Marylebone Village & Baker Street
1 / 5
Marylebone - by Francesca Grima on Unsplash
Description
Marylebone Village & Baker Street form the commercial and tourist center of the Marylebone district, between Regent's Park to the north and Mayfair to the south with Oxford Street acting as the boundary line. Marylebone village covers Marylebone High Street and its immediate vicinity with Baker Street running parallel about 200m west of it. Marylebone High Street has been voted best street in the city by listeners of BBC Radio 4 in the past and is a favourite of many Londoners known for its mix of boutiques. The majority of the buildings today date from the early 1900s and the Wallace Collection Museum is located there. Baker Street was made famous as the residence of the fictional character Sherlock Holmes (at 221 Baker Street, which doesn't actually exist). It is now a busy commercial street with 2 key attractions just north of Marylebone rd: Madame Tussauds (the world's first wax museum) and Baker Street station, one of the oldest surviving underground stations.
Access & Transport
The easiest way to get there is by bus or underground with 3 stations covering the area: Baker Street, Regent's Park (to the northeast) and Bond Street (to the south). The neighbourhood sees heavy traffic, congestion charge applies and parking spaces are scarce and expensive so best to use public transport if possible.
Instructions & Recommendations
If you are planning on shopping, best to wait until mid-morning. A visit to the neighbourhood is best combined with attractions such as the Wallace Collection, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, Madame Tussaud and a walk in Regent's Park.
Environmental & Social
It is an urban environment with some but not much greenery. The flow of visitors allows independent boutiques and restaurateurs to operate but also increases the cost of living and operating in the neighbourhood.
Conclusion
The Marylebone Village area has nothing that stands out but is rather a collection of surprising boutiques mixing culture, buildings architecture, food, and restaurants. As such it may not be for tourists looking to go through their to-see list and be wowed. Baker Street by itself has not stand-out sight but contains several interesting attractions.
Key positive
Very central and easy to access location
Many interesting boutiques and buildings
Key negative
Expensive area in general, the rent roll of Marylebone High St has reached stratospheric levels
The neighbourhood itself is pleasant but not a tourist highlight
Suitability
Suitable for all ages but kids are unlikely to enjoy it very much. Accessibility should be fine in most places but really depends on each store and attraction
About this Rating
TYPE
Onsite
RESEARCHED IN
May 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 25m
est. visit time:2h 30m
Sunrise / early morningNo
MorningOk
Lunch timeOk
AfternoonOk
Sunset / eveningOk
Night – bef. midnightOk
Night – aft. midnightNo