hill Gate and Harlem at 78 Westbourne Grove.
Bayswater is vibrant, noisy, young and absolutely packed on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s touristy, yes, but how much better if you are actually living there!
On Sundays it sometimes seems all the bad art in the country assembles itself along the railings of Hyde Park, opposite Bayswater, as it has done for years and it may be worth a disdainful glance, but every now and again you may find a gem of some good art – no promises, though.
Marble Arch is one tube ride away, although you may find it quicker to walk. The other direction leads you down to Notting Hill Gate and the Gate and Coronet cinemas with their mainly arthouse films showing. Whiteleys has a multiplex.
Transport
Tube stations: Bayswater and Queensway Underground on the Central Line: Notting Hill Gate for Central, District and Circle Lines.Main line: Paddington
Buses: Including night buses, go along Bayswater Road and Westbourne Grove. There are many, many bus routes operating, and this is probably the best bus-served area in the whole of London. The presence of bus lanes has made a huge difference to the speed at which the buses operate
Resident Parking Permit: Yes - zoned. Parking is sometimes difficult owing to the fact that most of the large houses have been carved up into flats
Congestion Zone: Yes
Council Tax Bands 2009/2010
Westminster City Council
Band A |
Band B |
Band C |
Band D |
Band E |
Band F |
Band G |
Band H |
£458.41 |
£534.82 |
£611.12 |
£687.62 |
£840.42 |
£993.23 |
£1,146.03 |
£1,375.24 |
Latest properties for sale with Chard estate agents in Bayswater
Lancaster Road W11 One double bedroom raised ground floor flat for sale off Ladbroke Grove £360,000
Latest properties to rent with Chard lettings agents in Bayswater
Queens Gardens W2 One double bedroom flat to rent with communal gardens in Bayswater £365 p/w
Porchester Square W2 Spacious one double bedroom flat to let near Paddington £425 p/w
Pembridge Gardens W2 Newly renovated four bedroom maisonette to let off Notting Hill Gate £1,600 p/w
Click here to view all properties to buy in the Bayswater area
Click here to view all properties to let in the Bayswater area
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