This well-to-do 19th-century suburb, where the neighbourhoods of South Hampstead, St. John’s Wood, and Primrose Hill intersect, is located in the north London boroughs of Camden and Westminster. Residents of this area enjoy proximity to bustling Kilburn High Road, filled with many shops and restaurants, but also have the peaceful and relaxing Primrose Hill, Regents Park, and Paddington Recreation Ground all just a short walk away. There are a number of restaurants in the immediate neighbourhood, including many Lebanese and Persian, and Bruno’s Deli, a local favourite. Late nightlife in this area is restricted to gastropubs or quiet bars, giving residents a peaceful night’s sleep, but it is far from difficult to get to other parts of town from St John’s Wood tube station or on one of the many buses that pass through the area. This picturesque neighbourhood with its tree lined streets, old homes, and wide pavements, can make you almost forget that you are only 20 minutes outside of central London.

The area’s name derives from the Order of the Hospital of St John, who owned the area up until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540. Its low-lying situation meant that it was poorly serviced by roads, and therefore did not evolve in the same way that other affluent parts of town did. As the area evolved in the early-1800s, its owners, the Eyre family, laid private roads across the estate and built low density villa housing. The new inhabitants were very wealthy, including individuals from the banking and merchant trades. There were so many servants that new mews were constructed to house them all! The famous Abbey Road runs through the neighbourhood, and is home to the world famous recording studio. Founded in 1931, it has been the recording location of many of the best-selling artists of all time, including Adele, Blur, Miley Cyrus, Green Day, Elton John, Kylie, and many more. It is also the location of The Beatles’ 1969 album Abbey Road, on the cover of which the band can be seen walking across the street.

Melanie Klein used to live in this neighbourhood. Klein was an Austrian-British psychoanalyst who devised new therapeutic techniques for children that influenced child psychology and contemporary psychoanalysis. Thomas Huxley was also a local resident. Huxley was an English biologist and is most known for his advocacy of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Huxley’s famous debate in 1860 with Samuel Wilberforce was a key moment in the wider acceptance of the theory of evolution.

One of the potential downsides of living in this area is that there is not a lot of options for nightlife. Residents have to travel a bit if they are interested in finding clubs or places to go dancing. This makes the neighbourhood area relatively peaceful though, which is a positive for some.

While not much development activity is occuring in St. John’s Wood, construction in South Hampstead has gained a lot of momentum. Goldhurst Terrace, a nearly completed development located only a 3-minute walk away from South Hampstead station, offers 11 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom mansion block apartments in a four-storey red brick building. The building replaces a now demolished set of Victorian terraced houses. Abbey Road Cross is another new development in the neighbourhood offering 75 one, two and three bedroom apartments, with concierge services. new community and health facilities, and improved open and play spaces. Additionally, residents of this neighbourhood should expect to see continual minor developments, upkeep to properties, and refurbishments in the area in the coming years.