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Bayswater is an exceptionally central and convenient location and is home to some of the West End's most luxurious homes and stunning luxury apartments, fronting Hyde Park. Bayswater is the name given to the eastern part of the district of Paddington. It is a very pleasant area of London that is situated just to the west of Paddington station, off the Bayswater Road, close to Marble Arch. Bayswater is a short walk from the designer boutiques of Bond Street and the fabulous shopping facilities of Oxford Street (home to Selfridges) and is close to the theatres of the West End. It is believed that the name is derived from Ralph Baynard, a close friend of William the Conqueror.
Bayswater is home to the London Toy and Model Museum and to bustling Queensway, a vibrant high street full of excellent cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars, shops, cinemas, a casino and bowling alley and home to Whiteley's Shopping Centre, a large indoor shopping mall in the heart of London. The Porchester Centre, which has a gym, swimming pool, saunas and spa, is a great place to visit if you are a fitness buff or just need to unwind.
Hyde Park, one of the world's finest city parks, provides 350 acres of great beauty and serenity on your doorstep. The park is right next to Kensington Gardens, and together they form 620 acres of greenery in the very heart of the city. Central London's largest green area can tire out any walker. It takes about an hour and a half to walk around, but there are plenty of diversions, from the Serpentine Gallery, to cafes, fountains, flower gardens, The Princess Diana Memorial and more. In Hyde Park you can rent a boat on the Serpentine, ride horses in Rotten Row, listen to music in the bandstand or people speaking at Speakers Corner. And you can feed the ducks, eat lunch or stop for tea, or simply promenade around - all very civilized.
Within easy access of Bayswater are the many attractions of London including the Science and History Museum, Madame Tussauds, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Royal Albert Hall, to name just a few landmarks. Of course the magnificent open spaces of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and easy access to nearby Marble Arch, Edgware Road, Kensington, Mayfair and Knightsbridge (home to Harrods) all make Bayswater a highly convenient central London address. You are also within walking distance of trendy Notting Hill Gate and Portobello Road Market.
Every Sunday Bayswater Road is transformed into the world's liveliest open-air art show. This world famous show is on the railings of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. Over 250 artists and craftsmen display their original works - meet the artists and choose from thousands of different exhibits.
Bayswater provides easy access to all of London's main attractions, not least of which is Hyde Park, just five minutes by foot. Furthermore, the Heathrow Express leaves Paddington station every 15 minutes, arriving at the airport just a quarter of an hour later.
Bayswater is an ideal base to explore all that the vibrant city of London has to offer. Its central location allows you to travel around the capital with ease and experience its history and culture, as well as its many places of entertainment.
BAYSWATER RESTAURANTS
BOMBAY PALACE - 50 Connaught Street, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7723 8855 - Cuisine: Indian
CHEPSTOW, THE - 39 Chepstow Place, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7229 0323 - Cuisine: Gastropub
GOURMET BURGER KITCHEN - 50 Westbourne Grove, Bayswater, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7243 4344 - Cuisine: American/International
HALEPI - 18 Leinster Terrace, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7262 1070 - Cuisine: Greek
MANDARIN KITCHEN - 14-16 Queensway, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7727 9012 - Cuisine: Chinese
MAROUSH - 21 Edgware Road, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7723 0773 - Cuisine: Lebanese
NIPA THAI - First Floor, Royal Lancaster Hotel, Lancaster Terrace, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7262 6737 - Cuisine: Thai
ROYAL CHINA - 13 Queensway, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7221 2535 - Cuisine: Chinese
TIGER LIL’S - 75 Bishop Bridge Road, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7221 2622 - Cuisine: Asian/Mongolian
VERONICA’S - 3 Hereford Road, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7229 5079 - Cuisine: British
YO! SUSHI - Whiteleys Shopping Centre , Queensway, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7727 9392 - Cuisine: Japanese
NEARBY SIGHTS & PLACES OF INTEREST
Cleveland Square and Gardens -- This prestigious block and its gardens are the location of yearly fireworks night, summer parties, movie shoots and a stately ambiance. .
