Most of the streets in the area immediately surrounding Regent's Park are lined with tall and imposing white stucco-fronted terraces and detached houses. Chester Terrace, on the east side of the park, is a stunning example of fine, palatial Georgian architecture. The park itself has been regarded as one of the finest in London since it opened in 1841. It caters for a wide range of sports with tennis and netball courts, hockey, rounders, football and rugby pitches. In addition there are two small boating lakes and a children's playground. It is also often used for baseball matches by expatriate Americans living nearby (attracted by the American Scholl in St John's Wood).
The park contains a number of landscaped flower gardens, cafes and an open-air theatre and bandstand. London Zoo is situated on the northern side of the park.
The Regent's Park is the largest grass area for sports in Central London and offers a wide variety of activities, as well as an Open Air Theatre, the London Zoo and many cafes and restaurants.
Known as the 'jewel in the crown' The Regent's Park (including Primrose Hill) covers 487 acres. Like most of the other Royal Parks, Regent's Park formed part of the vast chase appropriated by Henry VIII.
Marylebone Park, as it was known, remained a royal chase until 1646. It was John Nash, architect to the crown and friend of the Prince Regent who developed Regent's Park, as we know it today. He created a vast rounded park, surrounded by palatial terraces, a lake, a canal, 56 villas and a second home for the prince.
The park became the home of several organisations like the Zoological Society and the Royal Botanic Society. It wasn't until 1845, during the reign of Queen Victoria, that the general public were actually allowed into the Park and this was only for two days of the week.
The main development in the 20th century was the creation, in the 1930s, of Queen Mary's Gardens. Of the buildings and monuments within the park, only two villas, St John's Lodge and The Holm, remain from John Nash's original conception of the park.
Travel Links to Regents Park
Regent's Park (Bakerloo line), Great Portland Street (Hammersmith & City, Circle & Metropolitan lines), Baker Street (Hammersmith & City, Circle, Jubilee, Metropolitan & Bakerloo lines), St John's Wood (Jubilee line) and Camden Town (Northern line)
Railway Station
Motorway Junction M4 Junction 1
Airport London City
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Buy to Let Investments Earls Court, London SW5
Located to the west of South Kensington, Earl's Court has a thriving cosmopolitan atmosphere with the length of the Earl's Court Road being populated with pubs, restaurants and late night eateries.
With a multi-cultural population and a well-connected tube station, Earl's Court attracts young single professionals and couples alike.
Property is generally apartments in conversions or mansion blocks. Rental levels are more reasonable than neighbouring Chelsea and Kensington.
Earls Court was at one point known as Kangaroo Alley due to the vast number of antipodeans who stayed there, however this doesn't apply as much anymore. It still has the reputation of an area where people stay - not where they live.
In addition to this, in the late 70's and early 80's it became the gay centre of London. Once again, this no longer applies although the area retains a large gay presence. Overall, Earl's Court is a somewhat seedy, fairly uninspiring place - but it does have its moments.
History of Earls Court
Earls Court was largely a waste ground for many years. With the introduction of two stations, it became a mass network of rail on derelict grounds.
The idea of introducing entertainment to the grounds was brought about by an entrepreneur called John Robinson Whitley who used the land as a show ground for many years. Unfortunately Whitley did not end up making a single penny for his efforts, yet Whitley's desire had decided the future of Earls Court and its purpose in later years.
In 1935 the land was sold; the new owners decided to construct a show centre to rival any other in the world and to dominate "The Village Hall" up the road (the management's affectionate name for Olympia). The plan was to create Europe's largest structure by volume
The project did not go exactly to plan; it ran over budget and was late in completion. Earls Court finally opened its door to the public for the chocolate and confectionery exhibition on the 1st of September 1937.
The Motor Show and Commercial Vehicle show soon followed. In spite of all the problems in the latter part of construction, the project was still completed in amazing time. At a cost of 1.5 million pounds, it was a marvel of architectural feat, and it still is today.
In response to the drastic need to increase Earls Court's exhibition space, Earls Court Two was constructed at a cost of £100m. The striking new barrel-roofed hall which links with Earls Court One via folding shutters is large enough to hold four jumbo jets and the hall's 17,000 square metre floor is entirely column-free.
Travel Links to Earls Court
Earls Court (District and Piccadilly Lines)
Kensington Olympia Railway Station
Motorway Junction M4 Junction 1
Airport London City
With a multi-cultural population and a well-connected tube station, Earl's Court attracts young single professionals and couples alike.
Property is generally apartments in conversions or mansion blocks. Rental levels are more reasonable than neighbouring Chelsea and Kensington.
Earls Court was at one point known as Kangaroo Alley due to the vast number of antipodeans who stayed there, however this doesn't apply as much anymore. It still has the reputation of an area where people stay - not where they live.
In addition to this, in the late 70's and early 80's it became the gay centre of London. Once again, this no longer applies although the area retains a large gay presence. Overall, Earl's Court is a somewhat seedy, fairly uninspiring place - but it does have its moments.
History of Earls Court
Earls Court was largely a waste ground for many years. With the introduction of two stations, it became a mass network of rail on derelict grounds.
