Auction House London’s Area Guide to Maida Vale

Auction House London has a number of interesting properties listed for auction throughout the City and surrounding areas. Our property auction experts are knowledgeable about the different areas of London such as Maida Vale, and are sharing a series of London area guides to help investors make more informed decisions.

This latest addition to the Auction House London series takes us to the affluent West London residential district of Maida Vale within the wider borough of the City of Westminster. Maida Vale is renowned for its wide tree-lined streets and large communal gardens, as well as the red-brick mansion blocks from the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. Opportunities for investment can be scarce in the area, so they are always worth looking into when they do arise.

Where is Maida Vale?

The City of Westminster borough mostly consists of central London areas, including landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square, but it also includes various inner suburbs, of which Maida Vale is one. It is located just three miles northwest of Charing Cross, and can be easily reached via the Edgware Road. The area is north of Paddington and south of Kilburn, with St John’s Wood to the southwest.

Maida Vale is in Zone 2 of the London Underground system, and has a station served by the Bakerloo line between the Kilburn Park and Warwick Avenue stations. There are also some bus routes that run through the area, including a couple of night buses.

The history of Maida Vale

Maida Vale doesn’t have a far-reaching history as a distinct area, as it was mostly land owned by the Church until development began in earnest during the 18th century. The name comes from a town in the Calabria region of southern Italy, where a British general won a victory there during the Napoleonic Wars. A pub named itself after the general, putting his name and his likeness on a sign reading ‘Sir John Stuart, the hero of Maida’. As the area developed over the subsequent years, the shortened version of the pub’s name was used for the area itself, and soon evolved into Maida Vale as we know it today.

Maida Vale would continue developing after the opening of the Maida Vale train station in 1915, and would also become the birthplace of many famous names, including computer pioneer Alan Turing and first prime minister of Israel, David Ben-Gurion. Actors Alec Guinness and Arthur Lowe were also born in Maida Vale, while notable residents have included Joe Strummer, Bjork and Noel Gallagher.

What does the architecture and property look like in Maida Vale?

Maida Vale boasts a lot of late Victorian and Edwardian buildings and blocks of mansion flats, which give it a particular charm as an inner suburban area. The affluence of the area means there are rarely bargains for sale, but any opportunities that do arise should absolutely be explored as the rewards could be very attractive for investors.

The surrounding areas can also present interesting opportunities, such as this second floor one bedroom flat in the heart of nearby St Johns Wood, or this third floor four bedroom flat in Paddington. You can also head a little further north out of Maida Vale into Cricklewood, where this three bedroom mid terrace fully licensed HMO is currently available.

What are the amenities like in Maida Vale?

Maida Vale does include your standard supermarket and mini-market type shops, but also has a number of specialist food stores, such as organic farm butchers and independent wine merchants. There are also health clubs, gyms and spas, as well as some high quality cafes, bars and restaurants.

Open spaces in Maida Vale

The Paddington Recreation Ground is close to Maida Vale station, which includes a variety of activities including an outdoor gym and tennis courts. There is also Queens Lodge Park to the north, Westbourne Green Open Space to the south, and the wonderfully named Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance to the west.

Regent’s Park is also a walkable distance away, which is a beautiful open green space to enjoy which includes wildlife gardens and an open air theatre, as well as being home to London Zoo.

What are the schools like in Maida Vale?

The Windmill Montessori and Little Sweethearts Montessori schools are notable educational facilities in Maida Vale, with both applying the Montessori educational method that involves children’s natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. There’s also the St Joseph’s Catholic and St Saviour’s Church of England primary schools, with secondary school options including the Westminster and Paddington Academies, as well as several other independent schools.

Auction House London prides itself on having local knowledge about diverse areas of the capital. If you have questions about Maida Vale or any other London area or suburb, please contact our team of property auction professionals. If you’re looking to buy property in London at an auction, browse through the lots listed in our forthcoming auction. Or, if you have a property you want to sell in London or the surrounding areas, why not see how much it could be worth in an auction with a free valuation by Auction House London.