Maida Vale

Well-known for its stunning period houses and flats as well as the picturesque canals of Little Venice.

To the west of St John’s Wood is popular Maida Vale and its distinctive neighbour, Little Venice, which together are considered among London’s prime residential areas.

Maida Vale has a wide range of quality housing stock which is situated either on leafy boulevards or along the waterfront of the Regent’s Canal.

Maida Vale

Houses here further include elegant period villas and spacious mansion blocks, both of which have long been popular with affluent middle-class buyers. Residents are also attracted by the area’s lively café culture, its numerous high-quality pubs, bars and restaurants, as well as the diverse range of shopping available on its streets.

Right on the doorstep, sandwiched between Maida Vale and Paddington, Little Venice is a pocket of calm, with exclusive white stucco-fronted Victorian mansions lining its scenic waterways.

It is no wonder why this area has historically been a popular spot for the rich and famous, with residents past and present including Sir Alec Guinness, John Inman, Nancy Mitford, Joan Collins, Paul Weller of The Jam, Jennifer Saunders, Kate Moss and many others.

Those looking for outdoor space will find Paddington Recreation Ground nearby, while the canals of Little Venice offer a tranquil refuge from the hustle and bustle of London life. Transport links are also second to none, with a range of tube, train and bus services to choose from, providing extremely quick commuting times to central London and other areas.

If you’re looking to buy or rent property in Maida Vale you certainly won’t be alone, and due to its relatively small size compared to its surrounding neighbours, it can be a very competitive marketplace. Aston Chase has been one of the leading Maida Vale estate agents for over 35 years and as such, is best positioned to not only advise on the best properties on the market but also secure them for our clients at the right price. Our experienced agents have a wealth of knowledge of the local area, as well as extensive connections, ensuring that we are always first to hear about the highest quality houses and flats for sale in Maida Vale (often times prior to them being openly brought to market).

ASTON CHASE

HISTORY

In the 1600s, the Maida Vale area belonged to the Bishop of London and consisted of a smattering of farmhouses surrounded by fields and woodland. However, in the early 19th century, house building began in earnest along Edgware Road and Maida Avenue. From the 1860s onwards, red bricks started being used as a building material, with the majority of the area’s mansion blocks constructed between 1898 and 1902.

PROPERTY

Maida Vale has a wide range of quality homes and flats to choose from, including grand stucco-fronted villas and Edwardian red brick mansion blocks with attractive communal gardens. The streets around Randolph Avenue down to Elgin Avenue have become a designated conservation area to protect the beautiful period buildings they contain. For a more romantic and unconventional choice of home, Little Venice offers the potential opportunity to secure one of the rarely available canal houseboats.

SHOPPING

Maida Vale’s positioning provides its residents with convenient access to the boutique stores of both St John’s Wood High Street and Westbourne Grove. Wine lovers will discover a hidden gem on Clifton Road at The Winery, a former Victorian pharmacy that has replaced its dusty potion bottles of old with gleaming bottles of Burgundy and Claret. Real Drinks (Formosa Street) is another great shop for both wine aficionados and craft beer geeks alike. Clifton Nurseries (London’s oldest garden centre at Clifton Villas) is the destination of choice for those seeking a bit of inspiration for their garden.

EATING & DRINKING

The Prince Alfred & Formosa Dining Rooms (Formosa Street) combines a quirky pub with the more contemporary Formosa Dining Rooms and serves up well-executed pub-style food. The Summerhouse (Blomfield Road) is an excellent choice for waterfront seafood. Baker & Spice (Clifton Road), Tsiakkos & Charcoal (Marylands Road), and Café Laville (Edgware Road) are our picks for more budget-friendly, yet equally tasty dining options.

PARKS

Living in Maida Vale provides convenient access to parks and other outdoor lifestyle activities, as well as for those with young children. Extensive sports facilities can be found at the popular Paddington Recreation Ground (Maida Vale’s main park) including a football/hockey pitch, trim trail, nature trail, rounders pitch and more, whilst the peaceful waterways of Little Venice are perfect for a relaxing afternoon stroll.

TRANSPORT

The Maida Vale/Little Venice area is well-served by a choice of London Underground Stations including Warwick Avenue, Maida Vale and Kilburn Park, all of which reside on the Bakerloo Line (Zone 2). Commuting times are quick; for example, the journey from Maida Vale to Oxford Circus takes just 12 minutes.

National rail services operate from nearby Paddington and Marylebone stations providing direct links to Heathrow, Birmingham and The West Country.

SCHOOLS

Families looking for property for sale or to let in Maida Vale or Little Venice have a good selection of private and state schools to choose from. Two of the area’s top state primary schools are St Joseph’s RC (Lanark Road) and St Saviour’s CE (Shirland Road), both judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. King Solomon Academy in Penfold Street, on the eastern side of Edgware Road, is a recently opened City Academy for children aged 3-18 that is also judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.