The idea of introducing entertainment to the grounds was brought about by an entrepreneur called John Robinson Whitley who used the land as a show ground for many years. Unfortunately Whitley did not end up making a single penny for his efforts, yet Whitley's desire had decided the future of Earls Court and its purpose in later years.
In 1935 the land was sold; the new owners decided to construct a show centre to rival any other in the world and to dominate "The Village Hall" up the road (the management's affectionate name for Olympia). The plan was to create Europe's largest structure by volume
The project did not go exactly to plan; it ran over budget and was late in completion. Earls Court finally opened its door to the public for the chocolate and confectionery exhibition on the 1st of September 1937.
The Motor Show and Commercial Vehicle show soon followed. In spite of all the problems in the latter part of construction, the project was still completed in amazing time. At a cost of 1.5 million pounds, it was a marvel of architectural feat, and it still is today.
In response to the drastic need to increase Earls Court's exhibition space, Earls Court Two was constructed at a cost of £100m. The striking new barrel-roofed hall which links with Earls Court One via folding shutters is large enough to hold four jumbo jets and the hall's 17,000 square metre floor is entirely column-free.
Travel Links to Earls Court
Earls Court (District and Piccadilly Lines)
Kensington Olympia Railway Station
Motorway Junction M4 Junction 1
Airport London City
Property Sales Covent Garden, London WC2
Covent Garden dates back to the 16th Century. In 1670 it became a fruit and flower market and the architect Inigo Jones was commissioned to design an Italian-style piazza. Much of this design remains today.
Covent Garden is one of London's liveliest areas both day and night. It lies next door to London's theatreland and the streets are lined with every type of shop, boutique, wine bar restaurant and coffee house. Market stalls and market stalls provide year round entertainment. The London Transport Museum is in the centre of Covent Garden and only a stone's throw away from the newly refurbished Royal Opera House.
History of Covent Garden
Covent Garden was originally part of the land owned by Westminster Abbey, specifically St Peter's Convent. Henry VIII passed on the "Convent Garden" to the Earl of Bedford during the dissolution of the monasteries. It wasn't developed until almost a century later though, when the fourth Earl recruited noted architect Inigo Jones to design and build a piazza.
Jones, famous for his love of classical Italian architecture came up with an elegant solution to the brief, and the church of St Paul's on the west side of the piazza provides a fine illustration of his style.
There had been a fruit and vegetable market in the square since 1649, but by the 18th century this had expanded to fill most of it up. With the construction of various theatres in the surrounding streets what had been a very prestigious address became somewhat less appealing. The market building that we know today appeared in 1830, and other buildings in the square went up later that century.
The fruit and veg market moved to Vauxhall in 1973, and the empty buildings stayed as they were for a few years before people began to realise that there was plenty of opportunity to draw tourists to the area.
The Royal Opera House has had a major effect on the area over the years. Built in 1732 it was a theatre for many years before music became the main draw. Riots about pricing and fires followed. More recently it was again the scene of controversy, when huge funds for modernisation were donated from the National Lottery.
Today Covent Garden is part tourist trap and part shopping arcade. Despite all this it's a part of London that many Londoners visit regularly and seem to like. And luckily these days you're unlikely to slip on a banana skin…
Travel Links to Covent Garden
Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line)
Charing Cross Railway Station
Motorway Junction M1 Junction 1
Airport London City
Covent Garden is one of London's liveliest areas both day and night. It lies next door to London's theatreland and the streets are lined with every type of shop, boutique, wine bar restaurant and coffee house. Market stalls and market stalls provide year round entertainment. The London Transport Museum is in the centre of Covent Garden and only a stone's throw away from the newly refurbished Royal Opera House.
History of Covent Garden
Covent Garden was originally part of the land owned by Westminster Abbey, specifically St Peter's Convent. Henry VIII passed on the "Convent Garden" to the Earl of Bedford during the dissolution of the monasteries. It wasn't developed until almost a century later though, when the fourth Earl recruited noted architect Inigo Jones to design and build a piazza.
Jones, famous for his love of classical Italian architecture came up with an elegant solution to the brief, and the church of St Paul's on the west side of the piazza provides a fine illustration of his style.
There had been a fruit and vegetable market in the square since 1649, but by the 18th century this had expanded to fill most of it up. With the construction of various theatres in the surrounding streets what had been a very prestigious address became somewhat less appealing. The market building that we know today appeared in 1830, and other buildings in the square went up later that century.
The fruit and veg market moved to Vauxhall in 1973, and the empty buildings stayed as they were for a few years before people began to realise that there was plenty of opportunity to draw tourists to the area.
The Royal Opera House has had a major effect on the area over the years. Built in 1732 it was a theatre for many years before music became the main draw. Riots about pricing and fires followed. More recently it was again the scene of controversy, when huge funds for modernisation were donated from the National Lottery.
Today Covent Garden is part tourist trap and part shopping arcade. Despite all this it's a part of London that many Londoners visit regularly and seem to like. And luckily these days you're unlikely to slip on a banana skin…
Travel Links to Covent Garden
Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line)
Charing Cross Railway Station
Motorway Junction M1 Junction 1
Airport London City
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