Lancaster Gate and Spire House -- One of the most grandest housing schemes in the area which still maintains an air of grandeur, once home to the Football Association and Christ Church, worth a walk through on the way to Hyde Park.
The Lancasters (Hyde Park) -- Previously a hotel, this fabulous new luxurious residential development is set to lift the profile of the area, in style, value and occupancy.
The Italian Garden and The Fountains -- The spectacular fountains, sculptures and the overall general arrangement make this a pleasant and well visited area of Kensington Gardens at the entrance opposite Lancaster Gate Underground.
Bayswater Road and the Art Market -- For nearly 50 years this transport artery opens up every Sunday to over 250 artists and craftsmen with their original works of art. Start at Queensway and head down to Lancaster Gate and beyond.
Paddington Station -- Isambard Kingdom Brunel's great creation of the mid 1800s, now one of London's key transport hubs for services to the west and Heathrow.
St Mary's Hospital (and Fleming Museum) -- Visitors can see Fleming's laboratory restored to its 1928 condition, and otherwise walk around one of the countries leading academic research centres, and birthplace to many over the years, including the Royals.
Queensway -- Eclectic, yet increasingly gentrified, shopping street home to some of London's best Chinese Restaurants, and a variety of retail and dining.
Whiteleys -- William Whiteley's famous shopping centre, now brought into the modern age and increasingly moving up market. Pleasant shopping and dining experience.
Craven Road, Hill and Terrace -- Nearby clustering of retail, restaurants and assortments of services at your disposal. Craven Hill has many fine villas, alas mostly infilled to the sides to make use of valuable real estate.
Leinster Terrace, Queens Gardens, Chillworth Street and nearby Mews -- The local streets reveal the historic nature of the area, many buildings once home to stately characters, businesses or institutions, but largely now either housing or hotels.
Westbourne Grove -- One of London's most well known and visited shopping streets, stretching from the northern end of Queensway down through Chepstow Corner, Notting Hill and ultimately finishing at Portobello Road. Take the time on foot to stroll, shop and dine.
Portobello Road -- Home to the famously weekly markets, full of antiques, works of art and bric-a-brac, leading down to fruit, veg and daily essentials. Also lined with funky restaurants and shops, this is certainly one of the most heavily visited areas within London. Walk down via Westbourne Grove.
Connaught Village -- A quaint and pleasant "village" in the heart of the city reminiscent of an older age with its boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. Be sure to walk there via. Westbourne Terrace, Bathurst Street and Hyde Park Square to nose around expensive yet obscure inner city living.
Paddington Basin -- This large redevelopment to the rear of Paddington Station has revitalised the area, and is worth a stroll, shop and dine, particularly on the way through to Little Venice. Walk down Eastbourne Terrace, and turn in to the left on Bishops Bridge.
Little Venice -- The intersection of the canals at Warwick Crescent is one of inner London's most pleasant areas. From here, take a boat to Regents Park and Camden, head down to the Formosa Dining Room at Warwick Avenue, and admire the grand properties. Walk through via. Paddington Basin.
Edgware Road -- Colourful, rough, and Middle Eastern in flavour, another of London's most well known and trafficed streets. Not really worth a stroll along, but certainly worth a drive through to understand the flavour of West London.
Marble Arch -- Home to Speakers' Corner, a marble monument, and once the location of the notorious Tyburn gallows, but now a notorious traffic intersection. Worth a view when approached from Hyde Park.
Hyde Park -- To the east of West Carriage drive, this park is certainly worth a day to stroll and dine, and if the weather is great, try taking out a boat onto the Serpentine. Don't miss the Diana Fountain, Speakers' Corner and Rotten Row. Just a short walk.
Kensington Gardens -- To the west of West Carriage drive, start from Lancaster Gate with the Italian Gardens, The Fountains, then the Round Pond, Diana's Playground, Kensington Palace, The Albert Memorial and the Serpentine Gallery. Just a short walk.
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