This patch of quaint, affluent, west London inner suburbia takes up spots of Kilburn and Maida Vale, and is located between Kensal and Queen’s Park. The area’s wide streets are lined with rows of large, attractive Victorian terraced houses, most of which have their own gardens. The roads are leafy, safe and tranquil, the schools are good and so are the transport connections. Westbourne Park and Queen’s Park stations are the nearest, though Maida Vale and Warwick Avenue are far from a long walk away. This connectivity combined with the large homes has made the neighbourhood incredibly popular with well-to-do commuters with families.

This area’s history starts in the 1800s, when rich property developers started to build residential homes on the cattle-grazing land. Interestingly, in the 1900s the Kilburn area became a hub for Irish immigrants and you can still get a sense of their influence (mostly at the local pubs). The 20th century also saw the area dabble with social housing, particularly after the Second World War’s destruction hit nearby areas. However, many were demolished by the turn of the millennia.

Locals have a joke for the debate about whether the area is called Maida Vale or Maida Hill, and which one came first; “God Maida Hill then Maida Vale’ (clearly, they’re not big on comedy over there).

Whilst the majority of the area is made up of residential roads, Harrow Road, which runs along the south of the neighbourhood has been in deterioration for a while. As a result, some residents report feeling unsafe (although this is not reflected in actual crime statistics) and frustration at a lack of reliable or convenient amenities.

Westminster council have been strongly supporting the regeneration of Harrow Road, particularly in trying to encourage the growth of local business. The Harrow Road Place Plan developed by the council aims to address the high street’s regeneration needs by not only enhancing commercial activity, but also improving the landscape, increasing connectivity and developing new community assets. Feedback from the community on the concept designs has already been collected and one should keep their eyes peeled on what the future holds for this plan! The council’s commitment to intervening on Harrow Road is also bolstered by their 300 Harrow Road development, which is currently underway and will provide new affordable homes (private sale and social rented/intermediate homes) and much needed amenities, including a nursery and a community hall. That said, the residential streets that dominate most the area remain undisturbed from development plans for the time being.