From history to entertainment Bayswater has long been an integral part of not only the London tourist scene, but local too. From luxurious hotels in Bayswater London to the stunning array of museums, parks and high streets in the area, this West London locale has a lot to offer first time visitors to the city, whether you’re here for business or sightseeing.
Whoever you’re visiting with, this central hub of entertainment, leisure and history promises everything you’ll need to feel equipped for a tour of London adventure. If you’re staying in one of the many double, single and twin room London hotels in the area, then much of this energising district of London will be right on your doorstep. Below is everything you need to know about the culture, history and attractions in the Bayswater area.
Bayswater And London History
Situated within the central borough of Westminster, Bayswater is nestled between Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park and is known for its diversity and luxury hotel scene. The stucco terraces and town houses lining the beautiful leafy streets make for a quintessentially English setting with roots in Victorian era regeneration.
Bayswater Entertainment Districts
To one side ofBayswater lies the famous locale of Notting Hill. To the other is Paddington, many of the hotels near Paddington Station being situated in the Bayswater area. Much of the entertainment and eateries in Bayswater are situated on or around Bayswater Road, including the Notting Hill Arts Club and pubs that often programme local musicians and performers within their basements and bar areas.
Cultural Hubs Of Bayswater
Bayswater houses many embassies for countries such as Russia and Czechoslovakia, but tourist hotspots are just a few minutes walk from most of the hotels in the area. These include the deep dive into 19th century history and Mediaeval to Victorian European art in the free-to-visit Wallace Collection. Sherlock Holmes aficionados will be more than catered for with the Baker Street based Sherlock Holmes Museum, recreating the fictional home of the detective whilst exploring its author – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s inspiration and publication history.
Parks And Green Spaces Of Bayswater
The Bayswater Inn is a Hyde Park Corner hotel just a stone’s throw away from two of the most famous London Parks in the city. Originally designed as a single park and hunting ground for Henry VIII, Hyde Park was eventually split into separate areas with a combined size of more than 600 acres. What is now Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park has actually benefited the area around Bayswater, providing more diverse landscapes in the form of the more formal and pristine Kensington Gardens and the sprawling, sculpture and botany laden Hyde Park.
The border between the two is the Serpentine Lake, a major tourist attraction that provides its own open air lido and plenty of rowing boats and pedalos for tourists to get a fresh view of the city. Furthermore, the Serpentine Art Gallery showcases some of the best 20th century and contemporary artists in the world.
