London Area Guide: Queen’s Park

Queen’s Park is the perfect location for those who don’t want the bustle and hype of Notting Hill.  It’s charming and cool with classic homes and an incredible park!  Beloved by families and young professionals, it also has many an A-lister taking refuge here.  

Queen’s Park was developed in the 1870s and was named to honour Queen Victoria. It is a quaint neighborhood in northwest London, and while it shares borders with more popular neighbours such as Maida Vale and West Hampstead, Queen’s Park has much to offer on its own. 

At the centre of the community is the park itself –  immaculately maintained and well utilized, it is a beloved attraction of the area.  Originally developed in 1879 for the Royal Agricultural Society, today the 30-acre park contains a children’s playground, bandstand, nature trail and petting zoo along with 6 tennis courts and a pitch and putt too.

Shopping & Dining in Queen’s Park

Arguably the main high street is Salusbury Road, with a casual and unpretentious vibe.   Community focused, you’ll find a nice mix of eateries as well a book shop,  wine shop and gift stores. It’s home of The Salusbury, an extremely popular sophisticated gastropub that has its own deli next door.

Another not to be missed dining experience on Salusbury Road is Michiko Sushino, a stylish Japanese restaurant opened by fashion pioneer, Michiko Koshino.  Michiko has created a memorable dining experience based on excellent food in an authentic and relaxed environment.

Locals looking for  grocery options are spoiled for choices with M&S Food at one end of the high road and Planet Organic at the other.  This high-end organic supermarket offers fresh, sustainable food options, wellbeing items and natural health and beauty supplies. 

Salusbury Road isn’t the only buzzy street in the area.  Chamberlayne Road is a hip and happening destination for its juice bars, florists and the restaurant Parlour (a great breakfast spot where they smoke their own salmon) – all set the scene for a cool city vibe.

Then there’s Lonsdale Road – artsy pubs, more yoga studios, microbreweries, mews houses with cafes and restaurants and three private members clubs have opened in the area. There are designer boutiques and a unique Australian run café, Milk Beach. This restaurant & cafe is not to be missed if you like coffees prepared by a two-time UK Roasting Champion or speciality wines which are responsibly sourced; with a kitchen whose Aussie-born, head chef produces excellent, fresh, and seasonally led dishes it’s a fantastic place to visit in the area.

It all adds up to a super trendy pocket of town with a very popular farmer’s market every weekend. It’s open every Sunday and, from this April, will be opening Friday evenings 6-10pm. 

Housing in Queen’s Park

Like much of London, Queen’s Park has a rich blend of housing styles and ages.  There are many Edwardian and Victorian homes that have retained their original architectural features and now Queen’s Park is a conservation area, it will adhere to guidelines and restrictions.  Average price per square foot in the range of £800 with terraced homes averaging over £1M and many semi-detached homes price in excess of £2M.  

There’s quite a lot of history around the rows of little cottages on the avenues of The Queen’s Park Estate, a conservation area on a grid system. It was built from 1874, by the Artizans, Labourers and General Dwellings Company, whose ornate insignia can be seen on many of the terraces. The company was a philanthropic enterprise, established to build houses and improve the living conditions of the local working-class population.

The estate is recognisable for its distinctive Gothic revival cottages, which have polychrome brickwork, pinnacles and turrets. The area is also recognisable through its street naming, with First to Sixth Avenue running more or less north-south and cross streets named in alphabetical order from Alperton to Peach Streets.

Transport in Queen’s Park

The London Overground runs through Queen’s Park and Kensal Rise stations and will get you to Euston station in ten minutes or Clapham Junction in under 30 minutes. The Bakerloo line also services Queen’s Park (zone 2) and can zip you to Baker Street and Oxford Circus in less than ten minutes. 

Schools in Queen’s Park

Schools in the area are very desirable, with a number of secondary schools boasting 5* OFSTED ratings. This corner of London alone houses within its boundaries Ark Franklin school, Islamia Primary school, Queen’s Park Academy and Infant Academy, and Montessori options. As a parent, it’s likely you will find a great option for your children’s schooling.  

Hidden Gems in Queen’s Park

Now to my hidden gems in the area! Along Kilburn Lane there is a wonderful little restaurant called Ida, a local Italian bistro that is an area favourite.   Seemingly basic and understated, it has a delicious menu of authentic food.  You may even catch a celebrity or two enjoying a meal in this cosy spot.   

For movie buffs, catch a film at The Lexi, which is not only one of London’s absolute best independent cinemas, but is also a charity as well!

As you can see Queen’s Park is a very desirable area in London, and perfect for growing families and professionals looking for a buzzing high street and delicious food. If you are planning on relocating to London and want to know the best areas to find for your needs, please get in touch, or download my free Relocation Guide here.