Marylebone Central
This neighbourhood, is an affluent and charming area in northern London, and is located within the City of Westminster. It is a fashionable area known for its majestic Georgian squares and terraces, pretty mews houses, and Edwardian mansion flats, as well as the famed Harley Street which is known for housing some of the most highly sought after (and expensive) private doctors and surgeons in the country. It is just a stone’s throw from Marylebone High Street, which is overflowing with charming coffee shops, eateries and boutiques. It is just a few streets away from Oxford Circus, but still has the feel of a real neighbourhood. The area is mostly residential, with some businesses and private doctors’ offices scattered throughout.
Marylebone can trace its beginnings as far back as the Norman Conquest, with historians believing that it originally consisted of two manors, Tyburn to the east and Lilestone to the west. The manor of Tyburn is mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086 as a possession of Barking Abbey, with a population of 50 people. This area of Marylebone, with Weymouth Street, originally belonged to the Manor of Tyburn. Tyburn is best known for being the principal place for public execution of London criminals, with the first recorded execution taking place in 1196. Although this neighbourhood area is located in what used to be Tyburn, the executions took place closer to the area that is now Marble Arch.
One of the most famous residents of this neighbourhood was Paul McCartney. He lived at 57 Wimpole Street in an attic room, where he wrote Yesterday. Another famous resident was Hector Berlioz, who lived in the area in the summer of 1851, for the Great Exhibition. Berlioz was a French composer, critic, and conductor of the Romantic period. He was best known for his Symphonie fantastique (1830), the choral symphony Roméo et Juliette (1839), and the dramatic piece La Damnation de Faust (1846).
‘Other theft’ is the highest reported crime in this neighbourhood area. This means that people on the street are not mugged or pickpocketed, but the theft is occurring from businesses and shops. Residents, however, report feeling safe in the area, even at night, and do not worry about walking alone.
Currently in the neighbourhood, a developer was recently given approval to partially demolish and redevelop the buildings occupying 129-137 Marylebone Road. The scheme involves the protection of the existing facades while expanding and modernising the internal spatial layout of the developments for commercial and business uses. More new modern living options were also recently built on Marylebone Lane, with other ongoing and anticipated projects including the development of a new lxury hotel by Shiva Hotels and the Marylebone Square scheme in nearby Moxon Street. Additionally, the new Elizabeth line, which became operational in early 2022, will have a stop at Bond Street station starting November 2022, which is very close to this neighbourhood!