Attracting a vibrant young community with its cool bars, restaurants, gyms and excellent local schools, Queen’s Park is loved by urban professionals
Move over Notting Hill. To the north, and a good deal more sensibly priced, you will find Queen’s Park. Bursting with yoga studios, boutique gyms, cool bars and flexible working spaces, it’s little wonder that it’s drawing hip young professional buyers.
First impressions
Describing it as a “highly desirable place to live”, Mark Pollack, co-founder of Aston Chase says “it also represents good value when compared to neighbouring areas such as Notting Hill, St John’s Wood, Maida Vale and Hampstead and with a younger more urban vibe too!” Notable residents, says Pollack, include the actresses Thandie Newton and Sienna Miller, as well as famous names from the world of music, media and politics.
Laid-back restaurants line the charmingly cobbled Lonsdale Road, while the Salusbury Pub on Salusbury Road has an enthusiastic local following. The park itself is a significant community hub featuring a playground, petting zoo, tennis courts and open gym. The annual Queen’s Park Day is not to be missed, says Ed Plumb, head of sales at Hamptons Kensal Rise & Queen’s Park. He describes it as “a fun-filled day consisting of food stalls and live performances that brings the local community together”.
The area exudes urban charm. “The weekly farmers’ market at Salusbury Primary School is a must-visit for seasonal produce. Community events like the annual book festival and street parties only add to the area’s warm, welcoming vibe,” says Sarah Khalil, head of Queen’s Park sales at Knight Frank.
She adds that families like to upsize from central London flats to the generously proportioned Victorian and Edwardian houses that make up much of the local housing stock. While services on the Bakerloo line and overland trains offer excellent transport links to the and overland trains offer excellent transport links to the City and West End.
A day out
9AM
Park run
Home of Queens Park Rangers F.C, the west London neighbourhood has plenty of wellbeing links to keep residents health conscious. Start the day in its namesake Queen’s Park crafted by Alexander McKenzie in 1887 who also designed Alexandra Palace park, pictured left. To further kick summer fitness into gear, try STRM London for boutique boxing or Absolute Studios.
11AM
Picnic
Instead of rushing away, based on Kilburn Lane Vicki’s is able to cater for parties to picnics with friends and family. With food freshly prepared on the day, they are able to create sharing platters, lunchboxes and more, turn a day out in the park into a food feast.
1PM
Rain or shine
No matter the weather, find a flurry of eateries around the area. At the Queen’s Park Farmers’ Market on Salusbury Road open every Sunday, find the best of seasonal products. Further down, find Provenance Village Butcher. The family run butchers can provide tips and tricks on the best cuts, with recipes for culinary inspiration. If more inclined to a lighter lunch, their deli has plenty of options.
3PM
Bookworm
On the lookout for your next holiday read? Head to Queen’s Park Books on Salubsury Road where the independent bookshop has been brightening literary horizons since 2004. Find more than 10,000 curated titles, whether you’re after a signed edition or subscription. The shop also partners with the Queen’s Park book festival, happening on the 31 August & 1 September.
5PM
Food and film
On Kilburn Lane, find a slice of the dolce vita at Ida. The Italian restaurant is run by husband and wife team Avi and Simonetta. Pairing the delights of Italian cuisine with cinema, Cinema Ida is a supper club inspired by the film of the evening. The next Cinema Ida: La Vita È Bella will be on the 7th July, above.
Ask a local: Oi Leng, co-founder of The Hearth
“Lonsdale Road in Queen’s Park is London’s best kept secret. This beautiful mews house row features cool creative media and design businesses, and London’s only women’s co-working space, The Hearth. On the weekend, it’s heaving with fab restaurants like Carmel and Milk Beach. The Sunday Farmer’s Market is a long-time favourite with fresh veg, produce and flowers. A perfect brunch could be delicious hot dosas from Mumbai Mix market stall, a chilled bottle from the Salusbury Wine Store and picnicking in Queen’s Park. Spring’s here, sun’s out, sunnies on, people watch. It’s all happening in NW6!”
