This is a chic residential area that has its own village-like feel. While many would say it is centred on the indie boutiques and smart restaurants of Marylebone High Street, others would point to the growing crowds for Madame Tussauds and the Sherlock Holmes Museum, which is at the fictional detective’s home address at 221b Baker Street. Other than that, the area is full of great architecture that can be easily summed up by the Georgian mansion that houses the Wallace Collection of art and period furnishings.
What brings our guests to this wonderful area is its blend of the hectic city life and the quieter aspects of small village life. Regent’s Park and Hyde Park play their part as the lush green spaces to walk round in the evening at the end of a gruelling working day, while the nearby attractions of Madame Tussauds and the Sherlock Holmes Museum play their part in the weekend’s many adventures.
Making the heart of London feel like a countryside community, Marylebone is a rare treat in the centre of the city. The local amenities all cater to the guests coming to call it home, and its array of Underground and transport facilities make it a winner for corporate guests heading to their offices in the mornings and leisure guests that are spending the day at the galleries and museums further away.
Comfort and convenience are just two of the words that can easily sum up the incredible area as it grows to become a staunch favourite for all.
History of Marylebone
While the name may be difficult to pronounce for some (The received pronunciation is 'MARRY-le-bn', however, 'MAR—le-bone’ is more common), Marylebone actually gets its name from a church dedicated to St Mary, with the original church built on the bank of a small stream or "bourne", called the Tybourne. This church and area later became known as St Mary at the Bourne, until eventually after other by-names like Marybourne, Marybone, Mary-la-bonne it became Marylebone.
Its manor, Tyburn, is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, with the population then being no greater than 50. At the end of the 15th century, Thomas Hobson bought up the greater part of the manor, with his son exchanging it in 1544 with Henry VIII. The king enclosed the northern part of the manor as a deer park, which would be how the very beginning of Regent’s Park. Tyburn manor remained with the monarchs until the southern part was sold in 1611 by James I, retaining the deer park.
The manor was then bought by John Holles, Duke of Newcastle, in 1710 who passed it to his daughter and heir, Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles. She and her husband liked the fashionable housing north of Oxford Road (which became Oxford Street), and commissioned a surveyor and builder to draw a plan that would set up the now-Cavendish Square.
In the 18th century, Marylebone became known for the entertainments in Marylebone Gardens, where bear-baiting and prizefights would take place. The duelling grounds in Marylebone Fields were notorious too.
Marylebone was a metropolitan borough of the County of London between 1899 and 1965, after which, with Paddington and Westminster, it was merged into the City of Westminster.
Business Life in Marylebone
With a local economy that is more centred on retail and its key attractions, Marylebone has a reliable economy that keeps growing due to the crowds that fill the shops as well as the waxwork museum and Sherlock Holmes’ home. Its array of Underground stations like Baker Street, Bond Street, Edgware Road, Great Portland Street, Marble Arch, Marylebone, Oxford Circus and Regent's Park ensure that business travellers can get to work very easily and not be left behind in a long commute. Marylebone Station also has access to parts of the UK outside of London and comes in handy for those that need to make a quick trip to Birmingham.
Our corporate apartments in Marylebone also play their part in the business life of the area. They are fully furnished and decked out with all the homely and essential amenities that our corporate guests require to turn off after network dinners, presentations and draining phone calls with the boss. Free Wi-Fi and spacious surroundings ensure that our guests can work from home too and do all the strategies they need to do without having to get on the tube.
Plus, their central location means that getting to the nearby restaurants is the shortest of treks. They can explore the options available and head to somewhere small and modern or stylish and classy. If they’re entertaining their boss or big client then the latter is always the best option.
In short, the business life in Marylebone is full of entertainment and convenience so that corporates can head to work and get the deals done and then head out in the evening to the local eateries or wait until the weekend to see the museums and take long walks around the parks.
Where to Stay in Marylebone
Staying in Marylebone is a worthy treat no matter the reason for that stay in the capital, but finding the right accommodation in the area can sometimes be tricky. Fortunately, there is a huge range of serviced apartments to make that choice somewhat simpler. Accommodation around Park Square will benefit from green views and close proximity to Madame Tussauds. The area around Lisson Grove is great for students, with its easy access to both the City of Westminster College and London Business School. Finally, serviced apartments located towards Marylebone south offer guests all the attractions of Bond Street and Oxford Circus right outside their door, including the Wigmore Hall concert venue, Selfridges department store, and Marble Arch.
TheSqua.re also offers quality serviced apartments further afield in London, such as Covent Garden, close to Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Holborn, Paddington and London Bridge, where the corporate rentals help provide guests with a quieter slice of urban life. Greenwich possesses a small-town feel in the middle of London, and Shoreditch is a great location for those looking for nights spent on the town. Wherever guests choose to stay, there is a huge range of short term and extended let furnished apartments available to suit all schedules.
Facts About Marylebone
Marylebone derives its name from a local church dedicated to St. Mary, represented on the site since 1817 by St. Marylebone Parish Church. The original church was built on the bank of a small stream, or ‘bourne’, which ran along what is now Marylebone Lane, and the area became known as St. Mary at the Bourne, afterward corrupted to Marybourne, Marybone, and Mary-la-Bonne, before arriving at its current name.
