London Area Guide: Mapesbury Conservation Area

Want to discover one of Northwest London’s best neighbourhoods that no one knows about? Today, I’m taking you on a tour one of London’s best kept neighbourhood secrets – Mapesbury Conservation!

Where is Mapesbury Conservation Area?

Mapesbury Conservation or the broader Mapesbury area, are little known for those who don’t live in the area and often referred to as either Willesden or Kilburn, where the tube stations are located. I wanted to highlight this community because it’s where I live and work and I think it’s pretty special and in fact it might also be one of northwest London’s best kept secrets! Tucked between larger neighbourhoods of west Hampstead to the east, Brondesbury to the west, Kilburn to the south and Willesden green to the north.

Mapesbury is easily confused or referred to as any one of these areas because it doesn’t have its own distinct high street but what makes this area so wonderful is that it’s this little enclave of wide tree-lined streets and classic homes dating back to the late 1800s. Designated a conservation area in 1982 the beauty and details of many of the houses have now been preserved.

So where exactly is it? The actual boundaries are the rear of homes on Anson road to the north, south is at Christchurch Avenue and Kilburn tube station, east are the rear houses of Shoot-up Hill, and the west boundary is at Willesden lane.

What are the homes like in Mapesbury?

The homes are special because many have red brick or white stucco facades with intricate details including coving and beautiful stained-glass windows. Built between the 1870s and 1920 these Victorian and Edwardian era homes have been influenced by the arts and crafts movement, with Gothic and classic architectural details.

The homes are typically large two and three-story detached or semi-detached properties though some have been converted into flats, and many have rear gardens that often exceed 25 metres in depth, some with mature fruit trees. Many have well-sized front gardens, typically eight metres deep, and thick brick walls at the front, and tall gate posts, so they have quite distinct and special characteristics which you can spot as you walk throughout the neighbourhood.

The Mapesbury resident’s association plays a pivotal role within the planning system providing comment on the majority of the planning applications that are submitted within the conservation area.

Places to eat and shop in Mapesbury

While the area doesn’t have a distinct or dedicated high street, Walm Lane at the northern edge runs into Willesden Lane near the Willesden tube station and offers a great mix of local restaurants and shops. The Queensbury is a great gastropub at the corner of Dartmouth road that is definitely worth checking out.

Neighbourhood favourites on the Willesden side include Coco B’s who create Caribbean and Latin infused tapas; B Grill which serves up authentic Portuguese cuisine and a rustic atmosphere; and the popular Italian restaurant Sanzios; there’s also O’Farrells family butchers providing excellent service and prime choice cuts; Zen W2 Yoga and Pilates is your local source for well-being and relaxation, you’ve also got cricket with Brondesbury Club nearby.

If you’re at the southern end of Mapesbury you might opt to frequent the Kilburn high road with a mix of restaurants, convenience stores, and shops of which there are plenty, or if you even want to walk another 15 minutes you can head into West Hampstead.

Parks & Green Space near Mapesbury

For your closest green space there’s Mapesbury Dell the area’s best kept secret. This magical award-winning pocket park provides residents with stunning gardens along with a play area for children, a pond with wildlife, green space, picnic tables, and benches.

If you are looking for larger green space there’s Kilburn Grange nearby nestled just off at Kilburn high road with eight acres, or Gladstone Park which is in jogging distance with 86 acres.

Transport Options in Mapesbury

For transport, there’s Willesden Green and Kilburn tube stations with the jubilee line providing easy and direct access to Baker street, Mayfair, Oxford street, Westminster, Canary Wharf and Stratford. You are also going to be nearby to the Brondesbury overground station which provides direct access to many stops including Kew Gardens, Imperial Wharf, Clapham Junction, and Richmond to the west, and Hampstead Heath, Highbury Islington, Hackney and Stratford to the east. In addition, the high road offers plenty of bus options as well as easy driving access to the M1.

Schools in Mapesbury

This area also has great school options, and you’ll have an extensive array of choice – good or outstanding primary schools in the area include Our Lady of Grace, North West London Jewish Day School, Mallorees Infant School, and Emmanuel Church of England Primary School.

For secondary school options there’s Hampstead School, Crest Academy, and Mapledown School.

Entertainment Options

For entertainment, you’re less than a mile from Kilburn Theatre formerly known as the Tricycle Theatre, with its award-winning seasons of plays and performances.

Average House Prices in Mapesbury Conservation Area

Average house prices in Mapesbury conservation are at about £800 per square foot but many of these homes are larger single-family homes with over 2,000 square feet, so many detached homes sell in the range of £2-3.5 Million pounds.

An average two-bedroom flat ranges from £550,000-750,000. But having said that, this area offers great value from let’s say in West Hampstead where for the same £2Million budget you’re going to get a lot less square footage and definitely not those extensive gardens that makes Mapesbury conservation so special.

As you can see, Mapesbury Conservation has some fantastic reasons for falling in love, and potentially living in the area, and I hope I have given you a sense of Mapesbury conservation and why it’s so special.

If you want to know more about this neighbourhood or any others in London, make sure to reach out to me and make sure to leave me a comment below if you discovered something you might love about Mapesbury conservation.