Food and drink
Milk Beach
19-21 Lonsdale Road
Billed as ‘a little of Sydney in London’, the Queen’s Park branch is the sister restaurant to the Milk Beach Soho. Celebrating the diverse flavours of modern Australian cuisine, the neighbourhood favourite is the original location. With differing menus, in this branch find dishes such as spiced Togarashi chicken schnitzel Bahn for lunch and sharing plates including mushroom ginger dumplings and hibachi fired monkfish, Thai green curry.
Sudu
30 Salusbury Road
The Malaysian family run eatery is the same team behind London’s most established Malaysian restaurant, Satay House in Paddington. With staple dishes of the southeastern nation from varying styles of the aromatic nasi goreng stir-fry to laksa, a coconut broth with rice vermicelli and if after a fiery dish, beef rendang.
Parlour
5 Regent Street
Located towards the leafier side of the neighbourhood towards Kensal Green, Parlour brings culinary delights with reinvented British classics. From chicken Kyiv with hash browns and coleslaw to glazed salmon fillet and wild mushroom fritter, no culinary stone is left unturned. For those who are more inclined to brunch with friends, find the perfect dishes to start the day on a good note. To finish off on a sweet note, find desserts sticky toffee pudding, Yorkshire champagne rhubarb crumble, and nostalgia favourite arctic roll.
Carmel
23-35 Lonsdale Road
Try their famous flatbread made using their tabun oven, find a selection of seasonal toppings. For dinner, guests are treated to a menu focused on live-fire cooking and wood roasting, with dishes such as miso harissa slow-grilled chicken.
Lula
6A-8A Lonsdale Road
From the team behind Marylebone’s Chameleon, Lula has loft space able to host private dining and events. Small plates include courgette flowers to wagyu with truffle ponzu. Or opt for the heartier aubergine steak with black quinoa.
Schools
Within easy reach of Hampstead, Kensal Rise and Belsize Park, Queen’s Park has schools for children to excel from nursery
all the way to sixth form. On Chatsworth Road, Crickets Montessori for children aged 2-5, was established in 2004 by Celia Stephenson and offers creative activities from dance to cooking. Co-ed Salusbury Primary School on Salusbury Road is rated Good by Ofsted, and is passionate about fostering a nurturing environment for pupils to thrive.
Other primary schools nearby include Wilberforce on Beethoven Street and ARK Franklin on Harvist Road. In neighbouring Belsize Park, independent schools include Sarum Hall School, for girls aged 3-11, with the motto ‘Spirit. Happiness. Success’. For secondary, Kilburn Lane co-ed Bales College, sees leavers head to universities such as Durham, Exeter and Bristol. Hampstead has a range of excellent schools, including University College School and South Hampstead High School.
Ask an agent: Basile Burnel, Marsh & Parsons
“Queen’s Park is buzzing with energy, making it a popular spot for both buyers and tenants. Residents often come together for events, and with weekly farmers’ markets, as well as the park itself offering tennis courts and a petting zoo, the area provides a peaceful community feel. Known for its tree-lined streets filled with Victorian and Edwardian houses, as well as a variety of contemporary apartment buildings, there’s a home for everyone.
There is high demand for properties from both international and UK buyers and tenants. One bedroom flats start selling from around £400,000 and grand detached six-bedroom homes can fetch north of £5m. With such a friendly atmosphere, it’s no wonder Queen’s Park is a top choice for families and young professionals alike. You’ll quickly feel a part of this wonderful neighbourhood.”
On the Market
AYLESTONE AVENUE
Set behind electric gates, this double-fronted, seven-bedroom Brondesbury Park home has a courtyard at its heart, planted with a 100-year-old olive tree. With a cutting-edge kitchen, cinema room and state-of-the-art entertainment and lighting systems, it also has planning permission for a 1,000 sq ft pool house and gym. £7,995,950. Agent: knightfrank.co.uk
ALDERSIDE APARTMENTS
Set in a modern development opposite Queen’s Park Underground and Overground station, this two-bed apartment benefits from a large south-westerly balcony and concierge service. £769,950
Agent: astonchase.com
CHEVENING ROAD
This light-filled split-level three-bedroom apartment in a period building close to Salusbury Road’s rich social scene has undergone extensive refurbishment. £1.25m Agent: dexters.co.uk
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