Most of the land to the west of the area was owned and constructed on by the wealthy Portman family in the 16th century, who first helped build up the neighborhood and entice residents to settle. Indeed, the area known as the Portman Estate is still owned and managed by members of that original family to this day. A hotspot of wealthy development, Marylebone thrived over the centuries, and was particularly known in the 18th century for the raffish entertainments in Marylebone Gardens, including bear-baiting and prize fights, and for the duelling grounds in Marylebone Fields, which continued until some time in the early 19th century when The Crown purchased the northern part of the estate.
Marylebone was the scene of the Balcombe Street Siege in 1975 when members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army held two people hostage for almost a week. Such practices have fortunately ceased, and Marylebone is now considered one of the safest neighborhoods in London in which to rent serviced accommodation.
Things to Do in Marylebone
As soon as the luggage is dropped, guests will discover plenty of things to see and plenty of things to do in Marylebone. From day’s out with the World’s Greatest Detective in the Sherlock Holmes Museum to meetings with the Royal Family and Johnny Depp (the wax renditions that is) at Madam Tussauds, there is enough to entertain the whole family. Shopping opportunities abound thanks to the close proximity of Oxford Street and Soho, and nature lovers can also enjoy walks in Regent’s Park, Hyde Park, or a family day out to ZSL London Zoo.
For more attractions in Marylebone, check out TheSqua.re’s a handy guide to the local area, as well as a full range of serviced apartments on offer.
Tips for Visiting Marylebone
Before arriving in Marylebone, it’s always useful to know the ins and outs of the area: from getting around to where to eat, places to shop and more.
Places to Eat in Marylebone
As in all other wealthy areas of London, residents of Marylebone can find many diverse and delicious restaurants to cater to their impeccable tastes. Whatever cuisine is on the menu for the night, there will be a local eatery serving it up. Among the many places to eat in Marylebone, notable highlights include The Natural Kitchen, for sumptuous fresh and organic cuisine, and Phoenix Palace, for the best of Chinese culinary servings. Pachamama is the place to go for exquisite Peruvian cooking, or if Turkish meze speaks to that inner cosmopolitan side, Ishtar is the restaurant to visit.
Dining out is not the only option for Marylebone guests, however. Every serviced apartment from TheSqua.re comes complete with a fully equipped kitchen, so quiet nights of home cooking are always an option. Groceries can be picked up in many places in Marylebone and whipped up into something delectable in no time at all. And if it’s a sunny day in London, we recommend picnics in the park, followed by a pleasant drink at one of the many local pubs.
Places to Visit in Marylebone
Due to Marylebone’s location in the center of London, many local businesses, both big and small, are easily accessible from any serviced apartment in the area. Business travelers will be close to some of the biggest brands and have good connections to the financial hubs of London, whereas tourists and sightseers can benefit from a number of popular attractions, including but not limited to:
- Hyde Park and Regent’s Park
- Sherlock Holmes Museum
- ZSL London Zoo
- Madame Tussaud’s
- The London Palladium
- Buckingham Palace
- Covent Garden
- Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery
- Soho and Fitzrovia Theatre Districts
- King’s Cross Station and the Harry Potter Store
- Westminster and the Houses of Parliament
From history to culture, fun to festivities, everything is here and nothing is off the table. Discover the best of London from any one of these luxury serviced apartments, whether it’s a first visit to the capital or a long-awaited return.
Culture and Shopping in Marylebone
What weekend in London would be complete without the occasional shopping spree? Equally famous for its department stores and designer boutiques as for its sightseeing and historic hotspots, the city provides everything a new or temporary resident could possibly need. It’s just a short walk to some of the busiest shopping streets in London; Bond Street, Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street are five minutes away by bus, and department stores like Selfridges feature food, clothes, and gift ideas for the whole family. And for a store to truly release that inner child, the world-famous Hamleys in Oxford Circus boasts 35,000 toys and games over seven floors, the best way of rounding off a day out with the family! Thanks to the sheer range of accommodating shopping opportunities available in Marylebone, residents can spend all day browsing deals, and still want to return for more!
Getting Around in Marylebone
Traveling between Marylebone and the wider city is a simple matter, with various transport options available for visitors to the neighborhood. The area is served by six London Underground stations: Baker Street, Edgware Road, Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Great Portland Street, and Regent’s Park, as well as one overground train station, London Marylebone, for journeys on the Chiltern Main Line to Birmingham. Traveling around London is easiest by making use of Oyster cards, top-up payment cards, which allow for hop-on hop-off travel on the city’s subway and bus systems.
While there are plenty of things to see and do in Marylebone that can be reached on foot, the city’s iconic red buses run regular services in the area and can help residents bridge the districts in true London style. Black cabs are another great way of getting around, and many taxi drivers are able to answer passengers’ questions about the area due to their excellent local knowledge. For visitors determined to bring their own car, many serviced apartments in the area offer complimentary parking facilities, however, it is worth noting that traffic levels can vary depending on the time of day.
Weather in Marylebone
As London Bridge is located right on the River Thames, visitors to the area may experience a little more wind and moisture in the air. Generally, however, the weather here is comparable to the rest of the UK. Sometimes difficult to predict, London weather ranges from cold winters (with temperatures falling below freezing) to blazing summers: average highs of 24 degrees, or the occasional heatwave of 35 degrees, as in 2019. It’s also worth checking local weather reports before visiting the city, but wet-weather clothing is advised at any time of year. The month of September is often a good time to visit for those who prefer more temperate climates, as the days are still noticeably warm in the run-off from August while benefiting from cooler evenings for a more comfortable stay in general.
