This area, sitting on the borders of Westminster, Camden, and Kensington & Chelsea, is known by residents as Maida Vale or Little Venice. Close to Edgeware Road and Paddington station, it’s easy for locals to travel throughout London. Aside from its excellent transport connections, Maida Vale is also known for its Georgian homes, cobblestone streets, and its proximity to the canal. Additionally, this neighbourhood is also home to multiple parks, like Paddington Recreation Ground and Little Venice Gardens. Between these assets and the neighbourhood’s plethora of independent shops and restaurants, it’s no wonder that Maida Vale is considered to be such a desirable place to live.

Once made up of mostly farmland, the Bishop of London was the original owner of Maida Vale in 1647. However, it wasn’t until 1807 that the Church began to build houses in the area, eventually filling the area with villas. By the late 1800s, many Jewish families had moved to the area and converted a large number of villas into mansion flats. Later on, in 1915, the Maida Vale tube station opened, ushering in businesses to the neighbourhood, such as the still-thriving BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Famous mathematician and World War II hero, Alan Turing, was born in Maida Vale. He is most well known for helping to crack the German Enigma code. Sir Ambrose Fleming, renowned electrical engineer, once lived in the area. He went on to design the first electrical lighting for ships.

Maida Vale got its name from the now defunct pub in the area, Hero of Maida. The “hero” was considered to be Major-General Sir John Stuart, who led the British military to victory on the plain of Maida in Italy.

Most of Alfred Hitchcock’s film, “Dial M for Murder” was set in Maida Vale.

Of the crimes that take place in Maida Vale, many are reported as vandalism or harassment. Still, the overall crime rate is significantly lower than the council’s average. Residents here not only report feeling safe in the area, but also take great pride in its serene village feel and close proximity to Central London.

Since the area is already well connected and prized for its quaint, small town but affluent feel, there is little pressure to lead regeneration projects in the area. However, as newcomers have caught on to the desirability of Maida Vale, housing prices have been steadily rising, leading real estate developers to invest more in the area. Investors are further attracted to the neighbourhood for its very low crime rates and depravity which the Westminster City Council continues to monitor closely through regular ward profile reports.