This prestigious section of Maida Vale is a name most people will be familiar with for its musical orientations. Certainly, it’s a neighbourhood rich in musical history, and everyone from David Bowie to Jay-Z has performed in the iconic BBC Maida Vale studios. The area is also increasingly popular with creative industries who are moving their offices to the locality because of its fantastic connectivity and fashionable reputation. However, in day-to-day life, its streets have a decidedly less bohemian or punk feel – rather, this is an intensely pleasant, uptown residential area. Locals are spoilt for choice in terms of nearby tube stops, but for a novelty, there is the little-known water bus that takes passengers all the way to Camden.

Believe it or not, until 1800, the area that is currently Maida Vale was solely had up for cattle grazing pastures. Homes were few and far between in this fundamentally rural part of London. It was the opening of the Grand Union Canal in 1801 that justified the construction of the first villa in the area, but by the end of the Second World war, most of the housing had fallen into disrepair and neglect. The 1950s and 60s brought the introduction of municipal tower blocks, and by the 1970s the area was centre of a squatting campaign that divided the nation. Fast forward to today, however, and the area is a strong, affluent residential neighbourhood of mostly terraced and semi- detached housing.

The origins of Maida Vale’s name stem from a pub. Back in 1910, a pub named the Hero of Maida was set up – at 435 Edgeware Road to be exact. The name of the pub is in reference to Major General Sir John Stewart, who defeated the French on a battlefield in Maida, Italy back in 1806.

Interestingly, this is an area with relatively few big issues, and is notable for its relatively low crime rates compared to the rest of the borough of Westminster. However, some residents bemoan the lack of local amenities. There is currently a lack of major supermarkets and shopping centres so residents must travel to neighbouring areas to do any serious shopping.

Sadly, the BBC are set to close down their iconic Maida Vale studios by 2025, instead choosing to relocate to East London. This will certainly have an effect on the local economy and signify the loss of an area keystone. However, a local campaign to protect the studios was successful, and the building was granted Grade II status in 2020. Westminster council have also shown great enthusiasm in establishing a ‘regeneration masterplan’ for nearby areas such as Church Street, and Harrow Road. This will increase foot traffic to the area and add some much-needed amenities. Lastly, Tollgate Garden’s Estate has been transformed into a mix of affordable and luxury housing complexes that will help alleviate local housing demand.