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Bayswater

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Bayswater
Bayswater from a Hallfield Estate tower block rooftop, looking south towards Kensington Gardens.
Population10,300 (2011 Census. Westminster Ward)[1]
OS grid referenceTQ255805
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLONDON
Postcode districtW2
Dialling code020
PoliceMetropolitan
FireLondon
AmbulanceLondon
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
London

Bayswater is an area within the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in central London.[2] It is a built-up district located 4 km (about 2.5 miles) west-north-west of Charing Cross, bordering the north of Kensington Gardens and having a population density of 17,500 per square kilometre.

Bayswater is one of London's most cosmopolitan areas: a diverse local population is augmented by a high concentration of hotels. In addition to the English, there are many other nationalities; in particular there is a significant Arab population, a large Greek community around St Sophia's Cathedral, Moscow Road – London's Greek Orthodox Cathedral, a sizeable French community, Americans and London's largest Brazilian community.

The area has attractive streets and garden squares lined with Victorian stucco terraces, mostly now subdivided into flats and boarding houses. The property ranges from very expensive apartments to small studio flats. There are also purpose-built apartment blocks dating from the inter-war period as well as more recent developments, and a large council estate, the 650-flat Hallfield Estate, designed by Sir Denys Lasdun and now largely sold off.

Queensway and Westbourne Grove are its busiest main streets, both having many ethnic-cuisine restaurants.

History

The land now called Bayswater belonged to the Abbey of Westminster when the Domesday Book was compiled; the most considerable tenant under the abbot was Bainiardus, probably the same Norman associate of the Conqueror who gave his name to Baynard's Castle. The descent of the land held by him cannot be clearly traced: but his name long remained attached to part of it; and, as late as the year 1653, a parliamentary grant of the Abbey or Chapter lands describes "the common field at Paddington" as being "near a place commonly called Baynard's Watering."[citation needed] In 1720, the lands of the Dean and Chapter are described to be the occupation of Alexander Bond, of Bear's Watering, in the same parish of Paddington.[citation needed] It may therefore fairly be concluded that this portion of ground, always remarkable for its springs of excellent water, once supplied water to Baynard, his household, or his cattle; that the memory of his name was preserved in the neighbourhood for six centuries; and that his watering-place now takes the abbreviated name Bayswater.

Notable residents

Various persons of international renown are frequently reported as buying property in the area, including Claudia Schiffer.[citation needed]

Local politics

The Bayswater area elects a total of six councillors to Westminster City Council, three each from the eponymous Bayswater Ward,[5] and from Lancaster Gate Ward.[6]

Currently, all six are of the Conservative Party, with the Bayswater Ward showing a more than 250-vote Conservative majority (over the Liberal Democrats) and Lancaster Gate being a safe Conservative ward.

Education

Nearest places

Nearest tube stations

Bayswater station

The nearest London Underground stations are Bayswater, Queensway, Paddington, [7] Royal Oak and Lancaster Gate.

Places of interest

References in fiction

See also

References

  1. ^ "City of Westminster Ward population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  2. ^ "London's Places" (PDF). London Plan. Greater London Authority. 2011. p. 46. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 2006-02-24. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) observer.guardian.co.uk
  4. ^ L. Perry Curtis jun., ‘Tenniel, Sir John (1820–1914)’ Retrieved 25 February 2014, pay-walled.
  5. ^ "Westminster.gov.UK: Bayswater Ward profile" (PDF). Bayswater Ward's councillors, boundary map and demographics. Westminster City Council. July 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Westminster.gov.UK: Lancaster Gate Ward profile" (PDF). Lancaster Gate Ward's councillors, boundary map and demographics. Westminster City Council. July 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Queens Park Hotel Bayswater Tube Station". www.queensparkhotel.com. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  • Media related to Bayswater at Wikimedia Commons